In 2007, Aftonbladet, a Swedish newspaper, ran a vote among its readers to determine the Seven Wonders of Sweden. Whereas the suggestions covered a broad spectrum of structures throughout the country, one place stood out and grabbed the largest proportion of the more than 80,000 Swedes who participated in the vote – Gota Kanal.
A man-made waterway built at the beginning of the 19th Century, the 190 kilometer canal nicknamed the ‘Blue Ribbon’ connects several scenic lakes. Whereas the Gota Kanal was initially built to serve as a shortcut between Stockholm and Goteborg, very few parts of the canal are still used for transport today. Instead, Gota Kanal has gradually transformed into a major tourist attraction drawing 2 million visitors every year.
Kayaking, boating and swimming are some of the more popular water-based activities within the canal. Not all the fun is in the water though. More visitors are opting to enjoy the Gota Kanal through bicycle tours that follow the paths and roads that run parallel to the canal.
When visiting the canal, you can either travel through the canal on a self-driven yacht or you could pay for one of the group Gota Kanal cruises that are especially popular during the summer. The cruises range from 2 to 7 days in length. Travelers get a Gota Card which is a pass to the 18 marinas positioned along the entire length of the canal.
