Motala: Varamobaden, the Göta Canal and industrial heritage
Accommodation in Motala
Motala can be explored through a range of travel interests: Varamobaden on Lake Vättern, the Göta Canal and the town’s industrial history. By the water, beaches and locks take centre stage; inland, cycling and hiking routes pass through varied landscapes. Museums, historic homes and guided tours add further layers of history.
File:Kärnskogen Tuvull Motala kommun Östergötland.jpg
Photo: Jordkällaren via Wikimedia Commons, CC0-1.0
Varamobaden and activities on the water
Varamobaden is on Lake Vättern. The municipality of Motala describes it as the largest inland beach resort in the Nordic countries. Its features include a wide sandy beach, shallow water and a paved promenade along the shore. If you are planning a stay by the lake, you can experience the beach, shoreline and promenade as different aspects of the local landscape.
There are two named rental services for water activities. Varamon Beach Boats rents pedal boats and SUP boards on the beach next to Sjövik restaurant. At the old Motala verkstad, KAYAKOMAT Motala Mallboden rents kayaks and SUP boards. The services differ in both location and the watercraft on offer. If you plan to rent equipment, check availability in advance.
Fishing areas are also described by waterway: In Motala ström, fishing is permitted between Motala harbour and the power station. In the Göta Canal, the named stretch lies between the Borenshult locks and Motala harbour. These details help distinguish the two fishing areas.
Cycling routes, hiking trails and the Göta Canal
There are recommended cycling routes in and around Motala for both mountain biking and road cycling. Within the municipality, the Östgötaleden trail has 15 stages with varying characteristics and levels of difficulty. It passes through forests, oak landscapes and plains, as well as along the shores of Lake Vättern and the Göta Canal. The number of stages may change if route management is adjusted, so check the latest route information when planning.
Another specific route detail is Motala runt: the circular route is 18.6 kilometres long. This gives you different information to help choose a route: the Östgötaleden’s number of stages and their varied character, and the length of the Motala runt circuit.
The section of the Göta Canal in Östergötland begins in Motala and can be explored by boat, bicycle or on foot. The Borenshults slussar are also located along the canal. They are considered the Göta Canal’s second-largest flight of locks and consist of five connected locks. Motala harbour has floating jetties and a stone quay beside the Göta Canal’s headquarters.
The castle, industrial site and museums
Charlottenborgs slott dates back to the 17th century and was built in 1652. The castle hosts an exhibition about archaeological finds from Motala. It also displays wood carvings and other works by Sophia Isberg, an artisan from Motala. The castle thus brings together several themes: its architectural history, archaeological finds from the town and the work of a local artisan.
The Museilägenheter on Verkstadsön recreate workers’ homes from 1850 and 1903 at Motala verkstad. A guided tour of the museum apartments lasts about 30 minutes and can be part of a Verkstadsvandring. This tour covers the development of Gamla Motala Verkstad and the history of the Göta Canal. It takes place mostly outdoors on the old industrial site and ends in the workers’ museum apartments.
In the Gamla Motala Verkstad area, visitors can scan QR codes on Storyspot signs and listen to historical stories about the area. The Sveriges Rundradiomuseum is housed in Motala’s listed transmission station, built in 1927, and tells the story of broadcasting, starting with Motala. Its collection includes numerous radios, gramophones and other products made by the Luxor company. A much earlier period is represented by the oldest remains at Kanaljorden, which are 11,000 years old.
Getting there and finding your bearings when looking for accommodation
If you are planning to travel by bus or train, Motala central is a useful point of reference: the station is the hub for bus and rail services and is about a five-minute walk from the centre of Motala. The Östgötapendeln provides connections from Motala to Mjölby, Linköping and Norrköping. As timetables may change, check the service for your travel date. If you are looking for a hotel in Motala and want to take public transport into account, you can use this information when planning where to stay.
Discover more destinations: Nykyrka, Borensberg, Tjällmo, Bona
Return to the main travel overview: Motala.
