In olden days, oxen and horses tramped up the old gravel towpaths along the Göta Canal, towing sailboats towards the next lock. Today bicycles have replaced the beasts of burden, carrying tourists through the old canal environments, past locks and historical sights and the beautiful landscape.
Free from hills and cars
Bicycling along the canal is a joy – the only hills are at the locks, and the tree-lined boulevard on both sides of the canal shelter you from the sun and wind. Bicycling along the car-free towpath, observing the boaters on the water, is relaxing and exciting all at once. Above all relaxing, with plenty of opportunities to stop along the way. Have a snack or a meal at one of the many cosy cafés along the way!

Take your bike on board
The Göta Canal is not just the man-made canal and towpaths; it also consists of lakes. On Lake Viken you can trade your bike helmet for a life vest, taking your bike aboard a rapid ferry to the other side.

Ready packages or on your own
If you want, you can buy a ready-made bicycle package where all the best bits are all laid out and all you have to do is pedal along at your own rate, on your own bike or a rented one.
    If you can’t find a package to suit your tastes, you can plan your own route, just like the Hjort Findsen family from Denmark. Mum, Dad and two children aged 10 and 12 bicycled the entire length of the canal, from Sjötorp to Mem, in just over two weeks. They got to experience the child-friendly Göta Canal and Sweden at its very best.
    “Bicycling along the canal was the best holiday we’ve ever had,” says Lisbeth Hjort Findsen. “What an idyll – the locks, all the boats, beautiful countryside, lakes, forests, cowberries and charming inns. And we had no trouble finding accommodation. I highly recommend bicycling along the Göta Canal.”

Rent a bike:
• Mariestads Vandrarhem, 0501-104 48
• Sjötorps Upplevelsecenter, 0501-511 33
• Ugglans Cykel, Hantverkaregatan. 15,
 0501-707 50
• Hajstorps slusscafé, stugor & vandrarhem,
 0506-130 50
• Rest. & Pensionat Prästgården, Nygatan 2,
 0506-166 30
• Tåtorps Café & Logi, 0506-530 86
• Wassbacken Café, Camping & Vandrarhem,
 0506-520 56
Karlsborg
• Cykelaffären i Karlsborg, Strandvägen 59,
 0505-101 37
• Karlsborgs Camping, 0505-120 22
• STF Vandrarhem Gula Villan, 0505-446 00


Cycling distance in km:
Sjötorp-Lyrestad…………………………7,0
Lyrestad-Norrkvarn…………………2,0
Norrkvarn-Hajstorp…………………5,2
Hajstorp-Töreboda…………………….4,4
Töreboda-Vassbacken…………………10,8
Vassbacken-Tåtorp………………………5,5
Tåtorp-Forsvik…………………………..30,0
Forsvik-Karlsborg………………………10,0