Discover Södermanland: Nature, Culture and Holiday Rentals

Nature and Trails

The Sörmlandsleden is a 1,000-kilometre hiking trail that passes through diverse natural and cultural landscapes as well as historic monuments. Along the trail, there are circular routes of varying lengths – from hikes of about an hour to day trips. Most stages are easily accessible by car, bus or train. Very many hiking trails in Sörmland start at a railway station or bus stop.

Södermanland stretches along the southern shore of Lake Mälaren. Landscapes for outdoor activities include large lakes and lake systems, rivers, forests, agricultural landscapes and the coastal archipelago. The county combines beaches, deep forests and meadows, thereby showcasing different types of landscape within one region.

Water and Coast

Stendörren connects the mainland with the nearest archipelago islands via several suspension bridges. Visitors can go hiking at Stendörren. From Naturum Stendörren, an accessible ramp leads to a picnic area with a fire pit by the sea. Bus 554 from Nyköping or Trosa stops at Stendörren.

In the Södermanland archipelago, visitors can go on canoe and kayak trips among thousands of islands and skerries.

Culture and History

Construction of Gripsholms slott began in 1537. The castle houses one of Europe's best-preserved 18th-century theatres. Gripsholms slott is also home to the Swedish National Portrait Collection, the oldest national portrait gallery in the world. The collection now comprises around 5,000 works, more than 800 of which are exhibited at Gripsholms slott.

Rademachersmedjorna is one of Sweden's best-preserved 17th-century environments. It includes several well-preserved buildings from Sweden's first blacksmithing manufactory, established in the 1650s. The site contains businesses practising traditional crafts, as well as several outdoor exhibitions that are open around the clock all year round.

Julita Gård shows what a large estate in Södermanland looked like and how it operated at the beginning of the 20th century; the estate grounds contain almost 360 buildings. Around 290 fruit trees grow in the park, which also contains living collections of cultivated plants. At its shop, café and inn, Julita Gård offers seasonal fragrances and local flavours.

Nyköpingshus is chiefly associated with the Nyköping Banquet of 1317. In the Kungstornet tower of Nyköpingshus, Sörmlands museum now presents exhibitions on the history of the castle in the 14th and 16th centuries. Sörmlands museum has a museum house in Nyköping and operates throughout Södermanland. Its programme includes exhibitions, guided tours, courses, workshops, lectures and talks.

Historical Connections

The heritage railway Östra Sörmlands Järnväg runs between Mariefred and Taxinge-Näsby, with a stop in Läggesta. It offers journeys on real steam locomotives that are more than 100 years old. The S/S Mariefred steamship operates in summer on the Stockholm–Mariefred and Mariefred–Taxinge-Näsby routes.

Södermanland has around 400 castles and manor houses for visitors to discover. Road 223 between Nyköping and Mariefred is known as “Utflyktsvägen”.

Regional Destinations

For further orientation within the region, you can also visit Strängnäs, Trosa, Vingåker, Nyköping, Flen, Katrineholm, Eskilstuna, Gnesta, Enstaberga, Oxelösund and Stigtomta.

For the main travel overview: Sweden.