Set on the western shore of Lake Vättern, Hjo is a laid-back town in the Swedish county of Västra Götaland. It was chartered in 1413 and features beautifully preserved wooden buildings within its historic core. Hjo is home to one of the oldest steamships in Sweden, which offers summer cruises along Lake Vättern.
Things to do in Hjo
Dominating the town skyline is the spire of the Hjo Church, which was rebuilt in the 1790s after being destroyed during a fire. It’s a short walk from the waterfront trails of Hjo Stadspark and the remains of the Hertig Johans Brygga, which offers views toward the whitewashed tower of the Hjo Södra Lighthouse.
In the summer months, you can refresh with a swim in Lake Vättern at the Hjo Strandbad, a small strip of sand backed by a colourful collection of bathing cabins. If you prefer to swim in a pool, you can head to the outdoor Guldkroksbadet, which is heated to 24 degrees Celsius. In addition to a paddling pool for young children, there is also a playground and a kiosk.
If you’re travelling with kids, they’ll love spending an afternoon at the Experimenthuset, a family-friendly science centre with hands-on and interactive exhibits. It encourages kids to be curious in the worlds of science and technology by inviting them to engage in a playful way. They create a tornado and build their own magnetic ball track, then see what they would look like with someone else’s face.
Getting around Hjo
Hjo is around an hour’s drive from Jönköping and Jönköping Airport, which has seasonal flights to destinations across Europe. The much larger Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport is two hours away. Regular buses connect to Hjo and the town is compact enough to explore on foot.