Jönköping, one of Sweden’s oldest cities, offers spectacular nature, a long, sandy beach right next to the city, a thriving culinary scene, the exciting history of the Matchstick district (Tändsticksområdet) and John Bauer’s enchanting works of art.

Jönköping is nestled between three lakes: Vättern, Rocksjön and Munksjön. with over 140,000 inhabitants, it’s Sweden’s ninth largest city and the only major city on the shore of Vättern. There’s a lot going on all year round, but even more in summer. The city centre has charming old streets, museums, libraries, shops, restaurants, hotels and a college with around 14,000 students from all corners of the world.

Festival city
Jönköping’s central location in southern Sweden makes the city a natural choice of venue for cultural events, sport, conferences and outdoor recreation. As one of the country’s premiere sporting venues it regularly hosts national and international events, including IRONMAN 70.3 Jönköping and Jönköping Marathon, to name just two. In two years’ time the MTB Youth European Championships will be held in Huskvarna and Jönköping.

Close to nature
One of Jönköping’s biggest attractions is its proximity to nature. Here you can find wonderful cycle routes, well worn forest trails and tranquil nature reserves. Stadsparken – Jönköping’s City Park – is on a hill in the city, with fantastic views and Jönköping’s largest playground, animals, crazy golf, barbecue areas and a unique bird museum.

Äppledalen – Småland’s answer to Tuscany
Just north of Huskvarna lies Äppledalen, also known as Småland’s answer to Tuscany, with panoramic views over the water, beautiful gardens and captivating surroundings. Here you can find orchards with apples and berries, locally grown vegetables, farm shops and cafés.

Gränna – the home of polkagris rock
If you continue north from Äppledalen you’ll reach Gränna, a Swedish idyll with charming old wooden houses, cobbled streets and beautiful nature. Gränna is world famous thanks to its tasty polkagris rock and S A Andrée’s polar expedition.

Gränna is a paradise for nature lovers. It has peaceful nature reserves, enjoyable walking paths and magical forests. Take a Trolska boat tour and experience the surroundings that inspired John Bauer. The hill at Gränna offers fantastic views across the city and lake Vättern.

Visingsö – the jewel of Vättern
According to legend, Visingsö was created when the giant Vist threw a lump of turf into Vättern so his wife had something to climb onto. Just as it was a thousand years ago, this turf is teeming with life. It has exciting archaeology, Sweden’s largest oak forest and a fun treasure hunt. The many ruined castles and forts in this area are telling traces of a landscape that has historically been strategically important.

You can reach Visingsö from the harbour in Gränna, where there are regular ferry departures. Why not tour the island by bike or with a horse and carriage at the popular Remmalagen? With all that water, bathing and kayaking are also ideal activities here.

The Taberg valley
South of Jönköping, the river Taberg runs through a wide valley. The four villages of Månsarp, Taberg, Norrahammar and Hovslätt are all in the valley and almost connect to form a continuous urban area for around 10km along the river. In the old factory district in Norrahammar, some businesses have opened up their workshops. You can stop for fika as well as buy furniture, clothes, ornaments and ceramics.

When Carl von Linné first visited the hill at Taberg, he is said to have exclaimed, "Småland’s miracle!" The view from the top of the hill, 343 metres above sea level, is indeed very impressive. Here you can play crazy golf, enjoy fine dining in the restaurant or visit the café and take in a panorama that stretches for many miles across the surrounding area. There are several paths leading walkers up the hill. The mine at its foot is no longer used to extract iron ore, however you can take an exciting guided tour. There is also a bat museum right next to the mine.

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