Visiting Hornborgasjön, in the spring is one of the most amazing natural phenomena you will ever witness. If you don’t already know, Hornborgasjön, or Lake Hornborga, is famous for the tens of thousands of cranes that visit every year on their migration route back to the north. At peak, there can be up to 25,000 cranes on the lake at one time.
At this point, you may be thinking, “surely this is something only interesting for bird watchers”. As someone who is not overly interested in bird watching me, I can tell you that is definitely not true! As you get closer to the lake and begin to hear the roar of the cranes you can’t help but be interested in why they are at Hornborgasjön and what they are doing there! This is definitely something to put on your Sweden bucket list!
The crane dance at Lake Hornborga is an event that happens only for a few weeks every year. It is one of the best things to see in Sweden in the spring! But, to get the best experience it is crucial you visit at the right time! To help you plan the perfect visit, I have put together this guide with everything you need to know about the cranes at Hornborgasjön!
Useful words to know at Hornborgasjön:
Tranor: Cranes
Trandansen: The crane dance
Fågel: Bird
Sjön: Lake (Hornborgasjön = Lake Hornborga)
Husbil: Campervan
When do the cranes arrive at Lake Hornborga?
The best time to see the cranes dance at Hornborgasjön is from mid-March to mid-April. The cranes migrate according to the spring weather so naturally, the peak period shifts a little every year. However, it is usually in the first week of April that there are the highest numbers of cranes at Lake Hornborga.
Due to this, the first week of April is usually the busiest at Hornborgasjön. Therefore, the best time to visit is usually the last week of March or the second week of April. At this time of spring, there are still over 10,000 cranes at the lake and the experience is the same, only with much fewer visitors.
How many cranes are there at Hornbörgasjon?
The answer to this question changes depending on the date! There are generally around 10,000 – 17,000 cranes at Hornborgasjön during crane season. The most cranes ever recorded was almost 27,000 in 2012. To find out the exact crane statistics for the days you want to visit you can visit this website!
How to get to Hornborgasjön
By car
Driving to Hornborgasjön is relatively easy. Located just 15 minutes north of Falköping, the lake is not completely out of the way! There is parking all around the lake, making the hikes and Trandansen very easily accessible.
Parking at Trandansen
The parking for Trandansen is located along the road just behind the visitors centre. It costs 30kr per day and you can pay via swish. If you are not from Sweden/ don’t have Swish, you can pay for parking at the visitors centre.
Campervan parking at Hornborgasjön
The parking at Trandansen is also campervan friendly! In Swedish this is “husbil”, so make sure to look out for these signs when finding a spot! The parking costs 130kr a day for camper vans and can be paid by Swish or at the visitors centre. There are toilet facilities at Trandansen which are free to use.
Getting to Hornborgasjön by public transport
The best way to get to Hornborgasjön using public transport is to first get to Falköping. Trains go here from most major cities in Sweden. To get to Trandansen you can take bus 203 towards Skara. The stop you should get off at is called Trandansen. This bus trip takes 13 minutes in total. You can plan your trip using Västtraffik.
What time of day is best to see the cranes at Hornborgasjön?
There is no “best” time to see the cranes at Hornborgasjön per se, however, there are some special things that happen throughout the day that you should try and catch!
Early in the mornings, as the sun rises and the cranes wake up, is the best time to visit Hornborgasjön if you want to see the crane dance. This is where partners and families dance with one another, establishing relationships and bonding with one another.
In the late morning, when the air has started to warm up, the cranes begin to leave the lake and fly to their next destination. Although it is quite sporadic, it is amazing to see families gather in the sky and fly away along their migration route. This usually happens from 9 am onwards.
Where is the best place to see the crane dance?
The best place to watch the cranes dance at Hornborgasjön is at Trandansan. This is a small spot at the south of the lake where the cranes tend to gather. During the day you will likely see cranes in the surrounding fields and other parts of the lake, but Trandansen is where everything “happens”.
At Trandansen there is a visitors centre. This is unfortunately closed during 2023, however, there are guides around during the day ready to give information. Daily, there are several interesting talks held by those who work in the nature reserve. This is a great way to learn a bit about the cranes and the nature at Hornborgasjön.
What to bring to watch the cranes at Hornborgasjön
Although occasionally the cranes sometimes do come close, most of the time they are up to 100m away from the viewing area. In this case, you will need to bring binoculars or a telescope to get an up-close view of the cranes. This is really important if you want to see the crane dance.
What else is there to do around Hornborgasjön?
There is so much more to this area of Sweden that the crane dance. If you are interested in nature there are some great hikes. There are also so many other bird species that visit Lake Hornborga in the springtime, with many bird-watching towers set up around the lake accessible by short walks. Here are the best things to do near Hornborgasjön:
Naturum Lake Hornborga
Naturum is a very special Swedish concept. These visitors centres exist in almost all areas of natural importance and have great exhibitions about the habitat and people in that area. Naturum Hornborgasjön is located north of Trandansen. It has its own car park and campervan spots!
While at Naturum Hornborgasjön make sure to visit the information centre. This is located on the water. While inside you can read about the native life, habitat and history of Hornborga. Afterwards, head down the wooden walkway across the lake to the bird watching platform. On the way back, stop by Café Doppingen for some great fika or a soup buffet lunch.
Hornborgasjöns loppis och antikt
If you like antiques then Hornborgasjöns loppis and antikt is somewhere you cannot miss! This second-hand shop focuses on quality antiques, set up beautifully in their small shop. The antique shop is not open every day so make sure to check its Facebook page for updates.
Löfwings Ateljé och Krog
Löfwings Ateljé and Krog is a great restaurant/ bed and breakfast/ gallery just a few minutes drive from Hornborgasjön. It is a really special place to visit. They hold events throughout the spring and summer seasons and serve some of the best food in the area.
Walks around Hornborgasjön
There are several walks around Hornborgasjön which are all great to do. Most lead to a bird-watching tower, through open fields by the side of the lake. Just north of Trandansen, you have the 3.1 km trail to Hångers Udde. Then you have the 4km walk out to Almeö, a mini-peninsula out on the water. This is where the oldest human settlement on Lake Hornborgasjön was once found. Next, you have the 1.6km walk out to Ytterberg, or alternatively, you can continue from here up to Fågeludden and Naturum Hornborgasjön.
Gudhem Kloster
Gudhem Kloser is the ruins of a convent that was active between 1152 and 1529. Considered to be one of the oldest Klosters in Sweden, today it is just ruins surrounded by beautiful countryside.
Forentorpa Ängar
Forentorpa Ängar is a beautiful, old oak forest. In the late spring and summer, it is an amazing refuge to walk around. There is a 2.4km walking route that begins and ends in the small village of Forentorp.
Vallevägen
The Vallevägen is considered to be one of the most beautiful roads. This walk passes through rolling hills and cherry blossom trees, combined with local artists, butiks and producers to bring the culture alive. There are a number of different walks you can do around here depending on how far you want to go and how much time you have. If you have time, then I recommend the 57km Billingen trail which passes through the whole area.
Frequently asked question
Can you see the cranes at Hornborgasjön in the autumn?
Yes! The cranes return to Hornborgasjön on their way south in the autumn, however, at this time of year the numbers gathering are not nearly as large.
Are there cranes in Sweden?
Yes, there are cranes all over Sweden during the spring, summer and autumn. In the spring, the cranes migrate north via Hornborgasjön. Here, you can see up to 25,000 cranes dancing by the lake in the mornings.
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