When you visit Läckö Slott for the first time it is a magical feeling when you first see the castle from the car park. Towering over the water sits this beautiful white castle and it feels like it has come right out of the pages of a fairytale. As you walk closer the magic comes to life when you understand how large the castle really is. The views from the courtyard look over the Vänern and you can see for miles on a calm day.
Läckö Slott is a 17th century castle located just 30 minutes from the town of Lidköping. The castle sits out on a peninsula, the island of Kållandsö, on the southern end of Sweden’s biggest lake, the Vänern. It is one of Sweden’s most unique and underrated places to visit. Being on an island and so close to the nature reserve Kinnekulle, Läckö Slott is the perfect destination for anyone on a camping or camper van holiday. As well as those who want to see a little more of the Swedish countryside.
How to get to Läckö Slott
By car to Läckö Slott
The drive to Läckö Slott from Lidköping by car is relatively simple. Once you leave Lidköping, you simply follow the signs to Läckö Slott for around 25 minutes and you will be there! There are two car parks, one closer to the castle where most day trippers park, and one a little further out which is best for people with campervans if you want to spend the night here!
By bus to Läckö Slott
The bus goes directly from Lidköping to Läckö Slott and takes around 30 minutes. This route only runs in the summers under the number 133.
What to do at Läckö Slot
Visit the castle
Close up, Läckö Slott is even more spectacular than from a distance. There are a few things to do when you visit including a guided tour, visiting the gardens and walking through the castle itself. We started off the day by walking up to the main courtyard and entering the castle. It is amazing to see how big everything is up close. If you want to do the guided tour, you continue walking through the courtyard and to your help is a ticket booth. We didn’t do the tour unfortunately as we didn’t have much time but I would love to go back and do it one day! They do the tours every 30 minutes and they come in Swedish and English! They cost 80kr and last just over an hour.
The castle gardens were closed for renovation when we visited but I have heard they are beautiful in the late spring and summer when all of the flours are blooming. Just by the castle is the start of the path that heads around the castle. Along the path there are signs telling you about the history of Läckö and pointing out interesting spaces like the underground mine and the outside toilet.
Hiking trails on Kållandsö
There are a few different hiking trails around Läckö Slott and the surrounding island of Kållandsö. These are a great way to see a little bit more of the nature and get some great views of the Vänern and Läcko Slott! There are two trails – a 4km and a 7km path.
Roparudden Path
The Roparudden Path is the shortest of the hiking routes. This hiking route begins at Läckö Slott and ends at the car park for the castle. The hike runs parallel to the castle, with some of the best viewpoints of Läckö Slott within the first few kilometres. It then traces the peninsula around the Vänern lake before taking you back through the forest to the car park. The beginning of the walk is nicest however I prefer to do the walk backwards as this way you get a view of the castle instead of having to look back all the time. Along the walk there is a tips promenad for adults and children. This is a fun activity with questions to answer about nature! The questions are in Swedish and you can collect the answer sheet from the Naturrum.
The Traneberg Path
The Traneberg Path is a 7km route that takes around 1 – 2 hours to complete. This hiking route does not run around Läckö Slott, but shows you a little bit more of the surrounding nature instead. This walk begins in the car park for Läckö Golf Club and works its way around the island.
Naturrum
Natturrum is a space that is quite common in national parks in Sweden. Here you can visit for free and learn about the different nature and landscapes within the local area. This Naturrum was fascinating as it not only talks about Kållandsö, but also Kinnekulle, Skövde and the natural landscape near Hornbergasjön.
