Family fun

Swimming

Whether you're drawn to the beach or the pool, there are great swimming opportunities here. Heated pools are available at Ekudden, which also features a swimming area by Lake Vänern. Other centrally located swimming spots include Sandviken and Snapen. Read more about swimming spots here!

Children's Mini Canal

In Norrkvarn by the Göta Canal, 20 km north of Mariestad, you’ll find the Children's Mini Canal. It’s a fun way to discover the water's path from Vänern to Vättern, with locks, lock houses, and small lakes in between. Norrqvarn Hotel & Conference offers accommodation, a restaurant, and a café. They also lend out boats to play with in the mini canal for a small fee. When you return the boat, you get an ice cream.

Library

At Mariestad City Library, you can not only read and borrow books but also enjoy newspapers, games, and computers. Perfect for a rainy (or sunny) day.

Café Bäcken

A summer-open café by Lake Vänern, 2 km from the center. Here you can buy delicious homemade pastries or try the locally produced Kling ice cream. The exciting mini-golf courses take you on a discovery tour through the municipality, representing various places and attractions in Mariestad. Café Bäcken also features large grassy areas, a playground, a beach volleyball court, and a small swimming area with a jetty.

Cycling along the Göta Canal

Cycling along the Göta Canal is an adventure for the whole family. Rent bikes in Sjötorp, where the canal starts from Vänern. Child bikes, bike trailers, and helmets are available for rent. The bike trail is easy to ride with hardly any elevation changes except at the locks. Between Sjötorp and Tåtorp, the trail runs right along the canal and is car-free.

Take many breaks along the way, watch boats being locked, have a picnic on the grass, or enjoy ice cream at a café. In Sjötorp, there's a canal and maritime museum that tells exciting stories about the maritime history of Vänern, Vättern, and the Göta Canal. In Lyrestad, 7 km from Sjötorp, you can visit the Hamnmagasinet, which you can read more about further down the page. Just 2 km from Lyrestad along the canal lies Norrkvarn with the mini canal described above.

Cycling distance Göta Canal

Sjötorp - Karlsborg, 75 km

Sjötorp - Lyrestad 7,0
Lyrestad - Norrkvarn 2,0
Norrkvarn - Hajstorp 5,2
Hajstorp - Töreboda 4,4
Töreboda - Vassbacken 10,8
Vassbacken - Tåtorp 5,5
Tåtorp - Forsvik (around lake Viken) 30,0, public road
Forsvik - Karlsborg 10,0, public road

Find more information on cycling along the Göta Canal here!

Photo Orienteering

Discover Mariestad in a new way through photo orienteering! Using a map and photos, you need to find different places and objects in town. Fun for the whole family. The map is available for free at Mariestad City Library, the Citizen Service Office in the Town Hall, Intersport, and Snapens Friluftsgård. Available only in Swedish.

Find the church mice

In Mariestad's cathedral there are 10 church mice hiding. Can you find them all? 
Read more on the church website.

Canal Museum in Sjötorp

In the old red shipyard warehouse in Sjötorp, there's a Canal and Maritime Museum. Here you can learn about the history of the Göta Canal and the exciting maritime history of Göta Canal, Vänern, and Vättern. Exciting for both children and adults.

Climate Trail

The Climate Trail on Torsö is about 2 km long and allows hikers to learn more about the climate and nature. Climate Angel Pax and the bee Pollinis guide children around the trail where there are various tasks, such as forest bingo and nature Lego, to solve along the way. The hike follows forest paths in the nature reserve Tjäderåsen, with signs leading to the Hattarevik swimming area.

Toy store

Don't miss a visit to Mariestad's well-stocked toy store Lekhörnan Leklust. There are lots of fun things for children of all ages, from crafts and coloring books to Lego, dolls, and outdoor toys. The toy store is located on Nygatan, near Nya Torget in the center of Mariestad.

Playgrounds

In central Mariestad, there are playgrounds at the guest harbor, Karlsholme Folk Park, and in the City Park. All three are different, so there is something new to discover at each playground. You can find more playgrounds in the Playway app.

Surö Beech Forest

Just south of Sjötorp lies the nature reserve Surö Beech Forest by Lake Vänern. It is visitor-friendly with walking trails through the forest and along the lake. It’s always fun for children to come here; the whole forest is an adventure, and after the excursion, you can eat your packed picnic on a rock by Vänern. There are two shorter walking trails to choose from, and if you want a longer walk, there’s the Surö-Harnäs-Sjötorp hiking trail. On the western side, there’s a small bay with a sandy bottom suitable for swimming.

Millstone Mine - Qvarnstensgruvan

Join a guide underground and hear exciting stories about life and work around the mine in the past. As early as the 1100s, millstones were quarried on Lugnåsberget, and the operation continued into the 1900s. Today, you can see traces of 600 open pits and 55 mines, one of which is open to visitors. The Millstone Mine Memorial Site is located 15 km southwest of Mariestad. The whole area around the mine is lush and green, inviting discovery, play, and relaxation in a beautiful environment. There’s also a small café and museum. Even outside opening hours, there is much to discover at the mine, making it an excellent place for a visit any time of the year. From the parking lot, it’s about a 700-meter walk to the mine area. The path is wide, but the last part has low steps, making it unsuitable for strollers, wheelchairs, or walkers.

Troll Trail

On Torsö, a thrilling hike awaits children along the Troll Trail. Discover parts of the forest on Vänern's largest island and see what you can find along the trail. The best chance to see trolls and other figures is from May to October, but you are welcome to visit the Troll Trail any time of the year. The trail starts at the Sandbäcken local history museum, where coffee is served on Sundays during summer.

Vadsbo Museum

At Vadsbo Museum, you can learn about the history of Mariestad. The museum is housed in the wings of the old residence on a small island in the Tidan River, right in the center. There are exciting artifacts to discover and a lovely museum shop. Don’t forget to explore the rest of Marieholm Island and the other beautiful buildings from the outside.

Adventure Golf

At Karlsholme Folk Park and near Mariestad's harbor, there is an adventure golf course located right by the lake. Fun and challenging courses with, among other things, water obstacles. In the adjacent folk park, there are also large grassy areas to run around on.