Alingsås – a small town with lots of cafes, shops and parks

A pretty town with a long fika history

Alingsås is a pretty wooden town, where many of the old buildings have been preserved. The Lillån river runs through it and in the pedestrian friendly centre you’ll find many charming courtyards and unique shops to visit.

Not unsurprisingly it’s the fika tradition that attracts many to Alingsås. Here in Sweden’s fika capital narrow cobbled streets are lined with ornate wooden houses, with a patisserie or bakery on almost every street corner. There are about thirty cafes, the oldest of which dates back to the end of the 1800s. Further down the page we list the town’s best known cafes. And if you enjoy history you can read more here about how Alingsås became Sweden’s capital of fika.

Three cafes to visit in fika capital Alingsås

Nygrens cafe

A lovely cosy cafe situated in a former storehouse. Everything is made from scratch here with tons of love, and naturally all the bread and cakes are made with the finest ingredients. Organic ingredients are at the heart of both their food and baking, which also consists of several alternatives for anyone with special dietary requirements such as gluten and lactose free.

• The cafe offers: Homemade bread, pastries and cakes, old and new Swedish classics, salads and sandwiches with lots of greens.
• Amuse bouche: Nygrens cafe is located in a historic courtyard which in the 1700s housed both an inn and a trading company.

Nolbygård Organic Bakery and Cafe

A stone’s throw from Alingsås town centre lies Nolbygårds Ekobageri & Kafé. Enjoy organic bread and other treats in a period setting, where everything from the beautiful wallpaper patterns to the furniture contributes to preserving and showcasing the building's century-old history.

• The cafe offers: Lunches and baked goods that are good for both you and the environment.
• Amuse bouche: Nolbygård Organic Bakery and Cafe is part of "Hållplats Nolbygård", a place where social, economic and organic sustainability are touchstones for the businesses on the farm.

Ekstedts Bakery & Cafe

At Ekstedts Bakery & Café everything is baked from scratch with a focus on traditional skills, where good ingredients, and time, are the most important elements. The building dates back to 1886, giving it a cosy period feel. Enjoy everything from freshly baked bread to traditional Swedish biscuits, gateaux and pastries.

• The cafe offers: Fika in the welcoming little café, or when the weather allows in the large courtyard right next to the bakery. Not a coffee lover? Ekstedts has a wide choice of loose leaf teas to choose from.
• Amuse bouche: The inner courtyard at Ekstedts Bageri & Kafé has room for 120 people. The coffee served here is ground on site and always comes freshly roasted from the nearby Alingsås Kafferosteri.

Travel on a hundred year old

Gräfsnäs castle ruin and park is a historic site twenty kilometres north of the town. During summer the place is busy with markets, events and concerts. The cafe is also open then, and the neighbouring swimming area is a popular spot with families.

Castle park and aquatic centre

Nolhaga Castle Park is located west of the town centre, an oasis with leafy trees, beautiful sculptures and perfect picnic spots.  Nolhaga Castle, built in neo-renaissance style in 1880, adorns the centre of the park. Have a look around Barnens Lantgård children’s farm, which has free entry and a collection of endangered native species, as well as lots of types of birds. The newly opened Nolhaga Parkbad can also be found there, a water park with several different pools, a water slide, relaxation area with sauna, and a cafe.

Steamship trip with SS Herbert

Book a trip with Herbert the steamship on the largest lake in Alingsås, Mjörn. It’s a summer classic! Have a look at the original machinery with a fascinating history, while you chug past pretty bays and jetties to land on. Did you know that Mjörn has its very own republic? It’s true, the unique island group Republiken Risön has both a national anthem and its own currency. Book your ticket here: www.herberts.se

Shop till you drop

Despite Alingsås being a relatively small town, there are plenty of places to shop here. In the centre cosy boutiques nestle among pastel-coloured wooden houses and cobbled streets, and in the outskirts the well-known chains can be found in the town’s shopping mall. There are many charming independent shops to discover as well, for anyone keen on antiques or unique buys.

Explore the giant’s cauldrons in Brobacka

In Brobacka Nature Reserve you’ll find one of the largest areas of giant’s cauldrons in the country. It was at the end of the ice age that the raging force of the meltwater churned about 40 round holes deep into the bedrock, called giant’s cauldrons. The best way to experience the area is to follow the 1.5 km long trail which takes you to two stunning viewpoints. The first overlooks Lake Anten and Brudsängen (the Bride’s Bed), reached by passing through the so called ‘eye of the needle’, and the other is from the summit of Räkneberg, with its stunning view of Lake Mjörn. The perfect place for a selfie!

Psst! Why not stay a day extra!

If you want to stay the night we recommend Grand Hotel Alingsås, just next to the train station.

 

Next to Gothenburg

There’s a whole lot to discover in Gothenburg. And there’s even more to explore outside the city. All you have to do is ride just a few stops beyond the city limits to enjoy some really memorable experiences. 

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