Vasteras

About

Västerås, originating in name from the river mouth of Svartån, is one of the oldest cities in Sweden and Northern Europe and brims with charm. It has been populated since 1000 CE by Nordic Vikings, who left behind a veritable gold mine of ruins and artifacts. Visit the Anundshög Viking Ruins for the best collection of Iron Age ruins in the region, including barrows, graveyards, and a thousand-year-old stone labyrinth. Walk along a pathway lined with rune stones, said to have been the Viking King’s highway. Stop to visit the museum at the Västerås Castle, a redbrick building surrounded by gorgeous picnicking fields doused in the area’s heritage. A Gothic style cathedral from 1271 offers an impressive array of church artifacts, while a world of adrenaline-inspiring fun awaits at the Kokpunkten water park, housed in an old steam works. Grab an ice cream and wander through the open-air Frösakers Brygga Ship Museum, try some traditional archery practice, and explore the sweet and historic neighborhood of Kyrkbacken.