Att göra i Mariefred - 17 tips till en charmig pärla

What to do in Mariefred? This charming little gem offers everything from castles and cosy alleys to a museum railway and a steam boat. We have now gathered our best tips for experiences and sights in Mariefred.

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Mariefred

Mariefred is a fantastic town that attracts many tourists in the summer. Even like this, in mid-May, it was very nice to make a visit.

Mariefred is located on Lake Mälaren, in the municipality of Strängnäs, in Södermanland.

What can you do in Mariefred?

So, what can you see and do in Mariefred? There is a lot to experience, especially in the summer. Here are our top tips on what to see and do in Mariefred.

1. Strolling in Mariefred town centre

Of course, one thing you can't miss doing in Mariefred is strolling around the town centre. This is an incredibly picturesque town, with charming wooden houses and cosy alleys.

The city centre is full of small shops, restaurants and cafés. If you want to know more about the city's history, you can join guided city walks during the summer.

2. check out Mariefred's church

In the centre of town is Mariefred Church, which was built in 1624, destroyed by fire in 1682 and reopened in 1701. At the church you will also find the Sturestenen, which is erected in memory of the founder of Mariefred Abbey, Sten Sture the Elder. The church also offers a fine view of Lake Mälaren.

3. Coffee at Callanderska Farm

In the centre of Mariefred is the Callanderska gården homestead. The heritage museum, which is open in the summer and all year round for booked groups, shows what a bourgeois home looked like at the turn of the last century.

There is also a Schewezeri next door, which serves food in the summer.

4. Eat ice cream at Två Goda Ting

Två Goda Ting is a shop and espresso bar on one of the city's central streets. It was currently undergoing renovation, but you could still shop through a window in the wall.

Here we each bought a cone of chocolate and rum raisin ice cream. Wow, so good!

5. Have a beer at the Gripsholm Inn.

Another classic place in Mariefred is the Gripsholm Inn. Here you can eat in the dining room or the back pocket, maybe enjoy an afternoon tea or just have a beer.

6. Walk along Lake Mälaren

Mariefred is beautifully situated on Lake Mälaren, and there is a wooden bridge along the waterfront where you can walk to enjoy the beautiful views.

7. Rent a boat

At one point along the waterfront there are boats from VÅG - Take a Wave. By downloading an app, you can rent one of the boats. It is also possible to rent a SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) at the harbour office.

8. Visit Gripsholm Castle

Gripsholm Castle is named after Bo Jonsson Grip, who built the first castle on the site in the 14th century. The castle you see today was built in 1537, on the initiative of Gustav Vasa. In the 18th century, Gustav III had an exclusive castle theatre built.

If you visit the interior of the castle, you can see the large Hall of State, Duke Karl's Chamber, the Swedish state's portrait collection and, of course, the impressive 18th century theatre. It is also nice to stroll in Gripsholm Castle Park and from the harbour promenade in Mariefred you have a fantastic view of the royal castle.

READ MORE: Gripsholm Castle - a royal castle on Lake Mälaren

9. Feel the wings of history at Kärnbo church ruin

Right next to Gripsholm Castle is a ruin of Kärnbo parish church. The church was built at the end of the 12th century and expanded in the 16th century. When Mariefred's church was completed in 1624, Kärnbo church was abandoned and left to decay.

10. Hike in the Hjorthagen nature reserve

A short walk from Gripsholm Castle is the Hjorthagen nature reserve.

The area has belonged to Gripsholm's royal estate since the 17th century. Today, the entire nature reserve is used as grazing land for about a hundred fallow deer, and the area is also popular for walking.

11. Take the museum railway

One of the most popular things to do in Mariefred in the summer is to take a ride on the museum railway. During the summer season, the trains run from Mariefred to Läggesta, Hedlandet and Taxinge Näsby, where you will find the popular "cookie castle". Taxinge Castle.

The old railway station is also extremely charming, as are the buildings around it.

12. Take a boat trip with S/S Mariefred.

S/S Mariefred is a steamship that was built in 1903 for traffic between Mariefred and Stockholm. Today the ship is used in the summer to take passengers to and from Taxinge Castle. If you want, you can also choose to take a tour of the castle, with a steamboat in one direction and a steam train in the other.

13. Enjoy the view at Café Klaver

Kafé Klaver is a café with an incredibly beautiful view of Lake Mälaren, about 15 minutes away by car from the centre of Mariefred. Here you can enjoy pastries or a simple lunch in a lovely environment. The lodge occasionally offers theatre and yoga classes.

14. Learn about the history of the mill at Åkers Stückbruk.

In Åkers Stückbruk, which is a short drive from Mariefred, Karl IX founded a Stückbruk in 1580 to manufacture cannons.

Åkers styckebruk is one of the country's oldest mill towns and here you can see a manor house with a park and several different well-preserved buildings. In the summer, the Åkers mill museum is open for visits.

15. See nature at Kalkbro Nature Reserve

Kalkbro is a nature reserve and also a limestone quarry that operated from the Middle Ages until the 1940s.

The limestone quarry is known from a scene in the film Ronja the Robber's Daughter, and the setting at this location is truly delightful.

16. Discover the Skottvång mine

The Skottvång mine has been known since the 16th century and operated until 1920. Today there is a well-preserved mining environment with several buildings, as well as a mining museum that is open in the summer.

There is also a restaurant here, and in the summer they organise concerts and other events. We came here on a Friday evening and were lucky because on this particular day there was a buffet with specialities from Sörmland and food made from locally produced ingredients.

Among other things, wild boar with mushrooms, pate on Mälar pike, pie with cherry cabbage and stinging nettle, pickled radishes and Sörmland's regional dish barley grits with pork. Very well prepared and delicious!

17. Take a trip to Strängnäs.

Mariefred is located in Strängnäs municipality and travelling to Strängnäs by car takes just over 20 minutes. In Strängnäs you can discover the charming red light district, check out the 17th century windmill and be impressed by the magnificent Strängnäs Cathedral.

READ MORE: Things to do in Strängnäs - 12 sights and experiences

More things to do in Mariefred for culture and history lovers

There is of course even more to see and do in Mariefred than our suggestions. Here are some more tips for those who like culture and history.

POM Gallery is an art gallery (Långgatan 11).
Restaurants there are several, such as Alba, Han in the corner and Rakstugan.
Day of the angels is a traditional event organised in Mariefred on the first Saturday of June every year.

More things to do in Mariefred for nature lovers

Here are some more tips on things to do in Mariefred for nature lovers.

Gripsholm Golf Club is for golf enthusiasts. (Gripsholm Royal Barn.)
canoeists offers canoe trips in the nature of Sörmland (Skottvångsvägen 49, Åkers styckebruk).
Sörmland Trail Stage 15:1 runs from Läggesta to Långaedet.

More to do in Mariefred with kids and teens

Travelling with children or teenagers? Here are some more ideas on what to do in Mariefred and the surrounding area with your family.

Glass is also available at the Mariefred harbour café.
Minigolf is at the Castle Pavilion, which also serves food. (Gripsholm Lottenlund)
PAX walk is for those who have read the PAX books and want to see the settings where the youth books are set.
Pony walk at the Mariefred Miniridskola.
Strandbadet Mariefred is a bathing area with a sandy beach, grass and a jetty.

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

There are of course plenty of hotels and other accommodation options in Mariefred. If you come with a motorhome, there are parking spaces Face the sun, with a relatively central location. There are also various places around the centre of Mariefred such as Mariefred's campsite, Hedland and RV park Rosersberg. We spent one night in a friend's driveway with our motorhome and one night outside the Skottvång mine, where we had dinner.

More to see and do near Mariefred

There is of course more to see and do in the surroundings of Södermanland. Nearby, you can visit Strängnäs and Taxinge Castle, but also Sundbyholm Castle. Even more tips can be found below.

Even more suggestions for what to see and do in Mariefred?

We had really nice days in Mariefred and can highly recommend a visit here. Have you been to Mariefred? How was your experience? Do you have any more good tips on what to see and do in Mariefred?

Facts about Mariefred

Landscape: Södermanland
County: Södermanland County
Municipality: Strängnäs municipality
Population: More than 4000 (2020)
The name: The name comes from a monastery built by the Carthusian monks in 1493, called Pax Mariae, meaning 'Mary's Peace', and the surrounding area was named Mariefred.
Read more: You can find more information at website of the entrepreneurs' association.

History in Mariefred

1370s: Bo Jonsson Grip built a castle on a headland, which later became Gripsholm Castle.
1493: A monastery (Pax Mariae) was built by Carthusian monks, where the current church is located.
1504: The monastery church was inaugurated in connection with the burial of Sten Sture the Elder there. His remains were later moved to Strängnäs Cathedral.
1526: Gripsholm Castle became the property of Gustav Vasa. In the same year, the monastery was withdrawn and later demolished in connection with the Reformation.
1537: Gustav Vasa ordered the construction of Gripsholm Castle on the island where the old castle was located.
1605: Mariefred was granted town rights by King Charles IX.
17th century: The city suffered three serious fires: in the 1620s, 1640 and 1682.
18th century: Mariefred flourished during the reign of Gustav III.
1895: A railway service opened between Läggesta and Mariefred, which was discontinued in 1964.

3 Comments

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BP says:

It was a long time since I was in Mariefred. So this refreshment to fine! How charming and well maintained all the wooden houses are. Oh the food - yummy! There you were really lucky - or it was skill;-)

PS. Oh what a great weather:-) DS.

16 May 2023 - 19:27

Lena - good for the soul says:

Lovely sweet Mariefred! a community I really like!

Have a nice trip!

Hug Lena

17 May 2023 - 5:52

Weronica says:

Is there any hotel to stay at.preferably near water?

28 July 2023 - 20:23

Things to do in Mariefred - 17 tips for a charming gem

Mariefred

What can you do in Mariefred?

1. Strolling in Mariefred town centre

2. check out Mariefred's church

3. Coffee at Callanderska Farm

4. Eat ice cream at Två Goda Ting

5. Have a beer at the Gripsholm Inn.

6. Walk along Lake Mälaren

7. Rent a boat

8. Visit Gripsholm Castle

9. Feel the wings of history at Kärnbo church ruin

10. Hike in the Hjorthagen nature reserve

11. Take the museum railway

12. Take a boat trip with S/S Mariefred.

13. Enjoy the view at Café Klaver

14. Learn about the history of the mill at Åkers Stückbruk.

15. See nature at Kalkbro Nature Reserve

16. Discover the Skottvång mine

17. Take a trip to Strängnäs.

More things to do in Mariefred for culture and history lovers

More things to do in Mariefred for nature lovers

More to do in Mariefred with kids and teens

Where can you stay or park your motorhome?

More to see and do near Mariefred

Even more suggestions for what to see and do in Mariefred?

Facts about Mariefred

History in Mariefred

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BP says:

Lena - good for the soul says:

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