Alingsås

Alingsås is a city with about 27,000 inhabitants (2020) in the Västergötland region of Sweden. It is known for its many cafes and as the birthplace of Jonas Alströmer, the man who brought the potato to Sweden.

Understand

Alingsås town square

A bust of Jonas Alströmer, the man who popularized potatoes in Sweden

Alingsås is first mentioned in written sources during the 14th century. The name is derived from the personal name "Ale" and the word "ås", meaning "ridge". Alingsås was granted city rights in 1619, stayed a small city with less than 150 inhabitants until the early 1720s, when Jonas Alströmer established a factory in the city. He also popularized potatoes in Sweden, growing them in Nolhaga castle. The crop is, therefore, associated with Alingsås, which hosts a potato festival every year. It also became a center of the early Swedish textile industry. Despite two major city fires during the 18th century, Alingsås grew to 1,000 inhabitants by 1800. The city was hit hard by a crisis in the Swedish textile industry during the 1960s and 70s.

Local information

• Alingsås City Council website

Get in

By car

Alingsås is located along European route E20, 48 kilometres (30 mi) to the east of Gothenburg and 446 kilometres (277 mi) to the west of Stockholm after passing Skövde and Skara. It is 41 kilometres (25 mi) to the northwest of Borås on Route 180. The city is south of Trollhättan and accessible from there via Route 42.

By rail

See also: Rail travel in Sweden

• 1 Alingsås train station. (updated Jul 2024)
  • Västtrafik, ☏ +46-771-414300. Västtrafik runs commuter trains and regional trains to Alingsås from various locations. Trains from Gothenburg take about 40 minutes. About 80 kr one way from Gothenburg. (updated Oct 2024)
  • SJ, ☏ +46771-75 75 75. SJ can take you to Alingsås from anywhere else in Sweden. The fastest trains from Stockholm to Alingsås are the X 2000s which takes about 3 hours and stops in Katrineholm, Skövde, and other places; the regional SJ train from Stockholm take about 4½ hours. (updated Oct 2024)

By plane

The closest international airport is Gothenburg's Landvetter Airport (GOT ^IATA) 40 km (25 mi) (about 35 minute drive) to the southwest on the E20 and through the woods.

By bus

• Västtrafik, ☏ +46-771-414300. Västtrafik runs buses to surrounding villages and some bigger towns like Borås and Trollhättan where you can catch other buses or trains (updated Oct 2024)

Get around

If you don't like walking, you can always use public transport. The main bus hub is Alingsås bus station which is colocated with the train station.

See

Castles

• 1 Gräfsnäs castle ruins (Gräfsnäs slottsruin) (accessible via bus, the old Anten-Gräfsnäs train or by car; the latter is the simplest and offers the opportunity to pass through quaint Swedish countryside where you'll pass through Bergstena before getting on Route 42; at the intersection in Sollenbrunn, take Route 190, following the signs). A castle ruin and park with a nice beach and cafe where historical reenactments are performed as well as other events and where local artisans sell their crafts.  
• 2 Nolhaga castle (Nolhaga slott) (in the middle of Alingsås). May 11:00-17:00, Jun-Aug 11:00-18:00. A nice park that features a zoo with (mainly) farm animals.  
• 3 Nääs castle (Nääs slott), Nääs allé 8, 448 92 Floda. (take Route E20 towards Gothenburg and get off on exit 89 toward Nääs hotel, follow the signs and drive up to the castle; be sure to pay for parking or you probably will get a ticket despite the parking lot being totally empty; by train, make your way to Floda and then switch to bus; get off a Lilla Nääs and walk up castle avenue; you can walk from Floda in about half an hour), ☏ +46 302-318 39, info@naas.se. The visitor centre is opened at different times throughout the year; during the summer, it is open daily between 11:00-16:00; check the website for other seasons. Nääs castle is a wonderful place where you can walk around, learn about Swedish history and culture, see old buildings, celebrate holidays like Midsummer, and even get married; there is a gallery and crafts as well; Nääs castle is a must see for anyone visiting Alingsås.  

Churches

• 4 Siene church (Siene kyrka) (by car, take the E20 towards Stockholm and take the Vårgårda exit; loop under the E20 and take O 1900 back to the southwest, following the signs to Hol; after about 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) take a left on O 1782 toward Siene; by foot, follow the Gotaleden trail to Vårgårda). The church is open all day though it is not usually attended and may be locked at night. Siene church is a beautiful example of an old Swedish church with a surrounding cemetery and bell tower; it is always open and provides a nice place to rest along a trek, be it through life or the countryside; behind the church is a butte where an even older graveyard lies, though finding huckleberries there is much easier than locating ancient headstones. (There are no bathrooms available at the church.) Free. (updated Oct 2024)

Mills

• 5 Linnefors mill (Linnefors kvarn) (follow the blue marked trail in Hjortmarka nature reserve and you will find the ruins just down a hill shortly after starting from Hjortgården). The ruins of this 17th-century mill are right along the a hiking trail allowing passersby to imagine what life was like in the area several hundred years ago as they picture where the waterwheel turned and walk across the millpond's dam. This extravagant relic is a bonus to an already great trek. (updated Oct 2024)
• 6 Stampens mill (Stampens kvarn), Götegatan 21 (the nicest way to the mill is using the walking path that runs along the creek though you can drive and park on Götagatan), ☏ +46 32210054, kontakt@alingsashembygdsforening.se. The mill is always nice to see from the outside; open hours and events can be found on the association's website. (updated Oct 2024)

Museums

• 7 Alingsås museum, Bankgatan 3. (updated Jul 2024)

Nature reserves

• 8 Brobacka nature reserve (Brobacka naturreservat) (the parking lot of the reserve can be driven to using Route 180 and is on the right before the stop sign; if you want to visit the cafe, take a right at the stop sign and then take the first left; you can also take a local bus, getting off at Brobacka korsväg; walking to the reserve from Alingsås is ill-advised as the roads have no sidewalks and a good amount of traffic but there are trails through the forest that lead to town), ☏ +46-706-72 20 80, stefan.byden@mjornbygdensnaturcentrum.se. The little soldier's torp (i.e., cabin) near the entrance of the preserve is open but requires a code that changes daily; it can be obtained on demand but requires internet and email access; the preserve proper is open year around at all times. The oldest natural reserve in the municipality, Brobacka is just north of the lake Mjörn where you can see glacial potholes and other traces of the last ice age; for those sensitive to noise, however, the beauty may be drown out by the roads which are never far away from the trails; regardless, there are a couple of nice viewpoints; the trail is not the easiest and wondering off the way presents an even more challenging route; the preserve also has a memorial stone from the 1566 battle against the Danes and an solder's torp that has been restored. Free. (updated Oct 2024)
• 9 Hjortmarka nature reserve (Hjortmarka naturreservat) (get on the E20 and turn right when coming from Gothenburg and left from Stockholm onto Sandbergsvägen; continue 500 metres (1,600 ft) south to the parking lot at Hjortgården), ☏ +46-322-616000, kommunstyrelsen@alingsas.se.  
• 10 Yxnås nature reserve (Yxnås naturreservat) (about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) east of Alingsås, it is easiest to drive to the nature reserve, but it is 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi) from the Kärtared bus stop and 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from Storsjöstrand; it is also possible to hike to the preserve using country roads and unmarked trails through back country). The nature reserve is a very special place with grassy meadows and conifer forests; it preserves a soldier's torp (i.e., cottage) from the 17th century that you can enter; walking from Storsjöstrand is very easy and provides a great hike with views of the lake; starting at the parking lot does require a steep uphill climb. Free. (updated Oct 2024)

Other

• 11 Anten-Gräfsnäs railroad (Anten-Gräfsnäs Järnväg (AGJ)), ☏ +46-322-721 30. AGJ is a well preserved vintage steam train that runs not far from Alingsås. The nearly 100-year-old train travels 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) along Lake Anten during the summer months. Check the website for times and details. Adults from 120 kr; youth from 60 kr; children age 2 and under are free. (updated Oct 2024)

Large grave stone legendarily belonging to Sigrid the Haughty

• 12 Puke Stone (Pjukesten) (by car, park under the power lines about 500 metres (1,600 ft) south of Siene, just past the tennis court, or at the church in Siene and walk up; by foot, follow the Gotaleden trail to Vårgårda where you will find the gravestone on your left before coming into Siene). Despite its oddly translated name, the Puke Stone is one of the nicest ancient monuments in the area which, legend has it, was erected for a queen. Free. (updated Oct 2024)

Do

• 1 Dammsjöås, Dammsjöåsvägen 45, Alingsås, SE 441 95 (take Route 180 toward Borås, turn to the left on Maydvägen before you get too far out of town, and take a right in Maryd; alternatively, you can hike in), ☏ +46322672310, svenake.mokander@gmail.com. This old farm preserves small-scale agriculture and forestry with many exhibits around the 17.7 hectares (44 acres) property that are accessible via clearly marked trails; the site includes a lake, barbecues, an old soldier's torp (i.e., cabin), lean-tos where you can camp, and more! Free (donations welcome).  
• Lights in Alingsås (downtown city centre), ☏ +46322-617617, lights@alingsasenergi.se. Nighttime during October. Light designers illuminate public spaces in exciting ways for everyone to see. Free.  

Buy

• Balders hage, Drottninggatan 25, ☏ +46 322 181 85. Shop with nice and traditional home decorating items. Also has a cafe. 
• Karin.S, Nygatan 18, ☏ +46-322 - 150 50, info@karin-s.se. M-F 11:00-18:00; Sa 10:00-15:00. One of the nicest high-end women's clothing shops in all of western Sweden; the proprietor has a keen eye for fashion and is very personable as are all her staff who make it a delight to shop for yourself or others. Not the cheapest prices but there are always great sales on nice things. 
• 1 Jordnära, Krangatan 12 (head northeast on Route O 1890 like you're going out of town, and at the last roundabout before doing so take a right on Sävlundsgatan; continue around the curve and take a right on Krangatan; the shop will be on your left), ☏ +46 322-101 63, ehandel@jordnara.se. M-F 08:00-19:00, Sa su 09:00-16:00. You can buy camping supplies, fishing tackle, outdoor clothing, and much more. (updated Oct 2024)

Eat

Visit one of Alingsås' cafes. A sign to keep a lookout for is "Gratis påtår" which means that a free refill of coffee is included.

Drink

• 1 Tallhyddan, Nolhaga allé 17 (You almost pass it when walking along the Gotaleden trail; by car, drive down Nolhagagatan, and park at the cafe.), ☏ +46700514203. A nice little cafe on lake Mjörn that is a favorite for locals where you can get waffles, organic coffee, and, weather permitting, play miniature golf. 

Sleep

Hotels

• First Hotel Grand Alingsås, Bankgatan 1, ☏ +46 322-67 01 00, info@grandhotel-alingsas.se. 
• 1 Hjälmareds Mill (Hjälmareds kvarn), Tvärhults vägen 36 (head south from Alingsås on Route 180; outside of town, take a left onto Tvärhultsvägen; follow that road till you arrive), ☏ +46 707 178870, info@hjalmaredskvarn.se. This 19th-century mill has been converted into a vacation cabin and SPA; it is near a busy road, but nestled in a forest by a lake that is just a short ways from town. From 2500 kr / day. 

Hostels

• Villa Plantaget, Nyebrogatan 2, ☏ +46 322-67 00 30, mail@alingsasvandrarhem.se. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. An little hostel with class located in the center of town which includes a seasonal cafe that serves locally produced foods. From 1690 kr per night. 

Camping

See also: Hiking in the Nordic countries

• 1 Lean-to at Bäsjön near Hol. This lean-to has a view of Bäsjön, a small but typical Swedish lake; the lean-to is relatively new and clean with a modern roof, fire pit, and wooden floor; noise from the E20 can be heard in the distance, but this location makes for an easy hike the next morning Siene via the Yxnås nature reserve. 
• 2 Lean-to on Stora Krokjön island. This lean-to is located on an island on the east side of Stora Krokjön in the Hjortmarka nature reserve; it has an earthen roof and is a bit worse for wear considering its relatively remote location; also due to its position, firewood is usually not stocked; despite these drawbacks, the remote location can also make for a peaceful night sleep with a great view of the lake; as an alternative, newer lean-tos can also be found in the nature preserve, most of which have stocked firewood and are more easily accessible. 

Go next

• Gothenburg - The largest city in western Sweden

Routes through Alingsås

Malmö ← Göteborg ←

W  E

→ Mariestad → Stockholm