5 / 5 - One review
How to get there
4 hours by train from Stockholm; 2 hours and 15 minutes by bus or train from Goteborg.
When to go
During summer
Minimum stay
1 to 2 days
Jönkönping (Sweden)
©
Flickr cc Birger Eriksson
Practical information on Jönkönping
Reviews of Jönkönping
Jönköping is situated next to the very large lake Vättern, which made the city's fortune and continues to contribute to its finances. But this hasn't spoiled the scenery, which, thanks to this beautiful lake, is magnificent.
My suggestion:
When in Sweden... grab a 'fika' (slang for 'coffee')! A cafe, a patisserie and friends: it's the number one social activity in this country! Try a semla (cream puff) while warming your hands on a mug of coffee, sitting back, admiring the lake.
My review
This city seemed typically Swedish to me, in that I felt it had real soul and a real sense of character. Neither too big nor too small, there's always some nook or cranny to explore, along a cobbled street; the market is picturesque and a great place to find good local products from the surrounding small villages.
I liked the fact that Jönköping is surrounded by nature, with the lake and forest at its doorstep. The town is well connected, thanks to its bus and rail links, which allow you to appreciate the countryside.
If you go there in winter, the cold is quite severe (it can reach -15°C), but the city's warm, welcoming cafes more than make up for that, with their cushions, candles and cake. You'll never want to leave! And even the churches are kept warm!
Well, Sofiakyrkan, Sophie's church, at least. I went in to admire its interior decor – absolutely grandiose – and although I was already taken aback by the beauty of the place, the warmth and the tea and little cakes available there won me over entirely.
To sum it up, this is a beautiful city, perfectly sized, rich in cultural and nature, set close to the pretty lake Vättern.
©
Johan Lange
