The 300-mi/485-km long Gota Canal crosses the country, linking the Baltic Sea to the North Sea via rivers and lakes (including Lakes Vattern and Vanern). Originally built as a commerce route in 1832, today its primary use is pleasure cruising during the summer months.
Steamers pass through more than 60 locks on the journey between Goteborg and Stockholm. If you have ample time, a cruise on the cozy and friendly ships is the ideal way to soak in the small-town beauty of Sweden while traveling from Stockholm to Goteborg.
If you'd rather stay on the ground, take a day trip to charming Soderkoping. The star attraction is the engineering phenomenon step-lock at Berg. Watch the teamwork of sailboating couples in these tricky locks and you'll see why the canal is referred to as "Divorce Ditch." http://www.gotakanal.se.
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