Just 30km north of Gothenburg, this riverside town has a preserved 1898 castle, a converted ironworks restaurant, and boutiques in a 19th-century cotton mill along Lake Sävelången.
In Floda, 30 kilometers north of Gothenburg, you can walk through the preserved rooms of Nääs Castle where tea cups still sit on dining tables from 1898, eat wood-fired meals in a converted ironworks building, and shop in boutiques housed in a 19th-century cotton mill. Regular commuter trains connect Floda to Gothenburg in 25 minutes. You can swim from wooden jetties into Lake Sävelången, follow paths through forests with 100-year-old oak trees, or watch films in one of Sweden's smallest cinemas in nearby Tollered.
Getting to Floda by Train
The Västtåg train from Gothenburg Central Station stops at Floda station, built in 1903. The journey takes about 25 minutes, with trains running throughout the day. The station sits in the center of Floda, within walking distance of most local points of interest. You can use the same train line to continue to Alingsås or return to Gothenburg.
Exploring Nääs Castle's Original 1800s Interior
The rooms in Nääs Castle remain exactly as they were in 1898 - tea cups rest on the dining table, beds stay made with 19th-century linens, and personal items lie on dressers. You can join 50-minute guided tours through the castle's preserved rooms. In the castle park, century-old oak trees shade large wooden swings. The castle shop sells traditional Swedish crafts and historical building materials.
Dining at Jernbruket's Wood-Fired Kitchen
A central wood-fired grill dominates the kitchen at Jernbruket, located in a brick warehouse next to River Såveån. The kitchen buys whole animals from nearby farms and grows vegetables in their garden. You'll find beers from local microbreweries on the menu. The brick walls and large windows of the dining room look out over the river.
Swimming and Walking Around Lake Sävelången
You can swim from wooden jetties at Garveriet beach or from the rocks at Drängsered. A lakeside path runs from Floda to Nääs Fabriker and continues to Tollered, with numbered markers every kilometer. Look for wooden benches at points overlooking the water. During summer months, you can fish with a permit or rent rowing boats from the marina.
Shopping at Nääs Fabriker
The former cotton mill at Nääs Fabriker now contains fashion stores, home decoration shops, and food vendors under its original wooden beams and tall windows. You can walk onto the wooden docks extending into Lake Sävelången after visiting the waterfront restaurant and café.
Playing Golf at Öijared Resort
Three 18-hole golf courses spread across the peninsula between lakes Mjörn and Sävelången at Öijared Resort. The main building, with its glass walls and pine wood exterior, stands among pine trees. Walking trails circle the property. The resort's restaurant uses ingredients from Swedish farms and forests. One course welcomes walk-in players, while the other two require reservations.
