This small Swedish town, 230 km southwest of Stockholm, has a 12th-century stone church and a well-preserved grain mill from 1874. Known for its grain industry and railway junction.
Mjölby sits along the Svartån river in Östergötland County, Sweden. You can climb the observation towers at Lake Tåkern to watch migrating birds, examine 1000-year-old Viking runes at Högby, or walk through the limestone wetlands of Örbackens kalkkärr. The city's location, 230 kilometers south of Stockholm, makes it a practical base for day trips to medieval Skänninge or the surrounding nature reserves.
Getting to Mjölby
Intercity trains connect Mjölby with Stockholm, Malmö, and Linköping. Coach services run to Göteborg and Jönköping. Local buses operated by Östgötatrafiken connect Mjölby with surrounding areas. Buy train tickets at station machines rather than on board to save money.
Natural Areas
Skogsjöområdets Nature Reserve has camping spots and color-coded walking trails through pine and birch forests. At Örbackens kalkkärr, walk on wooden boardwalks through wetlands where rare orchids grow in the limestone-rich soil. Lake Tåkern, a 15-minute drive from Mjölby, has four observation towers where you can spot some of the 276 recorded bird species, including ospreys and marsh harriers.
Cultural Attractions
Walk among 25 preserved buildings from the 1800s on Norrgårdsholme, an islet in central Mjölby. The buildings include a water mill, blacksmith's workshop, and farmhouses. At Mjölby Hembygdsgård museum, you can see farm tools, furniture, and household items from the 1800s and early 1900s. From June to August, stop at the museum's café for coffee and home-baked pastries (fika), and watch weekly demonstrations of traditional crafts like weaving and woodcarving.
Historical Sites
The Runestones of Högby display Norse inscriptions carved during the Viking Age, telling stories of local families and their travels. Bjälbo Church, built in the 1100s, has stone carvings and medieval frescoes from the time when the powerful Bjälbo family ruled the region. Inside Veta Church, built in the 12th century, you'll find wall paintings depicting biblical scenes and wooden sculptures of saints.
Sports and Recreation
Swim laps in the 25-meter pool at Lundbybadet sports complex or join morning aqua fitness classes. Watch local teams Mjölby AI FF play football, Mjölby HC compete in hockey, or see Mjölby IBK Black Bears' floorball matches. Several hiking trails start within one kilometer of the city center, ranging from 3 to 10 kilometers in length. In winter, you can ski on groomed cross-country tracks that circle the city.
