This calm Swedish city of 50,000 residents sits amid forests and lakes. Its landmarks include a 12th-century castle and medieval monastery ruins, plus modern shopping centers.
Skövde, a city of 50,000 residents in southern Sweden, sits between the country's largest lakes, Vänern and Vättern. You can walk through medieval stone churches, swim in Arena Skövde's water park, or follow hiking trails on Billingen Mountain. The city has become Sweden's third-largest gaming development center, while continuing its industrial heritage with active Volvo manufacturing plants.
Getting to Skövde
Regular trains connect Skövde to major Swedish cities, with journey times of one hour to Gothenburg and two hours to Stockholm. The central station sits in the heart of the city, making it easy to explore on foot. Local buses run frequently between the city center and main attractions like Billingen Mountain.
Activities on Billingen Mountain
Billingen Mountain, just 3 kilometers from the city center, has 57 kilometers of hiking trails. In winter, you can ski on multiple cross-country tracks of varying difficulty levels. The mountain's bike trails range from 1 to 10 kilometers, with two pump tracks and a technique course. You can rent bikes and equipment from local providers.
Cultural Attractions
The Skövde Kulturhus, built in 1964 as Sweden's first multi-purpose cultural center, combines an art museum, theater, and library under one roof. You can watch performances by both local and international artists. At the Balthazar Science Center, you can try interactive experiments and build in the LEGO area.
Nature and Parks
Visit the Silverfallet-Karlsfors nature reserve to see its large waterfall, which reaches peak flow during April and May. In May, thousands of cherry trees bloom in the Valle area. Several nature reserves in the region have marked walking trails and designated picnic areas.
Historical Buildings and Sites
The Våmb Church from the mid-12th century still has its original Romanesque architecture and 13th-century details. At Askeberga, you can see Sweden's second-largest ship tumulus - 24 large stones arranged in an unexplained ancient formation. In Helénsparken, you'll find Helénsstugan, the city's oldest building that survived the 1759 fire.
Gaming and Technology
The University of Skövde runs specialized gaming programs, and many gaming companies operate in the new Skövde Science City district. International tech companies and gaming professionals work alongside students and researchers in this growing tech hub.
Local Food and Events
Visit the annual Food Festival during the last weekend of August, where local restaurants serve small portions of their specialties. Throughout the year, you can buy local produce at Lilla Saluhallen food hall. Many restaurants in Skövde use ingredients from nearby farms.
