Jönköping

Sweden

View over Jönköping

Jönköping is by many Swedes referred to the Jerusalem of Sweden - this is due to the town's many churches. The city is on the southern end of Sweden's second largest lake, Vättern. Jönköping also has two smaller lakes of its own, Munksjön ('The Monk Lake') and Rocksjön ('The Rock Lake'). It is Sweden's 10th largest municipality with about 136,000 inhabitants (2017).

  • Destination Jönköping, Södra Strandgatan 13B, +46 77-121 13 00. Daily 10:00–17:00.

Destination Jönköping, Södra Strandgatan 13B, +46 77-121 13 00. Daily 10:00–17:00.

  • Fågelmuseet, Jönköpings Stadspark, +46 36 12 99 83.
  • Jönköpings läns museum, Dag Hammarskjölds Plats 2, +46 36-30 18 00. Has a permanent exhibition on the early 20th-century fantasy artist John Bauer, as well as various photo exhibitions and historical information.
  • Rosenlunds rosarium, Dag Hammarskjölds Plats 2, +46 36-10 50 00. 24 hours daily. A small garden with hundreds of types of roses. Free.
  • Tändsticksmuseet, Tändsticksgränd 27, +46 36-10 55 43. The area where the match production of Jönköping was held. Jönköping is the birthplace of the safety match.

The city also has a harbor with a pier. This harbor is quite popular during summertime - often you may find people eating icecream there and enjoying a beer at the harbor's bar.

Fågelmuseet, Jönköpings Stadspark, +46 36 12 99 83.

Jönköpings läns museum, Dag Hammarskjölds Plats 2, +46 36-30 18 00. Has a permanent exhibition on the early 20th-century fantasy artist John Bauer, as well as various photo exhibitions and historical information.

Rosenlunds rosarium, Dag Hammarskjölds Plats 2, +46 36-10 50 00. 24 hours daily. A small garden with hundreds of types of roses. Free.

Tändsticksmuseet, Tändsticksgränd 27, +46 36-10 55 43. The area where the match production of Jönköping was held. Jönköping is the birthplace of the safety match.

  • The beach. The beach of lake Vättern is one of Jönköping's prides. During summertime it is an excellent place to go swimming or playing volleyball.
  • DreamHack. A LAN gaming event which takes place in the Elmia expohall, right next to the bathhouse of Rosenlund. It is the world's largest LAN party. In 2017, 50 000 people were expected to visit the event. It usually takes place twice a year, once in June and once in November. You can attend as a visitor or by bringing your computer to the party.
  • Rosenlunds Badhus, Elmiavägen 4, +46 36-10 70 34. Literally 'The bathhouse of Rosenlund', is a swimming hall for adults and children. It is quite a big swimming hall with an 'adventure' section for the young ones, a diving room and also massages can be booked.

The beach. The beach of lake Vättern is one of Jönköping's prides. During summertime it is an excellent place to go swimming or playing volleyball.

DreamHack. A LAN gaming event which takes place in the Elmia expohall, right next to the bathhouse of Rosenlund. It is the world's largest LAN party. In 2017, 50 000 people were expected to visit the event. It usually takes place twice a year, once in June and once in November. You can attend as a visitor or by bringing your computer to the party.

Rosenlunds Badhus, Elmiavägen 4, +46 36-10 70 34. Literally 'The bathhouse of Rosenlund', is a swimming hall for adults and children. It is quite a big swimming hall with an 'adventure' section for the young ones, a diving room and also massages can be booked.

The largest shopping center in Jönköping is A6 Center. In A6 you can find everything from hairdressers to clothing and furniture, like the Swedish company IKEA. There are also several electronic companies, computer store chains and sports shops in this area.

The center of Jönköping is divided into two parts, the east (Östra Centrum) and the west (Västra Centrum).

The eastern part contains the biggest shopping street in the city with 200 shops that are scattered over a small pedestrian friendly area.

The western part is considered to be the exclusive part of Jönköping. Many administrations and authorities has got their offices here and Jönköping University allures many students. Most of the taverns and clubs in Jönköping lies here and of course there are many cafes where you can enjoy the Swedish fika.

Chili Thai Restaurant, Västra Storgatan 12, +46 12 28 28. Mains 100-140 kr.

Den Småländska Kolonin, Kyrkogatan 4, +46 36 71 22 22. Most expensive place in Jönköping.

Pizzeria Campino, Fabriksgatan 16, +46 36-71 41 63. 50 kr.

Pizzeria Cigarren, Östra Storgatan 84, +46 36-16 60 25. Pizzas start from 65 kr.

Twin City Ristorante and Grill, Hamngatan 1, +46 36-71 41 11. Classy place. Mains 105-225 kr.

Velvet Lounge, Västra Storgatan 4, +46 36-30 77 75. Restaurant and bar with Italian, Asian, Oriental, Mexican and Swedish food. Mains 100-200 kr.

  • Idlewild, Tändsticksgränd 23. A central bar in Jönköping that focuses on beer. They offer over 20 different kinds of beer.
  • Bongo Bar, Tändsticksgränd 13. Where the more alternative people hang out. Not much of a dancing place, but great music and nice people. It is in Tändsticksområdet.

Idlewild, Tändsticksgränd 23. A central bar in Jönköping that focuses on beer. They offer over 20 different kinds of beer.

Bongo Bar, Tändsticksgränd 13. Where the more alternative people hang out. Not much of a dancing place, but great music and nice people. It is in Tändsticksområdet.

  • Gameffect, Tändsticksgränd 33 (near rail way station, +46 720034488.
  • Pressbyrån, Barnarpsgatan 36.

Gameffect, Tändsticksgränd 33 (near rail way station, +46 720034488.

Pressbyrån, Barnarpsgatan 36.

  • Habo Kyrka (Habo Church) lies several kilometers northwest of Jönköping, just off the road to Falköping. It's a small frame church whose interior is decorated with peasant folk art depicting biblical scenes.
  • Gränna is the hometown of the peppermint rock candy. One can also take the boat from here to get to the island of "Visingsö".
  • Taberg, interesting mountain just south of Jönköping. Called the miracle in Småland by Carl von Linné.
  • Visingsö is an island in lake Vättern, not far from Jönköping. It has a total area of 24 km² and its sights include its herb garden, the old castle ruins and going on a tour through the island by horse buggy. One gets out to the island by first getting to the town of Gränna to which one can take the local bus. After that you leave from Gränna on a boat which departs for Visingsö every hour or so.
  • 60 km east of Jönköping lies the village of Eksjö. It is a town that has been able to preserve many wooden buildings in the center. Most of these houses are built around quiet courtyards. One house is now a museum where you can see how a well-off family lived around 1900.
  • Outside of Eksjö there is a nature reserve were you can walk through a small canyon, the Skurugata, and then on up the hilltop, the Skuruhatt. The trail that takes past both is only 4 km long, but beware not to wander of onto the longer hiking trails that cross it. Walking through the Skurugata is a little adventurous, especially if it rains and the rocks become slippery. From the Skuruhatt you can see the surrounding countryside and forests.

Habo Kyrka (Habo Church) lies several kilometers northwest of Jönköping, just off the road to [[Falköping]]. It's a small frame church whose interior is decorated with peasant folk art depicting biblical scenes.

[[Gränna]] is the hometown of the peppermint rock candy. One can also take the boat from here to get to the island of "Visingsö".

[[Taberg]], interesting mountain just south of Jönköping. Called the miracle in Småland by Carl von Linné.

[[Visingsö]] is an island in lake Vättern, not far from Jönköping. It has a total area of 24 km² and its sights include its herb garden, the old castle ruins and going on a tour through the island by horse buggy. One gets out to the island by first getting to the town of Gränna to which one can take the local bus. After that you leave from Gränna on a boat which departs for Visingsö every hour or so.

60 km east of Jönköping lies the village of [[Eksjö]]. It is a town that has been able to preserve many wooden buildings in the center. Most of these houses are built around quiet courtyards. One house is now a museum where you can see how a well-off family lived around 1900.

Outside of Eksjö there is a nature reserve were you can walk through a small canyon, the Skurugata, and then on up the hilltop, the Skuruhatt. The trail that takes past both is only 4 km long, but beware not to wander of onto the longer hiking trails that cross it. Walking through the Skurugata is a little adventurous, especially if it rains and the rocks become slippery. From the Skuruhatt you can see the surrounding countryside and forests.