Linköping

Sweden

Linköping (pronounced "Linshooping") is Sweden's fifth biggest municipality, and the seat of Östergötland county. It has about 145,000 inhabitants in the municipality, including some countryside, and just under 100,000 in the city proper.

The city has the advantage of being a major city with all that it entails yet retaining the cozy quiet small town feel, largely due to the lack of tall buildings; a result of the military airfield just outside the city.

Linköping countryside makes up Linköping municipality outside the built-up area.

The cathedral in wintry Linköping

Linköping is the clerical and administrative centre in a rich farmland district, the province and county Östergötland.

The town was founded during the Middle Ages and is therefore one of the oldest cities in Sweden. The cathedral and the castle are two medieval buildings that are still standing.

At the "battle of Stångebro" in 1598, the city fought on the Catholic side and lost. A memorial of the battle is found just outside the city centre. The following "bloodbath of Linköping" in 1600 is remembered with a memorial at the main square.

Linköping has a university and the students are a central part of the city's life day and night.

  • Visit Linköping, Konsistoriegatan 7, +46 13 - 190 00 70. M–F 08:00–17:00; Sa 10:00–16:00.

Visit Linköping, Konsistoriegatan 7, +46 13 - 190 00 70. M–F 08:00–17:00; Sa 10:00–16:00.

Saint Lars' Church in the city centre

  • Linköping Castle, Borggården, S:t Persgatan 3B, +46 13-12 23 80. From the 13th century, this was the bishop's residence until the Lutheran reformation in the 16th century. Now it is the residence of the sheriff (landshövding) for Östergötland county. The castle also houses a museum.
  • Linköping Cathedral. The first church was built on this site in the 12th century, and was expanded regularly over the following centuries, culminating on the 19th-century tower. Linköping is said to have had the first Christian bishop in Sweden, in a time when Lund was Danish and Uppsala was pagan.
  • Stadshuset, Storgatan 43. It was built as a secondary school (läroverk) in 1864. Above its entrance is the Latin phrase "Initium sapientie timor Domini" (fear of the Lord is the beginning of all learning). This power triangle is on the crest of a minor hill from which the city's main street (Storgatan) slopes down to the main square (Stortorget) and further down to the bridge (Stångebro) across river Stångån. In its extension, this street was part of the old country road to Norrköping and Stockholm.
  • Public buildings. Around the hill crest are the public library, the administrative buildings for the diocese, the bishop's residence, and the sports house gymnastikhuset, built in 1881. The current library was built in 1998, but the collections of the old cathedral library date back to before Gutenberg. Further north are the concert hall (Konsert & Kongress), the county museum (Östergötlands länsmuseum) next to the Raoul Wallenberg plaza, and two secondary schools (Katedralskolan, Berzeliusskolan).

  • Gamla Linköping and Valla fritidsområde, Tunnbindaregatan 1, +46 13-12 11 10. An open-air museum, west of the city centre. Beautiful buildings once in the centre of Linköping have been saved from demolishion and moved to this area to make its own little town. Here you can practically enjoy life of Linköping in the 19th century. The citizens of Linköping enjoy taking part of the life and you can see people actually dressed up and working as citizens of Gamla Linköping. Also remember to buy locally produced chocolate and candy to reduced prices. In total the areas have some 20 museums.
  • IT-ceum, Östergötlands museum, Raoul Wallenbergs plats, +46 70-100 98 86. A computer and computing museum in Mjärdevi Science Park where you will find many of Linköping's IT companies. The museum covers both ancient Swedish computers and more current events, such as the demo scene with its realtime multimedia productions. The exhibitions describe both the technical and the social aspects of computing. The museum's signs are in Swedish and in English. Free.
  • Linköpings Slotts- & Domkyrkomuseum, Karl Dahlgrensgatan 13, +46 13-12 23 80. A museum that shows the town's history as a seat for bishops since the 12th century. Inside the castle.
  • Swedish Air Force Museum, Carl Cederströms gata 2, +46 13-495 97 00. The in the suburb of Malmen features over a hundred aircraft from the early 20th century to the modern age.
  • Östergötlands länsmuseum, Raoul Wallenbergs plats, +46 13-23 03 00. A museum showing the history of the province. It also houses a large art collection with both old and contemporary art.

Gamla Linköping and Valla fritidsområde, Tunnbindaregatan 1, +46 13-12 11 10. An open-air museum, west of the city centre. Beautiful buildings once in the centre of Linköping have been saved from demolishion and moved to this area to make its own little town. Here you can practically enjoy life of Linköping in the 19th century. The citizens of Linköping enjoy taking part of the life and you can see people actually dressed up and working as citizens of Gamla Linköping. Also remember to buy locally produced chocolate and candy to reduced prices. In total the areas have some 20 museums.

IT-ceum, Östergötlands museum, Raoul Wallenbergs plats, +46 70-100 98 86. A computer and computing museum in Mjärdevi Science Park where you will find many of Linköping's IT companies. The museum covers both ancient Swedish computers and more current events, such as the demo scene with its realtime multimedia productions. The exhibitions describe both the technical and the social aspects of computing. The museum's signs are in Swedish and in English. Free.

Linköpings Slotts- & Domkyrkomuseum, Karl Dahlgrensgatan 13, +46 13-12 23 80. A museum that shows the town's history as a seat for bishops since the 12th century. Inside the castle.

Swedish Air Force Museum, Carl Cederströms gata 2, +46 13-495 97 00. The in the suburb of Malmen features over a hundred aircraft from the early 20th century to the modern age.

Östergötlands länsmuseum, Raoul Wallenbergs plats, +46 13-23 03 00. A museum showing the history of the province. It also houses a large art collection with both old and contemporary art.

Linköping Castle, Borggården, S:t Persgatan 3B, +46 13-12 23 80. From the 13th century, this was the bishop's residence until the Lutheran reformation in the 16th century. Now it is the residence of the sheriff (landshövding) for Östergötland county. The castle also houses a museum.

Linköping Cathedral. The first church was built on this site in the 12th century, and was expanded regularly over the following centuries, culminating on the 19th-century tower. Linköping is said to have had the first Christian bishop in Sweden, in a time when [[Lund]] was Danish and [[Uppsala]] was pagan.

Stadshuset, Storgatan 43. It was built as a secondary school (läroverk) in 1864. Above its entrance is the Latin phrase "Initium sapientie timor Domini" (fear of the Lord is the beginning of all learning). This power triangle is on the crest of a minor hill from which the city's main street (Storgatan) slopes down to the main square (Stortorget) and further down to the bridge (Stångebro) across river Stångån. In its extension, this street was part of the old country road to [[Norrköping]] and [[Stockholm]].

Public buildings. Around the hill crest are the public library, the administrative buildings for the diocese, the bishop's residence, and the sports house gymnastikhuset, built in 1881. The current library was built in 1998, but the collections of the old cathedral library date back to before Gutenberg. Further north are the concert hall (Konsert & Kongress), the county museum (Östergötlands länsmuseum) next to the Raoul Wallenberg plaza, and two secondary schools (Katedralskolan, Berzeliusskolan).

  • Kinda canal, Södra Stånggatan 1, +46 13-12 68 80. Boat trip on the Kinda canal.
  • Linköpings GolfClub, Universitetsvägen 8, +46 70-0023471. 07:00-21:00. The oldest golfclub in Linköping.
  • Linköpings Trädgårdsförening, Lasarettsgatan 9, +46 13-20 60 00. Visit the relaxing park in the central area.
  • Saab Arena, Gumpekullavägen 1, +46 13-190 00 00. Take in a hockey game, at Linköping HC's arena
  • SF Bio, Ågatan 39, +46 8 562 600 00. Catch a movie at the SF Bio cinema
  • Tinnerbäcksbadet, Torkelbergsgatan, +46 10-410 72 20. Outdoor pool and lake for swimming, popular with families with children. Located close to the centre of Linköping. Open in summer only.

Kinda canal, Södra Stånggatan 1, +46 13-12 68 80. Boat trip on the Kinda canal.

Linköpings GolfClub, Universitetsvägen 8, +46 70-0023471. 07:00-21:00. The oldest golfclub in Linköping.

Linköpings Trädgårdsförening, Lasarettsgatan 9, +46 13-20 60 00. Visit the relaxing park in the central area.

Saab Arena, Gumpekullavägen 1, +46 13-190 00 00. Take in a hockey game, at Linköping HC's arena

SF Bio, Ågatan 39, +46 8 562 600 00. Catch a movie at the SF Bio cinema

Tinnerbäcksbadet, Torkelbergsgatan, +46 10-410 72 20. Outdoor pool and lake for swimming, popular with families with children. Located close to the centre of Linköping. Open in summer only.

When in Gamla Linköping, visit Kanevad wood art shop and Cloettas Chokladbod (Cloetta chocolate shop).

Tornby is a shopping center to the north of Linköping that has several big stores and a big mall; IKANO-huset next to IKEA.

Siam Shop, Storgatan 6, +46 13 12 12 13. M-F 10:00-18:00, Sa 10:00-14:00. Specialising in Thai groceries.

Most restaurants in the city offer a restricted choice Saturday Shopping Lunch between 12:00-15:00 for around 80 kr which can be a good way to try out new restaurants. Lunch from Monday-Friday is often cheaper.

  • Bosses Glassbar, Platensgatan 3. Closed during the winter. A unique hole-in-the-wall ice cream shop selling fresh ice cream. Long lines form outside on hot summer days.

  • NiHao, S:t Larsgatan 12. Asian food close to the train station. Mains 65-115 kr.
  • Stångebro Gatukök, Tanneforsvägen 92 (opposite Scandic Linköping City, at the roundabout near Norrköpingsvägen, +46 13 13 47 04. 11:30-22:00. Great burger place. 80 kr (burger with the lot, with chips and a drink).
  • Taste of Thai, S:t Larsgatan 25A, +46 13-13 18 88. Good spicy Thai food. No alcoholic drinks. Mains 95-150 kr, Lunch 60 kr.
  • Wokaway, Nygatan 22, +46 13-13 13 38. Cheap Thai food for taking away or eating in. Mains 45-100 kr.

NiHao, S:t Larsgatan 12. Asian food close to the train station. Mains 65-115 kr.

Stångebro Gatukök, Tanneforsvägen 92 (opposite Scandic Linköping City, at the roundabout near Norrköpingsvägen, +46 13 13 47 04. 11:30-22:00. Great burger place. 80 kr (burger with the lot, with chips and a drink).

Taste of Thai, S:t Larsgatan 25A, +46 13-13 18 88. Good spicy Thai food. No alcoholic drinks. Mains 95-150 kr, Lunch 60 kr.

Wokaway, Nygatan 22, +46 13-13 13 38. Cheap Thai food for taking away or eating in. Mains 45-100 kr.

  • Bar & Kök (BK), Ågatan 47, +46 13-10 01 11. Mains 145-230 kr.
  • Gula Huset (The Yellow House), Klostergatan 19, +46 13-13 88 38. Mains 140-260 kr.
  • Angry Bull, Drottninggatan 26, +46 13-14 37 65. Meat restaurant Mains 120-220 kr.
  • Texas Longhorn, S:t Larsgatan 25C, +46 13-14 40 61. Texas steak house. Mains 145-570 kr.
  • Yogi, Platensgatan 5, +46 13-10 09 60. Tasty Indian style food, spicy or non-spicy. Mains 135-170 kr.

Bar & Kök (BK), Ågatan 47, +46 13-10 01 11. Mains 145-230 kr.

Gula Huset (The Yellow House), Klostergatan 19, +46 13-13 88 38. Mains 140-260 kr.

Angry Bull, Drottninggatan 26, +46 13-14 37 65. Meat restaurant Mains 120-220 kr.

Texas Longhorn, S:t Larsgatan 25C, +46 13-14 40 61. Texas steak house. Mains 145-570 kr.

Yogi, Platensgatan 5, +46 13-10 09 60. Tasty Indian style food, spicy or non-spicy. Mains 135-170 kr.

Bosses Glassbar, Platensgatan 3. Closed during the winter. A unique hole-in-the-wall ice cream shop selling fresh ice cream. Long lines form outside on hot summer days.

There are many nice coffee houses and cafes by the main square and in the central parts of the city. They serve a wide variety of coffee. Sweden and the Swedes are the second highest consumers of coffee per person worldwide. In the past ten years traditional Swedish coffee tradition has been diversified and enriched by Italian and continental European coffee, the result being the caffè latte (the Italian word for Swedish coffee with milk) and a gazillion other forms of coffee.

  • Wayne's coffee, Nygatan 20.
  • Cafe Berget, Klostergatan 38. Quaint, old-fashioned cafe on small hill in the city centre
  • Babettes, Stora badstugatan 4, +46 13-12 55 00. Cafe with a cultural focus. Good vegetarian selection. Family friendly. Art exhibitions. Sometimes offer poetry nights and performing musicians. Hugely popular (and crowded) Saturday brunch.

Wayne's coffee, Nygatan 20.

Cafe Berget, Klostergatan 38. Quaint, old-fashioned cafe on small hill in the city centre

Babettes, Stora badstugatan 4, +46 13-12 55 00. Cafe with a cultural focus. Good vegetarian selection. Family friendly. Art exhibitions. Sometimes offer poetry nights and performing musicians. Hugely popular (and crowded) Saturday brunch.

Linköping boasts several bars. Most of them are found in the central parts of the city around the cathedral. Among the most popular are:

  • The Bishops Arms, Ågatan 27, +46 13 10 09 93. English pub style food, e.g. fish & chips. Mains 125-255 kr.
  • De Klomp, St Larsgatan 13 (opposite hotel Skandic Frimurare, +46 13-4655563. Dutch Bruin Cafe style cooking and beer on tap. Mains 105-235.
  • Harry's Pub and Restaurant, Ågatan 43, +46 13 13 33 90. One of the busiest nightclubs in Linköping.
  • Pitcher's, Ågatan 57.
  • Platen's Bar, Platensgatan 3.
  • Platå, Platensgatan 4, +46 13 - 35 21 21.
  • Queens Pub, Ågatan 28. An English pub.
  • Backen, Storgatan 54, +46 721 600 325. Small local pub with some food To get informed about any entertainment or cultural events in town, such as the occasional live band, you pick up the free Nolltretton and Corren Fredag magazines (only available in Swedish) or check www.lkpg.nu . You can also check the billboard on Lilla Torget where the arrangers post their flyers.

The students have their own places to go to, for instance Herrgår'n in the Ryd area, Flamman or Nationernas Hus next door to the Cathedral in central Linköping. You have to be a university student (including foreign universities) or the guest of a student at Linköping University, to get in.

Systembolaget is the state-owned monopoly liquor store. This is where you go if you want to buy a bottle of wine or spirits or beer stronger than approx. 3% alcohol which you can find in supermarkets.

Systembolaget Gyllentorget Linköping, Repslagaregatan 25-27 (City Centre, +46 13 12 25 81.

Systembolaget Tornby, Svedengatan 9 Tornby, +46 13 17 58 93.

Systembolaget Ekholmen, Ekholmens Centrum, +46 13 15 12 15.

The Bishops Arms, Ågatan 27, +46 13 10 09 93. English pub style food, e.g. fish & chips. Mains 125-255 kr.

De Klomp, St Larsgatan 13 (opposite hotel Skandic Frimurare, +46 13-4655563. Dutch Bruin Cafe style cooking and beer on tap. Mains 105-235.

Harry's Pub and Restaurant, Ågatan 43, +46 13 13 33 90. One of the busiest nightclubs in Linköping.

Pitcher's, Ågatan 57.

Platen's Bar, Platensgatan 3.

Platå, Platensgatan 4, +46 13 - 35 21 21.

Queens Pub, Ågatan 28. An English pub.

Backen, Storgatan 54, +46 721 600 325. Small local pub with some food

  • SITE Cybercafé, Sturegatan 3. 15 SEK per hour.
  • Sidewalk Express, Railway station. 19 SEK per hour.
  • Public Library, price: free, but time is limited. (to what extent, unknown for the moment)

SITE Cybercafé, Sturegatan 3. 15 SEK per hour.

Sidewalk Express, Railway station. 19 SEK per hour.

Public Library, price: free, but time is limited. (to what extent, unknown for the moment)

The River Stångån ends in Lake Roxen a few kilometers north of the city. The river is also part of Kinda canal with a system of 19th century locks that allow scenic boat trips through other lakes further south. Lake Roxen is also part of Göta canal, dug in the 1810s to connect the Baltic Sea with the Atlantic at Gothenburg. A remarkable sight is Bergs slussar (the locks at Berg), a sequence of six locks on Roxen's western shore, about 10 km north of Linköping.

Ekenäs Castle at Ringstorp, east of Linköping, is a 17th-century Renaissance castle, situated on a cliff by lake Teden. Its three towers rises high above the lake. Guided tours during the summer months and in the autumn ghost walks are offered both day and night.

The Cloetta chocolate factory in Ljungsbro, North of Linköping. You can visit the shop and a small museum, but the factory is closed for visitors.

In the nearby city Norrköping you find several museums and shopping facilities.

Nearby historic towns are Vadstena (to the West) and Söderköping (to the East).

For those who like running and exercising take a trip down south to Vidingsjö. It's about 5 km to the south-east, an easy bike ride from the city centre. In Vidingsjö there are marked running tracks (2.5 km, 5 km and 10 km) through the forest, some outdoor exercise equipment, a pizza shop and two other restaurants.

  • Kisa to Boxholm following the Malexandermorden trail by car. - A scenic route in the Östergötland landscape, renowned for a 1999 bank robbery, car chase and fatal shoot-out.