Jönköping · Sweden

Jönköping and Gränna

Two towns on Lake Vättern: Jönköping, with the match museum and a beach in the center, and Gränna, of striped candies, the Brahe ruins and the ferry to Visingsö.

Götaland

In the photo: Brahehus and Lake Vättern, near Gränna

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Lake Vättern, Sweden’s second-largest lake, runs north–south across the southern part of the country. At the lake’s southern tip is Jönköping, the seat of the county of the same name and one of Sweden’s oldest towns. About 40 km to the north, on the eastern shore, Gränna occupies the narrow strip of land between the water and the slopes of Grännaberget.

Jönköping grew with industry in the 19th century, and the match factory that made the town’s name known worldwide is now a museum. The center lies between Vättern and two smaller lakes, and the waterfront has a sandy beach just steps from the shopping streets. Above the town, Stadsparken has a viewpoint, an open-air museum and a bird museum.

Gränna is the town of the polkagris, the peppermint stick candy with red stripes, created there in the 19th century and still handmade in the shops along the main street. The town also preserves the memory of S. A. Andrée, born there, whose 1897 balloon expedition to the Arctic is the subject of the local museum. On the northern slope, the ruins of Brahehus castle dominate the view over the lake.

From Gränna’s harbor a ferry goes to Visingsö, a long island in the middle of Vättern, with castle ruins, ancient churches and paths to explore by bike or by carriage. Between the two towns, the road passes apple orchards along the lakeshore.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Jönköping, Gränna.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Jönköping and Gränna is

Outlines: Statistics Sweden (SCB), CC0. Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Jönköping and Gränna

✈ Aeroporto de Jönköping (JKG) · 9 km to Jönköping

Jönköping is served by regional trains and connections from Sweden’s two largest cities and has a small airport near the center. By road, the town sits on the E4, the main highway between the capital and the south. Gränna is about 40 km to the north along the same E4, with buses from Jönköping.

Suggested arrival point: Jönköping

Jönköping · Jönköping and Gränna Capital Suggested arrival point

Jönköping

County seat of Jönköping, at the southern tip of Lake Vättern, Jönköping received its charter in the Middle Ages. The match factory that spread the town’s name around the world is now the Tändsticksmuseet, and the county museum houses works by John Bauer, the illustrator of troll tales. Above the city, Stadsparken overlooks the lake, and downtown the Vättern waterfront ends at a sandy beach.

Jönköping · Jönköping and Gränna

Gränna

Small town on the eastern shore of Lake Vättern, between the water and a steep slope, with wooden houses along the main street. Gränna is the home of the polkagris, the striped peppermint candy, and of S. A. Andrée, who set off by balloon for the North Pole in 1897; the local museum tells his story. To the north, the ruins of Brahehus overlook the lake, and ferries leave from the harbor for the island of Visingsö.

The local experience

Things to do in Jönköping and Gränna

Gränna · Jönköping · Museum

Grenna Museum – Andréexpeditionen Polarcenter

Grenna Museum, on the main square, dedicated to S. A. Andrée’s balloon voyage toward the Arctic in 1897 and to the history of polar exploration. It also presents the history of the town and of Amalia Eriksson, creator of the polkagris.

Jönköping · Jönköping · Museum

Tändsticksmuseet (Match Museum)

Jönköping Match Museum, installed in the buildings of the former factory near the station. It explains how the town became, in the 19th century, one of the world centers of match production, with machines, labels and old boxes.

Gränna · Jönköping · Ruin

Brahehus ruins

Ruins of a 17th-century castle of the Brahe family, on the top of the slope north of Gränna, beside the E4. From the site you can see Lake Vättern, the island of Visingsö and the opposite shore.

Jönköping · Jönköping · Museum

Jönköpings läns museum (Jönköping County Museum)

Jönköping County Museum, in the city center, dedicated to the art and cultural history of the region. It holds the main collection of works by John Bauer, the Swedish illustrator of troll and elf tales, born in Jönköping.

See 2 more places in Jönköping and Gränna

Jönköping · Jönköping · Park

Stadsparken

Park on the ridge above western Jönköping, with views over the town and Lake Vättern. It includes an open-air museum with historic regional buildings and a bird museum, as well as trails and green areas.

Gränna · Jönköping · Island

Visingsö

A long island in the middle of Lake Vättern, a few kilometres from Gränna, with ruins of medieval and 17th-century castles, old churches and a large oak wood. Reachable by ferry from Gränna’s port.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From June to August the days are long, Jönköping’s beach is busy and the ferry to Visingsö runs more frequently. May and September bring milder weather and fewer crowds. In winter the days are short and cold, but Jönköping’s museums are open year-round; check ferry schedules and seasonal opening times before you go.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two days are enough to see Jönköping’s center, the match museum and Stadsparken, and to spend a day in Gränna. A third day lets you visit Visingsö, the island opposite Gränna reached by ferry. For those passing by car on the E4, half a day in Gränna shows the town and the polkagris workshops.

Which city to stay in

In Jönköping the center, between the station and the Vättern waterfront, leaves museums, restaurants and the beach within walking distance, and is convenient for train arrivals. Gränna has small guesthouses and hotels near the main street and the harbor, where the ferry to Visingsö departs; it’s the quieter base for exploring the island and the Brahehus ruins. In high season it’s worth booking ahead in Gränna.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Jönköping and Gränna

Where are Jönköping and Gränna located?

In southern Sweden, in the Småland region, by Lake Vättern. Jönköping sits at the lake’s southern tip, and Gränna about 40 km to the north on the eastern shore.

How to get from Jönköping to Gränna?

By car on the E4, about 40 km, or by regional bus. Gränna does not have a train station.

How many days to stay in Jönköping and Gränna?

Two days cover Jönköping and Gränna. A third day allows a visit to the island of Visingsö.

What is the best time to go to Jönköping and Gränna?

Summer, from June to August, when the days are long and the ferry to Visingsö runs more often. May and September are quieter.

Do you need a car in Jönköping and Gränna?

No, it isn’t essential. There are trains to Jönköping and buses to Gränna. A car helps if you want to combine the two towns with the lakeside orchards and the Brahehus ruins.

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Jönköping and Gränna

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.