Guides

Things to do in Västerås in summer: Badelundaåsen and Vallby

Summer in Västerås: outdoor time on Badelundaåsen, Vallby open-air museum and an evening in town.

Summer in Västerås can be as simple as a ridge walk, an open-air museum and time beside Lake Mälaren. Start with Badelundaåsen and Anundshög, give Vallby time for its seasonal interiors, and keep the regional museum as an indoor option. These four stops leave room for an unhurried evening back in town.

1. Anundshög and Badelundaåsen

Start at Anundshög’s stone ships and burial mounds, then stretch your legs on Badelundaåsen. The nature and culture trail takes you beyond the main monument into the ridge landscape and old Tibble village. It is a good summer outing if you want history with a walk rather than another indoor exhibition.

Good to know

  • The archaeological site is free to enter and open year-round; parking is free too.
  • The northern trail is 0.5 km and accessibility-adapted. The southern loop is 2 km and includes steeper sections.
  • Allow about an hour for the southern loop if you listen to the full audio walk. The official trail page has a downloadable map.
  • Fires and barbecues are not allowed at Anundshög or on the ridge. Keep dogs on a lead.

2. Vallby Open Air Museum

Summer gives you more of Vallby than a walk around the grounds. Historic settings open seasonally, and the Levande museum programme brings staff into several of them. Add the farm animals and a fika stop, and you have an outdoor museum visit that works well without rushing.

Good to know

  • Entry to the museum grounds is free; some events have an admission charge.
  • The grounds open daily, and the animals are outside year-round. Historic interiors have more limited, mainly summer access.
  • Do not feed the animals. Some sheep move away to summer pasture, so you may not see every animal on your visit.
  • Check the museum’s opening-hours page for winter exceptions and separate restaurant hours.

3. Mälarpromenaden and Lögastrand

Make room for the waterfront rather than treating it as the route back from somewhere else. Mälarpromenaden follows Lake Mälaren between Lögastrand and Lasse Färnlöfs plats, with a sandy beach at the Lögastrand end. Walk as much as you feel like, then slow down by the water.

Good to know

  • The full route is 4 km, from Lögastrand to Lasse Färnlöfs plats.
  • Download the promenade map from Visit Västerås before setting off; it shows the route along the shoreline.
  • Lögastrand is a sandy city beach, so it is a useful summer stop if you want to add time by the water.

4. A rainy-day visit to Västmanlands läns museum

Keep the regional museum in mind when you want a break from outdoor plans. Its interactive displays take you through Västmanland’s past, including a chance to try a Viking board game. You can make this a focused history stop rather than waiting out the weather in a café.

Good to know

  • Admission is free. Find the museum at Karlsgatan 2 in Västerås.
  • Normally open Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays; check holiday exceptions on the museum website.
  • There is a café in the building, but its opening hours are shorter than the museum’s. Check separately if you want lunch or fika.

Quick tips

  • Check Vallby’s current Levande museum programme before choosing your day; do not assume every historic interior is staffed throughout summer.
  • Download the Badelundaåsen and Mälarpromenaden maps before you leave, and choose a walking distance that suits your group.
  • Want company? Check upcoming events in Västerås on Socroo below and find someone to go with.

Upcoming events

Things to do in Västerås (all year) Vallby Open Air Museum Anundshög Västerås Cathedral Västmanlands läns museum Visit Västerås: walking maps