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Things to do in Växjö: the Swedish Glass Museum and cathedral

Things to do in Växjö: the Swedish Glass Museum, glass as regional history, Växjö Cathedral and the city centre.

Växjö is a good place to get to know Småland through its glass, but there's more here than a museum visit. You can follow glassmaking from everyday objects to studio art, see how it changes inside the cathedral, then head out to a lake or the pedestrian streets. Here are six places to build a day or weekend around.

1. The Swedish Glass Museum

Start here to understand why glass matters so much in this part of Sweden. The museum follows Swedish glass from early production to contemporary studio work, with temporary exhibitions adding different artists and techniques. Look at the everyday objects as well as the art: together they tell a regional story of craft, industry and design.

Good to know

  • Find it inside Smålands museum at Södra Järnvägsgatan 2.
  • Admission also covers Utvandrarnas hus; check current prices on kulturparkensmaland.se. Ages 0–18 enter free.
  • Closed Mondays. Check the opening-hours page for seasonal hours and holiday exceptions.

2. Växjö Cathedral

The cathedral's twin spires are an easy landmark, but make time for the glass inside too. Bertil Vallien's altarpiece, Kjell Engman's baptismal font and Erik Höglund's light tree give you a very different setting for the material you've just seen in the museum. It's a good place to slow down and notice the light.

Good to know

  • The entrance address is Linnégatan 2A, beside Linnéparken.
  • The church publishes daily opening hours; check Svenska kyrkan before visiting and plan your sightseeing around worship.
  • There are lifts, accessible toilets and a hearing loop.

3. Växjösjön and Växjö Art Site

For a break outdoors, head to Växjösjön, the lake right by the centre. Växjö Art Site places art along the lakeside, so the walk gives you something to look for as well as water views. You can do a full circuit or just wander a short stretch and turn back.

Good to know

  • The full promenade is nearly five kilometres; choose a shorter out-and-back if that suits your day.
  • Strandbjörket has a playground, useful if you are walking with children.
  • Use the route map on Växjö & Co’s walking page rather than trying to fit both urban lakes into a short visit.

4. Utvandrarnas hus

This museum tells the story of the people who left Sweden for North America. The permanent exhibition Det nya landet looks at the country they left and the country they reached, while another follows Vilhelm Moberg and his emigrant novels. It's a thoughtful companion to the glass museum, showing another side of the region's history.

Good to know

  • Find it at Vilhelm Mobergs gata 4.
  • The shared admission covers Smålands museum too; check current prices before buying.
  • Closed Mondays, with seasonal hours and holiday closures listed on kulturparkensmaland.se.

5. Linnéparken

Right beside the cathedral, Linnéparken is an easy stop between indoor visits. Look for Karolinerhuset, the old school building where Carl Linnaeus was a pupil, and the planting inspired by his classification of plants. Or simply take a quiet break among the trees.

Good to know

  • Combine it with the cathedral rather than making a separate journey.
  • The Linné-themed playground gives children their own reason to stop.
  • Come for the planting in the growing season; the school building and park layout are worth noticing too.

6. Stortorget and the pedestrian streets

Leave some time for the everyday city around Stortorget. The pedestrian streets mix smaller shops with larger names, and the square has a regular market. After the museums, this is a simple way to spend an hour without another exhibition to work through.

Good to know

  • Traditional market trading takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
  • Check individual shops and places to eat for their own hours, rather than relying on one city-wide closing time.

Quick tips

  • A simple day: glass museum, cathedral and Linnéparken, followed by a short walk beside Växjösjön.
  • If you want both museums, use the shared admission and give Utvandrarnas hus its own unhurried stop.
  • Mondays need a different plan: both Smålands museum and Utvandrarnas hus are closed.
  • Want company? Check upcoming events in Växjö on Socroo below and find someone to go with.

Upcoming events

Things to do in Växjö in winter Swedish Glass Museum Kulturparken Småland: hours and admission Utvandrarnas hus Växjö Cathedral Växjö: lakeside walking routes Linnéparken Visit Småland: Växjö