Jönköping - Vadstena, St Birgitta Ways South

The Jönköping-Vadstena stretch is one of the Nordic countries' most beautiful pilgrimage routes, a kind of Sweden in miniature with meadows, lush deciduous forests and red cottages with white knots. A seven to nine day hike along Sweden's second largest lake with breathtaking views, good swimming opportunities and unique nature. CNN has listed lake Vättern and its surrounding nature as one of Europe's 20 most beautiful places.

IN BRIEF

Total length: 134 km

Number of hiking days: 7-9 days

Recommended season: April-October

Accommodation and food: Pilgrim-friendly accommodation and eateries can be found here on the map. Always book accommodation in advance. Sometimes you have to carry food with you, check it.

Highlights

• Röttle waterfall

• Alvastra monastery ruin

• Western walls of Omberg

• Monastery church and Sancta Birgitta Monastery Museum

More information: The Jönköping-Vadstena stretch is connected by two hiking trails; Franciskusleden and Östgötaleden.

SECTIONS

Section 1: Jönköping - Kaxholmen 16.2 km

Section 2: Kaxholmen - Ölmstad 14.2 km

Section 3: Ölmstad - Gränna 16 km

Section 4: Gränna - Stava 15.5 km

Section 5: Stava - Ödeshög 15.4 km

Section 6: Ödeshög - Stocklycke 13.3 km

Section 7: Stocklycke - Borghamn 10.4-16 km

Section 8: Borghamn - Nässja 15.5 km

Section 9: Nässja - Vadstena 9.1 km

DESCRIPTIONS SECTIONS

Jönköping - Kaxholmen, 16.2 km

Difficulty level: green - easy

Trail markings: Saint Birgitta Ways symbol and/or red and white white lines and or orange John Bauer trail.

Jönköping is a perfect starting point for a week-long hike to Vadstena along Saint Birgitta Ways.

Sofia Church, a few blocks from the train station, is a good starting point. Here you can buy your pilgrim pass, which gives you benefits and allows you to collect stamps along the trail.

Feel free to sit down for a while and think about what you want to get out of your pilgrimage.

Feel free to visit St. Francis Catholic Church, where there are Franciscan brothers. (shown on the map as churches)

Go back to the train station and take the bridge over to the beach promenade and turn left. Follow the footpaths or cycle paths along the beach, through the forest and shores. Do not cross the highway on the footbridge, but cross the highway via a small viaduct first at Brunnstorps gård. It is a perfect stop for lunch or coffee. Don't miss the beautiful path through the gene bank for fruit trees. Then you leave the vicinity of Vättern and walk through a beautiful rolling landscape with fruit orchards.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE: An alternative route to Kaxholmen is via the John Bauer trail. It is a slightly tougher hike but very scenic. Then choose the path up the hill to the John Bauer trail (orange marks) at Brunnstorps gård and follow it to Gestra. Deviate from the trail and follow the road and nature trails to Kaxholmen Landsjöskyrkan.

Kaxholmen - Ölmstad, 14.2 km

Difficulty level: Green - easy

Trail markings: Saint Birgitta Ways symbol and/or red and white white lines and/or green markings for the Biosphere Reserve.

This section is mostly on a gravel road in varied nature. A small part (after Bäckanäs) is on a busy road, so be careful. The trail goes via the Östra Vätterbranterna Biosphere Reserve - one of five biosphere reserves in Sweden.

After Skärstad in Flättinge there is a nice summer café and lunch place. Shortly after that, Björn and Inga, who are very involved in the Franciscus Trail, live. They will be happy to welcome you if they are at home. If you choose to stay overnight at Wettershus, you continue a little further after Ölmstad and turn off at Öland. But remember that you need to bring your own food. There is a shop in Ölmstad.

Just after Kaxholmen there are two choices.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE 1: Either continue along the main road by the football fields to Lyckås, and turn right there.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE 2: Or go right up to the heights via Kaxholmen's deciduous forest and Jordstorp.

Ölmstad - Gränna, 16.0 km

Difficulty: Blue - medium

Trail markings: Saint Birgitta Way symbol and/or red and white white lines and/or green markings for the Biosphere Reserve. Sometimes the trail is also orange marked John Bauer Trail

This day stage is one of the most beautiful on the St. Birgitta Way. The route is very varied in terms of both nature and terrain. It is steep in places, so take it carefully. Sometimes the markings are sparse and the trail coincides with several other trails with other markings, so stick to the digital map to find it.

At "Öland" you can turn left down to Wettershus, a Retreat Farm in a nice location that also offers overnight accommodation. Don't miss the Röttle waterfall and tasting "polkagrisar" in the cozy town of Gränna.

Gränna - Stava, 15.5 km

Difficulty level: green - easy

Trail markings: Saint Birgitta Ways symbol and/or red and white white lines and/or green markings for the Biosphere Trail.

This stage is mostly on the road, initially on asphalt and then gravel, with the possibility of swimming and many scenic detours with no less than five nature reserves near the trail.

A good tip is to bring a packed lunch from Gränna and also provisions for the evening and the next day if you are staying in Stava mission house. In several places you can choose the road, often a little steeper but with beautiful views or nature. Girabäcken is a nice stream gorge with good swimming opportunities in Vättern.

Stava - Ödeshög, 15.4 km

Difficulty level: Blue - medium

Trail markings: Saint Birgitta Ways symbol and or red and white lines

This stage is mostly on gravel roads and nature trails, is very scenic and hilly in places.

The trail goes through Kråkeryd Nature Reserve where the natural forest on the slopes down to Lake Vättern is characterized by its untouched nature.

A good resting place is the SMU summer home with swimming facilities.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE: Before Ödeshög you can choose an alternative, more scenic route via the Orrnäs farm, where there is also a nice cultural trail that tells the story of the water power in the past along the stream you just passed.

If you want to go to the center of Ödeshög, follow the avenue east to Gränna vägen and on to the center of Ödeshög.

Ödeshög - Stocklycke, 13.3 km

Difficulty: Red - demanding

Trail markings: Saint Birgitta Ways symbol/Ostgötaleden orange markings

St Birgitta Ways has the same route as the Östgötaleden all the way to Vadstena. This stage offers fantastic views and goes through a nature reserve all the way to Hästholmen harbour at the foot of Omberg.

This stage is fabulously beautiful, but demanding as it is hilly in places and can be slippery on the rocks in wet weather. The trail goes through pastures that are kept open with grazing animals. There are many nice rest areas, lunch is served at Ombergs Golf Resort.

Don't miss the Alvastra monastery ruins at the foot of Omberg. Saint Birgitta often visited the monastery and lived here for part of her life. Feel free to sit down here and reflect on Birgitta's prayer: "Lord show me the way and make me willing to walk it". Which path do you want to take in life?

You also pass Ellen Keys Strand, well worth a visit. The trail continues through the beech forest with steep sections down towards Vättern.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE: If you start in Ödeshög, we recommend that you take the detour via Orrnäs and follow the trail via the shore of Vättern where it is so beautiful. At Orrnäs there is a cultural trail that shows how water power was used in the past in several stages.

GRAZING ANIMALS MAY OCCUR.

Stocklycke - Borghamn, 16.0 km

Difficulty: Red - demanding

Trail markings: Saint Birgitta Way symbol/Östgötaleden orange markings

Today you will experience Omberg, a popular excursion destination, due to its rich and varied nature and beautiful views of Lake Vättern.

Ekopark Omberg has many circular trails with different themes if you feel like it, see information boards. A detour up to Hjässan, Omberg's highest point with a view for miles is recommended.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE 1: The west side of Omberg which is more demanding with some steep sections and views of Lake Vättern.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE 2: The east side of Omberg which is easier to hike and with views of the plain and the bird lake Tåkern.

Both are real gems. If you choose the western route, don't miss the Western Walls and perhaps a swim at the pebble beach of Älvarums udde where there is also a shelter from the wind. The eastern route has a shorter detour to the Monastery of the Daughters of Mary, well worth a visit. Here you can participate in prayers of the hour, similar to those in the time of Saint Birgitta.

Borghamn - Nässja, 15.5 km

Difficulty: Green - easy

Trail markings: Saint Birgitta Way symbol/Ostgötland Trail orange markings

From Borghamn you hike north along quiet country roads, open landscapes and cute church villages, all the while being close to Lake Vättern and several swimming opportunities. Be sure to visit the church in Örberga from the 12th century and the stone museum right next to it. Here you hike the same paths that Saint Birgitta did. In Nässja there is the opportunity to stay overnight in a simple pilgrim accommodation, visit the cute church and see the ancient monument Nässja Domarring.

If you want and have the energy, you can continue all the way to Vadstena.

Nässja - Vadstena, 9.1 km

Difficulty: Green - easy

Trail markings: Saint Birgitta Way symbol/Ostgötland Trail orange markings

The last leg towards the medieval pilgrimage destination is on a low-traffic asphalt road that winds through the cornfields. You have Vadstena in sight almost the entire time, the destination is approaching. The last stretch towards Vadstena is lined with signs with quotes from Saint Birgitta, which evoke thoughts about life here and now.

In Vadstena, the Abbey Church awaits, built entirely according to Saint Birgitta's design. Her relics rest in the church. Every evening, all pilgrims are welcomed in a pilgrimage mass and you are welcome to participate in the prayers of the hour three times a day.

At Pilgrimscentrum (the Pilgrim Center) next to the church, you can land in a welcoming atmosphere where pilgrims from all over the world meet. Here you can get your last stamp, sign your pilgrim certificate and tell about your experiences.

There is a lot to do in Vadstena. Don't miss a visit to the Sancta Birgitta Monastery Museum next to the church. There is the coffin of Saint Birgitta and her prayer room. Here she prayed many times: "Lord, show me your way and make me willing to walk it"

(Updated EH/April 2026)