This is my submission for the ’3 Things in the City’ I Love contest by Velvet Escape, Traveldudes and Wimdu.co.uk
Most travelers will visit Rome, Paris, and Stockholm, the big cities of a country. But you are really missing out if you don’t explore other parts of a country. The city of Linköping, Sweden is the 5th largest town in Sweden. It is just the perfect size for me. It is large enough to have interesting things to see, but small enough to have a cozy feel. It’s central town population of 100,000, fluctuates depending on whether the University of Linköping students are attending school, and living there. The city is located 2 hours southwest of Stockholm, by train, and has an airport that connects with Copenhagen and Amsterdam. The airport is small and easy to maneuver through… creating no stress. In Linköping you can see and feel the real “soul” of Swedes. To consolidate why I love the city, here are “3 Things in the City I Love – Linköping”.
1. YOU DON’T NEED TO SPEAK SWEDISH 
My title, “Linköping, You Got Me From the First Hello” is a play on the line from Jerry Macquire, when Renee Zellweger’s character tells Tom Cruise, “You had me at ‘hello”. Kenny Chesney got his song, “You Had Me from Hello” from the movie. In my case the first “hello” was mine.
The typical greeting in Sweden is “Hej, hej” (hey, hey). You can greet in likewise manner, or if you want to have conversation, just say “hello”. They will switch to fluent English immediately. Also, most love speaking in English, and understand most slang, and humor in English. They speak and read in English.
But, a word of warning, signs and many restaurant menus are in only Swedish. In restaurants, you can ask and it will be translated, or use your smart phone and a language translator program. Also if you see a sign that says “slut”, it’s not what you think…it means “end”. The phrase “fri fart” is not a place you can fart on Friday… but a place you can “freely exit”.
2. GETTING AROUND – I PREFER WALKING
Separate Paths for Walking and Biking
Walking allows you to explore and discover, without having to find a place to park the car, or bike. The terrain is fairly level. Don’t walk at a marathon pace, but slowly and leisurely, with good walking shoes. Walking is a very Swedish way of life. Walking paths, and biking paths are side by side, or sometimes share the same path. A laid cobblestone brick path is a walking path. Some of the narrow European streets are for walking only. The temperature is mild in Linköping during the summer. It is very comfortable to walk.
Riding a bicycle is probably the most popular form of transportation, but as a tourist you probably won’t have one. If you get tired you can get a taxi as long as you know the address of where you are going, and have it written down, because you won’t pronounce it right.
3. WHAT TO DO AND SEE – Gamla Linköping A+
Gamla Linköping is a must see! It is Old Linköping, from the 19th century, and is west of the center of town. Wooden buildings that were downtown were moved instead of torn down. The little town is an “open air” museum, and there is no admission charge. Some places are only museum, and some are combination museum, and retail store.
As soon as you enter the cobblestone square you know you have stepped back in time. People who work there are dressed in period costume. The mission is to keep it in period of the 19th century as much as possible. You won’t find any souvenir shops. You will find a woodcarving shop with items for sale, a flower shop, toy shop, general store with candy, a textile boutique with handcrafted items, and more. There is a café and restaurant in Gamla Linköping fitting with the period.
In the Valla area next to the village is a petting farm, and sometimes a demo of old farm tools. Leading from the farm area is a trail through the woods to enjoy nature.
At times you may see a bobbin lace demo, carding and spinning, printing techniques in the working print shop, and special craftsmen, or musical entertainment brought in to perform in Gamla Linköping’s square. In the apartments above the shops, people are living there. But part of the rental agreement is to not have any computers or TV that would show from the windows. Step back in time in Gamla Linköping, you will start to feel you are a resident in a town with a simpler way of life.
These three things are what I love the most about this town. So if you want to get a real feel for Sweden, put Linköping in your plans.
So while you are making arrangements to include Linköping, Sweden in you travel plans, here is a little love song by Kenny Chesney, since I mentioned it. Enjoy!
Globe Trottin Granny
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Kathleen, once again you have stirred the wanderlust in me setting the travel fever to full throttle. A favorite of mine for years, Sweden offers an open invitation to one’s love for liberty. Together with its Scandinavian sister countries, it delights in colorful display in everything from city buildings to unique apparel. Traditional crafts, cobblestone streets, and transportation of past generations are only a few treasures of the vast trove I find endearing. Especially alluring for me is the focus on wallking and biking as a mode of getting around; and the easy access provided for those of us who delight in it. The splash of the colorful canvas of buildings in all Scandinavia excites the artist in me in every picture of these lovely countries. As always I leave the page with a yearning desire to follow on your next travel.
Thank you, Linda! The common mode of transportation of walking or biking, is something I will really miss when I move back to the US. There it isn’t practical to walk, and so many of the old towns really don’t have any shopping in town anyway.
Kathleen recently posted..Linköping, You Got Me From the First “Hello”
Hej Kathleen! Sorry I’ve been so silent….today is the first day I haven’t focused so much on my leg pain.
I’ve yet to read the whole of your post, but from what I’ve read so far, it reads very well. Very nice pictures as well. I believe that Gamla Linköping is unique in that it’s the only open air museum where people are actually living in the buildings full time. This is what I was told when I first came to Linköping. 
There are many lovely places in and around Linköping. We’ll have to take a bike ride around to some places you haven’t been too….or a car ride. (((HUGS)))
Lynette,
I’m sorry you are having so much trouble with your leg! Is it more than a pulled muscle?
I like Gamla Linköping better than Gamla Stan Stockholm. It feels more like a community. In Gamla Stan Stockholm the buildings are older, but everything has just become tourist souvenir shops. Yes, I am looking forward to finding more of Linköping.
Kathleen recently posted..Linköping, You Got Me From the First “Hello”
Kathleen, We’re hoping to see a bit of Sweden next summer when we travel to Gothenberg to visit my oldest friend. I’m really looking forward to seeing the canal city and now I have another place to add to the list.
Laura recently posted..From The Way Back Machine: Runaways and Reptiles
I think you will enjoy the visit to Linköping. I am planning to visit Gothenberg as well, not sure when. Thank you for the comment!
Kathleen recently posted..Linköping, You Got Me From the First “Hello”
Cant wait to visit there! Sounds so wonderful! Great blog!!
Hope you come soon, Dana! Thank you for the comment.
Kathleen recently posted..Linköping, You Got Me From the First “Hello”
This is some great stuff! Keep it up!
Thank you Dennis, I plan to.
Kathleen recently posted..Linköping, You Got Me From the First “Hello”
Great post. I’d love to go to Scandanavia its just somewhere that looks fascinating. When I finally get to go I’ll certainly take your advice a visit small towns too.
Thank you Rachel! Yes, I just think it’s so nice to not be so overwhelmed with crowds.
Great post! We have always wanted to go to Sweden and love hearing about the lesser known little gems we should visit. Seems like this would be a really easy town to navigate, hope we get there soon.
Tracy recently posted..Conquering Our Fears and Swimming with the Sharks and Sting Rays!!
Yes, it is a nice town. I’ve never seen a traffic jam in Linköping.
Kathleen recently posted..Ah! The Hawaiian Beaches
Great post on Linköping! My boyfriend and I were just there. We made a stop on a road trip up to the very small town of Herrang, Sweden. Have been to Lund yet? That was our favorite Swedish town by far.
No I haven’t Ellen. Do you have a post on it?
Kathy,
Again great blog and photo’s !
Brenda
Kathy,
Again great blog and photo’s !!
Wish we had a lane for walking and bike riding.
Brenda
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