Opening Times

See Strömma Kanalbolaget's web site for information about opening hours.

Getting to Birka and Hovgården

The World Heritage sites of Birka and Hovgården are to be found on the islands of Björkö (Birka) and Adelsö (Hovgården) in Lake Mälar.

You can reach Hovgården by car or bus, see the link to Stockholm Transports (SL) bus service 312, below.

Birka is only accessible by boat, at your own arrangement or via one of our partner shipping companies.

Please note that the shipping companies do not run ferry services to Birka when the visitors centre and facilities are closed for the season and no public events have been planned.

Open to the public

A variety of activities are arranged in these World Heritage Site areas between May and September. Look under the tab "Contact" to find the web addresses of those who host these activities, their telephone numbers and e-mail addresses .

Guided tours of the archaeological sites

Tours of Birka - see Strömma kanalbolaget
Tours of Hovgården - see Kalle Runristare

Admission fees

Excursion tickets to Birka offered by commercial ship owners usually include not only the boat ride to Birka, but also the admission fee to the Birka Museum and a guided tour of the World Heritage Site at Birka. If you arrive by private boat then you can purchase an admission ticket at the museum. For historical tours of Hovgården, the fee is given directly to the tour guide.

Accessibility

It is possible to get around in the World Heritage Site areas with a pram, wheelchair, or walker, although it can be somewhat difficult in some places. An assistant is very helpful. Accessibility is good around the Birka entrance area and it is easy to visit the museum, the restaurant and toilets.

For information about accessibility onboard the boat, contact the ship owner.

Pets on Björkö

You are welcome to bring a dog along if you keep it on a leash and leave it behind when you visit the museum. Don´t forget that sheep and bull calves run loose on the island.

See also:
Strömma Kanalbolaget - information about timetables and route. (Booking of guide for groups.)
Steamship Ejdern  - information about timetables and route. (Booking of guide for groups.)
Kalle Runristare - guided tours at Hovgården
Storstockholms Lokaltrafik - timetable for bus 312 heading for Hovgården