Djurö National Park – an isolated archipelago in the middle of Vänern

The isolation is what attracts visitors to Djurö National Park. With wave-washed rock slabs, pebble beaches and rich birdlife, the archipelago is a typical example of Swedish inland lake nature. The national park was established in 1991 and consists of 35 islands and skerries. The islands can be reached by taxi boat or private boat, and there are several beautiful natural harbours where you can moor. The eastern side of the archipelago is shallower and more difficult for mooring boats, so it is better to approach from the north or west. There are four entrances to the park: Malbergshamn, Långön, Tribergs ö and Dunderkarlar. Here you will find toilets, waste stations, mooring rings in the rock and fireplaces.

Lighthouse site in Lake Vänern

Djurö was inhabited from the early 1500s, and at most four families lived and made their living here, mainly through fishing. When the fish was to be sold, the families had to row several miles to Mariestad or Lidköping. At the end of the 1800s, the permanent population left the islands, which instead became a hunting area, and a hunting lodge was built. Today, Djurö is best known as a lighthouse site in Lake Vänern. It is believed that the northern headland was used for warning fires or iron baskets for centuries to warn sailors. In 1874, the first lighthouse was built and was connected to a residential building. The lighthouse was staffed by lighthouse keepers. In 1912, the old lighthouse and house were replaced by the current ones, which you can still visit today at Malbergshamn. The last lighthouse keeper left the island in 1969.

Hike in untouched nature

On the main island of Djurö, there are several marked hiking trails that take you around the island. In the central part of the island, there are remains of an area of about 4 hectares that was once used as fields and meadows. Today, the area is kept open by around 15 fallow deer that roam freely on the larger islands. The hiking trails take you through Djurö’s untouched nature, along forest paths and past natural harbours with beautiful views of the lake, picnic areas, the lighthouse and lighthouse keeper’s house, and the old hunting lodge. In several places there are information signs where you can read more and see a map of the island. The national park has rich birdlife, including osprey, hobby, great black-backed gull and oystercatcher. Some parts of the archipelago are protected bird sanctuaries and are not allowed to be entered between 1 April and 31 July. If you want to stay longer than a day, accommodation can be booked in the lighthouse keeper’s house on the northern part of the island and in Djuröstugan on the southern part. Here you live as people did in the past, with an outdoor toilet and water taken directly from Lake Vänern. A real adventure in fantastic nature and with a strong sense of history.

Boat transport to Djurö

Djurö can only be visited by private boat or taxi boat.

From Mariestad:
Mariestads SjÖservice, phone 070 588 86 03.
Vänern Outdoor  can be booked for full-day or multi-day trips with the boat M/S Pärla to Djurö, phone 073 581 82 82.

From Laxhall on Torsö:
Vänertrolling, phone 0736 830 194.

From Sjötorp, Askeviks camping, Otterbäcken:
Storön Gården, phone 073 058 04 17.

From Spiken, Kållandsö:
Anders Ydergren for booking accommodation and taxi boat, phone 070 825 64 82.