Between the endless forests and reflective lakes of southern Sweden, lies Växjö; the greenest city in Europe. Local resident, Magnus Hörberg, takes you on a tour of his city and the magnificent province of Småland.
Our guide Magnus
Located in the province of Småland in southern Sweden, Växjö is a friendly town with around 65,000 residents. It is not big, but Växjö makes up for it with the overwhelming nature that surrounds it.
The European Union named Växjö the greenest city in Europe. But this not only because half of the city is composed of forest. Sustainability is a high priority to the people of Växjö, and the city is filled with green initiatives. The most beautiful example of this is the city garden, Ecobacke. Dozens of different crop plants are grown on this piece of land. All of the vegetables produced there are used by local restaurants.
Växjö is a fantastic destination for foodies and even boasts a Michelin star restaurant, PM & Vänner. With over 4,500 different wines, their wine cellar is one of the most special in Europe and has won numerous prestigious awards.
The countless lakes, pristine wilderness and the serenity of Småland is best explored by canoe. There are different canoe routes varying from day tours to multi-day itineraries. It's only a 45-minute ride from Växjö to the expansive region of Åsnen, an area full of lakes that was designated a national park this year. Although 75% of the park consists of water, there are lots of opportunities for beautiful bike rides and hikes, if canoeing is not your thing.
