Many of the buildings in Wadköping have a long and fascinating history. At the same time, you’ll find a vibrant neighborhood. People live and work here—and all year round, the streets are filled with fun things to do for people of all ages.
Things to do in Wadköping
In Wadköping, you’ll find artisans, artists, and a variety of shops offering secondhand goods, upcycled items, and designer products. There are cozy cafés and a restaurant that also serves à la carte lunch. You can visit museums and theaters—and there’s plenty for kids to do. The town also hosts markets, concerts, exhibitions, and lectures.
Charming shops and a focus on sustainability
Many of Wadköping’s shops and businesses are open every day. And several of them have a clear focus on sustainability and craftsmanship.
At Ateljé Återbruk and the Byt! By Sara Hillersberg store, clothes and accessories are given a new lease on life. The historic store sells wrought iron, glass, jewelry, pens, and much more. At The House of Taste, you can buy delicious delicacies, and when you step into Glad!, you’ll find plenty of toys, home decor, and children’s clothing.
Popular markets and events
Wadköping offers a wide variety of events throughout the year. You can enjoy markets, concerts, theater performances, lectures, art exhibitions, music evenings, and dance—and visit various pop-up shops.
The markets in Wadköping attract both locals from Örebro and visitors from afar. In the spring, you can explore both the Easter market and the popular antique and curio market. In August and December, it’s time for the food and drink market. Then, the whole of Wadköping transforms into a mecca for local flavors and crafts. Winter, of course, also brings a Christmas market to Wadköping. Every Sunday during Advent, the streets and alleys are lined with traditional market stalls and filled with delicious aromas and flavors.
Under the Open Sky – Summer Concerts at Spelgården
Want to enjoy cozy summer evenings filled with music, food, and drinks—and performances by some of Sweden’s biggest artists? Then “Under the Open Sky” at Spelgården’s amphitheater is the place for you. In the summer of 2026, the lineup will include Titiyo, Amanda Bergman, and Moonica Mac.
A Festival of Lights in the November Darkness
Every year in the darkest days of November, Wadköping, Stadsparken, and Stadsträdgården host a festival of lights. Thousands of lanterns and candles illuminate the evening darkness for a couple of cozy hours, while the area’s cafés, restaurants, shops, and museums stay open late.
Things to do with the kids
Wadköping is just as much fun for kids. There’s plenty to do here, and plenty of space for both play and exploration. How about:
- The play barn, where children can play freely in an old-fashioned setting. Here you’ll find a playhouse, a general store, wooden animals, and hobby horses.
- Kids' Wadköping – an audio guide with exciting stories and a fun quiz.
- Tidsrevan – an augmented reality game that lets children explore and interact with the real-life town of Wadköping in a fun and exciting way.
- Music and theater at Spelgården—check out the calendar.
- Exhibits and settings that depict life in the past.
- Fun family activities such as a scavenger hunt, birdwatching, a history hunt, animal spotting, and a nature walk.
- The city park’s large playground is located right next to Wadköping. It features three different play areas designed for different age groups: Little Wadköping, the Spray Park, and the more traditional play area with swings, zip lines, and climbing structures.
Restaurant, café, and ice cream shop in Wadköping
When you’re in the mood for good food and drinks, you don’t have to go far. A favorite among many is the scoop ice cream and soft-serve ice cream served at the ice cream counter at Wadköping’s general store.
Gamla Örebro, in turn, combines a café and restaurant in a cozy setting that blends perfectly with Wadköping’s historic charm. The menu features traditional home-style cooking (the Wallenberg is a favorite among many) as well as dishes inspired by other parts of the world. If you’re looking for a classic Swedish coffee break, you’ve also come to the right place. At Gamla Örebro, you can choose from pastries, buns, and—in season, of course—semlor, which, together with the specially roasted coffee, add a special touch to your visit.
On select dates, Gamla Örebro also opens Cajsa’s Dining Room—a nod, of course, to the legendary Cajsa Warg, whose childhood home is actually located here in Wadköping. On these occasions, a secret five-course menu is served that reflects the current season.
Kafé Karsbjer is located in the historic Jeremiastugan, which features a cozy outdoor seating area and a few café tables upstairs, in the former home of the author Jeremias av Tröstlösa.
Close to beautiful City Park
Wadköping is located right next to Örebro’s pride and joy, Stadsparken—which has also been named Sweden’s most beautiful city park. That was in 2004, but the park is actually even more beautiful today. And you don’t have to be a gardening expert to enjoy the park’s beauty and lovely open spaces. Here you can jog, sunbathe, attend a concert, take a stroll, read, play kubb, play, find inspiration—or just sit back and relax.
The History of Wadköping
The old houses and farmsteads in Wadköping have been moved here from other locations in or around Örebro. The oldest are Kungsstugan, dating from the 15th or 16th century, and Cajsa Warg’s cottage from the 17th century.
Wadköping was inaugurated in 1965 by the then-reigning king, Gustav VI Adolf. Many people had moved old houses to new locations before, but moving entire farms—as was done here—was something new.
In Wadköping, you’ll find places like Skomakaregården, Tenngjutaregården, and Skepparegården, all of which have names linked to traditional crafts. Even today, many artisans still run their businesses in these historic neighborhoods. Here you’ll find, for example, silversmiths, woodturners, blacksmiths, and seamstresses.
Guided tours in Wadköping
Of course, you can book guided tours in Wadköping. Learn about Wadköping’s charming buildings and Örebro’s history during a historical tour through the neighborhood. Book a dramatized tour where historical figures with ties to Örebro—such as Hjalmar Bergman or Cajsa Warg—come to life. Or experience how Christmas was celebrated in the past during the guided tour “An Old-Fashioned Christmas in Wadköping” (available only in November and December).
Guided tours are available for groups (up to 40 people) and are conducted in Swedish and English, and often in German as well.
Celebrities Cajsa Warg and Hjalmar Bergman
Two well-known names that often come up in connection with Wadköping are Cajsa Warg and Hjalmar Bergman.
Cajsa Warg was born in Örebro in the 18th century. Her childhood home is one of the oldest buildings in Wadköping and is known as Borgarhuset or Cajsa Warg’s House.
Cajsa Warg worked as a housekeeper for “well-to-do” families in Stockholm and eventually gained a reputation as a highly skilled cook. In 1755, her book *Hjelpreda I hushållningen för unga Fruentimber* was published. It has been called Sweden’s first cookbook and, in addition to recipes, also contains tips on how to care for livestock and instructions for plant dyeing. Here we find the expression “man tager, om man så hafva kan” (one takes, if one can), which over the years has evolved into the more familiar “man tager vad man haver” (one takes what one has)—a phrase that Cajsa Warg, in fact, did not say.
The author Hjalmar Bergman was born and raised in Örebro in the late 19th century. Several of his novels are set in a fictional town he calls Wadköping, a fact that is particularly evident in the well-known novel *Markurells i Wadköping*. That the neighborhood has been given the same name is, of course, a tribute to Hjalmar Bergman, whose profile you can admire at the entrance to Wadköping.
Directions to Wadköping
Wadköping is centrally located in Örebro, right next to Stadsparken and the Svartån River. It’s easy to walk here from downtown. Just follow the riverside promenade from the castle, along the Svartån River, all the way to Wadköping.
By car, head toward downtown Örebro and then follow the signs to Wadköping. The address is Bertil Waldéns gata.
Take bus line 6 toward the University and get off at the Wadköpingsvägen stop. After a 500-meter walk, you’ll arrive. For schedules, see Länstrafiken Örebro.
Things to Do in and Around Wadköping
