Gota Canal (300 mi/485 km long) crosses the country, linking the Baltic Sea to the North Sea via rivers and lakes (including Lakes Vattern and Vanern). Originally built as a commerce route in 1832, today its primary use is pleasure cruising (May-August only). Steamers pass through more than 60 locks on the journey between Goteborg and Stockholm. If you have ample time, a cruise on the cozy and friendly ships is the ideal way to soak in the small-town beauty of Sweden while traveling from Stockholm to Goteborg. If you'd rather stay on the ground, take a day trip to charming Soderkoping. The star attraction is the engineering phenomenon step-lock at Berg. Watch the teamwork of sailboat couples in these tricky locks and you'll see why the canal is referred to as "Divorce Ditch."
