Watch the locking
A historic every day drama
The Göta Canal has 58 locks and every year thousands of boats pass through them. No lock is like the other, and they all have their unique charm. The flight of locks in Berg is perhaps the most famous, but even our steepest flight of locks in Borenshult and the smaller lock staircase in Riksberg are well worth a visit. Bring someone you love and experience both drama and local life as huge masses of water flow into the lock and the boats are lifted up or lowered down with the help of water power!
At each lockage, about 750 cubic meters of water are moved, roughly the same amount as four normal villas consume in a year. Most lock gates are still made of cast iron and wood, just like when the canal was built. New lock gates are manufactured in the Göta Canal Company's own workshops. The maximum dimensions for boats to pass through the locks are 30 meters in length and 7 meters in width.
Do you want to help with the lockage?
Most locks are operated today with hydraulics, but in Borensberg and Tåtorp, there are still two that are opened manually. If you ask the lock keeper, you may be able to help with the cranking!
When and where can I see lockages?
During the high season, from mid-June to mid-August, the Göta Canal is open every day from 9am to 6pm and boats are regularly locked throughout the day. A typical lockage takes about 7-10 minutes, and locking through an entire lock staircase takes about an hour!
In the list below, you can see all the different locks. If you particularly want to see the grand passenger boats being locked through, you can advantageously check the page where we show their real-time positions. There you can see where they are and how far they are from your location.
Find the locks
All Göta Canal locks
Here you find shorter descriptions of all the locks, as well as some bridges and aqueducts, along the Göta Canal.
Excursion tips
Our most popular lock areas
Many people visit the Göta Canal to watch the boats lock through, but of course, there is much more to experience during a visit. Here, we have gathered information about the activities and services available at some of our most popular areas along the Göta Canal.
Why locks are needed
Level differences in the Göta Canal
