Gustavsvik Camping in Örebro, Sweden
When you are looking to take a camping trip during the cooler off-season in Scandinavia, one place comes quickly to mind: the five-star campground in Örebro, Sweden called Gustavsvik Camping. This campground is not only walking distance to Sweden’s largest, indoor water park, but it is also located within the city limits of Örebro, a very charming town with lots of history and entertainment.
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If you have read my other posts about camping in Europe, you might come to the conclusion that we only like to camp at REALLY GREAT campgrounds. You would have to be correct in that assumption! That is why it isn’t hard to understand that we chose to stay at Gustavsvik Camping during our spring break one year.
We wanted to find a campground that would have something for the whole family, be in a great area, and be within a two-hour drive to Stockholm. Gustavsvik filled all of our needs.
Planning our Trip to Gustavsvik Camping
As we prepared for our trip to Sweden, I have to admit that we had a bit of trouble navigating Gustavsvik Camping’s website. Though there was a lot of information on there for different things, we had a hard time with getting in touch with them in order to make our reservation.
I think that this had to do with the fact that the campground was operating during the “off-season”, and the normal hours of operation weren’t the same. We are glad; however, that we didn’t let this little bump in our road deter us from camping there.
Arriving and Checking in to Gustavsvik Camping
When we arrived to Gustavsvik, we were greeted with a nice, Swedish woman, who checked us in and sent us on our way. The registration building was the only building open at that time of year, and had a few different items for sale. We were also able to get a map of the area and other brochures that would help us to explore more of Örebro.
Finding our Place and Meeting the Neighbors
Since it was still a little less than a week away from Easter, the campground was somewhat quiet and uncrowded, and this was a bonus for us. We were able to get a good spot not too far from the bathrooms and not too far from the playgrounds.
The boys went to work quickly, helping us set up the camper and get the tent on the front of the camper ready for use. The spots were a good size and the surrounding area reminded us that we were in a town, but the campground still felt quiet and private.
This was also our first time camping in Sweden, and we were a bit surprised to see that the majority of the other campers there were from Norway! Since Norwegian language is very similar to Danish, the language barrier wasn’t so spread-out, and our boys made friends with a little Norwegian boy right away.
To be quite honest, the boy’s English was quite impressive for an 8-year-old child!! We love it when we find places with very friendly campers. It makes the entire experience much more memorable and fun!
Playgrounds at Gustavsvik Campground in Sweden
We love a campground that has a great playground, and it is even better when you find multiple playgrounds at a campground. The first, larger playground was quite impressive, and it proved to be my boys’ favorite spot at the campground. It had a large play castle of sorts with towers, bridges, puzzles, and slides. There were also swings, balance beams, and a sandbox.
The other playground was a bit smaller, but my boys really had a great time here as well. This playground was made of wood, and offered the boys a challenge when it came to climbing and exploring. They also loved the larger swings.
Near one of the service houses, we found an area for table tennis and a playground for babies/toddlers that was made out of hard plastic.
Check out a video on the Gustavsvik Campground and Indoor Water Park!!
Soccer Field and Ping Pong at Gustavsvik Campground
A very common site on many playgrounds throughout Scandinavia would have to be the walled-in soccer field. On the day that we left the campground, there were many children playing on this field because of the amazingly warm weather and sudden influx of new campers arriving just before Easter.
See what you can do in the town of Örebro, Sweden HERE!
What a great way to keep them corralled into one area…says the mom of two very active boys! This field could also be used as a basketball court, since it was equipped with a net at each end. There was a also two ping pong tables at the campground. (You can see these in the “boat picture” in the mini-golf section.)
Mini Golf at Gustavsvik Campground in Sweden
We were so glad that we didn’t leave before they opened up the mini golf course for the season. This was, by far, one of the coolest mini golf courses we have ever seen at a campground. For one, it was quite large, and the one part of it that was the main focus was the miniature version of the Örebro Slot (castle) directly in the middle of the course.
One really cool bit of information about this castle was that you could actually go inside and play a couple of holes, and it was also “haunted” with different ghosts throughout. We loved it!!
The castle was not the only large building on the course. There were many others, and there was even a boat that was incorporated into one of the holes. The course was well-designed and pretty unique. We have yet to experience one quite like it at a campground in Europe. It was also a lot of fun for our family of four, plus the new Norwegian friend the boys made! 🙂
Additional Fun Options at Gustavsvik Camping (High Season Mostly)
Mini Farm
Near the mini golf course, there is also a mini farm with chickens, pigs, ponies and goats. Because it was so early in the season, we didn’t see many different varieties of animals. This is another added bonus more for those who visit during the peak-season.
Shopping and Food and Other Fun
Other places that were closed during the off season were the restaurant, where you could get take-away pizzas, and a store that offered simple groceries to snacks and ice cream, plus a little arcade. It would have been nice to have had the option of these places, but since our time at the campground was so short and we were without these luxury extras, we had more of a reason to spend time in the town and the nearby water park.
Thinking of exploring Germany? Check out this great place: Strandcamping Waging am See in Bavaria!
Race Track and Bouncy Houses at Gustavsvik Camping
Another fun area that they had for kids at Gustavsvik Camping was the race track and bouncy house area. Since we stayed at the campground before Easter, we were there when these two areas weren’t operational. We would have to remember this for the next time we visited.
Indoor Playroom at Gustavsvik Camping
For the little ones (during possible bad weather), there is an indoor playroom. This wasn’t open when we were there, but since my boys are too big for this type of room, it didn’t matter to us that much. It would be a great place to take smaller children, if we had any. I think it wouldn’t hurt to ask the staff if you could use it with your little ones if you happen to visit during the off-season. Just a suggestion.
Outdoor Exercise Area at Gustavsvik Camping
On the outskirts of the campground, there is a very nice pond area where you can relax while watching the ducks. There are picnic tables near the water in case you fancy having lunch there one day.
If you feel a bit more energetic, you can work out on the outdoor exercise equipment. This is also along the path that leads to the indoor water park.
Night Life and Food
During the summer months, you can also have the opportunity of eating at their grill restaurant at the campground if you don’t feel like making food yourself. There are also live music, singing and dancing during the summer months. This is reason enough for us to return for a second visit!
Kids’ Club at Gustavsvik Campground in Sweden
If the previously-stated extras aren’t enough of a bonus to visit Gustavsvik Camping during the peak season, I think we would definitely go back for their kids’ club program that has daily events and activities for kids. We love going to campgrounds that offer kids’ clubs, since the boys tend to get bored from spending all of there time with good ol’ mom and dad. Sad, but true. I guess we’re just not as cool as we think we are! Bummer!
The Lost City Water Park at Gustavsvik Camping in Örebro, Sweden
One big selling point for us when choosing Gustavsvik Camping in Sweden is the fact that they have an indoor water park on the grounds. When going north in April (We live in Denmark.), it is always hard to plan outdoor activities due to unpredictable weather.
The fear of driving a long distance just to arrive in a town that is suddenly freezing or worse, soaked from a spring storm, is enough to make a person look for plan-B options. This is when an indoor water park comes in handy.
We were so happy with Gustavsvik’s water park which was called The Lost City. It had a giant wave pool, smaller slides that ended in pools, a dry area for children to take a break from the water and many, many slides.
The slides were so much fun! We loved the thought of them going outside and back in again. There were a few different options for slides and rafts. We choose the two-person rafts, because it was much more fun to go together!
The only drawback was the many flights of stairs that you had to go up carrying a large tube raft. My husband and I could manage it, but my 6-year -old son was getting tired halfway up to the slides. He and I spent much of the day in the wave pool, where he wore his life vest that was supplied by The Lost City. It was nice to know that they think of children’s safety.
You might also like to visit the largest, indoor water park in all of Scandinavia called Lalandia?
Gustavsvik recreational building where the Lost City is located also has a spa and gym if you are traveling without children or feel that you need to spend a bit of extra time on yourself. I think a massage always sounds nice.
They also offer different options for food within the Lost City. It is also worry free, since you pay by bracelet instead of needing to take cash in with you. You just pay off the tab when you return your bracelet. That made things much easier, and we didn’t have to worry about where to put your money when going in the water.
There is also a pool with slides outside during the warmer months. These weren’t open when we were there in April.
Bathhouses, Kitchens and other Necessary Places at Gustavsvik Camping
Bathhouses
Though there were some areas that we, sadly, didn’t get to experience, we were very happy with the ones we did get to use. One in particular was the large bathhouse.
Here, they not only have separate toilets rooms and shower rooms for both male and female guests, but they also have a family bathroom that has a changing table, lower sink, lower toilet and a raised shower.
If you are planning on visiting Denmark, you will love Hjarbæk Fjord Camping!!
This makes it easy for the little one to do things on his/her own if mom or dad needs to tend to a baby brother or sister. The raised shower is also a nice touch, since any parent can tell you that bending down to give a little one a shower can be a bit of a hassle. This bathroom is fun, colorful and very practical, and any child would be very excited to use it.
The Kitchen Facilities at Gustavsvik Camping
To say that I was impressed with the kitchen at the Gustavsvik Campground would be an understatement. Not only was it clean and spacious, but it also offered many stove tops, ovens, microwaves and even a dishwasher!! I felt like I was on a cooking show! 🙂
It was nice to have the option of using an oven, and there were others who also had the same idea. Many of them had bought frozen pizzas in the nearby store and cooked them in the kitchen. I had never thought to do that since there is usually only one, if not a couple, of stoves in campground kitchens in Denmark. This was definitely a good idea to put on my list for another time.
Laundry / Recycling / Chemical Toilet at Gustavsvik Camping
Gustavsvik Camping also offers a very large laundry facility that is very nice. When we take longer camping trips, having access to a washing machine is a must. It is also very nice to have in case someone has an accident or gets sick unexpectedly.
During one of our camping trips, my son threw up in his bed as he was getting up one morning. Being close to a washing machine is always a good thing. The one at Gustavsvik had many machines, which I am sure is very handy during their busy summer season.
Near the main bathhouse and playgrounds is a shelter area filled with dumpsters for garbage and recycling. It is always nice to have a clear conscience when camping. I like to recycle when I’m at home, and I don’t think that should be different when I go camping.
Along with dumpsters, there is also a chemical toilet that looks kind of like a little outhouse. I guess that would make sense, since it still deals with the same kind of thing. In the US, you will often see a hole in the ground that will smell extremely bad.
This room didn’t really have a smell, though the same stinky stuff goes there. I rather appreciated this, since it was so close to the playgrounds. A chemical toilet that can’t be smelled within a few steps away is a win in my book! 🙂
Overall Impressions of Gustavsvik Camping in Örebro, Sweden
We really enjoyed our time at Gustavsvik Campground. Going just before Easter may not have been the best time to go if we were looking for massive entertainment, but we really liked being there with fewer campers. It was quiet and peaceful, and there weren’t any lines for showers or toilets.
I don’t think that there would have been though, since there were so many in the bathhouse. Without the distraction of extra attractions and people, we had more time with our boys. It was a nice place in a nice town, and we had many relaxing and fun moments as a family.
The other campers were very friendly, and the boys even met some other Danish, German and Swedish kids on the last day there. It is a funny thing how playgrounds at campgrounds can be so international, but kids understand one universal language quite well; the language of play!
If we were to do it all over again, we would do it all the same. Our time visiting the Gustavsvik Campground produced some great memories. We really enjoyed all the Swedish history and culture that we learned when visiting the the city center. Örebro, Sweden actually reminded me a lot of northern Illinois, so it felt like we were home, in a way.
Stockholm was an amazing city, as well, and we loved how the Gustavsvik Campground was in a great location to allow us the opportunity to stay in a comfortable place that was within a decent drive to Stockholm.
If you want to visit Stockholm, you will love this post on what to do in Stockholm with Kids!
It is because of this fantastic trip, that we would really like to put Sweden back on our bucket list. We would love to see more of such a great country that truly made us feel at home!
Get in Touch With Gustavsvik Campground
Website: https://gustavsvik.se/
Address: Stenbackevägen 4, 702 26 Örebro, Sweden
Telephone: +46 19 19 69 00
Emails:
Pool reception desk – bad@gustavsvik.se
Camping & holiday village – camping@gustavsvik.se
Relaxation centre – relaxen@gustavsvik.se
Fitness centre – fitnesscenter@gustavsvik.se
Conference – relaxen@gustavsvik.se
Pool, Spa, Gym and Camping Prices and Hours: https://gustavsvik.se/priser-och-oppettider/#priserrelax
Click here to book a campsite or cabin online!
Click here for a menu to the restaurant in the Lost City!
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Here’s another fun campground that I know you’ll love. It is in Italy! (Enzo Stella Maris Campground in Cavallino-Treporti, Italy.)
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