Söder means “south” and Tälje means “indentation,” and Södertälje was named so because it was historically part of a shipping route between Lake Mälaren and the Baltic sea. Visit Södertälje today to see that it is now a sizeable city in Stockholm County and home to a large Aramaic-speaking immigrant community.
Because it hosts the headquarters of several big corporations, Södertälje is not your typical Swedish tourist destination. However, there is an awesome science museum that is very popular with families and while you’re there you may as well explore Södertälje’s other attractions.
You can drive to Södertälje from Stockholm in just half an hour or take a train. First, visit the Södertälje Tourist Office in the little fountain square along the main street of Saltsjögatan. Make sure to have lunch around here somewhere, because, in a city of immigrants, ethnic restaurants are plentiful, authentic and affordable.
Next, drive up to the old windmill on the Torekällberget. This “living village” showcases cute wooden houses with period furnishings. Costumed staff teach visitors about life in the 1800s and take kids on pony rides from the petting farm.
You may also like the Scania Museum in the Marcus Wallenberg Hall, part of Scania AB’s headquarters. See how the world-famous Swedish company started out with designing basic bicycles and utility vehicles, before becoming a global truck manufacturer.
Now you have a feel for the city, its past and its industry, take the kids to the Tom Tits Experiment. The hilarious name is a tribute to a character named Tom Tit, as sketched in a 19th-century French magazine, who taught kids cool science tricks.
Explore all four levels of the museum to enjoy a wide range of wonderful activities, interactive displays, physical challenges and optical illusions. Watch the smaller kids enjoy the soap bubble show and let them slide all the way down from the top floor. Between May and September, the museum opens its two outdoor areas with a waterpark and a maze. Thrilling experiences include the “robocoaster,” the bouncing “yoyo,” the shaking earthquake simulator and a zero-gravity drop.
Those looking for a little break from all the excited kids can follow the tranquil walking trails in the adjacent nature reserve.
