Gyllene Uttern is a hotel as well as a service area for the E4 motorway just south of Gränna in Jönköping Municipality. The hotel is the oldest roadside hotel or inn in Sweden. Or the oldest motel if you so like. It has a history dating back to 1933 and it enjoys a magnificent view of Lake Vättern, the second-largest lake in Sweden. If you translate the name into English, it would be “The Golden Otter”.
A Short History of Gyllene Uttern
The hotel has a history beginning in 1930. This was when the first coffee house opened here with a few cabins for overnight stays. It was built along what was then the main road between Stockholm and the southern part of Sweden, on lands belonging to Rolf Gyllensvaan. The name Gyllene Uttern is taken from his earlier name, von Otter. A few years later in 1933, the hotel was inaugurated.
Things to Do and See
It is the view of Lake Vättern that is the main attraction here, but the castle-like hotel creates an even more picturesque scenery. As it is close to Gränna there are of course also Polkagrisar. A polkagris is a stick candy that was invented in Gränna in 1859. The candy is usually peppermint-flavoured.
Hotel Gyllene Uttern
We do not usually mention businesses like this and don’t know much about the hotel itself. What we do know is that its exterior is a sight in itself. It is built like a small castle watching out over Lake Vättern.
Rastplats Gyllene Uttern
There are not many service areas along the E4 motorway that can offer a view such as the one at Gyllene Uttern. Lake Vättern is visible above the tree line and the rest area is fairly large. Well, it might lack a gas station and other services, but it has what is needed for some rest while out on a long drive.
How to Get to Gyllene Uttern
- Flights: The nearest airport is Jönköping Airport (JKG) to the south.
- Car: Gyllene Uttern lies along Road E4, just to the south of Gränna.
- Bus: Buses from JLT connect Gyllene Uttern with the surrounding area.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 289 kilometers (2 h 50 min)
- Gothenburg – 180 kilometers (1 h 50 min)
- Malmö – 324 kilometers (3 h 10 min)
- Linköping – 95 kilometers (1 h)
- Kiruna – 1520 kilometers (15 h 40 min)
Explore More of Småland and Sweden
