The most obvious day trip from Vänersborg is Trollhättan, 15 km to the south, where the Göta river drops through a dramatic series of locks and falls. The Saab car museum and the industrial heritage of the canal era are worth half a day. Gothenburg is 75 km south and easily reached by train in under 90 minutes — a full day in Scandinavia's most underrated large city, with its fish market, trams, and excellent food scene.
