The city of Västerås stands at the mouth of the River Svartån on the northwestern shores of the large Lake Malaren to the west of Stockholm. The Västerås airport is three miles to the east of the city and nominally serves Stockholm visitors, although it is around 6 miles away from the Swedish capital. Visitors who hire a car in Västerås can of course drive to Stockholm in around 9 minutes, but they can also explore the local Vastmanland area with its rocky, hilly countryside. This includes the World Heritage site at the Engelsberg Ironworks and the woods of the Farnebofjarden National Park.
The university city of Västerås is built around a large lakeside harbour and waterfront. Visitors who rent a car in Västerås can tour the local attractions, which include the Skrapan skyscraper with a panoramic cocktail bar on the 24th floor, the pioneering 19th-century Turbine House dam on the Svartån River and the relaxed green spaces of the Vasa Park. Other Västerås highlights include the Kokpunkten waterpark with views overlooking the lake, the popular Skultuna Brassworks Visitor Centre, the 13th-century cathedral and Sweden's largest prehistoric burial mound.
