Dalarna Central Sweden
3
Day Itinerary •
Sweden
Three days in Dalarna covers the essential experience of Sweden's most quintessentially Swedish landscape. The extraordinary Lake Siljan with its remarkable red cottages, birch forests and the outstanding Dala horse craft tradition, the UNESCO Falun copper mine and the remarkable Zorn Museum at Mora combine to make three days of deeply Swedish culture and lake landscape. This route concentrates on the three finest experiences of Dalarna: the extraordinary Falun mine UNESCO site, the remarkable Lake Siljan with Tällberg and Leksand, and the outstanding Mora with its Zorn Museum and the start of the legendary Vasaloppet ski race, making three days of remarkable Swedish authenticity.
Best Time To Visit
June to August and March for Vasaloppet
Getting There
Train from Stockholm to Falun, 3 hours
Getting Around
Rental car for Lake Siljan circuit
Budget Per Day
Approx 900 to 1,600 SEK per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, lakeside and forest walking
DAY 1
FALUN AND CARL LARSSON
MORNING
FALUN COPPER MINE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE
The Falun Copper Mine UNESCO World Heritage Site is the most extraordinary industrial heritage site in Scandinavia. The remarkable Great Pit, which collapsed in 1687 and created an extraordinary chasm that shaped the red Falun copper paint used on Swedish cottages ever since, and the outstanding underground mine tour showing centuries of mining technology are both remarkable. The extraordinary story of how one mine supplied a third of the world's copper for 350 years is outstanding. Entry approx 200 SEK. Drive: 3 hours from Stockholm
MIDDAY
DALARNAS MUSEUM
The Dalarnas Museum in Falun is the finest regional museum in Sweden, its extraordinary collection of Dalarna folk art, the remarkable Dala horse tradition, the outstanding traditional costumes and the extraordinary paintings of the remarkable Dalarna artists of the 1880s being all outstanding. The museum gives the finest understanding of why Dalarna became the soul of Swedish national identity. Entry approx 80 SEK. Drive: 10 min walk
AFTERNOON
CARL LARSSON GARDEN, SUNDBORN
Lilla Hyttnäs in Sundborn, the extraordinary home of artist Carl Larsson and his wife Karin, is the finest artist's house in Scandinavia. The remarkable interiors that inspired Carl Larsson's extraordinary watercolours, which defined the Swedish home aesthetic internationally, are preserved exactly as they were lived in. The extraordinary Karin Larsson textiles and the remarkable garden make it outstanding. Entry approx 150 SEK. Drive: 15 min drive
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Falun red paint, made from copper mine slag since the 17th century, is the most distinctive colour in Sweden. The entire Dalarna landscape is painted with it. Buy a tin of genuine Falun red paint as the finest Swedish souvenir.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Falun hotel Good breakfast before the mine tour. | Lunch: Mine visitor centre cafe Simple lunch after the extraordinary UNESCO mine. | Dinner: Falun restaurant Good first Dalarna dinner in the copper town.
DAY 2
LAKE SILJAN CIRCUIT
MORNING
TÄLLBERG, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGE ON LAKE SILJAN
Tällberg on the western shore of Lake Siljan is the most extraordinary village in Dalarna, its remarkable red cottages tumbling down to the lake through birch forest, the outstanding lake views and the fine traditional hotels making it the most beautiful single place in central Sweden. The extraordinary combination of the village, the lake and the surrounding forest in any season is outstanding. The view from the Tällberg church hill over the lake is the finest in Dalarna. Free. Drive: 30 min drive
MIDDAY
LEKSAND AND THE LAKE SILJAN CIRCUIT
Leksand on the southern shore of Lake Siljan is the finest town on the lake, its remarkable Midsommar celebration the largest in Sweden when the extraordinary maypole is raised on the lake shore. The outstanding church on its remarkable promontory above the lake, the fine old town and the extraordinary lake views make Leksand outstanding. The Lake Siljan circuit drive, 70km around the most Swedish lake in existence, passes through the finest Dalarna landscape. Free. Drive: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
RATTVIK AND THE LAKE SWIMMING
Rattvik on the eastern shore of Lake Siljan has the most extraordinary bathing jetty in Sweden, its remarkable 628-metre wooden pier stretching into the shallow lake giving the finest lake swimming in Dalarna. The outstanding view of Lake Siljan from the end of the jetty, the remarkable traditional boathouses below the church and the extraordinary folk music tradition of Rattvik make it outstanding. The lake at sunset from the jetty is the finest sight in Dalarna. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Dala Horse workshops in Nusnäs near Mora, where the famous wooden horses have been painted by hand in the same workshops for generations, are the finest place to see the craft being made. Free to visit the workshops and buy direct.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Tällberg hotel or cafe Morning fika with the finest lake view in Dalarna. | Lunch: Leksand by the lake Outstanding Swedish husmanskost in the midsommar capital. | Dinner: Tällberg hotel restaurant The finest traditional Swedish dinner on Lake Siljan.
DAY 3
MORA AND THE ZORN MUSEUM
MORNING
ZORN MUSEUM AND ANDERS ZORN'S HOME
The Zorn Museum in Mora has the finest collection of works by Anders Zorn, the most internationally celebrated Swedish painter of the 19th century. The extraordinary nudes, the remarkable portraits of Swedish peasant life and the outstanding technical mastery of Zorn's painting are all remarkable. Zorngarden, the artist's extraordinary home next to the museum, is preserved exactly as he lived in it with remarkable interiors and the outstanding garden. Entry approx 130 SEK. Drive: 45 min drive
MIDDAY
VASALOPPET START LINE AND MORA
Mora is the end point of the extraordinary Vasaloppet, the world's oldest and longest cross-country ski race at 90km, which has been held every March since 1922 when 119 men followed the route of King Gustav Vasa who fled to Norway on skis in 1521. The remarkable finish line monument, the outstanding Vasaloppet museum and the fine Mora town centre are all outstanding. The extraordinary tradition of the Vasaloppet and its remarkable connection to Swedish national identity is deeply moving. Free. Drive: 10 min walk
AFTERNOON
DALA HORSE WORKSHOPS AT NUSNÄS
The Dala Horse workshops in Nusnäs, where the world-famous carved and painted wooden horses have been made in the same extraordinary red colour since the 18th century, are the finest craft experience in Dalarna. The remarkable hand-painting process, the outstanding traditional designs and the fine opportunity to buy direct from the makers make it the finest souvenir shopping in Sweden. The extraordinary Grannas A. Olssons workshop is the finest. Free to visit.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Siljansnäs viewing tower above Lake Siljan gives the finest aerial view of the entire lake, the surrounding forest and the Dalarna landscape. The drive up the forest road is remarkable. Entry approx 30 SEK.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Mora hotel Good breakfast before the Zorn Museum. | Lunch: Mora town cafe Swedish husmanskost in the Vasaloppet finish town. | Dinner: Return or Mora restaurant Final Dalarna dinner before departure.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Falun, Night 1 UNESCO mine town. Approx 700 to 1,200 SEK per night. Tällberg or Leksand, Night 2 Most beautiful lake shore. Approx 900 to 1,500 SEK. Mora, Night 3 Northern Dalarna base for Zorn and Nusnäs. Approx 700 to 1,200 SEK.
Top Tips
1. The Falun copper mine is why Swedish cottages are painted red. Extraordinary and unmissable.
2. The Carl Larsson house in Sundborn is the most beautiful artist's home in Scandinavia. Book ahead.
3. Tällberg at dawn with mist on Lake Siljan is the single most Swedish sight in the country.
4. The Dala Horse workshops in Nusnäs are free to visit. Buy direct from the makers.
5. Attend a fiddling session in Rattvik for the finest folk music experience in Dalarna.
6. Vasaloppet in March is the world's oldest ski race. Book accommodation a year ahead.
Total Budget
1,400 to 2,700 SEK/day