Dalarna Central Sweden
5
Day Itinerary •
Sweden
Five days in Dalarna and Central Sweden takes you through the most quintessentially Swedish landscape in the country. Dalarna, the Soul of Sweden, is where the Dala horse wooden craft tradition was born, where the extraordinary Lake Siljan landscape of red cottages and birch forests defines the Swedish image, and where the remarkable Falun copper mine UNESCO World Heritage Site shaped Swedish history for 1,000 years. This route covers the complete Dalarna experience. The extraordinary Falun mine and the remarkable Dalarnas Museum, the fine Leksand and Lake Siljan, the outstanding Rattvik and its extraordinary Midsommar pole tradition, the remarkable Mora and the Zorn Museum, the extraordinary Orsa and the bear safari, and the outstanding Tällberg village, the most beautiful on Lake Siljan.
Best Time To Visit
June to August and March for Vasaloppet
Getting There
Train from Stockholm to Falun, 3 hours
Getting Around
Rental car essential 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
ORSA BEAR SAFARI AND FULUFJALLET
MORNING
ORSA GRONKLITT BEAR SAFARI
The Orsa Gronklitt Bjornpark is the largest predator park in Europe and the finest place in Sweden to see brown bears, wolverines, wolves and lynx in large natural enclosures. The extraordinary guided safari in open vehicles gives remarkable close views of the bears in a forest landscape that recreates their natural habitat. The outstanding wolverine enclosure and the remarkable lynx are both exceptional. Entry approx 250 SEK. Drive: 45 min drive
MIDDAY
ORSA LAKE AND VILLAGE
Orsa, a fine traditional Dalarna village on its own lake north of Siljan, has the most extraordinary traditional fiddle music tradition in Sweden. The remarkable Orsa spelmanslag folk music group and the outstanding lake landscape make it one of the finest villages in northern Dalarna. The fine views of the surrounding forest from the village centre and the remarkable traditional wooden houses are outstanding. Free. Drive: 15 min drive
AFTERNOON
FULUFJALLET NATIONAL PARK
Fulufjallet National Park in northwest Dalarna is the most extraordinary wilderness landscape in central Sweden, its remarkable ancient spruce forest, the outstanding Njupeskar waterfall at 93 metres the tallest in Sweden, and the extraordinary World Heritage old growth forest making it outstanding. The walk to Njupeskar takes about 3 hours return. The extraordinary combination of wilderness and the Dalarna landscape is remarkable. Entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Drevdagen mountain village in northern Dalarna, one of the highest permanently inhabited places in Sweden, has remarkable traditional farms and extraordinary views of the Norwegian border mountains. Free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Orsa hotel Early start for the bear safari. | Lunch: Orsa village cafe Simple Swedish lunch in the fiddle music village. | Dinner: North Dalarna restaurant Outstanding local Dalarna game and forest produce.
DAY 5
VASTERAS AND RETURN TO STOCKHOLM
MORNING
VASTERAS AND LAKE MALAREN
Vasteras, the fine city on Lake Malaren between Dalarna and Stockholm, has the most extraordinary Viking burial mounds of any city in Sweden outside Uppsala. The remarkable Anundshog burial mound, the largest in Sweden, and the outstanding Badelunda runestone field with its extraordinary ship settings from the Viking Age are both outstanding. The fine Vasteras Cathedral is the best-preserved medieval cathedral in the Lake Malaren valley. Mounds free. Drive: 1.5 hours drive south
MIDDAY
SALA SILVER MINE
The Sala Silver Mine, which operated for 400 years from 1510 and at its peak provided 8 percent of world silver production, is the most extraordinary industrial heritage site in central Sweden outside Falun. The remarkable guided underground tours at 15 degrees Celsius year-round, the outstanding 18th-century mine town and the extraordinary history of Swedish mining make it outstanding. Entry approx 170 SEK. Drive: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
RETURN TO STOCKHOLM
The drive from Sala back to Stockholm through the extraordinary Lake Malaren landscape, passing the remarkable Engelsberg Ironworks UNESCO World Heritage Site and the fine medieval castle of Tidö, gives the finest farewell to central Sweden. The extraordinary combination of Viking heritage, industrial history and the outstanding Swedish countryside makes central Sweden one of the most rewarding regions in the country. Return to Stockholm. Free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Engelsberg Ironworks UNESCO World Heritage Site near Vasteras, the finest preserved 18th-century iron foundry in the world, is free on Sunday afternoons and one of the most extraordinary industrial heritage sites in Sweden. Entry usually approx 120 SEK.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Dalarna hotel Good breakfast before the southbound drive. | Lunch: Sala silver mine cafe Simple lunch at the extraordinary silver mine. | Dinner: Stockholm return Back in the capital. A final Swedish dinner at Oaxen or Operakallaren.
Where To Stay
Falun, Night 1 UNESCO mine town. Approx 700 to 1,200 SEK per night. Tällberg or Leksand, Nights 2 to 3 Most beautiful lake shore. Approx 900 to 1,500 SEK. Mora, Nights 4 to 5 Northern Dalarna base. Approx 700 to 1,200 SEK per night.
Top Tips
1. The Falun copper mine is the reason 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 Orsa bear park gives closer views of wild bears than anywhere else in Sweden. Remarkable.
5. Attend a Dalarna fiddling session in Rattvik or Orsa for the finest folk music experience in Sweden.
6. The Dala Horse workshops in Nusnäs are free to visit and the horses are cheapest bought direct.
Total Budget
1,400 to 2,700 SEK/day