what to visit in dalarna sweden

Ultimate guide of things to do in Dalarna, Sweden

The province of Dalarna, Sweden, is one of the most striking regions in this gorgeous country in Scandinavia. Meaning ‘the valleys,’ Dalarna is often referred to as ‘Sweden in miniature’ due to its topography of mountains in the north, deep forests and lakes throughout, and rolling farmland in the southern region.

Add on the iconic ‘ Falu röd’  (Falum red) cottages around every winding road, and you’re looking at a microcosm of IKEA-land in real life. This is Peak Sweden.

From enjoying outdoor fika  to playing 11 th  century Viking games, discovering lagom and lingonberries in mossy Swedish forests, and learning of festive Midsummer traditions, there’s no shortage of adventurous things to do in Dalarna, Sweden.

Things to do in Dalarna, Sweden

Embrace lagom and allemansrätt.

My search for lagom , Swedish for ‘just the right amount’ hit the jackpot in Rättvik, a small town in Dalarna on the shore of Lake Siljan. I had no problem figuring out what to do in Dalarna. From wandering in emerald pine forests, discovering more varieties of mushrooms, lichens and red lingonberries then I thought existed, and spending nights suspended in a Supermoon, my time in Dalarna refreshed and rejuvenated my spirit.

The concept of  lagom , along with the equally important freedom to roam –  allemansrätt –  define certain key traits of the Swedish character and identity.

The latter ideal refers to the right to wander freely through nature. Allemansrätt comes with responsibilities. To take care of the forest and natural places in the country. To pack out what you bring in, to replace the wood you used in your fire. To take time to enjoy the natural world, breathe the air, drink the clean water. In this time of climate crises and anxiety, these sustainable ways of life are something that we all need to embrace.

Stay in a Supermoon in the woods

Just north of Rättvik in the little hamlet of Furudal is one of the most unique accommodation options anywhere in the country.

Built among the tall pines at Näsets Marcusgård , the unique Supermåne  (Supermoon) is a suspended sphere, attached to trees by way of strong aeronautical cabling. The Supermoon can accommodate up to three people but is ideal for singles or couples.

Guests climb up the steps to the little sphere in the sky, which doesn’t sway as much as you’d think. The clear round window above the bed showcases the night sky and stars. The canvas walls of the ‘moon’ are insulated. This helps keep the heat produced by the most adorable little wood stove in. A Stay in the supermen makes for an unforgettable night in the woods.

Enjoy fika in the forest

The tradition of fika – sitting down to enjoy something to eat and drink – is an important part of Swedish culture. It is so much more than downing a cup of coffee in a hasty rush. It’s about being present either alone or with friends and enjoying the moment.

You can enjoy fika anywhere, but it’s particularly fabulous outdoors on a Green Owl Travel  tour at an open campfire in the forests of Dalarna. Many Ekoparks and forests in Sweden have fire pits with plentiful wood supplies. But many Swedes pack in kindling and leave extra behind for the next visitor to enjoy. Traditional fika foods include sweet treats like cinnamon rolls or my favorite, cardamom buns.

Dance around the Midsummer Pole

Being Sweden in miniature ensures that few take Midsummer  quite as seriously as those living in Dalarna. Some of the liveliest and largest summer solstice celebrations can be found in Rättvik and throughout the countryside.

Midsummer celebrates the longest day of the year, the summer solstice in June. In Dalarna, the festivities of maypole dances, songs, and floral decorations go on for several days, and are genuinely magical.

Pick lingonberries

Picking wild berries and mushrooms in the forest is an annual right of mid-summer and mid-fall in Dalarna and Sweden. When I lived in Sweden in the 1980s, going picking for wild berries was one of the first activities I did with my host family.  Tart red lingonberries and wild blueberries carpet the forest floor is. Swedes pick them during the autumn season, to make jams or to freeze over winter.

Locals use special prong-baskets or pickers to ‘comb’ the low bushes to collect as many berries as possible. A red or blue-stained hand is the sign of a very good day out in the forest.

Visit the Falun Mine Museum

The great Falun Mine  is now a World Heritage site and museum that highlights the powerful industrial history of Dalarna. Once the biggest copper mine in Europe, mining in this region goes back 1,000 years.

70% of the worlds’ copper was once produced here. Guests can wander the depths of the mine by donning hard hats and going on an underground tour. Above ground, the Little Mine Train ferries guest round the Great Pit and to the Mine Museum, home to educational exhibitions.

Bring a Dala Horse home

The orange carved and painted wooden statue of a horse is an important symbol of this Swedish province. And it makes the perfect trip souvenir. The tradition began when men working in the forests carved little wooden horses for their children to play with. Each town in Dalarna has its own colour and version of the Dala Horse  (Rättvik’s is grey), but the iconic decorated red-orange horse from the little village of Nusnas in Dalarna has become the authentic symbol of the Swedish dala horse.

Take a walk in the forest

In Dalarna, the deep green forests are biodiverse ecosystems of trees, lichen, moss and fungi. Walking through moss-covered erratic boulders and spongey forest floor of Ekopark Ejheden with local biologist Sebastian Kirppu is a revelation.

The air smells of pine and loamy earth, and there are mushrooms everywhere. The Swedish concept of allemansrätt   ensures that everyone has the right to roam freely in the forest in search of mushrooms or lingonberries. But there is also a responsibility to respect the land and its creatures, which can include moose, elk, wolves and bears in this region.

Visit Ärteråsen summer farm

Dating back to the 15 th century, Ärteråsen in Rättvik  is one of the largest preserved Swedish summer grazing farms. So, what’s a summer grazing farm?

It’s a place in the countryside where farmers would take their animals to graze in open meadows and in the forest.

Ärteråsen was at its peak in the middle of the 19th century. At that time there were 22 cabins and 36 caretakers for the animals. Several families shared the cabins, and hundreds of animals grazed open meadows and in the forest. Today only 12 cabins remain and during the summer months cows still graze in the meadow.

Just up the hill from the farm is a fire observation tower which is about 400 m above sea level. The views from the top offer a panorama of the beautiful Dalarna countryside.

Visit an evil waterfall

Styggforsen (which means evil water), is in a unique nature reserve. The special environment has given rise to some imaginative legends, a 36-metre waterfall and unique geology.

Some 400 million years ago, a meteorite struck this region. It created a massive crater that raised the hills and pushed up the limestone to the point where it could be mined. It also raised the former prehistoric sea floor to a nearly vertical position of 90%.

Its geological significance promoted an industrial history of iron and copper mining. Including at Falun, home to one of the largest copper mines in the world. The waterfall and river were also used for grinding wheat and power generation in the past 200 years. But now the region makes for a lovely half day hike  in nature.

Walk the shore of Lake Siljan

Lake Siljan is the sixth largest lake in Sweden. A walk around the lake would take more than a day. But there’s an easy 7 km hike along its shore from Rättvik to Vikarbyn village that’s worth a half-day trip.

The lakeside hike goes by several several historic sites and buildings. You’ll pass several beautiful stugas  (cottages) and bathhouses with lake views, surrounded by dense forest.

Bike the Countryside

Pedal down country roads and discover the beauty and geological history of Dalarna by bicycle . The 26 km route passes through forested countryside, into old limestone quarries and stops at ceramic factories.

Rättvik is home to Dalhalla , an open-air amphitheater and music arena located in an old limestone quarry. The acoustics are out of this world. This outdoor venue is a popular summer concert hall for rock bands and operas.

Ride on a steamboat tour on Ljugaren

Piloted by captain Gösta Carlberg and his first mate Cliff the border collie, the Agnes  is a functioning steamship. Agnes was built in 1899, and still plies the waters of Ljugaren. It’s one of 200 steamships in Sweden. A wood-burning boiler powers the beautiful wooden boat, which can reach a max speed of 6.5 knots. It’s a perfect pace for passing idyllic red cottages on tiny islands in the lake.

The boat tour brings visitors to the rocky island in the middle of the lake. This is where Gustav Vasa hid while fleeing the Danes in the 1500s. Cottages and a summer grazing area dot the lake’s shoreline.

Play Viking at Stornäset

Many feared the legendary ancestors of the Swedes. But their way of life and work remains fascinating even today.

Guests can immerse themselves in a Viking lifestyle, if only for a few hours, at Stornäset, or Viking House. Local Rättvik couple Sune and Ingrid Bergman built an authentic Viking longhouse over a span of four years. They host fun and educational celebrations of Viking culture for guests.

I transformed into a Viking Shield Maiden of Rättvik. While holding a heavy wooden shield and finely wrought metal sword was a struggle, my archery skills were on point. We earned our firelight dinner of beef stew with black currants and mead. Surrounded by animal pelts covering the hand-hewn log walls of the longhouse. This immersive experience gives guests a taste for how Vikings lived, survived and thrived a thousand years ago.

Dalarna has upteen scenic lakes with perch, arctic char, trout and pike. There are many outfitters who take guests out for angle, fly, and spin fishing. You will need a fishing license, but if you go with a local outfit like GuideFathers, everything, including tackle and bait, is provided.

Visit the Church of Rättvik

The Church of Rättvik has been located on the Lake of Siljan since the 13th century. The original wooden church was replaced by limestone church after a catastrophic fire. There’s a large stone monument here to Gustav Vasa, first king of Sweden. The people of Dalarna (who have a reputation for stubbornness) helped the King when he was being pursued by Danes.

Intriguingly, the church is surrounded by 90 wooden church stables, some dating back to the 15 th century. The stables were owned by individual families of the parish. They were used to house their horses during Sunday services to keep them warm. Many parishioners would also arrive via church boat. A type of long wooden craft similar to Viking ships that villagers would use to row to Church.

Ski the Vasaloppet

Winter transforms Dalarna into a wonderland of snow sports like snow shoeing, ice skating and cross-country skiing. Its marquee event is the world’s most famous cross-country ski race, the Vasaloppet .

This race is named after King Gustav Vasa and his successful ski escape (with only one ski pole) from the Danes. The race is 90 km and draws more than 12,000 skiers between Salen and Mora. Note: There are shorter races during the event, for those not inclined to tackle the full length. In summer, mountain bikes cycle this same route in the CykelVasan event

Where to Stay in Rättvik

Nasets Marcusgård . Owners Marielle and Willem have set up a unique variety of accommodations in the little hamlet of Furudal, north of Rättvik.

In addition to a beautiful farmhouse divided into apartments and large shared spaces, they’ve constructed two very unique cabin structures on the property – the Supermåne  and Oddis Öga , a four-person cabin.

The Supermoon is suspended in the forest using aeronautical cabling attached to pine trees. It’s ideal for singles or couples, offering a memorable night out in the Swedish forest.

The Oddis Öga (Oddity’s Eye) cabin sits upon a hill with wonderful forest views through its large round windows. The cabin can accommodate a family of four in cosy comfort with a superb tiny wood stove for warmth.

Lustigsgården . This lovely family-owned Bed and Breakfast is just 15 minutes from the center of Rättvik. Fourteen Scandi-chic rooms are located in two buildings on a property that’s been a hotel since the 1700s. Most of the rooms have beautiful views of Lake Siljan and the town.

Owners Ulrica and Niclas prepare a buffet breakfast every morning that includes hard-boiled eggs, variety of meats and cheeses, as well as local bread, yoghurt, jams and honey.

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Photo credit: C Laroye; Shutterstock

Disclosure: The writer thanks Green Owl Travel for hosting her time in Dalarna. As always, her opinions and love of fika, dala horses and walks in mossy forests are honest and her own.

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Bordering Norway to the west, Dalarnas län (county) occupies a broad swath of land in middle Sweden. It runs from the remote and rugged landscapes of Grövelsjön and Idre in the northwest for about 350km to its southeastern extent, putting it within striking distance for holidaying Stockholmers.

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Carl Larsson-gården

Don’t miss Sweden's 'most famous home', located 13km northeast of Falun in the picturesque village of Sundborn. After their deaths, the early-20th-century…

Munthe’s Hildasholm

Lake Siljan

Built by Axel Munthe (1857–1949), who served as the Swedish royal physician and wrote the best-selling memoir The Story of San Michele, this sumptuously…

The Zorn family house, Zorngården, is an excellent example of a wealthy artist’s residence and reflects Anders Zorn’s National Romantic aspirations (check…

Långfjällets Natureservat

Occupying a whopping 664-sq-km, this vast nature reserve is most commonly approached from Grövelsjön and is a haven for birdlife and all manner of Nordic…

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The Falu Gruva mine museum, just behind the ticket-sales building at the entrance to the mining complex, contains everything you could possibly want to…

Dalarnas Museum

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Vasaloppsmuseet

Even if you have no interest in skiing, you may be pleasantly surprised by the excellent Vasaloppsmuseet, which really communicates the passion behind the…

Dalarna and beyond

• Norwegian Bokmål

First region of Sweden

Dalarna means 'the valleys' and the province's unspoiled landscape stretching from mighty mountains in the north to rolling farmland in the south mean it's often referred to as ''Sweden in miniature''. Its deep forests, woodland lakes, rivers and waterfalls make it the perfect place to immerse yourself in nature and outdoor activities.

Culturally, Dalarna is the most Swedish of Swedish provinces too. The iconic and world-famous Dala horse originates here and our colourful folk costumes, distinctive folk music, kurbits painting and red-painted cottages have attracted visitors since the late 19th century. The region Dalarna is the place to experience a truly traditional Midsummer, celebrated with maypoles, floral garlands, dancing and music.

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THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Dalarna County

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A sizeable province, DALARNA takes in not only the area around Lake Siljan but also the ski resorts of Sälen and Idre , close to the Norwegian border. The area holds a special misty-eyed place in the Swedish psyche and should certainly be seen, although not to the exclusion of places further north. Tiny countryside villages and rolling meadows sweet with the smell of summer flowers make up most of Dalarna, a rural idyll given a handsome backdrop by the land to the northwest of Lake Siljan, which rises slowly to meet the chain of mountains that forms the border with Norway. One small lakeside town can look pretty much like another, so if time is short, restrict yourself to visiting just one or two: Leksand and Mora are the best options, and the latter is also the starting point for Sweden’s most beautiful train journey, along the Inlandsbanan to the Arctic Circle.

Around Lake Siljan

The dala horse, the inlandsbanan, inlandsbanan practicalities, musik vid siljan, midsummer kyrkbåtar races, sweden’s red houses.

North of Mora, the province becomes more mountainous and less populous, the only place of note here being Orsa , with its fascinating bear park . There’s no need to worry about accommodation in the province: you’ll find numerous hotels, hostels and campsites around.

Things have changed since Baedeker, writing in 1889, observed that “Lake Siljan owes much of its interest to the inhabitants of its banks, who have preserved many of their primitive characteristics. In their idea of cleanliness they are somewhat behind the age.” Today it’s not the people who draw your attention but the setting. Lake Siljan , created millions of years ago when a meteorite crashed into the earth, is what many people come to Sweden for, its gently rolling surroundings, traditions and local handicrafts weaving a subtle spell on the visitor. There’s a lush feel to much of the region, the charm of the forest heightened by its proximity to the lake, all of which adds a pleasing dimension to the low-profile towns and villages that interrupt the rural scenery. Only Mora stands out as being bigger and busier, with the hustle and bustle of holiday-makers and countless caravans crowding the place in summer.

Perhaps the most traditional of the Dalarna villages is LEKSAND , about 50km northwest of Falun. There's little to do here other than take it easy, but it's certainly worth making the effort to reach at midsummer , when it stages festivals recalling age-old dances performed around the maypole (Sweden’s maypoles are erected in June – in May the trees here are still bare and the ground can be covered with snow), and featuring kyrkbåtar boat races.

Mora and around

At the northwestern corner of the lake, 60km from Leksand, MORA is the best place to head for hereabouts. An appealing, laidback town, its main draws are two excellent museums, one dedicated to the painter Anders Zorn, and the other to the Vasaloppet ski race. It's also handy for onward trains on the Inlandsbanan and for moving on to the ski resorts of Idre and Sälen.

No matter where you travel in Sweden, you’ll come across small wooden figurines known as Dala horses ( dalahästar ). Their bright red colour, stumpy legs and garish floral decorations are, for many foreigners, high kitsch and rather ugly; the Swedes, however, adore bright colours (the redder the better) and love the little horses – it’s virtually an unwritten rule that every household in the country should have a couple on display. Two brothers from the town of Nusnäs , Nils and Jannes Olsson , began carving the horses in the family baking shed in 1928, when they were just teenagers. Though they were simply interested in selling their work to help their cash-strapped parents make ends meet, somehow the wooden horses started catching on – Swedes are at a loss to explain why – and soon they were appearing across the country as a symbol of rural life.

Stretching over 1000km from Mora to Gällivare, north of the Arctic Circle, the privately operated Inlandsbanan , the Inland Railway, is a great way of travelling off the beaten track through central and northern Sweden; onboard guides provide commentaries and information about places along the route to ensure you get the most out of the journey. State-owned until 1992, it’s now run as a private venture, supported by the fifteen municipalities that the route passes through.

Trains run on the Inlandsbanan for a few months in the summer, generally between late June and late August, though the exact operating season varies year to year, so check the latest timetable at w inlandsbanan.se . To give an idea of prices, Mora–Östersund is 600kr, a seat reservation is an extra 50kr and a bike costs 100kr; InterRail cards are valid. Timetables are only approximate, and the train will stop whenever the driver feels like it – perhaps for a spot of wild-strawberry picking or to watch a beaver damming a stream. Generally there’s one daily train north from Mora at around 2.45pm, with a connecting train running from Gothenburg via Kristinehamn (the original starting point of the line) from July to mid-August. Done in one go, the journey from Mora to Gällivare lasts two days, with an overnight stop in Östersund. It’s a much better idea, though, to take it at a more relaxed pace, with a couple of stops along the route (you can break your journey as many times as you like on one ticket).

If you’re planning using the Inlandsbanan a lot, consider investing in the Inland Railway Card (Inlandsbanekort; 1995kr), which gives unlimited travel for two weeks.

Should you be around during the first week or so of July, don’t miss Musik vid Siljan , nine days of musical performances in lakeside churches, the stunning former limestone quarry, Dalhalla, and at various locations out in the surrounding forest. The range of music covered is exceptionally wide, including chamber music, jazz, traditional folk songs and dance-band music, with proceedings starting in the early morning and carrying on until late evening every day. Full details at w musikvidsiljan.se .

Dalarna’s midsummer celebrations are the most famous in Sweden, and culminate in the church boat (kyrkbåtar) races, a waterborne procession of sleek wooden longboats, which the locals once rowed to church on Sundays. The races start on Midsummer’s Day in Siljansnäs – take the roughly hourly bus #84 from Leksand – and continue for ten days at different locations around the lake; the races hit Leksand on the first Saturday in July. Leksand’s tourist office will have details of the arrangements for each summer’s races.

As you travel around Sweden, you can’t help but notice that virtually every timber structure is painted deep red. Many outsiders mistakenly see this lack of individuality and expression as stifling social democractic conformity. It is actually more a question of practicality combined with age-old tradition. In a climate as severe as Sweden’s, wood needs special protection from the elements: the red paint used for generations on structures across the country, produced in Falun, contains a natural copper preservative. Known as Falu rödfärg , this paint is Sweden’s aesthetically more pleasing answer to pebbledash.

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About Dalarna

We believe that Dalarna might be the most Swedish part of Sweden. Here, you’ll find all the things that are typical Swedish. For example, this is the place where the Dala Horse came to life. The midsummer parties are like nowhere else and all the cities and villages have something unique to offer its visitors. There are loads of bucket list experiences in Dalarna!

After spending a month and a half, driving around in Dalarna – we have found the hidden gems, the highlights and the things to do in Dalarna you don’t want to miss out on. And so, if you are looking for the best of Dalarna, you are at the right place.

Top 10 things to do in Dalarna

See Sweden’s highest waterfall

Njupeskär is the name of Sweden’s highest waterfall. About 93 meters high and one of the main attractions inside Fulufjällets National Park . In the national park, you have several different trails that make for some great hiking. Make sure to check out the world’s oldest tree “Old Tjikko” inside the park too.

Take a walk with reindeers

At Renbiten, there are several different attractions that you can do as you interact with reindeers. One of them is getting to feed them and another one is to take them out for a walk. Walking with reindeers is relaxing and soothing. You will stop half-way and have some coffee and snacks. An amazing experience!

Try Glamping – A high-end experience

One tent. One place and one special adventure. Park your car and walk into the middle of nowhere. Get ready to explore some real silence and pamper yourself. Take a walk to the lake and take a dip. Glamping in Dalarna is the new black and no one does it as good as Camilla Linnér, the owner of this place. Dinner and breakfast is included.

Experience a mustard tasting

Forget about wine- or cheese tastings. Mustard is the way to go. Mustard tasting at LissEllas is something that will stay with you forever. It’s interesting to see how many different mustards there are. Who knew that there’s a chocolate-mustard? Or what about a mustard with blueberries? Best of all is that they all taste great!

The home of the Swedish Dala horse

The Dala horse might be the most Swedish thing ever. Just outside of Mora , you can see how the horses are made. Follow the whole process and be amazed by the painters that give the Dala horses their beautiful patterns . If you want, you can buy unpainted horses to bring home and paint as you like!

Hike in Grövelsjön

In the northern parts of Dalarna you will find Grövelsjön. This is where you want to be if you are up for hiking. There are several paths that you can hike, and they are for different levels of hikers. If you are up for it, a hike to Sylen is incredible . It takes you from Sweden, into Norway, and then back into Sweden. Don’t miss this one!

Verket & Avesta Art

A must visit while in Dalarna. Verket is an old steel factory that has turned into an interactive museum and art gallery. Avesta Art changes each year and new exhibitions are replacing the old once. However, some of the exhibitions are permanent and you can admire them each year. Verket & Avesta Art is fun for the whole family .

Kulinariet – A food market and restaurant

Located somewhat in the middle of nowhere, Kulinariet opens a new world as you enter . Come inside an enjoy incredible food and drinks. Watch the popular Swedish crispbread being made and shop delicacies in their store. Everything inside Kulinaret is right on point – from the food to the interior design.

Visit a traditional Swedish Fäbod

A Fäbod is like a small chalet or a small farm. Fäbodar is very special in Dalarna and there are several different ones that you can visit during the summer. Karl-Tövåsens Fäbod is the longest-running chalet in the country and to this day, they do almost everything at the farm as they did during the old days. See the animals and the churning of butter. 

Learn all about porphyry and the “Elvis” guitars

Start your visit by seeing the old workshop where porphyry was made into vases, boxes and other knickknacks. This is interesting and fun (who knew that stone can be fun?!). Make your way to the museum and see more artifacts made of porphyry and admire a huge collection of the famous Hagström guitars that Elvis made famous.

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8 reasons to visit Dalarna, 'Sweden in miniature'

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This beautiful county, with its art, lakes and cities, has everything you need to experience the very best of Swedish culture.

If you're looking to get a taste for a country's culture, you often have to travel far and wide across several regions for a well-rounded experience. Not so in Sweden, where you could visit just one of its beautiful counties to discover myriad aspects and charms of Swedish culture. 

Enter Dalarna. A central county of Sweden located around three hours by car from Stockholm, travelling in Dalarna is like experiencing Sweden in miniature. Here you'll find mountains, lakes, traditional red and white houses, Swedish arts and crafts and delicious food. Home to iconic Swedish symbol the dalahäst – a carved, painted wooden statue of a horse – it's the perfect place to soak up the culture, with so much to see and do. Here are eight reasons to visit:

1. Discover art and culture in Falun

Falun is the capital of Dalarna and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it isn’t hard to see why. As well as its many typical city-like amenities, such as shopping and places to eat, there’s a wealth of Swedish history here. 

The Carl Larsson Homestead is filled with the beloved Swedish artist’s work and you’ll find even more art in the form of traditional local Dalecarlian painting, folk costumes and collections of Dala horses at the Dalarna Museum in the centre of Falun.  

Also featured in the Dalarna Museum is Selma Lagerlöf, the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1909 and to be granted a membership to the Swedish Academy in 1914. She called Falun home from 1897 until her death in 1940. Quotes from her most famous works are etched onto the streets. Look for them as you wander through this incredible city. 

2. Learn about Swedish history at the Falu Gruva copper mine

Also in Falun is Falu Gruva, one of the oldest and biggest copper mines in Europe. At one time it produced two thirds of all copper in the western world and during the 17th century, the mines helped Sweden to become the major producer of copper.

To this day the copper mine plays a part in producing the glorious red paint that colours Swedish homes. The typical red houses you see across the country use Falu paint, which takes its name from, and is made at, the Falun copper mine. Falu red is made from leftover rocks and ores containing iron. Over time, the iron weathers to form iron oxide, which is the base for the unique pigment.

Take a tour through dark narrow tunnels – damp and muddy in places – and hear stories from deep within the mine. Your guide will teach you to knock at the door to the 1,000-year-old mine three times for good luck, echoing an ancient miner's tradition. After all, you don’t want to incur the wrath of Gruvfrun, the “Lady of the Mine”…

3. Get active on Lake Runn

Legend has it that Lake Runn, between Falun and the locality of Borlänge, has as many islands as there are days of the year. True or not, this is the place to come for kayaking, swimming, wildlife spotting and even ice skating. Like many places in Dalarna, Lake Runn is enjoyable in any season. 

Hire a kayak or paddleboard and take to the crystal-clear water. Paddle to the islands dotting the lake and look for birds and other wildlife. It's also a great spot to pitstop and  enjoy fika , while soaking in Lake Runn's natural landscapes. Fika is a tradition all over Sweden, where friends and family gather to share coffee and sweet cakes. It's typically enjoyed twice a day, in the morning and later in the afternoon, anywhere you can. 

        View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Human by Nature (@humanbynaturedalarna)

4. Take in the quaint scenery of Sälen

Often associated with the ski season, Sälen is in fact just as enticing during the warmer months. It’s far quieter at this time too, which means you’ll find even more space out in some of Sweden’s most beautiful natural spots. 

You can hike, bike or even take a husky for a stroll (or, let's be honest, be taken for a stroll by a husky) in the mountains here, with tracks available for all abilities. 

There’s more of Sweden’s history to discover here too, in the form of Högfjällshotellet, Sälen’s oldest ski resort built in 1937; and Gammelgården , a traditional restaurant and ski lodge which has buildings dating back as far as 1649.  

5. Delight in the creation of dalahäst

One of the most prolific Swedish symbols you’ll see in Dalarna is the Dalahäst or Dala horse. Once unveiled at the World's Fair in New York 1939, the Dala horse became well-known everywhere, although the earliest reports of the Dala horse date back to 1623. Traditionally red and decorated with floral patterns but now available in a variety of sizes and a rainbow of colours, this carved wooden horse is so much more than a decorative item.

Although made locally from wood from the slow-growing pine forests around Lake Siljan , you can now buy Dala horses across the country. At  Nils Olsson in Nusnäs, see the beautiful horses being created – the family-run business has been manufacturing them since 1928. 

You can see a Dala horse being made here .

        View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Nils Olsson Dalahästar (@nilsolsson.se)

6. Swat up on Swedish art and design

Swedish design is world-famous – and we're not just talking about IKEA. Swedish decor takes inspiration from the beauty of the country’s landscapes and its most prolific artists. One such artist, Anders Zorn, lived in Mora, a picturesque city in the Dalarna region. Today you can visit The Zorn Museum , which was also where Anders lived with his family, surrounded by his work. 

As demonstrated on the Dala horses, Dalmalning – Swedish folk painting – also decorates much of Dalarna, from its buildings to its phone boxes. A tradition dating back to the 1700s, Dalmalning uses traditional Swedish Dala motifs: draped floral garlands and borders filled with beautiful bright colours.

7. Marvel at Midsummer in Mora

Mora, sitting on the northern shore of Lake Siljan, is perhaps best known for its associations with  Vasaloppet , or “the Vasa-race” – the world’s oldest long-distance cross-country ski race (since 1922). Competitors cross the finish line here after starting in Salen. The inscription found on the finish line's archway is in ancient Swedish and roughly translates to “In the footsteps of the fathers — for the victories of the future”.

Elsewhere in this vibrant city you should pay a visit to the Anders Zorn Museum and if you’re in Mora on a Friday between 19-25 June, celebrate Midsummer . This cherished celebration of the summer solstice sees Mora’s citizens dress in traditional clothing and decorate the city’s maypole with wreaths before performing traditional dances around it. The clothing was designed by King Gustav III and introduced in 1778. Women typically wear a long skirt, blouse and apron, while men wear long socks, trousers and a coat. Floral motifs are often used to decorate the clothes and blue and yellow (the colours of the Swedish flag) are frequently used.

You shouldn’t leave Mora without visiting the giant Dala horse that stands not far from the city centre, although at around eight-feet (2.4m) tall you’d find it tricky to miss!

8. Join gastronomy tours and sample tasty food

Of course there's fika – a Swedish custom that Dalarna takes as seriously as the rest of the country – but the region also has its own specialist foods to try. Be sure to try tunnbröd, a thin, soft bread baked according to local traditions often using a mix of wheat and potatoes. It is rolled into a cone and filled with various delicious things, from potatoes to local meats and cheeses.

To really get a taste of Dalarna and learn even more about Swedish culture, take a guided gastronomy tour  to learn about the flora, fauna and foods that grow in the countryside and mountains. Lingonberries, cloudberry jam , cheese and elk are just some of the tasty things your can try while surrounded by mountainside views.

More information about Dalarna can be found at:  visitdalarna.se/en  and  visitsweden.com

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What to Do and See in the South of Dalarna: Falun & Lake Siljan

Many of you would like to take advantage of your holidays in Stockholm and stay some more days visiting another part of Sweden. The region of Dalarna, some 3 hours by car or train from Stockholm, is also known as the most Swedish of all regions in the country. Both material and immaterial symbols like midsommar, the Dalecarlian horse or the red painting originate from this area.

Besides discovering the birthplace of these symbols you will also enjoy wonderful natural surroundings filled with flowers during spring and summer and with plenty of outside activities in the snow during the winter.

Dalarna is a popular destination among Swedes and other European tourists. Currently Dalarna is the 4th most visited Swedish region by tourists traveling to the country. Being close to Stockholm does help.

During our one-month long roadtrip in Sweden that we did this last summer we headed to southern Dalarna and I wand to tell you what you can do and see in two areas : the town of Falun and around Lake Siljan.

On your way to Falun on road 70 just after entering the county of Dalarna you will find (1) the world largest Dalecarlian Horse at a petrol station in Avesta municipality. Take your time to stop by and take a picture!

Visiting Falun and Its Surroundings

In the outskirts of Falun you can stop at (2) Gamla Staberg a Baroque garden featuring the typical red houses dating from mid 17-th century and belonging to the World Heritage Site in Falun. During your visit you will get to know how rich mining families lived then. At the restaurant you will find both delicious fika pastries as well as a menu made of local products.

Once in (3) Falun you can take a walk in the city center looking for Kålgården Park walking along the river Faluån. The old area in Falun is known as Elsborg and its old houses belong to the World Heritage Site. The Museum of Dalarna , a must see for getting to know the region, is also located in Falun. By the way if you are into heavy music, plan your visit accordingly to attend the laureated Sabaton Open Air Festival and enjoy your favourite music.

Of course, when visiting Falun you must visit the the attraction that acts as a tourist mecca due to its uniqueness: Falun’s Copper Mine belonging to Unesco’s World Heritage and dating from over a thousand years ago.

We took a guided tour in English and really enjoyed being able to go down to the mine and getting to know the place where miners spent hours, days, weeks, months and years of their lives in some extreme conditions to dig for copper ore and make Sweden one of the more powerful nations in Europe. After visiting the mine don’t miss the Museum of The Mine or Gruvmuséet where you will learn much more about copper and copper ore and its implications centuries ago. The museum is interactive and you will have a great time visiting it. You will also learn more about the relationship between Falun Copper Mine and the red painting which is featured in almost every house in the area and in the rest of Sweden.

If you are looking for views of the city you must go to the Lugnet nature reserve where up the hill there is the Ski Museum in Lugnet and there are two ski jumping hills that can be visited and offer views of Falun as well as an idea of ??what the jumpers experience when sliding down the slope on the snow.

On the outskirts of Falun there are some historical places to visit like the house where the famous Swedish botanist and naturalist Carl von Linné – Linnaeus for friends – spent his wedding night located next to the road 850. This historic house can be visited from after midsommar until mid-August. And a little further away the (4) village of Sundborn, which besides being beautiful for walking, has a place that is very much appreciated by cultural tourists, such as the residence of the famous Swedish painter and interior designer Carl Larsson.

Here there are also very interesting guided tours to get to know the works of Larsson a very famous Swede who revolutionized interior design in Sweden with its daring colors and patterns. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to take pictures of the place because it still belongs to the Larsson family and they continue to meet occasionally in the residence.

If you are going to visit Carl Larssons Gården do not miss the restaurant next door. They have a very well priced buffet, with many of the traditional Swedish meals and dessert and coffee included which in Sweden is unusual and very much appreciated.

Stora Hyttnäs Museum , located next to Larsson’s house, is an authentic 19th-century house with a beautiful garden. Everything is related to the era of the copper mining boom and also belongs to Unesco’s world heritage in Falun and surroundings.

If you are looking for a pittoresque little village near Falun and next to a lake to take good pictures, you have plenty to choose from. We were told to visit (5) Stjärnsund, in the municipality of Hedemora, so we went there to enjoy the tranquility, the golden light of the Swedish nights in June and the surrounding nature. We were not disappointed at all!

The Route around Lake Siljan

The idea is to make a route around Lake Siljan. Since there are not many kilometers it can be done in several days, always going back to sleep at your starting point. Below I’ll give you more details about our accommodation in Dalarna which was a Swedish stuga (cabin) near the town of Tällberg. If you come by this area in summer, it is convenient to keep in mind when the Musik vid Siljan music festival is held (always in week 27 of the year) in case you are interested in attending one of the countless concerts that take place.

Rättvik and Surroundings

Arriving at (6) Rättvik you can go to the observation tower of Vidablick inaugurated at the end of the 18th century and located on top of the Hedsåsberget mountain, 352 m (1150 ft) high. After climbing a huge number of steps to reach its highest point (28 m / 90 ft) you can enjoy great views of this area south of Lake Siljan.

Rättvik is a tourist city par excellence in the area. In fact, in 1894 the first tourist hotel in the country was built here. A footbridge called Långbryggan was also inaugurated at Lake Siljan and still serves as a 628-meter long dock that grants access to the boats that sail the lake. Between May and September the boat MS Gustaf Wasa leaves with destination Mora and Leksand. These cruises on the Siljan offer seafood tasting, with dancing included, dinner or lunch or just a few hours for shopping in any of the big cities by the lake.

In Rättvik we took a walk through the shopping area in the town center and the area of ??local artisans near the tourist office.

On the outskirts of Rättvik two places caught our attention. One of them was the Nittsjö Keramik ceramics factory, which is one of the oldest in Sweden being around since the mid-nineteenth century, and whose products are a classic in Swedish homes. In the store you will find new and second quality products at reasonable prices.

On the way to the pottery factory (and throughout Dalarna and Sweden in general) you will also find several loppis which are Swedish flea markets where individuals get rid of those things they no longer need at very reasonable prices. If you are interested in this type of second hand shopping, I recommend that you bring cash because they rarely accept credit or debit cards. Unfortunately in more than one occasion we had to return empty-handed for not carrying pocket money :(

The next place we visited is a natural space called Dalhalla which is one of the most impressive scenarios for outdoor concerts in Europe. International musicians like Sting and Swedes like Europe, Titiyo, Tallest Man On Earth (from Leksand in Dalarna) or Mando Diao (also from Borlänge in Dalarna) have played in this place. There are guided tours during summer months where you can visit the area outside of concerts or events.

As an important event to highlight for motor lovers is the Classic Car Week . For more than 25 years Sweden’s biggest classic car meeting takes place in Rättvik in the week 31 of the year, that is, around the end of July beginning of August. During our stay in Dalarna – at the end of June – we were able to enjoy bumping into a lot of classic Swedish and American cars on the streets and roads of the region. We loved it!

Nusnäs and Mora

The (7) village of Nusnäs between Rättvik and Mora is one of the main destinations in the area that you must visit. Nusnäs is the birthplace of the famous Dalecarlian horses. By visiting the two factories you will be able to appreciate the handmade manufacturing process and get to know the history behind the painting style which decorate the horses called kurbits . In Nusnäs you can easily spend an entire morning absorbed in the horses. In one of the factories you can even do a painting workshop and bring home your own horse painted by you. I will explain in detail our visit to Nusnäs in an exclusive article.

On the way to (8) Mora, I recommend you to stop at a restaurant called Moraklockan next to a petrol station 10 km from Mora. Here you will enjoy a menu at a very good price both in quantity, variety and cost.

In Mora there are several unique tourist spots. One of them is the Museum and Home of Anders and Emma Zorn that shows how early 20th century homes were and whose garden contains wooden buildings of the 13th century.

The other historic place is the arrival gate for Vasaloppet, the world’s biggest ski race, attracting more than 90,000 skiers each year to this area of Sweden. Next to the arrival door you also have the Vasaloppet Museum.

I really loved the Vasaloppet Museum because it is free (not usual in Sweden) and because it explains the history of what is probably the most famous king of Sweden – Gustav Vasa – and its relationship with the origin of this ski race. It also allows us to see how the race has adapted over the years and has become the tourist-sporting attraction that it currently is. And not only in winter.

Orsa and Fryksås

Continuing north of Mora along Lake Orsasjön – which is a continuation of Lake Siljan – you reach the (9) village of Orsa. The village is very small and we basically did a little shopping downtown both in interior design boutiques and in loppis stuffed with all kinds of things. For example if you are looking for a typical Swedish carpet ( trasmatta ) to bring home and do not have a problem with buying second hand, a loppis can be a perfect place to find it for a tenth of the price of a new one.

North of Orsa there are two very interesting places to visit. One is the animal park of Orsa Grönklitt . In the park there are bears, polar bears, wolves, snow leopards up to a total of ten different types of predators.

The other place is (10) the little village of Fryksås north of Orsa famous for its fäbodar , a group of huts that were formerly used for agricultural work, located in a wonderful location with incredible views of Lake Orsa. A fika in the Fryksås Hotell will let you enjoy them quietly.

Gesundaberget

From Orsa you can make the return trip along Lake Siljan on the other bank. To do this you have to go back to Mora and head towards Sollerön Island and then to (11) Gesunda .

From the top of the Gesundaberget mountain (about 500 m / 1640 ft high) – in winter a ski resort with alpine skiing, cross-country, ice skating, snowmobiles and much more and in summer suitable for routes and downhill on mountain bike, fishing, hiking and other activities – you have spectacular views of Lake Siljan and the region.

From mid-June to mid-August and on special weekends and also in winter and Christmas (from November to January) the Santa Claus park called Tomteland becomes a very popular destination in the area. Among mountains, forests and lakes there is this magical enclave where Santa Claus lives with goblins and fairies. The Kingdom of the Trolls, the Enchanted Forest, the House of the Witch and other fairytale places can be enjoyed by children and adults alike in Tomteland.

Leksand and Tällberg

On the way to Leksand in (12) Siljansnäs you will find Naturum Dalarna , a nature interpretation center, on top of Mount Björkberget. We like to visit this type of centers that are very widespread throughout Sweden to know the particularities in flora and fauna of each area. They are also very interesting because they always have activities to do inside to learn more. Children usually have a great time too so don’t hesitate to visit them even if traveling with kids.

(13) Leksand is a very nice little village to stroll on the southwest shore of Lake Siljan. It is also the cradle of one of the most popular crisp breads (knäckebröd in Swedish) in the country.

The factory where the rounded crisp bread Leksandsknäcke is made, which Grandma Anna began to prepare in the late 1920s, can be visited by tourists. In the shop you can buy dozens of breads with multiple flavors.

In Insjön in the vicinity of Leksand you can visit the museum of another of the stores that belong in the Swedish commercial landscape: the Museum of Clas Ohlson . This company was once a mail-order seller of technical literature and instruction manuals. Next to the museum you will find the largest Clas Ohlson shop in the world with a selection of more than 15,000 items.

Leksand has also place for children in Leksand Sommarland , a water park open from the end of June.

We finish the route at (14) Tällberg which is one of the towns in Sweden with the highest concentration of hotels. There are 8 hotels in its municipal district! From here you can take a 7 km hike through the Digerberget nature reserve. From the top of this mountain you can also enjoy wonderful views of Lake Siljan.

Accommodation in Dalarna

The accommodation that I recommend you in the Swedish region par excellence should be the typical stuga or Swedish cabin if possible next to a lake but in any case surrounded by green.

This is what we did and we met Jan and Karin, owners of a sensational house and its nearby cottage dating from 1865 (on the right in the next photo) in which we stayed. The location of our accommodation in Dalarna was in Kullsbjörken by the southern shore of Lake Siljan between the towns of Tällberg and Rättvik.

The advantage of coming to Sweden at this time – at the beginning of summer – is to be able to enjoy endless days with incredible sunsets. We took advantage of the garden and the table and chairs that Jan and Karin left us to spend our evenings outdoors.

This is the booking page for our cabin in Kullsbjörken in case you want to have a look at prices and availability. Anyway, the Visit Dalarna website has many more at your disposal to enjoy them both as a couple and with the family.

Map with the Itinerary and Route Through the South of Dalarna

This is the map of the route in Dalarna that we made. If you spend 4 days in Stockholm you can then go to Dalarna and do this other route in another 4 or 5 days without problems.

How to Get to Dalarna

Falun is about 225 km (140 mi) northwest of Stockholm. The best way to get there by car is via Enköping and Avesta. Although if you want to add other sightseeing you should stop and visit Sigtuna , Västerås – where we slept in Utter Inn a hotel under water ! – and in the village of Sala to visit his incredible silver mine.

It is also possible to get to Falun by train from Stockholm and then rent the car there to do the aforementioned route.

Dalarna is an extensive region and we already had many kilometers behind us so we didn’t go to the area of the mountains at Idre, Sälen and the Fulufjället National Park northwest of the county and where Old Tjikko, the oldest tree on the planet, is located. We also wanted to stop in Borlänge and take a walk to see the city and the 2047 Science Center but we didn’t have time and so it remains as a future goal for another roadtrip in the region.

If you plan to visit Sweden in winter this area is ideal for skiing because of its large number of stations and its relative proximity and convenient transportation to the capital of Sweden.

Do you want to include Dalarna in your trip? Do you wonder if there is anything else worth visiting? Leave me a comment and I will try to help you.

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About Israel Úbeda

Hi – your trip looks amazing! We are visiting extended family in June for mid-summer and will look to do your route! Just trying to work out the timings – how many days would you say to do points 1 to 5, and how many more for 6 to 10 – we would like to get some walking in as well – would you say 2 days for the west side of the lake? Thank you in advance for your help. Pete and Katherine

Hi Pete, it is good to be able to help you as an inspiration source. I’d say 3 days for points 1 to 5 on the map including visits to the mine in Falun, Sundborn, Gamla Staberg. For points 6 to 10 around 5 days if taking it easy and having time to do some hiking. Please see the official Visit Dalarna website for detailed info on hiking routes in Leksand, Rättvik, Mora, Orsa or Tällberg .

Hello, this trip looks amazing. Hoping to visit some of these places over the Christmas break, I know it won’t be quite as exciting as your trip, but I hope I can at least see some of these places. :)

Just wondering if you can share with the me the contact details for the cabin you stayed in Kullsbjörkens. The link doesn’t seem to work any longer.

Thanks so much.

Regards, Melanie

Hi Melanie. Glad that you found them interesting. During Christmas it will be darker and hopefully full of snow which makes it incredibly beautiful too. I will fix the broken link. Here you can find Kullsbjörken .

But you might want to contact Karin the owner directly here: +46 70 5245606

Best of luck during your trip to Dalarna!

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Midsummer in Dalarna – step by step

Fancy having flowers in your hair, dancing around a pole, singing songs about little frogs, just like the locals? Why not! A true expert shares her traditional Midsummer experience.

Apart from the Christmas season, midsummer’s eve is probably the biggest celebration in the country as every man, woman and child celebrate the longest day of the year. Midsummer’s eve is always celebrated on a Friday between 19 and 25 June. Keep these dates in mind, especially if you are in the region of Dalarna in central Sweden. Midsummer 2024 is on 21 June.

Why Dalarna?

Because no one and no place in Sweden celebrates 'Midsommar' (Midsummer) like Dalarna. And if you think of typical images of Sweden: the cute, brightly painted model wooden horses, the red-painted cottage with white gables and people dancing around the Midsummer maypole – they are all from Dalarna. 

And so is Frida Wallén, a project manager with Visit Sweden in Stockholm who has travelled and worked all around the world. But, as they say: you can take the girl out of Dalarna, but you cannot take Dalarna out of the girl. And if there were a poster girl for Midsummer, it would probably be Frida.

"Everyone gets involved"

Frida is from a village named Östansjö in Dalarna, about 30 minutes by car from the city of Falun:

“Every year I receive a text message from the Midsummer coordinator (yes, there is one) in nearby Svärdsjö asking me if I want to be the flag-bearer of the parish flag in the procession. Of course, I say yes; celebrating Midsummer with family and friends reconnects me to where I come from and my descendants. And I love that everyone gets involved: there’s lunch to be made, coffee, biscuits and buns, flowers to be picked, raffles to be run and it all has to be organised. And with some 5,000 people turning up to celebrate midsummer in the town of Svärdsjö – it’s a big job!”

“Something else I love about Midsummer is its symbolism and meaning; for example, the folk costume I wear tells you which parish I'm from. If I wear a bonnet that means that I'm married, and the flowers that we decorate the garlands with on the maypole must be blue, white and yellow. On Midsummer’s Eve, girls go out to the meadows and, in total silence, collect seven different types of flowers and put them under their pillow before they go to bed. And that night they will dream of the man they will marry. So they say.”

It should be mentioned that Frida’s partner Hampus, who comes from Malmö, joins in the celebrations with her and yes, he dons the traditional costume too. Frida wouldn’t have it any other way.

Midsummer in Dalarna

Midsummer is a celebration of summer and light, and is one of the most celebrated holidays in Sweden. Some Swedes turn up to the celebrations in their traditional folk costumes to honour their regions.

Photo : Per Bifrost/imagebank.sweden.se

The big day

According to Frida, midsummer celebrations are highly organised and run to a strict time schedule in Svärdsjö:

“We pick the flowers and the birch leaves that we decorate the maypole with the evening before Midsummer’s Eve, and at 9.00 am the following day we gather to decorate the maypole. The ladies also decorate their hair with flowers before lunch. Lunch is herring and sides, boiled potatoes in dill, baked salmon and moose are prepared. For dessert, we always have fresh strawberries with elderflower ice cream. The moose dish is traditional in our family as my dad and I are both licensed hunters, so we know where it comes from. We have beer and local spiced vodka with lunch and each toast is accompanied by a song. My advice to people is not to do ‘down in ones’ as some of the drinking songs suggest because it is a long day and you should pace yourself! When the long lunch is over a procession of the people involved in the arrangements heads off to raise the maypole at around 5.30 pm. Then the party really gets started with dancing, games and singing – all accompanied by local musicians playing traditional music.” 

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Princess Madeleine and Her Family Are Moving Back to Sweden

The princess, her husband, and their three children have lived in Florida since 2018.

In an Instagram post, the royal family's official account shared an adorable photo of Madeleine with her husband, Christopher O'Neill, and their three children, Princess Leonore, Prince Nicolas, and Princess Adrienne. Along with the portrait, which was reportedly taken last September, the account also shared the news that the family will be moving back to Sweden, after living in Florida since 2018.

"Princess Madeleine and family are now moving home to Sweden. After several years as foreigners, Princess and Mr. Christopher O'Neill have decided that the family should for now reside in Stockholm," the translated caption reads.

The news that Madeleine and her family would be returning to her homeland was first announced back in 2023, with plans that the big move would happen that summer. However, that timeline was later pushed back, with officials saying, "It is simply that the time for the family with all that a move entails, it has been a little too short." The family have lived abroad for almost a decade, moving to London in 2015, and then to Florida in 2018, where they have remained since.

The youngest daughter of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, Madeleine is currently eighth in line to the Swedish throne. Like the Danish royal family, the Swedish royals shook things up in recent years with the decision to streamline the royal family by stripping some official titles from the youngest generation—in this case, Madeleine's children, as well those of her brother, Prince Carl Philip's children. The kids retained their "Prince and Princess" titles but lost the use of the HRH (His or Her Royal Highness) standing.

Unlike the situation in Denmark, which resulted in some public hard feelings among the royal family , Madeleine seemed to welcome the decision, writing at the time, "This change has been planned for a long time. Chris and I think it's good that our children are now getting a greater opportunity to shape their own lives as private individuals in the future."

Lauren Hubbard is a freelance writer and Town & Country contributor who covers beauty, shopping, entertainment, travel, home decor, wine, and cocktails.

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The National Day of Sweden – 6 June

On 6 june swedes celebrate their national day with waving flags and royals..

Normally, the King and Queen of Sweden take part in a ceremony at Skansen, Stockholm’s open-air museum, on the National Day. The yellow and blue Swedish flag is run up the mast, and children in traditional peasant costume present the royal couple with bouquets of summer flowers.

Special ceremonies welcoming new Swedish citizens are also usually held around the country on National Day.

The beginnings

The last time people in general took an active interest in Sweden as a nation-state was at the turn of the century (around 1900, that is) when national-romantic winds were blowing through the country and folklore societies and local history museums were established.

It was then that 6 June first became a day of celebration.

A strawberry cake to celebrate the National Day. Photo: Lieselotte van der Meijs/imagebank.sweden.se

Ceremony for new citizens on the National Day of Sweden in Stockholm City Hall. Photo: Simon Paulin/imagebank.sweden.se

Paragliding in the south of Sweden. Photo: Simon Paulin/imagebank.sweden.se

Where there's a will, there's a grill. Photo: Vilhelm Stokstad/imagebank.sweden.se

Let's celebrate! Photo: Simon Paulin/imagebank.sweden.se

Public holiday since 2005

In 2004, the Swedish parliament voted to make it a public holiday, which may cause people to become more interested in celebrating it. This decision took decades to reach − various proposals had been discussed under a succession of governments. The public holiday was finally implemented in 2005.

There are also groups lobbying for the introduction of an official national pastry, and a national dish, and for the key-fiddle ( nyckelharpa ) to be made the national instrument. But even for ideas as innocent as these, arriving at a consensus has proved difficult.

Sweden’s National Day – the origins

Since 1983, Sweden has celebrated its National Day on 6 June. It is the date on which Gustav Vasa was elected king in 1523. This laid the foundation of Sweden as an independent state, and on the same date in 1809 a new, important constitution was adopted.

The original idea came from Artur Hazelius, who founded the  Skansen open-air museum  in Stockholm and held a national day celebration there on 6 June as early as the 1890s.

At the 1893 World Fair in Chicago, Sweden presented Midsummer Day as a form of Swedish national day, so in the 1890s Sweden celebrated the occasion twice a year. In 1916, 6 June became the Swedish Flag Day, celebrating the fact that Sweden had acquired its own flag following the dissolution of the union with Norway in 1905.

Last updated on 15 April 2024

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Rafael Nadal is going to skip Wimbledon, as expected, and instead prepare for the Paris Olympics  by entering a clay-court tournament in Bastad, Sweden, he hasn’t been to in 19 years.

The  22-time Grand Slam champion , who turned 38 on June 3, said Thursday he wants to just remain on clay, rather than switching over to grass for the All England Club, then needing to go back to clay for  the Summer Games .

“We believe that the best for my body is not to change surface,” Nadal said in a statement.

He has been dealing with hip and abdominal injuries over the past 1 1/2 years, including having surgery in 2023, and has been forced to play a limited schedule. Nadal was defeated in the first round of the French Open late last month by eventual runner-up Alexander Zverev — marking the first time in Nadal’s career he has lost consecutive matches on clay.

The Summer Games will hold the tennis competition at Roland Garros starting July 27. That is the site of  the French Open , where Nadal has won a record 14 titles.

Nadal will play doubles — with Carlos Alcaraz — and singles at the OIympics, Spanish men’s tennis captain David Ferrer said Wednesday. Alcaraz, 21, won the French Open on Sunday for his third Grand Slam title. He is the youngest man to own major championships on all three surfaces.

After his exit against Zverev  in Paris, Nadal was asked about participating at  Wimbledon , which runs from July 1-14.

“Looks difficult, honestly. For me, now, I can’t confirm what’s going on, but it looks difficult to make a transition to grass, having the Olympics again on clay,” he said.

“But I don’t think it’s going to be smart, after all the things that happened to my body,” Nadal continued, “(to) now make a big transition to a completely different surface and then come back immediately to clay.”

He won two titles at Wimbledon, beating Roger Federer in the 2008 final and Tomas Berdych in the 2010 final. Nadal also was the runner-up there three times and exited after reaching the semifinals in each of his past three appearances, including his last trip to the All England Club, in 2022, when he  withdrew from the final four  because of a torn abdominal muscle.

“I will miss playing at the Championships this year at Wimbledon. I am saddened not to be able to live this year the great atmosphere of that amazing event that will always be in my heart,” Nadal said Thursday, “and be with all the British fans that always gave me great support. I will miss you all.”

This will be his fourth appearance at Bastad — a clay-court tournament that starts July 15 — and first since 2005. Nadal won the trophy there that year, beating Berdych in the final.