The Province of Dalarna
Centrally located in Sweden, Dalarna (which translates to the valleys) is often referred to as the true heart of Sweden. Its cultural heritage is vast, its history ancient. Its nature is both wild and abundant, its seasons both dramatic and defined. Amenities are modern and diverse: shops, restaurants, boutiques, cafés, museums, art galleries, sporting facilities. In short, Dalarna has a great deal to offer, both old and new.
This page has two lists:
Dalarna: Its History, Its Geography
History and Cultural Heritage
With its many listed buildings and old wooden villages, Dalarna's historical past is visible even to this day. In the town of Falun stands the sprawling Falu copper mine, which in the 1700s brought with it extraordinary wealth and power. Now a World Heritage Site, the mine is open to the public year-round, hosting key events such as Christmas markets and the Walpurgis Night bonfire and firework display. Then there are the much-loved Zorn and Larsson museums, which display the artwork of three of Dalarna's most prominent artists.
Stunning Natural Surroundings
Forests, open meadows, remote lakes, snow-peaked mountains, wild and barren valleys. The provincial landscape offers wonderful opportunities for exploration in an area that places great importance on preservation and conservation. The location of Dalarna is such that the landscape is clearly defined by the seasons: while the winters can be cold (-20 degrees Celsius is not unusual), the summers can be hot and dry with temperatures up in the high 20 degrees Celsius. The landscape shifts between the flowering meadows of spring, the green forests of summer, the changing hues of autumn, and the icy white of winter: an outdoor-lover's delight!
Where the Rural and Urban Meet
All in all, Dalarna offers visitors a comfortable small-town feel with its abundance of red-painted houses and quaint rural views, yet it still offers all you might expect from modern urban life: international cuisine, movie theatres, specialty cafés, organic bakeries, dance studios... Borlänge and Falun, the two major towns, are large enough to offer visitors exactly what they need, but small and friendly enough to be welcoming to all.
Events in Dalarna: Autumn to Summer
August
- Farmer's Market in Falun (Bondens egen marknad): organic, locally grown produce, including vegetables, honey, flowers, chocolate, meat and fish.
September
- International Street Food Market in Falun: vendors come to Falun to sell foods all with an international flavour
- Granny Goes Street Festival: an open-air, no-admission-fee music festival - the last such event for the summer in Falun
- Rättvik Autumn Market
- Borlänge Autumn Market
October
- October 4: Kanelbullens dag (Cinnamon Bun Day): buy some buns from the local konditori or bake some with your fellow students
December
- Christmas Market at the Falun Mine (first weekend): check with the tourist offices for markets in other towns and villages
- Luciadagen (Lucia Day - Dec. 13): the traditional Swedish pre-Christmas musical event with choir song and mulled wine - look for events at the university; churches also hold Lucia services
January
- Ice-skate to moonlight on Lake Runn - Ornäsrännet
February
- Runn Winter Week: a week of winter activities on and around Lake Runn, with pristine skating tracks and family-oriented activities
March
- Vasaloppet: "the world's longest, biggest and oldest ski race" according to the Vasaloppet website - be a spectator or compete alongside world athletes
April
- Valborgsmässoafton (Walpurgis Night): bonfires and fireworks (check Visit Dalarna for activities: Falun / Borlänge)
June
- Midsommarafton (Midsummer Eve): arguably the biggest national holiday event in Sweden with may pole dancing, folk music and song, and traditional Swedish fare
July
- Dalecarlia Cup international football tournament in Borlänge
- Cruising in Säter: old American and European cars, motorbikes and tractors take to the streets (market, music and entertainment)
August
- Festival Salute: fireworks and music, Borlänge
Activities: Various Times of Year
- Swim and fish (fishing permit required: purchase at Tourist Office) in the many lakes: Bojsenbeach in Falun and Masenbadet in Borlänge.
- Bike ride around Lake Varpan (Falun) (14 km) + fika at Gullnäsgården
- Orsa Animals of Prey Park (Rovdjursparken) (Swedish website)
- Explore the local forests around Lugnet in Falun and Gyllbergen in Borlänge
- Hike mountain trails in Idre
- Barbecue in one of the many public parks in Falun and Borlänge
- Visit 2047 Science Center in Borlänge
- Attend an ice-hockey match in Leksand
- Visit the Falun Copper Mine
- Head to a bowling alley in Falun or Borlänge (a couple to choose from)
- Book a guided tour at the Psychiatric Museum (Mentalvårdsmuseet) in the town of Säter (30-min busride from Borlänge): 0225-494509
- Rent skiing equipment at the ski slopes of Romme Alpin in Borlänge for downhill skiiing and at Lugnets Camping in Falun for cross-country skiing
- Head by bus to Falu Snowpark (about 6 km from downtown Falun) for a range of winter activities
- Enjoy free musical entertainment and quiz nights at local pubs
- Ice skate on Lake Runn: rent equipment at Sjösidan Falun (information in Swedish)
- View the Northern Lights from a point outside the town limits
- Head to Dalarna Museum in Falun with the adjoining Kopparhatten restaurant/café
- Experience horse-racing at Dalatravet in Borlänge
- Visit the tourist resort of Tällberg, next to Lake Siljan
- Make a a trip to the Carl Larsson Museum in Sundborn close to Falun (buses from Falun)
- Folk Dance and Music in Falun
- Play mini-golf (at Lugnet) or real golf (courses in Borlänge and Falun)
- Try something new at KFUM-hallen in Borlänge: dancing, skating, Capoeira
- Blueberry picking in the early autumn, followed by cranberry picking in late autumn
- Bicycle, walk or bus to Främby Udde resort in Falun, where you can swim in the summer and ice skate in the winter (skates to rent)
- Indoor swimming and sporting activities at Maserhallen and Aqua Nova in Borlänge
Ferries from Stockholm
From Stockholm, you can also take cheap ferries over the Baltic Sea to visit Finland and Åland, or the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Student Union
You can also contact the student union to find information about their clubs and activities: info@dalastudent.se
Tourist Information
For more information about places to go, visit the websites of Visit Dalarna: