Dalarna

Dalarna lies in central Sweden, about three hours’ drive north-west of Stockholm. The region is considered the most Swedish of all the provinces: this is where the red wooden houses stand, where traditional folk costumes are still worn, and where Midsummer is celebrated more traditionally than anywhere else. In the south, lakes and forests shape the landscape; in the north, the fells begin.

Lake Siljan

Siljan is one of the largest lakes in the country and was formed hundreds of millions of years ago by a meteorite impact. The best-known places in the region lie around the lake:

• Mora: home of the painter Anders Zorn, whose house and museum can be visited, and the finishing point of the Vasaloppet ski race.
• Rättvik: with a wooden pier more than 600 metres long stretching out into the lake, and the open-air stage Dalhalla in a former limestone quarry.
• Leksand: known for one of the biggest Midsummer celebrations in Sweden.
• Tällberg: a village with old farmsteads and sweeping views over the lake.

The Dala horse

The red-painted wooden horse, Dalahäst in Swedish, is the country’s best-known souvenir. Originally, forest workers carved the horses as toys for their children during long winter evenings. In the village of Nusnäs near Mora you can watch in the workshops as the horses are still carved and painted by hand today.

Falun and the famous red

The Falun copper mine was one of the most important in the world for centuries and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can descend into the old tunnels. A by-product of mining gave rise to the paint Falu red, which is still used to paint wooden houses all over the country.

In Sundborn near Falun is the home of the painter Carl Larsson. His pictures of family life in bright, colourful rooms have shaped the image of Swedish interiors around the world.

Midsummer in Dalarna

At Midsummer in June, thousands of people gather in the towns and villages around Siljan, many of them wearing the folk costume of their village. Fiddlers parade through the streets, the decorated maypole is raised, and then the dancing begins. If you want to experience the festival, book your accommodation many months in advance.

Nature and activities

• Hiking: in Fulufjället National Park with Njupeskär, one of Sweden’s highest waterfalls.
• Cycling: on the cycle route around Lake Siljan.
• Winter sports: in the ski resorts of Sälen and Idre.
• Vasaloppet: the world’s largest cross-country ski race runs from Sälen to Mora in early March.

Getting there

Direct trains run from Stockholm to Falun and Mora. By car you can reach Lake Siljan from Stockholm in about three to four hours, and from Gothenburg in around five hours. A vehicle of your own is very handy for exploring the villages and the fells.

You can find more destinations in the overview Cities and regions.