Östersund: Cultural History, Nature and Active Days

Completed in 1912, the Town Hall in the National Romantic style offers a first glimpse into Östersund’s history. The city combines such cultural traces with natural areas, trails and activities by the water—a varied foundation for planning your stay.

Experience the city’s history and culture

The city museum tells how a small town with craftsmen who had moved there became a modern city in connection with the arrival of the railway. Jamtli brings together three museums in one place. At the open-air museum, you can encounter animals year-round and stroll among historic farmsteads and settings. Access to individual buildings may be seasonal.

The exhibits at Jamtli include the Överhogdal tapestries, created about 1,000 years ago. Nationalmuseum Jamtli is a branch of the Nationalmuseum, an art and design museum in Stockholm. Jamtli also offers bookable guided tours, walks, role-playing activities, workshops and other historical experiences. Availability and prices may change; check them before making plans.

If you want to discover art in the city, the official art walks feature numbered maps showing where the works are located. The Town Hall is also part of guided city walks; check booking dates or seasonal schedules in advance. On Frösön stands the church, whose construction is believed to have begun at the end of the 12th century. The area in front of the church offers an impressive view of the mountain landscape. The house Sommarhagen on Frösön was built in 1914 by composer, critic and music writer Wilhelm Peterson-Berger (1867–1942).

Trails, landscapes and activity

Storsjön and the surrounding mountains shape the views from Östersund in every season. On the outskirts of the city lies the Tysjöarna Nature Reserve. Its limestone-rich environment includes springs and nutrient-rich bogs with rare animals and plants; the area also has one of the world’s largest deposits of calcareous marl. The two lakes are connected by a marked trail about seven kilometres long. There is a ramp and birdwatching towers at the northern entrance.

Lillsjön Nature Reserve offers a different landscape of forest, open terrain and wetlands around the limestone-rich lake. It has a diverse bird population, a beach, and trails for walking and cycling. At Andersön, nature and history come together: the nature reserve has archaeological remains and is associated with the Battle of Jämtland in 1178.

On Östberget, Frösötornet offers views of Storsjön, Östersund and large parts of the mountain ranges. A bus stop is about 350 metres away; a road leads up to the tower, and a lift provides access to the enclosed viewing platform. Frösöberget has more than 100 climbing routes of varying difficulty, some of which offer views of Storsjön and Östersund.

For longer routes, Bynäset offers a trail about seven kilometres long for walking, running and cycling. There is also a black sand beach and a swimming area; beach and swimming conditions are seasonal. Östersund Ski Stadium has nearly 90 kilometres of ski trails of varying lengths and difficulty. A 12-kilometre cross-country mountain biking trail also runs through gravel roads, narrow paths and exercise tracks. The different route lengths give you a practical guide to how much time to set aside for outdoor activities.

Water activities and leisure

Sommarparken is located on both sides of the strait between Östersund and Frösön and is accessible on foot, by bicycle or by public transport. You can swim from the bathing jetties; there is also beach volleyball, wakeboarding, and SUP board and kayak rentals. Operations and weather conditions are seasonal. From Badhusparken, a marked cycling route also crosses the pedestrian bridge towards Frösö Strand and continues to Vallsundsbron.

Storsjöbadet has a children’s area, water slides, a diving pool, sports pools and an outdoor pool. Facilities also include hot tubs, a relaxation area and a gym. Temporary closures for maintenance may occur, so check current access before your visit. For more activities in the city, Multi Challenge offers Boda Borg, an indoor go-kart track, a laser tag arena and mini golf, among other things, across 5,500 square metres. Östersunds Klättercenter offers rope climbing and bouldering for everyone from beginners to elite climbers, as well as bookable introductory climbing sessions. An 18-hole disc golf course starts and ends at Sportfältet.

In Östersund, you can combine activities such as skiing, kayaking or a bike ride with shopping or a concert or theatre visit. This lets you plan your days around your interests instead of focusing on just one kind of outing.

Local cuisine and getting around

The food culture includes ingredients grown, fished or hunted in the immediate area. Östersund and the Jämtland Härjedalen region were named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2010. The REKO-ring initiative gives you the opportunity to meet local food producers directly and buy from them without intermediaries; check current participation options in advance.

Norrtåg operates passenger services on the Sundsvall–Östersund–Storlien route. The main railway station is about 0.5 kilometres from the city centre. Since December 2025, city bus route 4 has replaced the airport bus service to and from the airport. Check the timetable before travelling. If you’re looking for a hotel in Östersund, you can use your planned priorities—such as culture, nature trails, winter sports or activities by the water—as a guide when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Marieby, Lit, Brunflo, Tand, Frösön, Orrviken, Solberg, Östersund.

For the main travel overview: Jämtland.