Experience Värmland: Nature, cycling routes and culture

Värmland offers three distinct ways to plan a trip: nature reserves with hiking and canoeing, cycling routes with their own distinct profiles, and cultural attractions connected to art and history.

Nature reserves and trails

Värmland County has 242 nature reserves and one nature conservation area. Glaskogen is Värmland’s largest nature reserve. It has 30 Swedish miles of hiking trails, several lakes and beautiful canoe routes. Hiking and paddling offer two different ways to experience the natural landscape.

Many nature reserves also have marked trails, boardwalks or birdwatching towers near wetlands. Some reserves are easily accessible and have visitor facilities. A guide to excursions from the Värmland County Administrative Board provides information about 38 nature destinations, including trails, rest areas and proximity to public transport.

Cycling routes with different profiles

Vänerleden is 640 kilometres long and circles Vänern, Sweden’s largest lake. It is Sweden’s sixth national cycle route. Along the route, there are several cafés, cosy farm shops and restaurants with White Guide status.

Klarälvsbanan follows a former railway line. It is 90 kilometres long, paved and traffic-free. In the south, the route passes through open farmland; in the north, it runs through dense forest. Klarälvsleden is a 130-kilometre route that leads from the archipelago into the wilderness. The routes therefore differ not only in length, but also in their course and landscape.

Passengers can take their bicycles on bus route 600 to Klarälvsbanan and Klarälvsleden. Bicycle transport is seasonal; check whether it is available on your travel dates before setting off.

Art, history and gardens

The collections at Värmland Museum include archaeological and cultural history objects, art, photographs, documents and music recordings. The museum also offers guided tours about Värmland’s cultural history, as well as art and photography.

Mårbacka is preserved as a memorial farm; Selma Lagerlöf’s home is open to the public on guided tours. From 1921 to 1923, Selma Lagerlöf had Mårbacka converted into a distinguished manor house, based on plans by the renowned architect Isac Gustaf Clason.

In Arvika, a connection between art and craftsmanship took shape after the first artists of the Rackstad artists’ colony arrived in 1898: their modern ideas met established craft skills.

Rottneros Park combines garden design with historical and literary connections and a diverse collection of sculptures by Nordic sculptors. The park has around 100 sculptures and reliefs, most of them by well-known Nordic sculptors. A large playground and spacious grounds offer room to play and relax, as well as to enjoy art and nature. The park is accessible by car, train or bus.

When looking for hotels in Värmland, you can start by deciding whether nature, a cycling route, or art and cultural history will shape your stay. This focus can help you choose destinations for your time in the region.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Skoghall, Brunskog, Sunne, Hammarö, Torsby, Kristinehamn, Gräsmark, Kil, Mangskog, Munkfors, Storfors, Årjäng, Arvika, Säffle, Borgvik, Skillingsfors, Karlstad, Hagfors, Långserud, Forshaga, Filipstad, Grums, Eda

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