Dalarna County: Mining History, Culture and Nature

The Great Pit in Falun is the most distinctive feature of the mining landscape and illustrates copper production in this region since at least the 13th century. The Falun Great Copper Mountain mining area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its cultural landscape shows the importance of copper production in Dalarna since at least the 9th century. Guided tours are offered at the mine; check the current tour schedule before your trip.

The art and cultural attractions also add different dimensions to a trip through Dalarna County. The Zorn Collections include the Zorn Museum, Zorn House, an open-air museum, Zorn’s Gammelgård and the artist’s studio, Gopsmor, in the wilderness. At the Zorn Museum in Mora, you can see works by Anders Zorn, including portraits and watercolour scenes of rural life in Dalarna. Carl Larsson-gården is shaped by art, interior design and Swedish cultural heritage. Dalarnas Museum, a county museum for Dalarna’s cultural heritage, houses an extensive collection of Dala horses. Private tours are available by prior arrangement.

Nils Olsson Hemslöjd in the village of Nusnäs offers another combination of craftsmanship and visitor experiences. The business has been operating since the 1920s and is one of the original Dala horse makers. Visitors can watch craftspeople at work or paint a Dala horse themselves; check before travelling whether the activity you want is available. Matsäls Fäbod/Summer Farm has been in continuous use since the 1560s. Seasonal farm dairy products are sold there while supplies last. Calling before your visit is recommended. Traditional Midsummer celebrations take place in Tällberg, Rättvik and Leksand in June; the programme varies from year to year.

Landscapes and seasonal experiences

Dalarna County is home to forests suited to hiking, large lakes, mountains and flower meadows. The county also has 540 kilometres of rivers and streams, as well as several thousand lakes. Canoeing and kayaking are possible on the waterways, with guided tours and equipment rentals available. Check these offerings by season. Fänforsen (F9), the largest rapid in Dalarna, is 900 metres long in total and has a vertical drop of 9 metres.

In winter, forests, lakes, mountains and flower meadows become a landscape suited to skiing and ice skating. There are well-maintained and marked cross-country ski trails throughout the county, generally between 2.5 and 15 kilometres long. Idre Fjäll offers marked cross-country routes that lead into the mountains; Sälen has almost 250 kilometres of groomed trails. As conditions vary by season, it is worth checking the latest updates. There is a clear difference by travel season: Midsummer celebrations are on the calendar in June, while cross-country skiing and ice skating are part of the winter landscape.

Hiking trails and cycling routes

The Romboleden is a pilgrimage route from Köping to Trondheim that passes through Dalarna, combining nature experiences with history and tranquillity. The Siljan Trail is one of twelve Signature Trails selected by the Swedish Tourist Association. Siljansleden has starting points in the municipalities of Leksand, Rättvik, Orsa and Mora, and is clearly signposted. The route mostly follows old summer pasture trails, along lakes, across marshes and up into the mountains. There are opportunities to swim and fish along its waterways; check access points and local conditions before your hike.

For cyclists, Biking Dalarna comprises 17 cycling areas with marked cross-country and downhill trails. The trails are well marked on the ground; check the signs locally. Bjursås Berg & Sjö offers six well-marked cycling routes graded by difficulty. The cycling section of the Porphyry Trail from Evertsberg to Västäng is 12 kilometres long. Check the availability of each route and current conditions before setting off.

Getting there and planning your hotel stay

Trains operated by SJ run regularly to and from the main transport hubs in Dalarna County: Falun, Borlänge, Avesta and Mora. Timetables may change; check connections for your travel dates. Scandinavian Mountains Airport in Sälen is the region’s local airport. You should also check flight connections and schedules before your trip. When looking for a hotel for your stay, you can take these travel details into account alongside the experiences that matter to you.

Discover more destinations

Gustafs, Fryksås, Floåsen, Dala-Husby, Boda Kyrkby, Avesta, Vansbro, Hedemora, Älvdalen, Rättvik, Smedjebacken, Dala-Järna, Falun, Ludvika, Mora, Borlänge, Leksand, Malung-Sälen, Orsa, Säter, Gagnef

For the main travel overview: Sweden.