Falun – World Heritage, Mining History and Trails

Falun offers a range of ways to enjoy a stay: its World Heritage site and mining history, museums and historic buildings, as well as trails for cycling, hiking and winter sports. When choosing a hotel, you can consider which of these themes you want to shape your trip.

World Heritage and mining history

The Falun World Heritage site comprises the mine, the town of Falun and the surrounding mining landscape. At Falu Gruva, guided underground tours take visitors through large halls, winding passages and deep shafts. Above ground, the impressive Stora Stöten open pit stretches out, surrounded by historic buildings painted Falun red. The underground passages and the open pit, visible from afar, represent different aspects of the mining history. Falu Gruva is one kilometre from the centre of Falun.

Museum and historic houses

The Dalarnas Museum is in the centre of Falun, right by the Faluån River. As the county museum of Dalarna, it focuses on cultural history. Its permanent exhibitions cover traditional dress and textiles, Dalarna painting, Dala horses, the World Heritage town of Falun and its industrial landscape, Hagström 4ever, Selma Lagerlöf, and art, crafts and design. The range of subjects extends from regional traditions and the town’s history to art and design.

Individual houses also represent different periods. Thunströms Köpmansgård at Slaggatan 31 is an authentic merchant’s shop with adjoining living quarters dating from the mid-19th century, in the centre of Falun. Vass Britas Gård is the only surviving loft building in Falun; its history goes back to the late 17th century. These buildings therefore reflect different periods in the town’s history.

Stabergs bergsmansgård is a cultural reserve and is also part of the Falun World Heritage site. Smörblommas stig, a 1.5-kilometre circular trail for children, is located at Staberg. Check local conditions before your walk.

Cycling and hiking

A 15-kilometre cycling route circles Lake Varpan, north of the centre. Along the route are several miners’ farmsteads, slag heaps and remains of former smelting works. As well as cycling, visitors interested in this route can find traces of the area’s mining and smelting history.

The walking trails of “Vattnets väg till Gruvan” cover a total of just over 30 kilometres, divided into four different circular routes. Along the way, visitors can see medieval smelting sites, miners’ farmsteads, dams and dam houses amid a distinctly Nordic landscape. The Varpan route is described as a 15-kilometre cycling route; “Vattnets väg till Gruvan” covers just over 30 kilometres across four circular walking routes. Check local trail updates before setting out.

Mountain biking, cross-country skiing and water activities

Lugnet offers marked, well-maintained mountain biking trails for cross-country and downhill riding. Check local operating information before riding, as facility details may change. For cross-country skiing, the Lugnet Ski Stadium has well-groomed trails of varying lengths. They can be used from the first snow in autumn until well into spring; snow conditions, grooming and opening times vary.

Another cross-country ski trail is Gruvspåret. It is in the centre of Falun and starts at the Falu Gruva World Heritage site. As with the trails at Lugnet Ski Stadium, conditions here depend on snow and grooming.

At Sjöboden by Roxnäs udde, various kayaks and fishing kayaks for one to three people, as well as canoes for two to four people, are available for hire. The rental options also include SUP boards for juniors and adults, for one to five people. Guided tours are offered in summer. As these are seasonal water activities, check operating dates before your trip.

A seasonal café

A house dating from the mid-18th century at Styraregatan 28 is now home to a café that opens in summer and an exhibition about Ernst Rolf. The house also has a green courtyard with seating. This seasonal attraction adds another warm-weather destination to the area’s historical and natural highlights.

Discover more destinations: Svärdsjö, Bjursås, Sågmyra, Linghed, Enviken, Sundborn.

Return to the main travel overview: Falun.