Leksand: Midsummer, culture and nature by Lake Siljan

Leksand lies on the shore of Lake Siljan. Highlights of a stay include the Midsummer tradition, historic farmsteads, art and crafts, and natural and cultural landscapes. If you’re looking for a hotel, you can plan your trip around the experiences that interest you most.

Midsummer and local traditions

The Midsummer celebration in Leksand features church boats, folk musicians, ring dances, traditional costumes and dancing around the maypole. The tradition returns each year, but the programme changes from year to year. The celebration draws around 30,000 visitors to the town centre annually; the actual number may vary. Gropen, also known as Sammilsdal, has particular significance for the festivities. The well-known kettle hole was formed as the inland ice sheet melted.

The villages and summer pasture farms in the valleys around Leksand also tell the story of earlier ways of life: their origins date back to the Middle Ages. They include traditional clusters of closely spaced wooden houses, as well as local traditions and stories that have evolved over centuries. This regional cultural history can be explored as a focus in its own right, alongside individual attractions.

Historic farmsteads, art and crafts

There are six local heritage farmsteads in the municipality, open to visitors in summer; some offer guided tours daily. Check seasonal opening hours before planning a visit. Leksands Hembygdsgårdar is located near the church, above the banks of the Österdalälven. It includes numerous wooden buildings dating from different centuries and is considered the oldest local heritage farmstead in Dalarna.

Hildasholm preserves a house dating from 1910 and gardens shaped by the Arts and Crafts movement and associated with Axel and Hilda Munthe. Seasonal tours of the house and gardens are available. At Alfvéngården, Hugo Alfvén’s home is preserved, and the site also holds the largest collection of his art. Tours and concerts take place in summer. As the concert programmes change each year, it’s worth checking the dates for the current season.

Those interested in traditional crafts can watch the production process at Käck & Hedbys Smide: the forge has been preserved in its original condition and welcomes visitors. Check the visiting arrangements before you go. Local food is also part of the offering: the bakery shop and café at Leksands Knäckebröd sell crispbread as well as locally produced cheese, milk, sausages, smoked delicacies, jams and fruit drinks; the product range may change. At Knäckerian, pizzas made with their own crispbread are served seasonally.

Nature, geology and trails

There are 33 nature reserves in the municipality of Leksand, 15 of which were designated by the municipality. The number may change if designations are adjusted. For hiking trails, cycling routes, and natural and cultural landscapes, the municipality directs visitors to the Naturkartan app. Siljan Geopark also offers a geological perspective on the region: it is Sweden’s first national geopark and includes 24 prioritised geosites, some of which are in the municipality of Leksand.

Naturum Dalarna features exhibitions about nature in Dalarna, wolves, the formation of Lake Siljan by a meteorite impact, and the Dalälven river. There is also a free observation tower with views of Lake Siljan. Siljansnäs Nature Reserve can be explored on hiking trails. A forest trail about 1.6 kilometres long passes through spruce forest and across a meadow with views of Siljansnäs.

Leksand Church is also a prominent cultural landmark: it is one of Sweden’s largest rural churches and has a distinctive onion-shaped dome. The short Via Sacra pilgrimage trail starts at the bell tower and runs along the scenic church peninsula.

Cycling and other activities

Leksandsturen consists of cycling loops that start and finish at Kyrkallén in the centre of Leksand. Depending on the route, they are 30 to 40 kilometres long. The eastern Leksandsturen is about 30 kilometres long, suitable for families, and passes through open natural and cultural landscapes.

Siljansnäs has four cross-country cycling trails with varied terrain. They pass through old-growth forest and cultural landscapes and offer views of Lake Siljan. The cycling loops start and finish at the Siljansnäs Skid- och löparklubb cabin, about 300 metres from the village church.

For a different kind of day out, Leksand Sommarland offers 48 attractions and activities, including a water park and carousels. The mix may change between seasons. With these seasonal offerings, cultural sites, and a variety of cycling and hiking routes, you can shape your stay around your own interests.

Discover more destinations: Insjön, Leksand, Siljansnäs, Tällberg, Hjortnäs, Djura, Rättvik, Mora.

Return to the main travel overview: Dalarna County.