Kristinehamn between art, history and nature trails

Kristinehamn offers a range of highlights for your stay: art and town history sit alongside hiking trails through varied landscapes and routes by Lake Vänern. If you’re looking for a hotel, your specific plans for excursions can help you decide what you’d like to focus on during your trip.

Art and history in Kristinehamn

The Picasso sculpture stands in Picassoparken. You can also reach the sculpture after cycling a few kilometres on the Kristinehamn–Otterbäcken section of the Vänerleden; you can also walk to two viewpoints. This means the artwork features both in the townscape and as part of a longer cycling route.

The permanent exhibition “Järnet födde staden” is on the museum’s upper floor. It begins with the story of how and why Kristinehamn became a town and includes display installations for children. Kristinehamns konstmuseum offers a different artistic focus: its collection centres on artists with connections to Kristinehamn and the region. A large part of the collection consists of donations from artists Bengt Olson and Stig Olson.

The town’s commercial and local history also reveals different facets. Kristinehamn became a centre for iron and timber exports from Bergslagen. Bro was a harbour and marketplace at a bridge over the Varnan, on the main road between Sweden and Norway. A market day is held in the Vågen district on the last Saturday of every month. The district also has crafts and locally produced food; check the market date before your visit.

Hiking trails between river, forest and Lake Vänern

The Järnleden passes small ponds and lakes, across marshland and waterways, and through forests and pastureland. One section runs along an old country road. This succession of landscapes sets the route apart from trails whose main features are views of shores or islands.

The ravine by the Varnan River is a relatively undisturbed area with interesting plants and animals. Marked trails run along both sides of the river, covering about three kilometres in total. The Sannaleden is six kilometres long and runs between Sannakajen and Herrgårdscampingen; parts of the route follow the shore of Lake Vänern.

The Tre Öars Led crosses footbridges through four kilometres of nature. Features along the route include barbecue spots, shelters, sandy beaches and views of Lake Vänern. It starts on Vålön and continues to Kalvön and Sibberön, which are in a nature reserve. Reaching them requires a boat trip. In summer, you can take Båtbuss 97 from Vålösundsbryggan in the Kristinehamn archipelago; check the timetable in advance.

Other walks follow the waterfront promenade for about 4.5 kilometres to the Picasso sculpture, then continue along Jaquelines Naturstíg on Strandudden. A 2.5-kilometre hiking trail starts at the veranda of Café Picasso and offers views of Lake Vänern. From Marieberg, a trail runs along the lake to historic Gustafsvik; the route is about four kilometres each way.

Cycling on the Vänerleden

The Vänerleden is a national cycling route around Lake Vänern. In Kristinehamn, 86.6 kilometres are marked with the route’s red signs. The Kristinehamn–Otterbäcken section is intended to start at Kristinehamn’s guest harbour or Herrgårdscampingen. Along with the various hiking trails, the route offers another way to tailor your stay to your plans.

Discover more destinations: Nybble, Visnum, Ölme and Sörgården.

Return to the main travel overview: Kristinehamn.