The Great Pit in Falun is the most striking feature of Dalarna County’s mining landscape. The Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; its cultural landscape illustrates copper production in Dalarna since at least the 9th century. Mining thus shapes an important part of the region’s history—and sits alongside art, handicrafts and landscape as a distinct thread of discovery.

Art, Dala Horses and Living Traditions

The Zorn Collections encompass several places that reveal different sides of the artist Anders Zorn: 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 Zorn’s works, including portraits and watercolours depicting scenes of rural life in Dalarna.

You will also encounter Dala horses in museums and handicrafts. The Dalarna Museum collects cultural heritage treasures from Dalarna and has an extensive collection of Dala horses. Private tours are available by prior arrangement. In Nusnäs, Nils Olsson Hemslöjd has been operating since the 1920s and is one of the original makers of Dala horses. Visitors can watch craftspeople at work or paint their own Dala horse; check availability before your visit.

The cultural heritage also includes summer farms, museums, handicrafts and historic settings. A seasonal tradition is the Midsummer celebration: in June, festivities take place in Tällberg, Rättvik and Leksand. The specific programme varies from year to year. In Sälen, the Vasaloppet start building houses a small visitor exhibition; check its availability before travelling.

Lakes, Rivers and Routes Through the Landscape

Dalarna offers forests ideal for hiking, large lakes, mountains and flower meadows. The region’s waterways include 540 kilometres of rivers and streams, as well as several thousand lakes. Canoeing and kayaking are possible on rivers and lakes; guided tours and equipment rental are available. Check these options seasonally. One striking river landscape is Fänforsen (F9), Dalarna’s largest rapid: it is 900 metres long in total and has a vertical drop of 9 metres.

Siljansleden connects several types of landscape on one route: the trail runs mostly along old summer-farm paths, beside lakes, across bogs and up into the mountains. Trailheads are in the municipalities of Leksand, Rättvik, Orsa and Mora; the trail is clearly signposted. There are opportunities to swim and fish along its waterways, although local conditions vary. The Siljan Trail is a separate route, one of twelve Signature Trails selected by the Swedish Tourist Association. The Romboleden offers a different kind of trail experience: this pilgrimage route runs from Köping to Trondheim through Dalarna, combining experiences of nature with history and tranquillity.

Cyclists can choose from routes of different scales, too: Biking Dalarna comprises 17 cycling areas with marked cross-country and downhill trails. The trails are well marked on the ground; check current conditions locally. Bjursås Berg & Sjö offers six marked cycling routes graded by difficulty. One specific example of a longer stage is the 12-kilometre cycling section of the Porphyry Trail from Evertsberg to Västäng.

Winter Routes and Sporting Landmarks

In winter, forests, lakes, mountains and flower meadows become a landscape suited to skiing and ice skating. Throughout Dalarna, there are groomed, marked cross-country ski trails, generally between 2.5 and 15 kilometres long. Sälen has almost 250 kilometres of groomed trails; in Idre Fjäll, marked cross-country routes lead up into the mountains. The options described therefore range from shorter trails across the region to a large trail network in Sälen. Snow cover and trail conditions may vary.

The Vasaloppet start area in Sälen and the finish portal in Mora are among Sweden’s best-known sporting venues. There are also memorials, statues and obelisks there. Together with the small exhibition in the start building, they offer insight into the region’s sporting heritage without distracting from its cultural and natural attractions.

Local Produce and Travel Planning

Taste of Dalarna introduces visitors to farm shops, restaurants, cafés, craft breweries and other food and drink producers that focus on local produce and flavours. Matsäls Fäbod is one example of a long agricultural tradition; it has been in continuous use since the 1560s. The farm’s dairy products are available to buy while stocks last; call before your visit.

For travel, trains operated by SJ run regularly to and from the major hubs of Falun, Borlänge, Avesta and Mora. Check timetables before your journey. Scandinavian Mountains Airport in Sälen is the region’s local airport; check flight connections and times in advance, too. When looking for accommodation, you can plan your trip around the themes that interest you most—from mining history and art to trails, water and winter sports.

Discover more destinations

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

Go to the main travel overview: Sweden.