Östersund offers cultural history spanning two very different periods: the centrally located Town Hall was completed in 1912 in the National Romantic style. The Överhogdal tapestries on display at Jamtli, by contrast, were created around 1,000 years ago. There is also the city’s history, natural areas and ways to spend your days enjoying art, exercise or water activities.
Experience the city’s history and culture
The City Museum tells how Östersund developed from a small town with craftsmen who had moved there into a modern city, in connection with the arrival of the railway. Jamtli brings together three museums in one place. These include Nationalmuseum Jamtli, a branch of the Nationalmuseum, the art and design museum in Stockholm. The Överhogdal tapestries offer a glimpse into a rich cultural heritage stretching far back in time.
At Jamtli’s open-air museum, you can see animals year-round and stroll among historic farms and settings. Some buildings may only be open seasonally. Jamtli also offers bookable guided tours, walks, role-playing activities, workshops and other historical experiences; check availability and prices for your preferred date. Guided city walks in Östersund include the Town Hall. You can also explore art walks on your own: numbered maps show where the artworks are located.
Natural areas and views
The Tysjöarna Nature Reserve is on the outskirts of the city. Its limestone-rich surroundings include springs and nutrient-rich bogs with rare animals and plants; the area also has one of the world’s largest deposits of calcareous tufa. A signed trail of around seven kilometres connects the two lakes. There is a ramp and birdwatching towers at the northern entrance. The Lillsjön Nature Reserve combines forest, open land, wetlands and the limestone-rich lake. Its diverse birdlife is complemented by a beach and trails for walking and cycling. Access conditions in the reserve may change.
Frösötornet on Östberget offers views of Lake Storsjön, Östersund and large parts of the mountain ranges. The tower is about 350 metres from a bus stop; a road leads there, and a lift provides access to the enclosed viewing platform. Lake Storsjön and the surrounding mountains also shape the views from Östersund in every season.
Trails and outdoor activities
There are various options for walks, runs and bike rides. Bynäset has a route of around seven kilometres, as well as a black sand beach and a swimming area. Beach conditions vary by season. A local section of the St. Olav’s Way runs from Badhusparken across the lake to Frösön. The entire trail is about 580 kilometres long and can also be explored in shorter sections.
Östersund Ski Stadium has nearly 90 kilometres of ski trails of varying lengths and difficulty levels. There is also a 12-kilometre cross-country mountain biking route over gravel roads, narrow trails and exercise tracks. Frösöberget has more than 100 climbing routes of varying difficulty; some offer views of Lake Storsjön and Östersund.
Sommarparken lies on both sides of the strait between Östersund and Frösön and can be reached by bike, on foot or by public transport. There, you can swim from bathing jetties, play beach volleyball, wakeboard or rent a SUP board or kayak. Opening and weather conditions vary by season.
Getting here and local discoveries
Norrtåg operates passenger services on the Sundsvall–Östersund–Storlien route. The main railway station is about 0.5 kilometres from the city centre; Jamtli is around one kilometre from the centre. Since December 2025, city bus route 4 has replaced the airport bus for journeys to and from the airport. Check the timetable before travelling.
The local food culture is also part of discovering Östersund: restaurants use ingredients grown, fished or hunted in the immediate area. Östersund and the Jämtland Härjedalen region were designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2010. The REKO-Ring initiative gives you the chance to meet local food producers directly and buy from them without intermediaries; checking current participation information is helpful. Markets in Östersund have a history spanning more than a hundred years, although dates vary from market to market.
Discover more destinations: Orrviken, Solberg, Östersund, Marieby, Lit, Brunflo, Tand, Frösön.
For the broader travel overview: Jämtland.
