Östersund can be explored through a range of different interests: Jamtli presents the history of Jämtland and Härjedalen, while winter activities on Lake Storsjön and at the ski stadium offer a variety of experiences. There are also historic city sites, routes through the landscape and a self-guided culinary tour. When planning your visit, it’s worth choosing among these options based on your interests and the season, rather than treating them as a single itinerary.
Museums and city history
Jamtli is a museum complex with three museums in one location. Its exhibitions cover the history of Jämtland and Härjedalen from prehistoric times to the present. On display are the 1,000-year-old Överhogdal tapestries, described as Europe’s oldest complete pictorial tapestries. Nationalmuseum Jamtli offers a different focus: it displays art and design from the Nationalmuseum’s extensive collections in Stockholm. Regional history and art from a major collection are thus presented as distinct cultural themes.
Ahlbergshallen also combines several exhibition spaces, though they need not share the same theme: art exhibitions are held in the sculpture hall and two exhibition rooms. The former Östersund library building houses an exhibition hall upstairs and the Östersund City Museum on the ground floor. Storgatan is considered one of Sweden’s best-preserved urban environments from the 1880s. If you’re interested in the city’s history, these places offer different ways to explore it—from regional collections to the historic cityscape.
Winter on the ice and the trails
Skating is the main activity on Lake Storsjön: Medvinden runs from Vinterparken across the lake’s ice. The groomed track is up to 15 kilometres long. Vinterparken also offers winter swimming in an ice hole, a warming sauna and a soak in a steaming hot tub. These activities are quite different from cross-country skiing at Östersund Ski Stadium, where nearly 90 kilometres of ski trails are available. Trail availability is seasonal.
At the ski stadium, the public can use a heated waxing cabin at Mediacentret. This is a practical detail to consider when choosing between ice activities and ski trails for a day out. Operating details may change, so check them before your visit.
Walking trails and landscapes
You can explore the St. Olav’s Way from Östersund, starting at Badhusparken; red trail markers lead onward to Frösön. The route runs for about 580 kilometres in total, from Selånger in the east to Trondheim in the west, and can also be explored in shorter stages. Norrtåg serves much of the route, with several stops including Östersund. This makes it possible to combine shorter hikes with train journeys—a different way to experience the route than focusing on a longer stretch.
There are also shorter routes through different landscapes. Tysjöarna Nature Reserve lies just outside the centre of Östersund. A marked trail of about seven kilometres links the two lakes there. Nearby Bynäset has a trail of just under seven kilometres through varied woodland along the shore of Lake Storsjön; it’s suitable for walking, running or cycling. Both routes are around seven kilometres long, but they differ in course: one links two lakes, while the other runs through woodland along the lakeshore. Lake Storsjön and the mountain landscape shape the views in Östersund throughout the year.
On the water and around the city
A paddling route from Östersund follows the shore of Frösön through Vallsundet to the bay between Frösön and Bynäset. Its route is therefore described differently from the land trails. Conditions and launch options may vary; check them before your trip. Storsjöbadet has a leisure pool with a trampoline, cave and current. Individual features may change, so it’s a good idea to check the latest information before your visit.
A self-guided culinary tour of Östersund starts at the Tourist Center at Storgatan 27. Visitors can get tips and a map there. The tour offers another way to experience the city, alongside its museums and historic architecture. When choosing what to focus on, you can weigh up culture, activities on the water, hiking or winter pursuits without trying to fit every option into the same day’s itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Frösön, Solberg, Tand, Orrviken, Brunflo, Lit, Marieby
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