Southern Norrland

Southern Norrland's three provinces of Gävleborg, Jämtland and Västernorrland, known for the World Heritage High Coast, the Åre ski resort, and vast forests and mountains.

This region covers the Swedish provinces of Gävleborg, Jämtland and Västernorrland, the southern half of traditional Norrland. To the south it borders Svealand's Dalarna and Uppsala; to the north it is bounded by Västerbotten and Norrbotten, the latter being "Swedish Lapland" in the same scheme; to the west lies Trøndelag in Norway. Highlights: the High Coast in Västernorrland (a UNESCO natural World Heritage site together with Finland's Kvarken Archipelago), which has the world's highest post-glacial rebound coastline, with Skuleskogen National Park, the Slåttdalsskrevan gorge, the High Coast Bridge and the fishing village on Ulvöhamn; in Jämtland, the Åre ski resort and Åreskutan mountain, Östersund and Lake Storsjön, and Sámi culture and reindeer in the mountains; and in Gävleborg, the World Heritage Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland and the city of Gävle. Allow 3–6 days: from Stockholm, it is about 4–5 hours by train or car to Sundsvall or Kramfors, and the High Coast Trail takes 2–3 days; in winter, fly to Östersund or take the night train directly to Åre for skiing. The population is sparse and public transport is infrequent, so driving is more convenient; in summer, mosquitoes are common in the forests.

Destinations

• High Coast
• Åre
• Östersund

Itineraries

• High Coast, Åre & Dalarna Northern Loop – Drive along the Baltic Sea to the High Coast, head west into the Åre mountains, and return to the capital via Dalarna
• Tromsø to Stockholm via the Inlandsbanan – Head south from the Norwegian Arctic in summer via the Ofoten Line, the King's Trail, and the Inlandsbanan