• Get around
• See
• Do
• Buy
• Eat
• Drink
• Sleep
• Get out

Karlstad [1] is in Värmland in Sweden. It is a University city located in the rural centre of the country. It was founded by King Karl IX in 1584, and is sited on an island of the Klarälven river, and beside Europe's largest freshwater lake, Lake Vänern. If it isn't raining, it is a cute little town. However, there is very little to do there.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Karlstad Airport [2] has daily business priced flights to Stockholm and Copenhagen. Tickets are purchased from the airline Skyways [3]. Do not go to the airport too early for the morning flights - there will be no one there, and the cafe will not open before the flight. Getting between Karlstad and the airport will set you back about SEK 250 if you take a taxi. Airport taxis can be ordered on +46 20 979797. A cheaper option is to take the bus for SEK 60, however you need to order the bus in advance on +46 20 323201.

Another way for international travellers headed for Karlstad is to fly to Oslo airport (Gardermoen) and go to Karlstad from there.

[edit] By train

Karlstad can be reached by direct train from Gothenburg and Stockholm in Sweden and Oslo in Norway. Bookings on the SJ site [4]. The train journey from Stockholm takes about 2.5 hours on a X2000 train (wifi internet in first class).

[edit] By bus

A good alternative to the train are buses, with services by Swebus Express [5] and Säfflebussen [6].

You can also go to Karlstad directly from Stockholm's Arlanda Airport with Air-bus/Arlandalinjen [7]. Click on "Arlanda" in the menu on top to see bus timings to and from Arlanda to Karlstad. You can also book [8] the tickets in advance.

[edit] Get around

The town centre is all walkable, so if you're coming to see the town there is no need to hire a car.

There is a good local bus service (especially to the university), but if you want to travel beyond the suburbs then a car is still the best way to go.

[edit] See

Karlstad Town Square

• Town centre. A mix of attractive, yet solid traditional Swedish buildings plus some modern ones.

• Mariebergsskogen, on the South side of the city (walkable from the centre). A small leisure park.

• Karlstad Cathedral.

• Värmlands Museum, at the corner where the Klarälven river splits to create the island that the city sits on.

[edit] Do

Walk beside the river, or the lake. Karlstad is best treated as a base to access the natural areas beyond.

The World Rally Championship visits Karlstad in the early weeks of February for the annual Uddeholm Swedish Rally. Spectating that rally will give you a chance to visit the small towns in Varmland and to see the forest under a fresh blanket of snow. Be aware that rental cars and seats on Skyways out of Karlstad can be sparse during Rally time. Visit www.swedishrally.com[9] for detailed information.

[edit] Buy

There are plenty of shopping opportunities in the town centre, especially on Drottninggatan, Västra Torggatan and Östra Torggatan. Nothing you can't find everywhere else in Sweden though.

[edit] Eat

There are plenty of restaurants in the town centre, especially on Stora Torget (the main square).

[edit] Drink

• Blue Moon bar [10] - Good night club!
• Nöjesfabriken [11] - Good night club! They also have bowling, go-carting and lots of other fun activities.
• Bishop's Arms [12] - Elite Stadt Hotel in the center of the town, by the main square. A nice pub.
• Plaza Night club [13]

[edit] Sleep

• Karlstad Youth Hostel, Kasernhöjden 19, 653 39 Karlstad. Tel: +46 54 56 68 40. [14]. Charming hostel opened spring 2007, about 1km from the railway station and central Karlstad. Price from 195sek per person. Rooms from 1 to 8 beds. Address:

• Radisson SAS Plaza Hotel, [15]. Close to railway station.

• Best Western Hotel (Savoy), [16]. Close to railway station. Free wireless internet access in all rooms.

• First Camp Karlstad - Skutberget, [17]. Cottages and camping, gym and fitness classes. Wireless internet connection available.

• Kils Hotel och Restaurang, Storgatan 16 Telephone: +46 554-40530. Located in the outlying town of Kil, it is the closest accommodation to the Karlstad Airport.

[edit] Get out

Find a spot beside Lake Vänern and have a picnic or a barbecue, such as Skutberget.

If you are interested in Swedish literature, you can visit Alsters herrgård [18] and Mårbacka [19], where two well-known Swedish authors (Gustaf Fröding and Selma Lagerlöf) used to live and where there are museums nowadays.