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- Fulufjället National Park & Njupeskär waterfall — Sweden’s highest waterfall (Njupeskär) and wild, tundra-like plateaus that feel a world away from the cities. Hikeable trails, old-growth forest and the ancient “Old Tjikko” spruce nearby make this a proper nature pilgrimage you can’t fake anywhere else.
- Falu Gruva (Falun Mine and the Great Pit) — a giant 17th-19th century copper mine whose spoil piles gave Sweden that famous red paint. Walk the historic mining landscape, peer into the pit from viewpoints, and feel why this place shaped Swedish industry and folk culture for centuries.
- Nusnäs Dala-horse workshops — the actual villages (Nusnäs) where Dala horses are hand-carved and painted. Watching the old techniques up close — and trying a paint stroke yourself at a small workshop — is
- Fulufjället National Park & Njupeskär waterfall — Sweden’s highest waterfall (Njupeskär) and wild, tundra-like plateaus that feel a world away from the cities. Hikeable trails, old-growth forest and the ancient “Old Tjikko” spruce nearby make this a proper nature pilgrimage you can’t fake anywhere else.
- Falu Gruva (Falun Mine and the Great Pit) — a giant 17th-19th century copper mine whose spoil piles gave Sweden that famous red paint. Walk the historic mining landscape, peer into the pit from viewpoints, and feel why this place shaped Swedish industry and folk culture for centuries.
- Nusnäs Dala-horse workshops — the actual villages (Nusnäs) where Dala horses are hand-carved and painted. Watching the old techniques up close — and trying a paint stroke yourself at a small workshop — is the kind of local craft experience tied to Dalarna’s identity.
- Rättvik long wooden pier (Långbryggan) & lakeside culture — a classic, long wooden pier into Lake Siljan and a laid-back shoreline scene where Swedes picnic, swim and listen to summer music. It’s simple but archetypal Dalarna: wood, water, and slow summer evenings.
- Dalhalla (open-air concert arena in a former quarry) — an enormous limestone amphitheatre that hosts concerts with insane acoustics and dramatic cliffside views. Even outside showtime it’s worth a walk — the scale and setting are unlike any other concert venue.
- Tällberg village — a hillside of well-kept wooden houses overlooking Siljan; cosy guesthouses, small craft shops and postcard views. It feels deliberately old-fashioned in the best way: quiet evenings, local food, and a lot of photographic angles.
- Mora and the Vasaloppet trail — the town at the historic finish of the Vasaloppet and the place to tack onto sections of the trail by bike or cross-country ski. The route is a lived piece of Swedish history — you can ride or hike stretches and see how the landscape and villages shaped a national story.
- Svärdsjö & Bispberg mining landscape (hidden gem) — a quieter, lesser-visited mining valley with red timber houses, small mines and riverside trails. Locals come here for low-key hiking, fishing and to soak up authentic mining-era atmospheres without the crowds.
- Sollerön, island on Lake Siljan (hidden gem) — an agricultural island with runestones, sleepy villages and scenic shoreline paths. It’s easy to miss, but perfect for slow cycling, checking out local churches and seeing traditional Siljan-life away from the main tourist spots.
- Dala-Floda and the Västerdalälven craft circuit (hidden gem) — a string of small artisan villages along the Västerdal River where you’ll find potters, small galleries, cosy cafés and clear canoe routes. Locals love the peaceful riverbanks and summer markets — a genuinely low-key way to feel how Dalarna’s craft culture lives day-to-day.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.