Karlstad

Travel Guide

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Karlstad
Photo by Renáta  Pucsli
Photo by Renáta  Pucsli
Photo by Travel Bug

One of Sweden’s friendliest cities packs literary credentials, world-famous coffee and tons of parks onto the shores of the country’s biggest lake.

Visit Karlstad, known in Sweden and beyond for its literally sunny disposition. One of the sunniest cities in the country, it also acquired its reputation from the charms of Eva-Lisa Holtz, an 18th-century waitress whose cheer infected the whole town. Pay a visit to the statue honoring her in town. Make jaunts to the city’s well-known cultural establishments and enjoy long summer afternoons on the banks of Lake Vänern.

Begin the day with a visit to Löfbergs, one of Sweden’s largest and best-known coffee roasters, for a typical way to start the day. While away a morning in the Sandsgrund, a former nightclub now devoted to Lars Lerin, the famous Swedish watercolor artist.

Just outside town, visit Mårbacka, the childhood home of Selma Lagerlöf, the first female Nobel laureate for literature. See very different 20th-century history at the Brigadmuseum, dedicated to Sweden’s experience in the Cold War.

Karlstad’s lake was mentioned in Beowulf. When the weather is nice it is impossible to resist visiting its shores. Head to the Mariebergsskogen, the city park beloved of children and full of ice skaters in winter. Bring a picnic to Stadsträdgården or just walk through the frosted countryside. In the summer, borrow a bike for free from downtown and cycle through the idyllic nearby countryside on the Klarälvsbanan, once a railroad line.

Located roughly equidistant from Stockholm, Gothenburg and Oslo, Karlstad is relatively easily accessible. Fly into Karlstad Airport from limited European destinations. Travel by train from any of those three major cities in 2 hours or drive in 3 hours. Though Karlstad itself is easily accessible by public transportation, the natural areas nearby are best explored by private vehicle, which you can rent in the city.

Karlstad is one of Sweden’s sunniest cities, but be prepared for winters that can be very cold and dark. There’s no better way to acclimate to the sometimes brutal Karlstad winter than with a visit to the sauna, a sure cure for chilly toes.

Elite Stadshotellet Karlstad, Hotel & Spa
Elite Stadshotellet Karlstad, Hotel & Spa
4.5 out of 5
Kungsgatan 22, Karlstad
$107 nightly
The price is $120 total per night from Jul 20 to Jul 21
$120 total
Jul 20 - Jul 21
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Karlstad. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,515 reviews)
"Karlstad is a jewel. Beautiful small city. Walkable and the scenery around the city is spectacular. Breakfast was excellent. Pub and restaurant outstanding. Room smartly designed. Very professional and efficient staff. Will return!"

Reviewed on Jun 18, 2025

Elite Stadshotellet Karlstad, Hotel & Spa
Hotel Fratelli
Hotel Fratelli
4.5 out of 5
drottninggatan 17, Karlstad, Karlstad
$137 nightly
The price is $153 total per night from Jul 27 to Jul 28
$153 total
Jul 27 - Jul 28
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Karlstad. Enjoy free breakfast, a full-service spa, and 3 restaurants. Popular attractions Karlstad Cathedral and Sandgrund ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (565 reviews)
Great hotel
"Great hotel. Nice rooms. Nice bars. Nice restaurant. Terrible parking situation. Especially with closed roads in town."

Reviewed on Jun 25, 2025

Hotel Fratelli
Scandic Winn
Scandic Winn
3.5 out of 5
Norra Strandgatan 9-11, Karlstad
$94 nightly
The price is $106 total per night from Aug 4 to Aug 5
$106 total
Aug 4 - Aug 5
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Karlstad. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a health club. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,009 reviews)
"Super friendly - great for our family of four and fantastic breakfast."

Reviewed on Jun 28, 2025

Scandic Winn
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Karlstad Unic House Kronoparken
Karlstad Unic House Kronoparken
3.5 out of 5
Karlstad
Stay at this 3.5-star residence in Karlstad. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a garden. Popular attractions Alsters Mansion and Alster's Herrgard are located ...
Warning!
"Watch out! This place was unclean, worn down, in need of electric repairs and had a stinking refrigerator. We could not stay there so had to find another place to sleep. I have never seen anything near as bad being offered as lodging, in Europe or elsewhere."

Reviewed on Dec 11, 2024

Karlstad Unic House Kronoparken
Lillstugan
Lillstugan
3 out of 5
Hertsöga 244, Karlstad
Stay at this 3-star cabin in Karlstad. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a garden. Popular attractions Bryngfjordens Golf Club and Bergvig Shopping Mall are ...
Mycket nöjd
"En väldigt mysig och härlig stuga i lagom storlek för två. Rent och fräscht samt väldigt trevlig service!"

Reviewed on Mar 29, 2019

Lillstugan
Forsviken by Interhome
Forsviken by Interhome
Skattkärr
Stay at this vacation home in Karlstad. Enjoy a garden and in-room fireplaces. Popular attractions Kungsnäs badplats and Alster's Herrgard are located ...
Schweden pur - See und Wälder
"Tolle Aussicht auf den Vänern ohne Schnickschnack. Alles in dem Objekt ist einfach, manches erneuerungsbedürftig. Prunkstück: die Veranda, deren Geländer man aber besser nicht zu nahe kommt. Innen alles kompakt, ein Bett durchgelegen. Das kleine Haus mufft stark, auch nach vierzehntägigem Lüften- ..."

Reviewed on Aug 15, 2022

Forsviken by Interhome
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of Karlstad

4.6
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
5
5 - Excellent 63%
4 - Good
3
4 - Good 38%
3 - Okay
0
3 - Okay 0%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Just passing through.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Great summer city with many restaurants

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

You must visit Norrstrands Pizzeria on Lagmansgatan 7, The best ever Pizza.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Only stayed 1 night. So cannot make a good opinion of the city.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

We went to the ArkivCentrum to do ancestral research. Staff was very helpful.

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