Ski resorts across Sweden, from north to south
Sweden offers everything from major mountain resorts to smaller southern slopes. This archive guide compares destinations and skiing options.
Sweden’s mountains may not reach the heights of the French, Italian and Austrian Alps, but many skiers choose Swedish resorts when temperatures fall and snow arrives. With so many ski areas to choose from, it can be difficult to know which best suit beginners or more advanced skiers.
This archive guide contains historical resort figures and competition references. Its sporting calendar references predate the displayed publication date and should be read in that context.
Some of Sweden’s best-known resorts
There is no simple answer to which resort is best. Research companies have compared their strengths and weaknesses, with the findings reported by https://www.expressen.se/allt-om-resor/.
That list includes Vemdalen, Sälen, Kläppen, Idre and Åre. Åre is popular for its 89 runs as well as the restaurants and evening entertainment in the village. It is also home to Sweden’s longest ski run, Långasvängen: 6.5 km long, starting at 1,274 meters above sea level.
Åre regularly hosts the Alpine World Cup. The original report referred to a World Championships held the previous year and women’s slalom, giant slalom and parallel slalom scheduled for March 12–14 the following year.
Exploring Härjedalen
Beyond the best-known destinations, Ramundberget, Tänndalen and Bruksvallarna have also attracted increasing interest. All three are in Härjedalen and offer activities beyond skiing.
Ramundberget is known for both cross-country and downhill skiing. It is an option for an active break, with mountain walking, yoga classes and a spa. Tänndalen was listed with 53 downhill runs, cross-country trails and opportunities to explore the mountains by snowshoe, snowmobile or dogsled. Cabins and hotels cater to families and groups of friends.
Bruksvallarna places particular emphasis on cross-country skiing, with some trails opening as early as October. It suits visitors looking for a quieter ski vacation in scenic surroundings.
Slopes in southern Sweden and elsewhere
A trip to the Swedish mountains is an experience, but it is not always an option. Southern Sweden also has ski slopes, spread across most provinces. They may offer fewer runs and smaller vertical drops, but they still provide a chance to ski downhill.
In Skåne, Orebacken and Vångabacken were each listed with four runs. Vångabacken’s longest run measured 660 meters, compared with 250 meters at Orebacken. The directory at https://www.freeride.se/skidorter/sverige/ listed 209 Swedish ski areas, more than a third in Götaland. Stockholm had ten ski areas with downhill slopes, and SkiStar Hammarbybacken in southern Stockholm had hosted World Cup parallel slalom several times.
Sweden offers many slopes and resorts. The choice depends on how far you want to travel, how long you want to stay, and the length and difficulty of the runs you are looking for.
