1. Fika
Arvika is a city of cafes! A visit requires a coffee break at one of the city’s cozy bakeries. City Konditoriet still has its typical 1940s interior. Nordells Konditori by the square dates back to 1911, featuring an outdoor seating area under a pergola where sparrows chirp and a fountain bubbles during summer. Elins Bakgård is only a few years old but carries a strong sense of local craftsmanship, with older furniture and porcelain, a tiled stove, and a glass veranda. The lunch here is excellent! At the Rackstad Museum, a bit outside the city center, you’ll find Café Elis. Just choose one – or try them all!
2. Visit an Art Exhibition
In Arvika, craftsmanship, artistry, and creativity are close to the hearts of many, resulting in a rich local offering. Arvika’s art gallery hosts around ten exhibitions annually, often featuring relevant and exciting contemporary artists. Just outside lies the Rackstad Museum, showcasing art and crafts from the Rackstad colony, influenced by the Arts & Crafts movement, alongside contemporary art. Nearby is the beautiful artist’s residence Oppstuhage and the Eriksson brothers’ furniture workshop. Both the art gallery and the Rackstad Museum organize concerts and other events. Around the town, you will also find workshops, studios, smaller galleries like Galleri pi, and museums such as the Arvika Vehicle Museum.
3. Shop Local Crafts
When visiting Arvika, don’t miss Sweden’s oldest arts and crafts store – Arvika Konsthantverk. Here, local artisans sell their creations in ceramics, glass, textiles, wrought iron, wood, leather, silver, and sometimes visual art. At the newer store Lokal, you can also find crafts and food from the Arvika region. Nearby is the renowned Te-Affär’n. There are also several second-hand and antique shops around town. Another favorite is Tilde Tryck, the local print shop’s paper store.
4. Explore Architecture
Arvika boasts many beautiful buildings, such as the Palladium Cinema, Arvika Konsthall, the town hall, L.P. Svensson’s house with its onion domes, and charming turn-of-the-century villas. Be sure to look up to admire the slate roofs, which are particularly common here due to the proximity to the Glava slate quarry. One example is the tourist office, housed in a typical old Arvika building. You can also stay in the city’s oldest house – at Scandic Arvika. Ornamental wrought iron details, such as spires, balconies, and gates, reflect the region’s craftsmanship. However, it’s perhaps the courtyards and outbuildings that are most characteristic of Arvika – peeking through gates and between houses is a delight!
5. Visit Trefaldighetskyrkan
A building that truly embodies the craftsmanship of the region is Trefaldighetskyrkan, completed in 1911. The architects were Ivar Tengbom and Ernst Torulf, inspired by National Romanticism. In line with the ideals of the style, the building materials were sourced locally, and local artists and craftsmen created the interior—a perfect fit for Arvika. From the church steps, there is a straight view down Torggatan, with the train station at the other end and Kyrkviken in the background. As Arvika’s grid plan is situated on a slope, there are many beautiful sightlines from the heights down to the bay.
6. Explore Public Art
Both in the city center and at the Rackstad Museum, there is a wealth of public art. Perhaps the most famous is the Birdman sculpture on the square, created by Liss Eriksson in 1971. A bit further up Torggatan, you’ll find Elis i Tasere with his bicycle, personifying the witty local character. The city park also features some beautiful sculptures, such as Sommardopp and Hind med kid. At the tourist office, you can pick up a sculpture guide to discover more. During the street art festival Artscape 2017, Arvika gained two striking murals: “Pipe Dream” by Nomad Clan at Hantverksgatan 12 and “The Griffin” by Wild Drawing at Hantverksgatan 11. On Östra Esplanaden 22, there’s also the mural “Hometown” by Arvika-born artist Julia Rios from 2021.
7. Discover Werner Gjerming
A person who significantly influenced Arvika’s modernist architecture is Werner Gjerming. He served as Arvika’s city architect for 30 years, from 1938 to 1968. Gjerming designed the courthouse, sports hall, police station, parish hall, community center, an extension to Solbergaskolan, commercial buildings like Cityhuset and KP-Möbler, as well as several whitewashed apartment buildings. His own villa is located at Skolgatan 5. The buildings often follow the architectural trends of the time, featuring well-thought-out layouts and solid materials.
8. Enjoy the City Park
Arvika City Park was named “Park of the Year” in 2019 and “Tourist Destination of the Year” in the parks and gardens category in 2015. This is largely due to the park management’s clever and beautiful creation of a flower program with a new theme each year. It is also a park over a hundred years old, retaining much of the original plan from 1913. Here you will find a pergola covered with Virginia creeper, which is one of the longest in Europe. There is also a bird pond, a fountain, a playground, sculptures, and various tree species.
9. Market Shopping
Every non-holiday Wednesday and Saturday, there is a market at the square. You can find second-hand treasures or enjoy some delicious food! In early October, the festive event Arvikamârten takes place. At the square, besides the Birdman sculpture, you will also find the artwork “Happenings at the Square” by Ingrid Falk, from 2021, where a large hand is surrounded by phrases and quotes from Arvika residents. The train station stands majestically at the southern end of the square, offering direct connections to both Stockholm and Oslo.
10. Visit Sågudden
Sågudden is a beautiful destination for all ages, located beautifully by Kyrkviken. The open-air museum was created by Västra Värmlands Fornminnesförening, who not only collected older artifacts but also relocated various buildings that tell the story of earlier times. The largest is the Storbondegård, a summer-open museum. Be sure to watch for holidays and events organized at Sågudden. There is also a playground, herb garden, and an excellent summer café.
Also read: Värmland’s Antiques Expert’s Architectural Gems
Värmland is filled with fantastic architecture, so don’t miss Terese Myrin’s list of beautiful, exciting, and historic buildings in Värmland.