See and Do
Museums, Art Halls, and Galleries
In Karlstad and the surrounding area, there are many exciting museums, art halls, and galleries. Visit the Brigade Museum with its main exhibition on the Cold War and the Swedish welfare state, which also offers interactive experiences. On the other side of the Klarälven river is Värmland Museum, where contemporary art meets classic Värmland art in a whirlwind of expressions. A stone’s throw from Värmland Museum, you’ll find Sandgrund Lars Lerin – the old dance hall transformed into an art hall for impressive artworks. If you want to venture out of the city center, there’s the unique art hall Gamla Kraftstationen in Deje, which offers art in an unusual setting, as well as the Culinarum Café, which is included in the White Guide.
For art enthusiasts, there are also several pleasant galleries to visit in Karlstad and the surrounding area. Be sure to visit Galleri Mats Bergman, where various techniques coexist in a broad range of artistic expressions. At Galleri Ekdahl and Galleri Konst i Karlstad, different exhibitions follow one another.
Experiences on Stage
Concerts, musicals, and other events echo throughout the year in Karlstad. Check out the wide range of performances at Wermland Opera or Värmland Theatre. At Karlstad CCC, there is a wide variety of productions – everything from stage performances to classical concerts. Scalateatern offers various shows, lectures, and intimate concert experiences. For excitement and energy, head to Löfbergs Arena.
Outdoor Art, Design, and Architecture
Around Karlstad, there is a wide variety of public outdoor art and architecture to experience. Be sure to check out the city’s different murals from the Artscape project. In addition to murals, there are also statues and Sweden’s longest stone bridge, which has become a real Karlstad monument to behold. Along Solapromenaden, which runs alongside the Klarälven River that winds through the city, you’ll find statues of Värmland icons like Selma Lagerlöf, Gustaf Fröding, Nils Ferlin, Sola i Karlstad, and Sven-Erik Magnusson, as well as creative and modern sculptures such as Musselsång and Ensamräv by artist Emma Kronvall. With the Värmland Museum app, you can take a guided tour of the statues with the help of the Sculpture Guide in the Museum Park.
Karlstad is also home to several architectural landmarks. The Värmland Museum on Sandgrundsudden consists of two buildings with very different expressions. One is Cyrillushuset, which is inspired by Eastern architectural traditions and 1920s classicism, and the other is Nyrénhuset, completed in 1998, which balances between modern architecture and classical style.
Shopping Experiences
In Karlstad’s vibrant city center, you’ll find both popular chain stores and unique, local shops. Some must-visit stores that are unique to Karlstad include the well-stocked Syster C and the stylish Odds & Ends, both beautifully located by Frödingsparken. A few hundred meters away is Thimar form, which focuses on handpicked interiors and high-quality design. In Karlstad’s city center, you’ll also find Debut, filled with trendy and exclusive garments, and Stilvalvet, offering fashionable pieces for every occasion.
At Bergvik Shopping Center just outside the city center, you’ll find everything you need under one roof, from clothing, beauty, and jewelry to electronics, home decor, and leisure.
Culinary experiences and cozy cafés
Satisfy your hunger in the middle of the day
Enjoy a pleasant lunch at The Locker Room at Löfbergs Arena, which offers a lunch menu with dishes influenced by various food cultures. If you’re craving East Asian cuisine, Yomo in central Karlstad serves a large lunch buffet every day of the week.
If you’re tempted by top-quality fish and seafood, visit Lillängshamnens Fiskrökeri in Hammarö, the neighboring municipality to Karlstad, where you can buy smoked fish and other delicacies from their store and lunch takeaway. If you’d rather stay in Karlstad, you can enjoy traditional Swedish home-cooked food at Bibliotekskaféet in the city center. Across from Bibliotekskaféet is also the restaurant Zest, where the focus is on vegetarian food and organic ingredients.
If you’re unsure what you’re craving, you can visit Olssons Bazar, where you’ll find both a large lunch buffet and à la carte menu, as well as a bakery and a large bar.
Cozy cafés for a nice fika
Craving a cup of coffee after strolling around Karlstad and smelling the roasted coffee in the air? Visit Löfbergs Roastery and Coffee Bar on the ground floor of their coffee factory to enjoy a cup of freshly roasted coffee and perhaps also breakfast, fika, or a light lunch. At the artisan bakeries Artisan Bread and Swenströmskas Stone Oven Bakery, you’ll find genuine fika, bread, and coffee in cozy settings.
Why not swing by Carli Café to try some homemade chocolates or Italian gelato made on-site? If you want to enjoy a fika in a nature-close setting, the café at Naturum Värmland in Mariebergsskogen might be perfect for you. Combine your café visit with a walk in the city park, which is Karlstad’s main park, or along one of the many watercourses that run through the city.
Culinary Experiences in the Evening
There are great opportunities for culinary experiences at all of Karlstad’s restaurants. How about enjoying exclusive and delicious tapas at Barón’s majestic restaurant, which used to house a bank? Or maybe you’re in the mood for smoky flavors from Julins Backyard Barbecue, serving authentic Texas BBQ? Or perhaps it’s craft sushi from Sooshi, made with fresh ingredients and new combinations, that entices you most?
There are also several restaurants that mix different influences in fusion concepts. At Teburu, you can enjoy exciting Asian fusion that will surely deliver new flavors. If you’re more in the mood for taco fusion, you can try creative tacos that challenge the traditional Friday taco at Skogshyddans Funky Taco. If pizza and Italian cuisine are what you crave, Napoli, the first pizzeria to open in Karlstad, is definitely worth a visit.
For a truly unique dining experience, you can also head to Borgviks Gård, a 30-minute drive from Karlstad. Here, you can enjoy well-prepared, modern food in a beautiful setting.
Comfortable and City-Center Accommodations or Countryside Mansions
City-Center Accommodations
If you prefer to stay close to the city center, there are several wonderful accommodations to choose from. The classic Elite Stadshotellet Karlstad is located in the heart of Karlstad with views of the Klarälven river. Why not take the opportunity to visit the hotel’s spa during your stay? If you plan to see a performance at Karlstad CCC, you can stay at the nearby First Hotel River C, which has a beautiful view of Klarälven.
If you want to live centrally and feel the pulse of the city, Clarion Collection Hotel Drott is a great choice for you. For those who want to be close to the city but stay near water and on the outskirts of the hustle and bustle, Scandic Klarälven is the best. For those who want a comfortable stay in a slightly different accommodation, there is Clarion Collection Hotel Bilan, which has a unique history. Here, you stay comfortably in renovated prison cells with high ceilings and visible rafters in a building that previously housed the county prison. New exciting hotels starting in 2024 include the boutique hotel Hotel Fratelli with several restaurants and a spa, and Aiden By Best Western Karlstad Arena, right next to Löfbergs Arena, Färjestad trotting track, and Klarälven.
Country-style accommodations
If your heart beats more for accommodation in rural surroundings close to Karlstad, Dömle Herrgård Spa and Resort could be the place for you. Here, you get the perfect combination of culinary experiences, beautiful buildings, and a convenient route to Karlstad. Another rural option is Apertins Hotell, where you stay near a nature reserve in traditional Värmland buildings located in a neighborhood with roots from the 1600s. If you prefer a bed and breakfast, there’s the charming Villa Fryksta, beautifully situated on the shore of Nedre Fryken.
In Karlstad, there is a wide variety of restaurants, accommodations, and experiences, so you can tailor your stay exactly as you wish.
Welcome to Karlstad!
