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Discover the Treöarsled trail 

In the archipelago outside Kristinehamn lie the three islands of Vålön, Kalvön, and Sibberön. Wander along cozy forest paths, smooth cliffs, shallow sandy beaches, across boardwalks over glittering waters, and among swaying reeds. The Treöarsled is approximately 4 kilometers one way, and you cross between the islands over footbridges with very good accessibility. It’s an easy day hike in the forests of Värmland with a magical lake view.  

Along the trail, you can eat packed meals at barbecue sites, benches, and wind shelters. Why not bring a sitting pad and enjoy your meal on the cliffs by the water’s edge? Along the trail, there are maps and outdoor toilets.  

For those who fancy a swim, inviting beaches provide that coastal feel while you enjoy the freshwater. On Vålön, you’ll find the shallow bathing spots at Sandvikarna, one of Lake Vänern archipelago’s nicest sandy beaches. Take the opportunity to hike this gem of a trail with the Lake Vänern horizon as your backdrop. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a sea eagle!

Take the Lake Route to the Trail

The journey to the trail is an experience in itself. Travel by tour boat, kayak, rented motorboat, or bring your own boat to the islands’ docks and landing places. Some ways to reach the trail:  

• Travel with the tour boat Stöten (boat bus 97) from Vålösundsbryggan in Kristinehamn to Vålön. During the summer, Stöten, which is a beautiful old wooden boat, runs several times a day. It takes ten minutes to get to Vålön. Dogs are welcome if there is space. Learn more about Stöten. 
• Rent a motorboat from VÅG. Here, you can easily book your own motorboat and choose whether you want to rent the boat for a full day or half a day. The starting point is Kapurja, Vålösundsvägen in Kristinehamn.
• Rent a kayak from Kayakomaten at Kapurja, Vålösundsvägen in Kristinehamn. It’s easy to kayak in Kristinehamn – regardless of wind and previous experience, you can find a route within the sheltered waters, through the strait, to a beach, or around one or more islands.  
• Own boat. For those coming to Kristinehamn by water with their own boat, you can take your own boat out and dock at the islands.

5 Tips for Accommodations in Kristinehamn

On Sibberön, there is a simple overnight cabin, but for those who want a bit more comfort, there are several nice accommodation options in and around Kristinehamn that add a touch of luxury to your trip. 

• Ölme Prästgård and Gästgiveri

At Ölme Prästgård och Gästgiveri you will find sustainable accommodation just outside Kristinehamn. Here you stay in a classic Värmland vicarage with beautiful rooms that are decorated with respect to the house’s rich history. Take the opportunity to enjoy the dining experience from the Nordic kitchen. Here you will find many local delicacies. If you travel by electric car, you can charge your car for free overnight. To get to Vålösundsbryggan where you find the tour boats and kayak vending machine, you can cycle along Vänerleden down to the town or take a bus to the railway station and then switch to the archipelago bus.

• City Close Hotels in Kristinehamn 

For those who want to stay close to restaurants and shopping in central Kristinehamn, there are several hotels to choose from.

At Stadshotellet Kristinehamn, you stay at a modern and comfortable hotel in the middle of Kristinehamn, close to unique shops and cafes. If you want a comfortable stay with a homey and cozy feeling, then perhaps the dog-friendly Park Hotel, where both you and your furry family members are welcomed, is the hotel for you. The hotel was inaugurated in the 1930s and the decor in the common areas has been chosen to suit the era of the inauguration. At Sockerslottet, you will find a haven of comfort in the middle of Kristinehamn. In a unique environment, a respectfully renovated Baptist church from 1892, you will find eight exclusive hotel rooms that are something out of the ordinary. Hotel Bro is one of the latest opened hotels in Kristinehamn. Here, you are offered newly renovated rooms with comfortable beds and fully tiled bathrooms. Imagine starting the day with Hotel Bro’s continental breakfast.

• Lake Close Accommodation in The Lighthouse 

Near Vålösundsbryggan is The Lighthouse with a lake-close location and a short walk to Picasso’s sculpture. If you have not stayed in a converted lighthouse before, now is your chance! Here you will find memorable accommodation a stone’s throw from fine bathing opportunities.  

• City and Lake Close Camping 

Stay at a camping site close to both the small town and the archipelago in Kristinehamn. Kristinehamn Manor Camping & Cottages is a year-round open and family-friendly camping site. Here you will find a camping site that has the Vänern beach on one side and Kristinehamn’s city center on the other. You are close to the dock from which the tour boat departs and to the kayak vending machine. You can choose between modern cottages and classic camping close to nature and a beautiful manor.

• Places for Those Arriving by Boat 

At Kristinehamn’s Guest Harbor & RV Park, you can find accommodations whether you travel by water or in a motorhome. Here you will find a year-round open RV park with a lake view and the possibility to arrive at any time of the day. Here you will find pleasant accommodation options whether by boat or motorhome. After a short walk through the city park, you reach the city center with shops, cafes, and restaurants. If you come with your own boat, you will find Gattet Restaurant and Guest Harbor which is the guest harbor in Vålösundet. Here you can also enjoy a lovely dining experience with many local delicacies. 

5 Tips for Nice Dining Experiences

There are nice dining experiences for all tastes in and around Kristinehamn. Sit down at a table and have a first-class dining experience served to you at the table or buy a food package for the hike on Treöarsleden.  

• Picasso’s Veranda. Here you can eat everything from well-prepared meals to yummy sandwiches and pleasant coffee breaks.
• Gattet Restaurant & Guest Harbor. Enjoy fantastic views of the archipelago while enjoying high-class gastronomic food and drink experiences. Here, the ingredients are chosen with care, and there is craftsmanship behind each dish.
• Italian in the town center. Step from Värmland to Italy at one of the three Italian restaurants found in Kristinehamn. Here, homemade pasta, slow-risen pizza, and other Italian dishes are prepared using quality ingredients. In the center, choose between Oliveriet‘s Italian food in Sardinian style and Parma or Panncentralen Italienskt Möte where the food is Neapolitan. At Oliveriet, you find Italian food in Sardinian style and at Parma and Panncentralen, it’s Neapolitan.
• Stadshotellet Kristinehamn. Here, you can dine at the hotel’s own Restaurant Axel where you are offered breakfast, lunch, and à la carte.
• Ölme Vicarage & Inn. At the vicarage’s restaurant, you can enjoy culinary taste experiences with a preference for locally grown and organic.

5 Tips for Enjoyable Activities

• Picasso’s Sculpture. A visit to Kristinehamn is not complete without a visit to Picasso’s Sculpture – one of Kristinehamn’s prides! But how did a sculpture designed by the artist Pablo Picasso end up in Kristinehamn? Signs on site guide you to the answer. 

• Kristinehamn’s Art Museum. Next to Lake Vänern lies Kristinehamn’s Art Museum which offers guided tours, fine permanent exhibitions, and exciting temporary exhibitions.

• Kristinehamn’s Historical Museum. For those interested in history, Kristinehamn’s Historical Museum’s permanent exhibition “The Iron that Fed the City” might be enticing in conjunction with the hike on Treöarsleden.  

• Take the boat. There are many islands to discover and by taking the boat bus for about an hour, you get a Vänern experience. Many call Alvön the “sunbather’s island,” which fits well with the island’s many polished and softly shaped rocks. It’s nicest on the island’s eastern part at the strait against Svinön. The smooth, soft cliffs are often empty and just waiting to receive those eager to bathe. On Långön, there are many fine natural harbors where you find shelter regardless of wind direction. Therefore, Långön is extra popular among leisure boaters and sailors. Here, you can easily find your own cliff and take a dip at Långön’s own little riviera, right next to the dock on the island’s northwest side. A wind shelter, fire place, and dry toilet are available near the boat bus dock.

• Join a historical city walk in the city of iron. The character Regina Nordenfeldt wears her period-typical clothes from the 1700s and 1800s in Kristinehamn as she tells about the 120 years when Kristinehamn was the City of Iron. The world market price for iron was set in Kristinehamn, so Regina is used to distinguished visitors and she likes to gossip about curiosities. The tour takes place as a walk along the river inside Kristinehamn’s city center. 

Sustainable Traveling

It’s easy to travel sustainably to and in Kristinehamn. By train, you can easily travel directly from Stockholm and Oslo to Kristinehamn without changes. If you are coming from Gothenburg, you need to change trains in Karlstad, and then you roll into Kristinehamn. From the railway station, it is walking distance into the center, from where local buses also go to the boats and the archipelago. At the City Hotel, you can rent bicycles so that you can get out to the dock where the boat tours depart from.  

Welcome to Treöarsleden and Kristinehamn!