Holiday apartment in Gävle: Archipelago, history and nature

Gävle combines diverse nature, maritime history and unusual experiences within a compact area. At Furuvik, animal encounters, an amusement park and a water park come together. The water park includes a large pool, a children’s pool, two fast water slides and an adventure tower. Furuvik also offers the opportunity to encounter animals up close; interesting animal presentations take place several times a day.

Nature and coast

The Axmar nature reserve is the largest contiguous archipelago area on the southern Bothnian Sea coast. Covering around 4,500 hectares, it is also the largest in Gävleborg County. Bönan also has a maritime side: the fishing village has existed since the 17th century, and its coastal traditions continue to this day. The small Bönan fyrmuseum explores the maritime history of the area.

Limön is an idyllic summer island in the Gävle archipelago and was already visited as an excursion destination in the 19th century. Limö fyr stands on the island; built in 1902, it served as a lighthouse, school and teacher’s residence.

Trails and winter

The Hemlingby recreation area is Gävle’s largest recreational area. It is located in a large nature reserve just over three kilometres south of the city centre. The Hemlingbybacken area includes a snow park as well as exercise and cross-country ski trails of various lengths for winter activities. The area has exercise trails and a nature trail that lead through deep forests, herb-rich meadows and open landscapes.

The Norrlandets kustled runs along the coast between Engeltofta and Marskärsudden. The hiking trail is approximately 15 km long; you can hike the entire route or individual sections. Thirteen information boards provide details about the route, barbecue areas, bathing spots and the locations of toilets available in summer. The route passes through varied natural environments with farmsteads, holiday homes, deep forests and buildings of cultural and historical interest. Cyclists may use all municipal exercise trails in Gävle, although pedestrians and other people engaged in sports have priority along the trails.

Axmar Bruk has five hiking trails, including an accessible loop around the cultural reserve and the English Park.

Waterways

The Gavleån can be navigated by canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard from Forsbacka to Alderholmen; shorter sections are also possible. The paddling route connects the urban area with quieter natural environments in the Testeboån Delta nature reserve. At Forsbacka Bruk, visitors can rent canoes and paddle on Lake Storsjön.

History and culture

Fordonsmagasinet Tåghallen is part of the Järnvägsmuseet and houses one of the world’s largest collections of railway vehicles. The exhibitions at Järnvägsmuseet explore Sweden’s railways, railway people and the future of the railway industry. In summer, a historic railbus connects Tåghallen with the museum and also stops at Gävle Central on both the outbound and return journeys.

Forsbacka Bruk is one of Sweden’s best-preserved ironworks villages. Visitors can view buildings from the ironworks’ heyday, see a house from the 1920s and take part in guided tours. Axmar Bruk also preserves traces of its ironworks history: ruins, shipwrecks and foundation stones keep memories of its former use alive. During the high season, markets are held there on Saturdays, featuring, among other things, high-quality stalls offering food crafts.

In the historic Alt-Gefle district, cobblestones and wooden houses shape the streetscape. Gävle is therefore home to different forms of history side by side: railway vehicles and industrial facilities, a historic district, as well as maritime sites and archipelago islands.

Other places in the area

Gävle, Valbo, Hamrånge, Norrsundet, Bergby, Axmar, Forsbacka and Hedesunda.

For the higher-level travel overview: Gävleborg.