What to See and Do in the Heart of Scandinavia, Jämtland

Author: Jennifer Kristensson

My name is Jennifer, and through my own company, Mid Scandinavia Tours, I take people off the beaten tourist track to hidden and unique places in Scandinavia. In this article, I want to share some glimpses of what you can experience if you travel to the beautiful part of the world that I call home: Jämtland. I will guide you through all five seasons in Jämtland and give you the best tips on what to see and do.

Winter (December–March)

The winters here in the north are really cold, and as Jämtland is located close to the Arctic Circle, we experience really short days during this time of the year. The sun stays up for just a couple of hours per day, and because it is so low, it creates an almost magical winter light that is only possible to see during these short winter days. During the night, we enjoy the beauty of the dark night sky, and if we are lucky, we see the northern lights dancing above.

During this time of the year, the three must-do activities in this area are:

1. Being Part of Everyday Life in the City of Jämtland

Jämtland is a sparsely populated region of Sweden, with about two people per km². Therefore, it is a place where everyone lives closely connected to nature. In the only town of this part of Sweden, a must-do is taking part in the everyday winter life in the little town, where people use the frozen lake for skiing, biking, and ice skating, whether to get to and from work or just to enjoy the few beautiful hours of daylight.

2. See the Wildlife

Jämtland is an area offering a lot of wildlife, so keep your eyes open when you are travelling here. Many of the animals live quite far away from people and are, therefore, quite shy. However, there is one person in this area who has tame moose and another who has tame reindeer. These are two places you really need to visit if you don’t get the chance to see these majestic animals in the wild.

3. Visit the Local Christmas Market of the Jämtland Area

The local Christmas market offers a lot of culture and high-quality food. This is a must-do if you are travelling to Jämtland—the UNESCO Region of Gastronomy—during the winter season.

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Spring Winter (April–May)

In this area of Sweden, we say that we have five seasons, and the fifth one is Spring Winter. During this time of the year, the sun starts to warm again, and the days grow longer with each passing day. This is the perfect time to read a good book in the sun and try cross-country skiing.

Spring (May–June)

This is the time of the year when the last snow melts and nature wakes up after its long winter sleep. Jämtland is a place where biking is a popular activity. I especially recommend biking along the old Viking trail named St. Olavsleden, a road that offers both a lot of history and beautiful views.

Summer (June–August)

Summer is a fantastic time to travel to Jämtland as a family because many children’s activities are open. The kids can, for example, learn about local history through the local outdoor museum, or you can try wildlife camping as a family under safe conditions. For adults, I recommend taking the steamboat out to an island that offers both a fantastic view and good food.

Autumn (September–November)

The beginning of September can offer beautiful days with a lot of different colours in the trees. This is a good time of the year to go hiking, as you can hike between different cabins and enjoy nature. Handcraft is also a big thing in the Jämtland area, and it’s a cool experience to try out vegetable dyeing of yarn and other textile handcrafts.