Östersund is a buzzing small city on the shores of Lake Storsjön, ready and packed with adventures and events year round. With its well-managed gastronomic heritage, cultural attractions, sports and musical events, and stunningly beautiful surroundings, Östersund is certainly worth a visit.

Östersund offers a diversified and rich offering of activities, in the winter as well as the summer, and an area which boosts pride. Östersund is characterised by service and openness, security and consideration, belief in the future and quality of life as well as sustain-able and accessible nature. Visit the attraction-packed museum Jamtli, have a ride on Icelandic horses, paddle canoes, go monster spotting around Lake Storsjön, shopping or pat the King of the Forest at Moose Garden. 

Feasts and food

Music aficionados should make sure to be here when the annual music mania ‘Storsjöyran’ is organised in the end of July.

Storsjöyran is one of Sweden’s biggest music festivals with international as well as Swedish high-class acts. Gastronomists consider it a given to visit Östersund in order to sample what Matlandskapet Jämtland can offer in terms of culinary sensations. Östersund together with the surrounding county has been selected as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy and in 2011 also the first Capital of Culinary Sweden. 

A wintry summer city

During the winter Östersund and Frösön grow larger as Lake Storsjön freezes over. Östersund is also called Vinterstaden, Winter Town and in Vinterparken, within a snowball’s throw of the main square Stortorget, is Medvinden with a tour-skating course, cross-country ski tracks and walking loops. The slalom piste in the centre is called Gustavsbergsbacken and invites great skiing with town views. This year will see the addition of another alpine piste with the reopening of Ladängen following a dramatic facelift. Östersund hosts annually an IBU World Cup Ski Biathlon event. Many visitors are enthralled by the town and wish to come back here.

Time travelling

History comes alive at Jamtli. Here are various old treasures and interesting objects and you can learn more about the Sami people, the Viking Era and the Stone Age. Out of doors, during the summer you can visit farms from the 18th to the 20th century meetings actors in period dress. 

Encountering the King of the Forest

The Moose Garden farm, just outside Östersund, features the king of the Swedish forests. Take a guided tour, pet tame moose, and learn how paper is made from moose droppings. The café serves moose waffles, and there is local handicraft for sale in the souvenir shop. 

Going to the zoo…

With more than 700 species of animals, Frösö Zoo is one of Jämtland’s leading attractions. The species range from Siberian tigers, lions, hyenas and giraffes to the smallest monkeys in the world, the marmoset and also Sweden’s largest Tropikhus. It is easy to spend a full day at the zoo which also comprises a Tivoli and a circus. 

Watergames

The waterpark Storsjöbadet has waterslides, jacuzzis, climbing wall, children’s area, relax area, gym and outdoor pools. For nature baths the suggestions include the nice natural beaches around Lake Storsjön, the island Andersön and Lake Önsjön. Rent a canoe or a kayak in the marina and explore the surroundings in a quiet and peaceful way. 

Frösön’s gems

He wrote countless works in his lifetime, but Wilhelm Peterson-Berger’s piano music, particularly “Frösöblomster” (Frösö Flowers), is the most beloved. You can visit his home, Sommarhagen, on the south-western slopes of the island Frösön, overlooking Lake Storsjön and the Oviken fells. With its fabulously scenic setting, Frösö Kyrka is one of the most popular churches in the country for wedding ceremonies. 

Playful families

The Multi Challenge activity hall puts your ingenuity and collaborative ability to the test, with features such as Boda Borg, climbing wall, indoor go-cart, laser hall and games arcade. Djungelhuset - The Jungle House is a large indoor playground, with features such as a climbing frame, slides, kiddy rides and pillow land for children with an urge to play. 

Geology and technology

At Ope airstrip, between Östersund and Brunflo lies Teknikland, a retro-technological world of airplanes, vintage cars and military history. At Geohuset in Ångsta you can learn more about the history of our Earth and what happened when a meteorite hit this spot some 435 million years ago. 

Backspin, Birdie and Bogey

The views from the practice area at Frösö Golfbana are without doubt first rate. With the mountain range as a backdrop the 18-hole golf course is well worth a visit. Also in Ångsta, a little but outside is a good 18-hole golf course with many fine holes. Norderön has a pay & play course. 

On the back of an Icelandic horse

At Sörbygården just outside Brunflo you can join a great hack on horseback, in the summer just like in winter. Choose the tour that best suits your level; the Icelandic horse with its five paces will certainly give you a memorable experience. 

Freezing cold and skating ice

By early February, the ice on Lake Storsjön grows sufficiently thick to enable the preparation of the 20 km tour-skating ice course ‘Medvinden’. Enjoy skating world-class natural ice – equipment is for rental. Vinterbadet on the shores of Lake Storsjön tempts many to dips in a wood-heated tub underneath the stars, possibly including a dip in the lake. 

Energy-packed Alaskan Huskies

Extremely keen dogs are pulling the sled through the forest and across bogs, as organised by The Howling Dog Farm in Smedsta, just outside Östersund. In the company of guides and the Alaskan Huskies, tours are available during the period January - April (depending on the snow situation). 

Skiing and shooting

The alpine runs Gustavsbergsbacken and Ladängen on Frösön, it’s hard to find skiing closer to a town centre. At Skidstadion you can hire cross-country skis and find lots of tracks, if you have been inspired you can also try ski biathlon.