Central Sweden
Åre
Sweden's mountain village, and the one that holds up against the Alps.
Region
Central Sweden
Best season
Dec – Apr
Best for
Skiing families
About Åre
Sweden's answer to the Alps — a proper mountain village in Jämtland with skiing that holds up against its European rivals, and a lake-and-fell landscape in summer that empties out almost entirely once the season turns.
Getting there
Fly to Åre Östersund and drive west, or take the night train from Stockholm and wake up in the mountains — which is the better story and, arguably, the better journey.
What to see and do in Åre
Ski a real mountain
The largest ski area in Sweden, with genuine vertical and a village at the bottom that has been doing this for over a century.
The night train up
Board in Stockholm, sleep, and open the blind on the fells. It is the most civilised arrival in the country and we book it more often than the flight.
Summer on the fells
Once the snow goes, Åre becomes a walking and cycling town with a lake, and about a tenth of the visitors. Deeply underrated.
Arrange My Trip
When to go to Åre
Ski season
December – April
February and March give the best combination of snow and daylight. Christmas and the Swedish sport holiday in late February are the two weeks to book far ahead.
Summer
June – September
Walking, cycling, the lake, and an emptiness that surprises people who have only seen it in winter.
Between seasons
October – November
The one window we would steer you away from: too late for the fells, too early for snow, and much of the village closed. Worth saying plainly.
Åre: common questions
Anything not answered here, ask us directly — we'd rather you did.
How does the skiing compare with the Alps?
Lower and smaller, with more reliable snow and considerably fewer people. Åre will not give you Alpine vertical, and it does not try to. What it gives you instead is a compact, genuinely charming village at the base, short lift queues, and a season that runs dependably into April. Families and intermediate skiers tend to prefer it; someone chasing a big-mountain week may not.
Is it worth visiting outside the ski season?
We think so, and it is one of the quietest recommendations we make. From June to September the fells are open for walking and cycling, the lake is swimmable on a warm day, and the village runs at a fraction of its winter occupancy. It is the closest thing Sweden has to an Alpine summer, without the Alpine summer prices.
How far in advance should we book?
For most of the season a couple of months is comfortable. Two weeks are not: Christmas and New Year, and the Swedish school sports holiday in late February, when much of the country goes skiing at once. For those we would want six to nine months, particularly for a private chalet. Outside them, Åre is one of the easier mountain destinations in Europe to arrange at shorter notice.
Ready when you are
Travel to Åre
Every journey we design starts with one conversation. Tell us roughly when you'd like to travel and who's coming, and we'll take it from there.
