Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
into local flora and fauna as well as the different landscapes found in the province,
from marshland to dense forest. For grown-ups, it's the excellent and informative short
film (in Swedish only) about the province's wildlife that's the real highlight.
The beaches
Mid-June to mid-Aug bus #56 hourly from Storatorget
The Karlstad region is renowned throughout Sweden for its relatively long hours of
sunshine, something the locals make the most of during the summer months. The
sandy beach
by the campsites at Bomstad, 7km west of the city along the E18, extends
for several kilometres and is known as the Värmland Riviera. It benefits from the
sheltered waters of Kattfjorden, one of Vänern's northern bays, and the shallow waters
here heat up quickly during the long summer days, making swimming deliciously
enjoyable. Adjoining to the east,
Skutberget
offers smooth
rocks
which gently slope
down to the lake. There's also an unofficial - though popular -
nudist beach
here, at
the western end of the beach by
First Camp Karlstad Skutberget
.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
KARLSTAD
By train
From Gothenburg, there are two ways to reach
Karlstad: regular direct services run up the western shore,
covering the journey in around 3hr; alternatively, a limited
service (Mon-Fri only) runs around the eastern shore via
Laxå, also taking 3hr. The Värmland capital is also served by
international trains between Stockholm and Oslo (it's
roughly halfway between the two), as well as the more
frequent services to and from Stockholm. The train station
is on Hamngatan.
Destinations
Gothenburg (5 daily via Trollhättan, 2hr
50min; 3 daily Mon-Fri via Laxå, 3hr 10min); Oslo (5 daily;
3hr); Stockholm (9 daily; 2hr 30min); Sunne (9 daily;
50min).
By bus
The bus station is located at the western end of
Drottninggatan.
Destinations
Falun (1 daily; 4hr); Gothenburg (6 daily;
4hr); Oslo (8 daily; 3hr); Stockholm (10 daily; 4hr).
4
INFORMATION
Tourist o
ce
In the library at Västra Torggatan 26 (mid-
June to mid-Aug Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun
10am-4pm;
T
054 540 24 70,
W
destinationkarlstad.se).
A good place to pick up general information about the city
as well as rafting trips on the Klarälven River (see p.143); it
also has timetables for buses throughout Värmland (also
available at
W
värmlandstraik.se), to help you plan trips
elsewhere in the province.
Internet access
There's internet access at the train
station with Sidewalk Express and at the tourist office.
ACCOMMODATION
Best Western Savoy
Västra Torggatan 1A
T
054 15 66
40,
W
www.savoy-karlstad.se.
Modern chain hotel with
comfortable rooms featuring wooden floors and light decor.
What the rooms lack in character is more than compensated
by the fantastic weekend and s
ummer prices w
hich make
this central hotel a sound choice.
895kr/1295kr
Clarion Collection Drott
Järnvägsgatan 1
T
054 10 10
10,
W
drotthotel.se.
Just 50m from the train station, this
is a smart, elegant hotel dating from 1909 and full of old-
fashioned charm, wooden floors and p
eriod furniture.
The
daily evening buffet is free to residents.
890kr/1190kr
Clarion Plaza
Västra Torggatan 2
T
054 10 02 00,
W
choicehotels.se.
Large, modern, plush four-star hotel
very much with the business traveller in mind; there's
modern Nordic decor and a fantastic sauna offering
panoramic views over the city. Attractiv
e weekend and
summer rates are among the best in town.
790kr/1090kr
Ì
Elite Stadshotellet
Kungsgatan 22
T
054 29 30
00,
beautifully located next to the river, this is Karlstad's best
hotel. Whilst the interior with its sweeping staircases and
chandeliers conjures up sumptuous old-style elegance, the
rooms offer m
odern Swedish design at its very best.
765kr/1232kr
Freden
Fredsgatan 1A
T
054 21 65 82,
W
fredenhotel
.com.
Cheap and cheerful place close to the bus and train
stations, whose rooms all share facilities, though they do have
washbasins. Breakfast costs 60kr extra. Host
el-style doub
le
rooms with bunks are also available for 520kr.
580kr/680kr
Ibis Karlstad City
Västra Torggatan 20
T
054 17 28 30,
W
ibishotel.com.
Good-value modern hotel in the centre
of town with sixty modern, comfortable en-suite rooms,
boasting a large
breakfast bufe
t, though at an extra cost of
85kr per person.
475kr/675kr
Karlstad Vandrarhem
Kasernhöjden 19
T
054 56 68
40,
E
karlstad.vandrarhem@swipnet.se; buses #1, 4
and 56.
The town's elegant STF youth hostel, with top-
quality beds and televisions in all rooms, is set in a grand
W
www.karlstad.elite.se.
Built in 1870 and
