Åre is the largest ski resort in Scandinavia, located in the middle of Sweden, near the Norwegian border. The distance from Åre to the Norwegian border is only about 60 kilometers, and on a clear day, you can see the mountains on the Norwegian side from the top. All in all, there are more than 100 slopes and 40 lifts in Åre.
Åre’s ski resort was unfamiliar to us, as our previous ski trips have been to Finnish Lapland and the Alps. Since we were traveling with a larger group, we thought it would be most sensible to go by car.
You can also fly to Östersund near Åre, from where it’s about 90 kilometers to the ski resort. This distance can also be covered by train, so renting a car isn’t necessary. However, the flexibility and convenience of having our own car, along with the group sharing the costs, made the choice of travel method easy.
So, we booked a ship from Turku (Finland) to Stockholm, from where the journey to Åre is about 650 kilometers, so most of the day was spent driving to Åre. As Åre approached, the scenery gradually became more mountainous, although there might not be any actual mountains, but the feeling immediately rose, and the urge to ski kicked in.
Main Center – Åre By
Åre’s ski resort consists of several centers, with Åre By being the main center both in terms of slopes and life. This is where the largest and most numerous slopes are, and après-ski and nightlife are also concentrated in Åre By, along with the widest range of restaurants and services. It is therefore worth looking at accommodation in Åre By if you want to be at the center of events.
We also visited the smaller center of Tegefjäll, located next to Åre By, which is much quieter, and the slopes are more moderate. This is ideal for families with children and beginner skiers. Here, you’ll find a nice adventure trail called Vildmarksstigen, which offers various sights along the way.
The slopes leading from Salden to Åre Björnen also offered pleasant skiing, where you can enjoy a peaceful glide even off-piste.
A free ski bus operates between the different centers, making it easy to move between them, and of course, some centers also have slope connections, so you can change centers by choosing the right slopes and lifts.
Other Activities in Åre
If skiing isn’t your thing or if you’re looking for activities on non-skiing days, here are a few tips for both Åre and the surrounding area.
Admire the Views from Åre’s Peak
Even if skiing isn’t your thing, you can visit the top of Åre to admire the views. You can take a gondola lift to the top and buy a one-time round-trip ticket.
The views from the top are truly magnificent, and on a clear day, you can see the mountain peaks on the Norwegian side.
At the top, there’s a large slope restaurant where you can enjoy the views with a warm drink. The large windows offer really nice views.
Sweden’s Largest Waterfall – Tannforsen Waterfall
Just about a 20-minute drive from Åre towards the Norwegian border, you’ll find Sweden’s largest waterfall, Tannforsen Waterfall. The waterfall is almost 40 meters high and up to 60 meters wide, so it’s really impressive in size.
There’s a good parking lot where you can park, and from there, a short walk along trails takes you to the waterfall itself. You can admire the waterfall from several points, and it’s really spectacular, especially in winter. However, note that in winter, the paths to the waterfall can be really slippery. When we visited, we had to walk really carefully downhill so as not to slip and slide downhill, whereas going uphill almost became frustrating as our shoes kept slipping with every step.
If you don’t have a car available in Åre, there seem to be handy E-Go cars available in the village, which you can rent through an app.
Definitely a recommended destination when visiting Åre, whether it’s summer or winter.
Winter Activities Off the Slopes
Naturally, Åre offers various activities from snowmobiling, dog sledding to snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. There were plenty of different service providers available, so there’s sure to be something for everyone’s taste.
