Åre City
Major Swedish ski resort and mountain village
Åre's lifts and groomed runs keep winter crowds, while summers bring bikers and hikers onto fells with panoramic ridgelines. The village offers modern restaurants, craft breweries and a playground of outdoor guides for ski touring or kayaking down nearby rivers.
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Why Visit Åre?#
As Sweden’s most established alpine resort, Åre combines lift‑served skiing with coherent village life and year‑round mountain activities. Åre By and the slopes of Åreskutan provide downhill terrain, bike parks and hiking routes, while compact après‑ski options and mountain restaurants focus on local game and seafood. Long summer days suit trekking and winter nights can reveal the aurora borealis.
Best Things to Do in Åre#
Åre Bucket List#
Åre Ski Area - Extensive slopes, lifts, and summer hiking on Åreskutan mountain.
Åre Old Church (Åre gamla kyrka) - Small wooden church from earlier centuries near the centre.
Åre Kabinbana (cable car) - Quick lift to mid-mountain trails and panoramic viewing platforms.
Tännforsen waterfall - Sweden’s largest waterfall within a scenic forested gorge, ideal for day hikes.
Åre Chocolate Factory - Small artisanal producer offering tastings and guided visits in town.
Ristafallet and Storforsen rapids - River scenery a short drive into the Jämtland countryside.
Heritage railway to Duved - Scenic train route past mountain villages along the valley.
Åre Björnen family slopes and lake - Gentler skiing and lakeside walks suitable for families nearby.
Best Time to Visit Åre#
Åre is a prime mountain destination: visit in winter for skiing and in summer for long days and hiking. Spring can be transitional with variable snow and good late-season skiing.
December - February
-15 to -5°C (5-23°F)
Deep winter is full-on ski season: cold, snowy, and exhilarating - lifts, après-ski and crisp mountain days dominate here.
March - May
-5 to 6°C (23-43°F)
Spring sees variable snow and great late-season skiing, then transitioning to muddy trails; days lengthen with intermittent sunshine often too.
June - August
5 to 18°C (41-64°F)
Short summers offer long daylight, cool hikes, trout fishing and lively mountain biking; expect brisk mornings and pleasant, sometimes rainy afternoons.
Åre's climate is classified as Subarctic - Subarctic climate with cool summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -11°C to 18°C. Moderate rainfall (644 mm/year).
January
January is the coldest month with highs of -2°C and lows of -11°C. Moderate rainfall (49 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is freezing with highs of -1°C and lows of -10°C. Moderate rainfall (40 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -7°C. Moderate rainfall (39 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -3°C. Moderate rainfall (36 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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May
May is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (35 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (63 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 8°C. The wettest month with 92 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (64 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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September
September is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (64 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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October
October is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 0°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is freezing with highs of 1°C and lows of -5°C. Moderate rainfall (49 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is freezing with highs of -1°C and lows of -9°C. Moderate rainfall (55 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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How to Get to Åre#
Åre is served by Åre Östersund Airport and by regular intercity and regional trains to Åre station; both are convenient depending on your origin. For most visitors the airport coach or the train provides the simplest transfer to the resort.
Åre Östersund Airport (OSD): Marketed as Åre Östersund, this airport is the closest with scheduled services to Stockholm and some European cities. The drive or airport coach to Åre takes about 1-1.5 hours; Flygbussarna or local airport coaches run the route and tickets are typically SEK 139-179 one-way. Taxis are faster but significantly more expensive (roughly SEK 800-1,200).
Trondheim / other airports: For some international itineraries travellers may use Trondheim or other regional airports combined with rail or road travel, but Åre Östersund Airport is the standard option for most visitors to Åre.
Train: Åre has a railway station on the Main Line (Mittbanan) with regional and intercity SJ/Norrtåg services that connect to Östersund and Stockholm, and to Norway. Trains are a good option for scenic travel; journey times: Östersund→Åre ≈1-1.5 hours, Stockholm→Åre ≈6-7 hours. Prices vary by booking class and advance purchase.
Bus: Local buses and airport coaches connect Åre station, the airport and resort areas; Flygbussarna and local operators run scheduled services timed with flights and trains. Single-bus fares are commonly in the SEK 100-200 range depending on route.
How to Get Around Åre#
The train to Åre or a coach from Åre Östersund Airport are the usual choices; coaches are simple for air arrivals while trains are comfortable for longer rail journeys. Taxis and car hire give extra flexibility especially in winter.
- Train (SJ / Norrtåg) (SEK 150-600+) - Åre station is on the mainline with direct and regional services from Östersund, Stockholm and Norway; trains are comfortable and scenic. Book early for best fares on long-distance services and expect the Östersund-Åre leg to take about an hour.
- Airport coach / Flygbussarna (SEK 139-179) - Airport coaches link Åre Östersund Airport and central Åre; they are timed with flights and are reliable for most arrivals. Coaches are cheaper than taxis and drop you near the main lifts and hotels - tickets are commonly SEK 139-179 one-way.
- Taxi / private transfer (SEK 800-1,200 (airport→Åre)) - Taxis and private transfers are convenient for door-to-door service, particularly for groups or late arrivals; they are substantially more expensive than coaches. Pre-booked transfers are common in high season and during ski weeks.
- Local bus / shuttle (SEK 20-80) - Local buses and hotel shuttles circulate the Åre area and connect the train station, lifts and neighbourhoods. They are useful for short hops around the resort and for reaching more remote trailheads in summer.
- Car hire (SEK 400-900/day) - Hiring a car is useful for exploring Jämtland county and nearby sights; winter driving requires winter tyres and caution on icy roads. Parking in Åre is available but can be limited during major events.
- Walking - Åre village and lift areas are highly walkable - many hotels, restaurants and shops are within easy walking distance of the lifts and station. In winter use appropriate footwear for icy surfaces.
Where to Stay in Åre#
Åre village centre - SEK250-600/night
Åre has numerous budget hostels and simple guest rooms, especially in low season. Good public transport and lifts keep costs down for skiers and hikers.
Åre Torg Hostel / budget rooms - Simple, central budget rooms and hostels
Hostel-style stays in Åre - Affordable skiing-area dorms and rooms
Village & slopes - SEK700-1600/night
Mid-range hotels are plentiful in Åre with ski-in/ski-out options, comfortable rooms and on-site facilities - perfect for active mountain visitors.
Åre Tott Hotel - Reliable mid-range on the slopes
Hotel Åregården - Comfortable, traditional town-centre hotel
Upper village / slopes - SEK2000-5000/night
Åre offers true luxury ski lodges and boutique hotels with spas, gourmet dining and slope access. Expect premium rates during winter and peak season.
Copperhill Mountain Lodge - Premium ski-in/ski-out lodge with spa
Luxury chalets and boutique hotels - High-end chalets and full-service retreats
Where to Eat in Åre#
Breakdown of cuisine types found across Åre’s restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.
Shopping in Åre#
Shopping in Åre is geared to outdoor activities and tourism: you’ll find ski shops, outdoor gear stores, specialty food shops and boutiques selling local design. The main pedestrian streets concentrate most of the retail choices. Peak season brings extra pop‑up stalls and souvenir sellers, while shoulder seasons are quieter for shopping.
Nightlife in Åre#
Åre has a lively après‑ski and nightlife scene for a mountain village: lively bars, bustling restaurants and seasonal clubs draw crowds in winter and summer. The village square and lift‑base areas are the main evening hubs. Expect a mix of relaxed pub evenings and busier late‑night options, especially during ski season.
