Holiday apartment in Sandviken – culture, lakes and cycle paths

Sandviken combines a diverse cultural scene with traces of its ironworks history and a wide range of opportunities among lakes, forests and trails. The Kulturcentrum brings events and exhibitions together under one roof, along with a library, an art gallery, a cultural school, the Trampolin literary centre, and various stages and event spaces. The Kulturcentrum is located in the centre of Sandviken and is a hub of the city’s cultural and entertainment life. The Sandviken Jazz & Blues Festival is considered one of the major annual events in Sandviken’s cultural life.

Culture

Sandvikens konsthall complements its exhibition programme with guided tours, workshops and cultural events. The Kulturcentrum also hosts exhibitions, exhibition openings, guided tours, concerts and lectures. The alternative cultural centre Kungen houses a gallery for contemporary art. Soundwalk Sandviken offers an unusual way to explore the city’s history: the 40-minute walk leads through parts of Sandviken’s cultural landscape, combining memories and stories from the history of the ironworks with soundscapes and newly written music, and starts at the entrance to the city library.

The history of the town also includes Sandviken Church and the old ironworks. The church was designed according to plans by Professor Israel Wahirnan; construction began in 1929. It was inaugurated on 29 November 1931. It occupies a dominant position on the ridge that runs through Sandviken. Gamla Bruket, also known as “envåningsbruket”, was built between 1864 and 1880 for workers at the old ironworks. The Bruksmuseet Smedsgården displays homes from various periods in the history of the ironworks area; it also includes a small school museum about the former school life of the pupils.

Water and activities

Parkbadet offers a leisure pool, a 25-metre swimming pool, hot tubs, group activities and a fitness centre. The leisure area includes water slides offering more than 250 metres of sliding fun in total. Hedåsbadet is a family-friendly beach with a sandy shore, bathing jetty, volleyball court and an accessible outdoor fitness area. Lake Storsjön has a 15-kilometre cross-country ice-skating track, with a starting point at Hedåsbadet in Sandviken. The lake is known for zander fishing; fishing is possible from a boat or from the shore.

The areas around Sandviken also combine exercise and scenery. The Långängarna nature reserve is nearby and has a 1.5-kilometre nature trail. Among other things, visitors may see aspens with aspen feather moss and possibly three-toed woodpeckers. The Gästrikeleden trail runs between Gävle and Sandviken and continues towards Gysinge. The trail is 270 kilometres long and divided into 32 stages of varying lengths. Along the Gästrikeleden, you can experience varied natural landscapes with lakes, rapids, wetlands and deep forests.

Cycling and regional trails

Sandviken offers cycle paths with varying levels of difficulty for beginners as well as ambitious recreational cyclists. In addition, Biking Gästrikland connects 50 mountain bike trails and more than 500 kilometres of continuous, signposted cycle paths, enabling bikepacking routes in Sandviken and Gästrikland.

History, crafts and flavours

In the nearby region, Högbo Bruk represents a vibrant ironworks area with origins dating back to the 1630s. The area combines nature, cultural history, outdoor activities, crafts, events, food and accommodation. Sandviken’s local food selection includes cheese, bread, sausages, meat, spices and sweets.

Getting there and events

At Sandviken Travel Centre, city, regional, national and express buses, as well as regional and night trains, meet under one roof. Sandviken has frequent bus connections within Gästrikland, as well as train connections to and from Mälardalen. Sandviken Tourist Centre provides tips and information about attractions, accommodation and events, and sells products made by local craftspeople. Göransson Arena is used for concerts, art exhibitions, trade fairs and conferences.

For further regional options, you can also choose Järbo, Årsunda, Sandviken, Kungsgården, Storvik, Gysinge, Hammarby and Österfärnebo.

To the main travel overview: Gävleborg.