Overview
Karlstad is the largest city of Värmland in Sweden, founded by King Karl IX in 1584 and located where the Klarälven river flows into Lake Vänern, the largest lake in Europe outside Russia. The city is famous for the expression 'Sola i Karlstad' (The Sun in Karlstad), originally referring to a beautiful restaurant worker and now reflecting its reportedly sunny weather.
Day Trips · Family Travel · History · Nature · Nightlife
Before you go
Connectivity
Free WiFi is available in many hotels and on X2000 trains. The STF Vandrarhem Karlstad hostel also offers wireless internet.
Events
The World Rally Championship's Uddeholm Swedish Rally visits in early February. Rental cars and flights can be scarce during this period.
Shopping
Swedish prices are considerably lower than in Norway, making Karlstad popular with Norwegian cross-border shoppers, especially at the Bergvik shopping area.
Transport
Karlstad has an efficient local bus service (Karlstadsbuss). The town centre is fully walkable. TaxiKurir offers a smartphone app with address-based routing and price calculation.
Weather
Karlstad claims the nickname 'Sola i Karlstad' (The Sun in Karlstad) due to reportedly sunny weather compared to other Swedish cities.