Things to do in Härnösand - 15 tips for a High Coast gem

What to do in Härnösand? This pretty little town, located in the High Coast, is often described as Norrland's best summer town. Here you will find cosy streets, beautiful nature and several exciting museums.

Härnösand

Härnösand is a great place to visit when you are discovering High coast. It is perhaps most beautiful here in the summer, considering that Härnösand is usually mentioned as a nice summer town, but you can of course come here at any time of the year. We were here in May this year, with our motorhome, and then came back at the end of August.

Härnösand is located in the High Coast, just over 100 kilometres south of Örnsköldsvik.

What can you do in Härnösand?

So what can you do in Härnösand? There's a lot to see and discover in this lovely little town. Here are our top tips for things to do in Härnösand and the surrounding area.

1. Discover Härnösand on foot or by bike

Härnösand is a nice town to discover on foot or by bike. The city has a lot of water and several guest harbours and bridges. We started with our electric scooters from Nattviken, where we parked the motorhome, and made our way around to discover the city centre.

2. Stroll among the wooden houses in Östanbäcken.

Östanbäcken is a charming and well-preserved district with fine old wooden houses, which you will find in the centre of Härnösand. Most of the houses are built in the 1700s and 1800s, and offer a wonderful historical atmosphere.

3. Check out Härnösand Cathedral.

Härnösand Cathedral was designed by Johan Hawerman and completed in 1846. The church stands on a hill in the centre of town, on the same spot where the first stone church was built in 1593. When we arrived here, there was scaffolding in front of the entire church, which is always boring when taking photos, but on the other hand we liked the sign on the scaffolding:

God holds the fort. We do the work.

The church is also beautiful inside.

4. Take a look at the Härnösand Art Centre.

Also in the centre of the city is the Härnösand Art Gallery. It hosts various exhibitions of both local and national art, and sometimes organises other activities as well. Admission is always free.

5. Visit the Västernorrland Museum

One thing you won't want to miss in Härnösand is a visit to the Västernorrland Museum. The museum has both permanent and temporary exhibitions that tell the story of the county's culture and history. Next to the modern museum building, where there is also a shop and café, you will also find the Murberget open-air museum.

6. Experience the Murberget open-air museum

Murberget Open Air Museum is one of Sweden's largest open air museums. Here you can wander around among lots of buildings, both urban and rural, that tell the story of Västernorrland. The area can be visited all year round, but the farms are only open during the summer season.

7. See cars at the Härnösand car museum

Another very popular museum is the Härnösand Car Museum. This is Sweden's largest car museum, and here you will find around 270 vehicles in several different themed halls. The museum also has a café and a caravan park for motorhomes. Unfortunately, the museum was not open when we were here, otherwise we would have liked to check out this place a little more thoroughly!

8. Have fun at Technichus

Technichus is a science centre where children, young people and adults can learn about technology and science in a fun way. A total of 2000 square metres are filled with activities and fun challenges.

9. Swimming at the Smitingens sea baths

Smitingens Havsbad is a really nice sea bath, with a lovely sandy beach and shallow water. The place is popular in summer for sunbathing and swimming, and in autumn some people choose to surf among the waves instead. Nearby is the Smitingen-Härnöklubb nature reserve, where you can discover several large tunnel caves.

It was not bathing weather when we were here, but still lovely at the beach!

10. Take in the view at the Vårdkasen viewing tower.

At the top of Vårdkasberget is the Vårdkasens viewing tower, which offers a fantastic view of the surroundings. On Vårdkasberget there are also many tracks and trails for walking, jogging and skiing. There are also mountain bike tracks and a slalom slope. We made it all the way up with the motorhome!

11. Cruising on the Ångermanälven with Ådalen III

M/S Ådalen III operates on the river Ångermanälven during the summer months, when it is possible to make an exciting excursion through the scenic Ådalen. A nice thing to do in Härnösand in the summer! Out of season, it is possible to customise arrangements for groups.

12. Discover the Sälsten recreational area

Sälsten is a recreational area close to the city where there is a charming old fishing village with old boathouses. There are sea baths, barbecue areas and a walking trail, and Sälsten's campsite is also located here.

13. try Hernö Gin

Hernö Gin, located in Dala outside Härnösand, is Sweden's first pure gin distillery. The distillery can boast of being Europe's most award-winning gin producer since 2013, and has won the award for the world's best gin every year since 2015. In summer, the bistro is open every day for lunches and cocktails. It also organises distillery tours and gin tastings.

14. Kayaking

Why not go on a kayak trip? There are kayaks for hire from Kayakomat on Mellanholmen and from Hemsö Kajak & MTB on Hemsön.

15. Take an excursion to Hemsö Fortress

Hemsö Fortress was built to withstand a nuclear attack and be self-sufficient for up to 90 days. Very little of the fortress is visible above ground, but there is a whole world underground. Today the fortress is open to tourists, and it is also where the TV series 'Secrets of the Elite Force' was filmed. A guided tour here is very interesting!

More things to do in Härnösand for those who love culture and history

There is of course even more to see and do in Härnösand than our tips. Here are some more suggestions for those who like culture and history.

• Birgitta Museum is a medical history museum, displayed by the Västernorrland Museum on specific occasions.
• Clock is a Swedish hamburger chain that went out of business in 1999, but the brand has been resold and there is a restaurant in Härnösand.
• Mural paintings can be found on several walls, including on Holmgatan and Storgatan, and on the square.
• City walks is organised in summer by the Härnösand Guide Association.
• Viksjö Food & Nostalgia is a shop with interior design in the 1950s and 1960s style. (Gammelgården 237, Viksjö)

More things to do in Härnösand for nature lovers

Do you like nature best? Then you will find even more suggestions here for things to do in Härnösand and the surrounding area.

• Fishing can be done in lakes, ponds, streams and rivers (requires a fishing licence) and along the coast (fishing is free).
• Caves there's a whole bunch of them, and you can find them at this cave guide.
• The Västanå case is one of Sweden's highest waterfalls. The fall is located in the Mjällån valley, and has a height of over 90 metres.
• The spring cauldron is a sloping shingle field, found between the top of Vårdkasberget and Bräntberget.

More to do in Härnösand with children

Travelling with children or teenagers? Then you can find even more tips on things to do in Härnösand here.

• Härnö Trail Kidz is an activity course for children on Mount Vårdkase.
• Härnösands Golf & Glass offers adventure golf with an 18-hole course. (Kronoholmen)
• Parkaden bowling is a bowling alley in Härnösand. (Ådalsvägen 13)
• Stables bathing area is an inland swimming pool on Lake Brunnesjön, popular with families with children.
• Västanåfallet Nature and Culture Centre includes a café, exhibitions and the 'Children's Nature Trail'.

Where can you stay in Härnösand, or park your campervan?

In Härnösand there are many different hotels and other accommodation options, such as First Hotel Stadt or Hotell City. If you, like us, are travelling with a campervan, there are also a bunch of different options in and around Härnösand.

If you want to stand in the centre, there are Nattviken Ställplats. There are only six spaces here, but if it is full there are nearby car parks where you can park. Emptying of latrine and grey water, as well as refilling of fresh water, is available free of charge at Jaktstigen 3. RV park Härnösand Car Museum.

If you want to camp, there are Sälstens camping. In addition, it is very nice on Snibbens Campingwhich is about 26 kilometres north of Härnösand.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood of Härnösand

Based in Härnösand, you can take the opportunity to discover even more of the High Coast, such as Mannaminne in Nordingrå, Mount Skule and Norrfällsviken. If you head inland, you can see the fascinating the rock carvings at Nämforsen and if you head south, you can discover the wonderful world of Sundsvall. Find more tips for Ångermanland below.

More tips for things to do in Härnösand?

Have you visited Härnösand? Do you have even more suggestions on what to see and do in Härnösand? Let us know!