Att göra i Hälsingland - 54 tips, sevärdheter och upplevelser

Writer: Peter Bergström

Updated May 2026 | What can you do in Hälsingland? Lots! For a month we traveled around the landscape and collected our best tips – from wild nature experiences to charming fishing villages, cafes and world heritage sites. Here are our favorites and best experiences in Hälsingland.

Table of contents

Hälsingland

Hälsingland is fantastic and after 30 days in the countryside we have discovered so many wonderful things. Our own favorites are Hälsingegårdarna, Lill-Babs museum and Skärså.

Top sights in Hälsingland

Hälsingland farms – The famous Hälsinge manors are unique and known for their richly decorated interiors. A UNESCO heritage!
Järvsö – One of Hälsingland's most popular destinations, with skiing, downhill cycling, restaurants and activities all year round.
Horn of Africa – One of Sweden's most untouched stretches of coast with hiking trails, caves and fishing villages like Kuggören.
Orbaden – Often called “Hälsingland’s Riviera” – a long sandy beach at Ljusnan with fantastic views.
Hamra National Park – One of Sweden's oldest national parks with primeval forest, bogs and tranquil nature.

Read also: All our guides to Sweden's landscapes

This guide is part of our large collection of guides for Sweden's 25 provinces. There you will find more tips on attractions, nature experiences, small towns, coastal gems and road trips around the country.
Read the guide here: Sweden's landscapes - our best tips from 25 landscapes

1. Eat ice cream at the ice cream parlour in Järvsö

If you're craving ice cream, we recommend a visit to Glasskupan, a cosy ice cream café in the middle of Järvsö. We each chose a delicious soft ice cream, but there are also more creative and exciting ice cream options to try.

2. Sunbathing and swimming at Malnbaden in Hudiksvall

Malnbaden, located near the centre of Hudiksvall, has a beautiful sandy beach. Here you will also find the restaurant Maln Hav & Krog and Malnbadens Camping. A popular swimming spot on hot summer days.

3. photographing in beautiful Hölick

At Hölick in Hornslandet you will find the beautiful sandy beaches of Storsand and Östra havsbadet. Storsand is also home to the Sand & Kök restaurant, which is open in high season and offers impressive views. We also took a look at Hölick Havsresort & Spa, which seemed to be a relaxing place.

4. Fishing and swimming in Färssjön in Söderhamn

This beautiful bathing area in Söderhamn has been equipped with bathing jetties, changing rooms and toilets. Sunbathe and swim at Färssjön or try fishing perhaps ...

5. Stay at Stenö & sea baths and camping

Stenö Havsbad & Camping is a beautiful campsite that also serves as a meeting place for both tourists and locals. Here you can enjoy sunbathing and swimming, participate in various outdoor activities, eat well at the restaurant and socialise. Find out more about lovely Stenö havsbad & camping you can find our guide here

6. Swimming in Orbaden

Orbaden is a small town in Bollnäs municipality, near Järvsö. Here you'll find a kilometre-long sandy beach by Lake Orsjön, often referred to as the "Hälsingland Riviera". Orbaden Spa & Resort and Orbadens Camping are also located here. A fantastically beautiful place!

7. Discover Järvsö

Järvsö is a small town with a lovely and charming atmosphere. In the center you will find beautiful buildings and a surprisingly wide selection of restaurants, cafés and shops. For example, you can enjoy a meal at Järvsöbaden, Bergshotellet or Restaurang Sydsidan, or sit down for a coffee at the cozy Anders-Pers Fikabod. Don't miss checking out Sweden's largest rural church!

8. Eat well at the Creperiet in Järvsö

One place we highly recommend is the creperie in Järvsö - a charming little eatery where you can enjoy both sweet crepes and savoury galettes. There are two creperies, one "on the mountain" and one "in the village", and we tried the one in the village. We each chose a galette and it was both good and nice!

9. Shop for delicacies in Färila

Just east of the centre of Ljusdal is the charming village of Färila, which is a great stop for those who love delicacies. Start at Färila ICA / Delins charkuteri, which is known for its sausages, especially the famous "Färilakorven". Not far away you will also find Björk & Co, a shop full of delicacies such as meats, cheeses and jams.

10. Coffee at the Söderström Sisters

We received several recommendations about Systrarna Söderström, and even though it was closed when we drove past on our way to Skärså, we still wanted to recommend the place. It offers music, food, tastings and various events, and during the summer it is often open.

11. Taste delicious food at Albertina in Skärså

One of the real highlights in Skärså is Restaurant Albertina. During our long journey we usually cook ourselves in the campervan, but some restaurants are simply too tempting to miss - and Albertina was one of them! We chose to enjoy mussels with French fries, and oh, how good it was!

12. Try Hälsinge cheesecake

We bought Hälsingland cheesecake when we attended a midsummer celebration in Forsa in Hälsingland. This can be made in many different ways in different regions. The health cheesecake is cut into slices and heated together with cream in the oven. It is served with a jam, usually cloudberry jam and whipped cream, or with a juice sauce. It was delicious!

13. Camp by the magical Vinströmmen

If you like nature and camping, we can highly recommend a visit to Vinströmmen. It is very wild and beautiful but still somewhat organised with waste management and good areas for anyone who wants to camp in any way.

14. Discover beautiful Söderhamn

Söderhamn is a nice city to discover. Check out the Town Hall, admire Ulrika Eleonora Church, drink coffee at Café Rådis, see the view at Oscarsborg, walk along the Love Path and buy bread at Sjölin's Bread.

15. Get active at Kasberget

Kasberget rises 202 metres above sea level, and at the top stands a viewing tower built by Mo Hembygsförening. The tower is built with telephone poles that were dragged up by members of the local community association. You can get to the top by following a path.

16. Explore beautiful Skatön in Söderhamn

Skatön Nature Reserve is a gem of outdoor recreation, where you can enjoy both hiking trails and lovely swimming spots. Despite being on an island, Skatön is easy to reach - park your car on the mainland and take a short walk across the idyllic suspension bridge that leads you there. Read more about cosy Söderhamn here.

17. Climb Järvsö hill

Järvsö Klack is a mountain with a viewpoint that serves as a landmark for the Järvsö area. To reach the top, you hike about 1.4 kilometres. The hike is not particularly tough, but since it goes uphill, it can be nice to take a break along the way. Once at the top, you are rewarded with a fantastic view.

18. Enjoy Hamra National Park

Just outside Hälsingegården, beyond Åa, you'll find Hamra National Park. This protected area is best known for its untouched primeval forest, where a rich animal and plant life thrives in the old and dead trees. The national park also consists largely of marshland with bogs, streams and small lakes.

19. Let the kids run wild in the Troll Forest

Not far from Mellanfjärden is Trolska skogen, a place where you can book theatre adventures for children. It offers music and theatre performances and other cultural activities in the magical atmosphere of the forest.

20. Discover Hudiksvall

In the heart of Hudiksvall lies a series of charming boathouses that have become a well-known feature of the town. Today, the boathouses are used for craft shops and restaurants, such as Möljen Café & Grill. In central Hudiksvall you will also find Lake Lillfjärden – a popular destination for both walks and jogging.

21. Hiking in Hälsingland

Hälsingland offers fantastic scenery, making it a popular place for hiking. For example, you can walk the famous Hälsingland Trail, and you can also walk along the Ljusnan and Voxnan rivers. There are also pilgrimage trails, such as the Stråsjöleden.

22. Get close to nature in Blacksås Nature Reserve

Blacksås nature reserve attracts with beautiful nature and a spectacular view from the top of Blacksåsberget. To reach the mountain, we took the campervan to the western side, where there is said to be an easier hiking trail up.

TIPS: There are narrow roads and gravel, so drive slowly

23. Be fascinated by Lill-bab's museum

What we found most fascinating at Stenegård was the Lill-Babs Museum. The reason why the museum is located here is that Lill-Babs grew up in Järvsö and later had a house in the neighbourhood. The museum is small but rich in content and gives an insight into the star's life, both on stage and in private. You can see everything from her stage clothes to paintings and other nostalgic objects.

24. Stay at the Hälsinge farm Erik-Anders

Erik-Anders is one of the seven Hälsingland farms listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012 under the name "Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland". In summer you can visit the farm, either on your own or with a guide who will tell you more about the place. There is a café and shop, and it is also possible to book rooms.

25. step into the Loos cobalt mine

The Loos cobalt mine, located in the parish of Los, was in operation for a short period from the 1730s to 1773. The mine extracted cobalt ore, which was used to make a much sought-after blue colour. Today you can visit the museum and the mine. We have also written about the best of Ljusdal which you can find here.

26. Check out Alir's eye in Söderhamn

Alir's Eye is Sweden's largest landscape sculpture and is located next to the Hällmyra jogging track in Söderhamn. The site is sometimes used for various events, but the sculpture's unique shape is best experienced from above. The name "Alir" has its origins in the Middle Ages and refers to southern Hälsingland, a name that can be traced back to the early 14th century.

27. Learn more about 7 UNESCO World Heritage Farms in Hälsingland

There are around a thousand beautiful Hälsingland farms, but only seven have been selected as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and we decided to visit all seven. It was not easy because some are private, and a lot of them cost quite a lot of money to see and be guided. Below you will find a link for all the information about what it costs, opening hours, guided tours, where all 7 farms are located, service, pictures, video, well everything you need to know. Here are the Unesco heritage sites.

Erik-Anders, Söderala (Söderhamn)
Gästgivars, Vallsta (Bollnäs)
Kristofers, Järvsö (Ljusdal)
Bommars, Letsbo (Ljusdal)
Bortom Åa, Loos (Ljusdal)
Pallars, Alfta (Ovanåker)
Jon-Lars, Alfta (Ovanåker)

Here you can find information about all UNESCO Hälsingegårdar

28. Try champagne at Järvsö champagne bar

A champagne bar in Järvsö? Yes, actually! In this small village you will find the world's northernmost champagne bar offering the entire range of Taittinger. The bar is open on Friday and Saturday evenings during the summer:

29. Visit Hälsingegården beyond the Åa River

Hälsingegården Bortom Åa - Fågelsjö Gammelgård - is one of the seven Hälsingegården farms included in the World Heritage Site. The farm is both impressive and easy to visit, with regular guided tours during the summer. Here you can admire the beautiful murals, hear the story of the 'America House' and be fascinated by the unique 'sjulåshärbret', a food storage room with seven locks.

30. Experience Stenegård in Järvsö

A must in Järvsö is to visit Stenegård, a place that provides an authentic Hälsingland environment. Here you can explore craft shops, wander through a beautiful garden park, take part in cultural activities and visit the visitor centre for the Hälsingegårdar World Heritage Site. You can also discover the Lill-Babs Museum, take part in children's activities, have coffee and celebrate Midsummer.

31. Join us on a guided tour of Bommars Hälsingegård

Hälsingegården Bommars is one of the seven farms included in the Hälsingegårdar World Heritage Site, which was included on the UNESCO list in 2012. Bommars is located in the village of Letsbo and is particularly well known for its beautiful wallpaper, with stencils adorning the surface between the waves. The farm is privately owned and can only be visited by prior arrangement.

32. Enjoy Skärså fishing village

Skärså fishing village is a true gem, with idyllic views and the opportunity to enjoy delicacies at the Albertina fish restaurant. There is also a smokehouse, a general store, a museum and much more to discover! This is a gem and here you will find everything about Skärså fishing village

33. Discover Hornslandet and Kuggören fishing village

Hornslandet is a vast peninsula in the Bothnian Sea, located about 15 kilometres east of Hudiksvall. Here you will find the charming fishing village of Kuggören, where you can enjoy beautiful views, swim or buy fresh fish. We also took the opportunity to visit the "Labyrinth at Kuggörarna".

34. Vacation in the Middle Fjord

Mellanfjärden is a picturesque seaside village in Nordanstig municipality, about 38 kilometres north of Hudiksvall. Here you will find a charming fishing village with the restaurant Sjömärket, as well as a café, shop, hotel and campsite.

35. Take a boat trip with M/S Moa in Söderhamn

Summers in Söderhamn offer wonderful tours of the archipelago on the charming boat M/S Moa. During the high season, there are day trips several times a week to Enskärsorn, where you can relax with sun, swimming and beautiful nature. Lunch and ice cream are served on board, and some evenings you can enjoy a prawn cruise or taco cruise.

36. Camping at Stocka guest harbor

If you are travelling by motorhome (or boat) we recommend a stop at Stocka Guest Harbour. We stood beautifully by the water and spent several hours in the deck chairs, enjoying the sun. The campsite has all the necessary services, including a washing machine and outdoor dishwashing facilities.

37. Climb the Hölicks Caves

At Hölick Nature Reserve, on the southern tip of Hornslandet, are the Hölick Caves, which boast Europe's second longest system of rock caves, a full 1,340 metres long. We hiked here, a short but pleasant trip, and found a cave opening with a rope. We didn't venture too far in, but the cave can be explored with experience, the right equipment, and perhaps a guide.

38. Experience the wilderness

Vildriket, formerly known as Järvzoo, is a zoo in Järvsö that focuses on Nordic animals. Here you can meet the four big predators - wolf, lynx, bear and wolverine.

39. Ride the trolley on the Dellenbanan

Are you curious to try dressage cycling? On the Dellenbanan, you can ride a trolley along a 54-kilometre stretch of railway between Hudiksvall and Hybo. All cycling starts at Delsbo station, where you will also find a station café and information.

40. Skiing in Järvsöbacken

During the winter months, Järvsöbacken is a popular destination for skiing. There's something for the whole family, with 23 runs, nine lifts, five conveyor belts, two large children's areas and a snow park.

41. Celebrate Midsummer in Forsa

In Forsa, on a headland in Långsjön in Fränö, lies Forsa forngård - a place that offers a journey back to the 19th century. There are several historic buildings that show what life was like in the past. The local history society regularly organises activities, and on Midsummer Eve you can enjoy fiddlers' music, dancing around the Midsummer pole and the sale of classic Hälsingland cheesecake. Not far from Forsa is nice Hudiksvall which you can read about here

42. Get to the Boda Caves

The Boda Caves Nature Reserve is home to an impressive rock cave, which at over 2,900 metres is the second longest of its kind in the world. We got to the cave via a short hiking trail that partly went over large boulders.

43. Try downhill cycling

During the summer, Järvsö is a popular place for mountain biking and downhill cycling. Järvsö Bergscykel Park, or Järvsö Bikepark, has a wide range of exciting and adventurous cycling trails.

44. Take a selfie at Öjeberget

In the centre of Järvsö you will find Öjeberget, where the viewpoint ’Öjebergets utsiktsplats’ offers a fantastic view. You can drive almost all the way up by following Alpvägen to the top car park.

45. Fishing in Ljusdal

Fishing is a popular activity in the area, and Ljusdal municipality offers as many as eight fishing conservation areas. Here you can fish both in Ljusnan and in other places such as the Svartsjö area, Örasjön, Leån, Storsjön and Bäckesjön.

46. Travel back in time at Trönö old church

Trönö Old Church is considered to be Norrland's best preserved medieval church, and the oldest parts date from the end of the 12th century, The museum and the farm are open only in high season.

47. Look inside Ljusdal Church

Ljusdal church dates back to the end of the 12th century, although it has undergone major changes over the years. The beautiful paintings were added during a restoration in 1914-1915.

48. Step into the F15 Flight Museum

The F15 Aviation Museum gives you an insight into the fascinating history of the aeroplanes, warplanes and training aircraft that have been stationed here since 1945. An excellent destination for all aeroplane enthusiasts, both young and old!

49. Sneak into Hudiksvall church

Hudiksvall Church, also known as Jacob's Church, was originally consecrated in 1672. A unique detail is the so-called ”Russian bullet”, which was fired from a Russian galley at the church in 1721. The original was stolen in 1972, and has been replaced by a copy.

50. Open your minds in Trönö's new church

Trönö Old Church was later joined by Trönö New Church, completed in 1895 to the designs of architect Axel Fredrik Nyström. This impressive rural church suffered a devastating fire in 1998 but has since been rebuilt.

51. Admire street art in Ljusdal

Despite being a smaller municipality, Ljusdal has managed to organise a major street art festival, ARTSCAPE 2019 LJUSDAL, where international artists have contributed their works. Today you can admire 16 large murals along Bagargränd.

52. Visit the Ljusdalsbygden Museum

When we visited Ljusdal, Ljusdalsbygdens museum was closed, but when the museum is open you can discover the cultural heritage of north-west Hälsingland through a range of exhibitions.

53. Immerse yourself in history at Hälsingland Museum

Hälsingland Museum is a cultural history museum located in a historic bank palace in the heart of Hudiksvall. The museum offers an exciting mix of history and art, with both permanent and temporary exhibitions.

TIPS: Do not hesitate because admission is free

54. Take a look at Bergvik's industrial museum

The world's first sulphite pulp factory was founded in Bergvik back in 1874, and today part of the old factory building houses both a museum and a restaurant.

Itinerary Hälsingland (1-3 days)

DAY 1: JÄRVSÖ AND ACTIVITIES

Morning: Explore Järvsö city center and visit Stenegård and Lill-Bab's museum
Afternoon: Choose an activity according to the season. Summer: cycling or hiking. Winter: skiing in Järvsöbacken. Finish with dinner in Järvsö.

DAY 2: HUDIKSVALL AND HORNSLANDET

Morning: Start in Hudiksvall, walk by the classic boathouses and take a walk around Lillfjärden.
Afternoon: Drive out to Hornslandet, visit the fishing village of Kuggören and enjoy the sea view. Stop at a beach or nature reserve along the way.

DAY 3: ORBADEN AND HÄLSINGEGÅRDAR

Morning: Start the day at Orbaden – one of Sweden's most beautiful sandy beaches. Take a walk along the beach or enjoy the view over Ljusnan.
Afternoon: Visit one or more Hälsinge Farmhouses (UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Learn more about the unique building tradition and the richly decorated interiors

TIPS: Have even more time? Add a visit to Hamra National Park or explore more fishing villages along the coast.

Tips for travellers with motorhomes

Parking space: Stocka guest harbour
Camping: Stenö sea baths
Nature stop: Horn of Africa

FAQ - frequently asked questions about Hälsingland

What is Hälsingland known for?

Hälsingland is particularly famous for its beautiful Hälsinge farms, several of which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The landscape also attracts with Järvsö, forests, mountains, coastal stretches and fine nature experiences all year round.

When is the best time to travel to Hälsingland?

Summer and early autumn are best if you want to experience nature, swimming, hiking, the coast and small excursions around the landscape. In winter, Hälsingland is also very suitable for those who want to combine snow, skiing and winter activities, especially around Järvsö.

Is Hälsingland good for children?

Yes, Hälsingland is very suitable for families with children, with nature experiences, swimming spots, animal experiences and fun stops along the way. Wolverine Zoo, Järvsö and several easily accessible excursion destinations make it easy to travel here with children.

How much time is needed to see the best of Hälsingland?

2–3 days is enough to see some of the biggest highlights in Hälsingland. If you have 4–5 days, you will have a much better trip and have time to combine both the inland, Järvsö, World Heritage sites and the coast.

More landscape guides nearby

Want to discover more of Sweden? Here are more guides to nearby landscapes that we have visited and that are perfect for more excursions, road trips and holidays at home.

All our top tips about Sweden! Click on the image

13 Comments

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Netti Starby says:

Wow what a lot of fun things you can do in Hälsingland and such good tips. Hugs <3

04 February 2025 - 8:03

- Helena says:
  
  A very nice part of Sweden!!! 🙂
  
  04 February 2025 - 18:23
  
Annie - Stora Små Äventyr says:

Oh Hälsingland! My mum comes from Hälsingland so has grown up with Hälsingland being the most beautiful landscape 😉

This autumn we actually slept at Erik-Anders Hälsingegård. So incredibly cosy! We also visited Bortom Åa. Hudiksvall I would like to see more of, was there a short turn maybe 10-15 years ago.

04 February 2025 - 9:48

- Helena says:
  
  Oh, then we understand that you have a special relationship with Hälsingland! A fantastic beautiful landscape! 🙂 Glad you stayed at Erik-Anders, we only visited during the day.
  
  04 February 2025 - 18:24
  
bmlarsresebligg says:

Imagine that we have been to Hälsingland 4-5 times and can only tick off 11 of all these experiences, so it's just to go there again. Of course, it is an incredibly beautiful landscape with lots of sights.
A cool experience we had there is when we visited friends in Delsbo and it happened to be the weekend of the Hälsingehambon. We sat by the bridge in Järvsö and watched all the dancers as they came dancing along the road in their beautiful folk costumes.

04 February 2025 - 10:41

- Helena says:
  
  Haha, well then just go there again! 😉 But oh, what a wonderful experience you had!
  
  04 February 2025 - 18:25
  
Anonymous says:

Stråsjö chapel on the Pilgrim Trail.
Ramsjö former gold mine
Fiddlers' meetings in July.
Ljusdals hembygdsgård by Ljusnan.Midsummer celebrations in most of the homesteads.
Kvistabäcken floating channel, floating day in June.

04 February 2025 - 13:44

- Helena says:
  
  Many thanks for the tips!!! 🙂
  
  04 February 2025 - 18:26
  
BP says:

A perfect post for motorhome / caravan tourists who want to go to Hälsingland and need tips:-)
I myself am a free rider;-)

04 February 2025 - 14:46

- Helena says:
  
  A cheap ride is also a good way to travel! 🙂
  
  04 February 2025 - 18:26
  
Sara i Barcelona says:

Wow! Impressive, so many great tips really and great pictures 🙂
Is a bit away for me, but who knows, one day I might end up there 🙂

Thanks for all the tips!

KRAM!

04 February 2025 - 18:39

Znogge says:

Wow, there really was an impressive amount to do or see if you visit Hälsingland. I have never been there myself but realise that it is a landscape that has a lot to offer.

04 February 2025 - 19:24

Lena - gott för själen says:

Yes, my God, there are so many nice and interesting things to see and do in Hälsingland. We have grazed a lot of the places you mention, during the autumn and winter. We have Bollnäs as our next destination. From there comes the son's wife so we have got some extra tips on things to do nearby. For example Växbo lin.

Hug Lena

23 February 2025 - 17:17

Things to do in Hälsingland – 54 tips, attractions and experiences