Planning a trip to Sandviken, Sweden?

In this post I share the 9 attractions in Sandviken that you should experience with your family. Sandviken is located just west of Gävle with a population of around 40,000. There is not too much to do or too little – it’s lagom, as they say in Swedish.

Our family visited Sandviken a few times in October 2021 and really enjoyed the town, especially the city center, Sandviken Centrum. There is also something for everyone here. From fishing to hiking, shopping, dining (including fika), winter sports, music and even an amusement park!

På svenska: Här finns nio grejer att göra i Sandviken, Sverige!

Table of Contents

---

9 Must See Attractions in Sandviken

Högbo Bruk

We stayed at an AirBnB within walking distance of Högbo Bruk in October 2021. It offers a lovely restaurant, animals like alpacas, golf course, cross-country skiing in the winter, motocross, shopping, and a playground for children.

In the shopping area, you can find Björk&Berries parfumerie.

Furuvik Amusement Park

Mackmyra Whiskyby & Bruk

Kungsberget (skiing)

Bandy World Cup

Storsjön

Great for fishing, swimming, boating activities, and ice skating in the winter.

Music festivals

Färnebofjärdens National Park

Sandviken Centrum

The downtown area is pedestrian-friendly, and there is no need to worry about car traffic in the direct center. The sidewalks are clean and stroller-friendly too.

The city planners thought of families in their design. As you walk along the main street in downtown, they have built trampolines into the ground. Our little children really enjoyed being able to get out their energy in a safe place.

The restaurant scene was nice as well. We ready great reviews on the gastropub called The Church, but it was closed when we visited. Instead, we went to Mulligan’s Irish Pub, which was cozy, friendly and delicious. We highly recommend going there!

---

Where to stay in Sandviken, Sweden

• AirBnB
• Hotels

AirBnB

Our family of five spent 2 nights in Sandviken. We booked a tiny summer cottage through AirBnB. It was clean, newly built, and the hosts were so kind. Our cottage was also within walking distance to Högbo Bruk, where the kids could play at the park, see animals like alpaca, and mom & dad could grab a quick fika.

Hotel

I’ve linked two hotels below that we considered staying at, but there are more available.

• Hotell Princess
• Högbo Bruks Hotell

How to travel to Sandviken, Sweden

From Gävle, you can travel by bus, by car or by train. We personally don’t have a vehicle and find the public transportation to be excellent here, especially when traveling with young children and a stroller.

Located close to major cities

A bus from Gävle to Sandviken will take you approximately 30 minutes, but the train will be faster: ~15 minutes. Some form of transportation runs about every 20 minutes, so it is very easy to get around.

I personally prefer to travel by public transportation within Sweden because it is clean, reliable, and there is nearly a bus or train stop close to every destination you want to reach.

Traveling by car from Gävle to Sandviken will take you around 20 minutes. If you’re going to more remote areas, then having a car is convenient, especially on the weekends when the bus service is infrequent outside of town.

Buy tickets for public transportation

The bus and train lines are managed by Xtrafik in this region. The easiest way to buy tickets is on the mobile app, but you can also buy tickets on board.

Family travel discounts on Xtrafik in Sweden

If you’re traveling as a family, the Xtrafik bus service usually offers a package discount for families (2 parents, up to 3 kids). You can buy this in the mobile app, in the bus depot, or ask the bus driver to help you out.

---

---

Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you if you decide to purchase a paid plan. Thank you, if you do. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This site is not intended to provide financial advice and is for entertainment only. Read our affiliate disclosure in our privacy policy.

Can US citizens travel to Sweden in Spring 2022?

As of 9 February 2022, US citizens can enter Sweden from the USA if you are fully vaccinated & 14 days have elapsed since your final COVID-19 shot. Accompanying minors under 18 are exempted from the covid certificate requirement. If you are not fully vaccinated, you may be able to enter through an EU or EEA country with no COVID-19 related restrictions; however, check with your airline & the country where you are being processed before departure because their rules may differ.

This article will be focused on tourists wanting to travel in Sweden, not those that are Swedish or EU residents, are students in Sweden, have work permits in Sweden, or have family that they are visiting in Sweden, etc.

Where can I get the most up-to-date travel information?

I recommend visiting the Swedish Police website at Polisen.se for most recent information.

If you’re a US citizen, you could certainly visit the US Embassy in Sweden’s website; however, they actually will refer you back to Polisen.se anyway.

Prior to our arrival in Sweden, I personally found the information on the Swedish Police website to be easy to understand and clear.

As of 9 February 2022:

Fully vaccinated travellers holding vaccine certificates issued in one of the following so called approved countries/territories and the vaccine is EMA or WHO approved, can enter Sweden without a negative test at earliest14 days after the second dose. These vaccine certificates are technically compatible with the EU Covid Certificates. Which countries will be considered compliant and as a result be exempted, will be evaluated on a regular basis, and the list will be updated. Questions regarding the selection should be posed to the EU and the Swedish government.

Regular visa and passport requirements still apply.

To be considered fully vaccinated, the certificate must document that the holder has been given a single dose vaccine or the second dose in a series of two.

Non-fully vaccinated travellers, e.g. unacompanied minors, the partly vaccinated, or travellers with medical exemptions, are not exempted.The exemption is entirely connected to the vaccine certificate, not country of residence or citizenship. 

https://polisen.se/en/the-swedish-police/the-coronavirus-and-the-swedish-police/travel-to-and-from-sweden/#exemptions-entryban

On the top right of the Swedish Police’s site is a button to change the language preference.

Do I need a Tourist Visa?

According to Migrationsverket.se, Sweden’s Immigration Office, you may need to apply for a tourist visa prior to entry.

Plan in advance because border guards may not let you in without your tourist visa, a documented reason for entering the country during the pandemic.

Depending on when you come to visit, make sure your American passport will not expire during the time your Swedish visa is valid.

Do they get vaccinated in Sweden?

Sweden has a higher vaccination rate than the United States with over 76% of the population being fully vaccinated. The majority of the population is in support of taking care of others, whether through being vaccinated and staying home when sick.

In my experience, I feel like Swedes are thoughtful of others on the whole – that everyone deserves respect and safety, within reason.

Paid sick leave

Additionally, workplaces are very accepting of sick days and employees are given many paid sick days.

Basically, if you feel sick, don’t come in and/or work from home.

This is unlike in the United States where many don’t have paid sick leave. It’s a completely different and refreshing mindset.

---

We hope you come to visit us. Thanks for following our journey. Happy New Year from the HildeFam.