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Slowcation in Dalsland

Feel the tranquillity of the nature in Dalsland

A holiday of season or a chance to unwind after a hectic summer. A trip where you do everything at your own pace. Enjoy the tranquillity, nature and pure joie de vivre. Just take each day as it comes. Dalsland is the place for you if you want to catch your breath and escape your hectic everyday life.

Go canoeing, hiking, visit a nice exhibition or just sink into a hammock and listen to that audiobook you've been longing for. 

Accommodation with that extra touch in the heart of nature

For those who want to find a special accommodation that is an experience in itself. Where you can stay and enjoy everything you need for a relaxing holiday, without having to go anywhere. Exciting architecture, good food, nature in all directions and you don't have to worry about a thing.

Tips for unique, luxurious accommodation in natural surroundings

  • 72 h cabin - The glass houses that took the world by storm. Stay in the middle of nature with fantastic views of the lake and surrounding forests.  
  • Upperud 9:9 - With a hundred-year history as a grain silo, Upperud 9:9 has been transformed into a modern and unique hotel with its own jetty.
  • Swedish Country Living - Stay off the grid in these architect-designed hermit cabins with a focus on sustainability. 
More unique places to stay

Cosy cottage by the edge of the forest

Do you love hiking or picking berries and mushrooms and dream of a cosy cottage by the edge of the forest? Pack your basket and visit Dalsland. Wandering through nature in search of all its treasures is pure meditation. Peeking under a spruce tree and seeing yellow chanterelles popping up is pure joy.

Tips for cottages with great mushroom hunting locations

  • Dalslands kanal - Stay in a cosy lock keeper's cottage by the Dalslands canal. All their cottages are beautifully situated right by the water, each with its own charm.
  • Solviken hos Kroppefjäll B&B - Luxurious cottage with a private terrace stretching out over the water and with a nature reserve and forest right next door.  
  • Rolfskärrs Stugby – With magical views of Lake Vänern and the Tösse Archipelago, this simple little cottage village is a gem for nature lovers. If you don't like mushrooms, you can also go fishing!
  • Lillesjö Stuguthyrning - Slightly larger cottages surrounded by forest with both bathing areas and walking trails nearby.
  • Henneviken - Rent a house in scenic Henneviken right by Lake Råvarpen. Here you can almost touch the silence and tranquillity.  
More accommodation close to nature

Nature on foot

Forest walks and hiking – experiencing nature on foot is balm for the soul. You don't have to go far before the sounds of the forest take over your senses. Whether you want to hike short or long distances, there are plenty of trails to explore. From 1 km to 100 km.

Tips for accommodation with trails on your doorstep

  • Villa Weidling B&B – Charming and personal B&B in Förskog with the starting point for the ‘Hiking in Ronjaland’ area just 100 m from the door.
  • Ragnerud Hiking Destination - They don't call themselves a hiking destination for no reason. Stay in a cosy cottage, eat well and choose from several trails in the Kroppefjäll wilderness area.
  • Håveruds Hotell - With guaranteed lake views and several nature reserves with beautiful trails, including the Dalsland pilgrimage trail. End the day with a delicious dinner and a moment in the lakeside sauna.

Hiking areas to discover

  • Tresticklan National Park - Covering an area of 30 square kilometres, the national park is the largest roadless and undeveloped forest area in southern Sweden.
  • Hiking in Ronjaland - Trails in an area where several scenes from the film Ronja the Robber's Daughter were filmed. The area is very hilly and offers beautiful views.
  • Kroppefjäll Wilderness Area - Southern Sweden's largest wilderness area with 100 km of hiking trails. 
More about hiking

Forest bathing (Shinrin-Yoku)

In the Kroppefjäll Wilderness, a short hike from Lake Ragnerudssjön, you will find Dalsland's first forest bathing spot. It features a bathing jetty, hammocks, trees for hugging and a bench. Explore all your senses and feel the tranquillity.

Read more & get some tips

Look up and see the infinity

Where few people live, there is not much lights. This makes Dalsland dark and perfect for stargazing. Clear nights the entire sky is open up, allowing you to see the whole Milky Way. Lie down for a while and enjoy this magical spectacle. Don´t forgett to bring binoculars and warm clothes.

Culture, art & history

Visiting museums, artisans and exhibitions is one of the most enjoyable things there is. Let creativity, colour, form and new expressions embrace your senses. Dalsland is bursting with culture all year round, ready to be discovered.

4 tips for cultural destinations in Dalsland

  • Not Quite – A vibrant cultural centre with exhibitions, studios, workshops, a shop and a café & bistro.
  • Dalsland Art Museum – Constantly updated exhibitions together with some of the best from Dalsland's art and craft history.
  • Brunnsparken in Dals Rostock - Herb garden, local history museum, Kerstin Ljungqvist's studio, antique shop and much more in an idyllic setting.
  • Majberget in Bengtsfors - At Halmens hus, you can learn all about the history of straw in Dalsland and browse the large craft shop. At Sweden's largest open-air museum, Gammelgården, you can wander among 20 buildings that bear witness to a bygone era.

Discover nature from the water

Did you know that 25% of Dalsland's surface area consists of lakes? That's the highest percentage in Sweden. No wonder we have some of the best paddling waters in Europe. Find peace on the water as you glide silently along in a canoe, kayak, or SUP at your own pace. Those who want to sleep under the stars can choose to stay in one of over 100 wind shelters. Or you can stay at one of the many accommodations by the water.

Accommodations with paddling opportunities

  • Silverlake Hemgården - Rent a canoe, get great excursion suggestions, and enjoy a pleasant stay at this small hotel in Bengtsfors.
  • Vita Huset på Stora Le - Charming B&B in Nössemark, beautifully located by the lake with its own guest jetty and several canoes for hire.
  • Alcatraz - Gustavsfors is close to the wilderness and the Nordmarken lake system. Stay at a nice hostel and eat well in the restaurant.
  • Rolfskärrs Stugby - Paddle with or without a guide on Lake Vänern and in the Tösse Archipelago. Enjoy the view and a lakeside sauna in the evening. 
More about canoeing

Food experiences in Dalsland

Whether you want to cook outdoors over an open fire, enjoy a fantastic menu at a popular restaurant, or browse local food products in a cozy farm shop, you've come to the right place. 

  • Ragneruds kök - An exciting and innovative restaurant at a campsite? You bet! Menus featuring locally sourced, seasonal ingredients served with style. 
  • Kroppefjäll B&B - Cook over an open fire. When you book dinner, you'll receive a food bag with local delicacies and a recipe. The rest is up to you!  
  • Nuntorp Gård - In the heart of the green development in Dalsland, you will find a restaurant, café, and farm shop in the same spirit.
  • Evenstorps Gård - Here, the focus is on raspberries and meat animals. Fantastic farm shop with a café and lots of animals to pet. A place for the whole family.  

Food events to look out for

  • Food and craft market at Gammelgården 
    August 15 in Bengtsfors
    Charming food market at the Gammelgården open-air museum. Stroll among the old cottages and find local delicacies.

  • GLUPSK at Dalsland 2026
    August 22-23 in Fengersfors
    A food and culture festival beyond the ordinary. Creative, cozy, and full of energy. Market, workshops, lectures, and music. Plus lots of surprises!

  • Smaka på Dalsland 2026
    September 5 in Dals Rostock
    Food market, beverage tasting, preparedness, outdoor life, Dalsland's best chefs, locally produced food, food trucks, beer tent. 

Slowcation – where tranquility comes first

In recent years, new terms have emerged to describe different ways of traveling, such as staycation and coolcation. But if there is one thing that defines Dalsland, it is our beautiful nature, pleasant accommodations, and above all, the peace and quiet. That is why Dalsland is the perfect place for those who want to enjoy what many needs - a slowcation.  

“In a world that is moving ever faster, slowcation is emerging as a counter-movement to the culture of speed,” notes the European Journal of Modern Tourism (2024).

Slowcation is a term for “slow vacation,” a mini-vacation with a focus on being rather than doing. It's a way to travel and experience places in a different way—the slightly slower way.

In Dalsland, there are many places to to breathe and relax in an otherwise hectic everyday life. A delightful long weekend or a few days off are enough to recharge your batteries among lakes, forests, and hidden gems when nature is at its best.

Fill your days with as much or as little as you feel like. Go canoeing, hiking, have coffee at a cozy café, or just sink into a hammock and listen to that audiobook you've been longing for. No stress, no crowds.

Take the opportunity to enjoy late summer when the tourists have returned home and tranquility has settled over Dalsland.

Welcome back to nature!

Discover more of Dalsland

Dalsland has everything you need to give you a real boost of both recovery and well-being. Here, nature is unspoiled and the experiences are genuine. The hustle and bustle of city life has never felt further away!

Enjoy nature experiences and culture in Sweden's most water-rich landscape.

More Dalsland
Last updated on: 3 March 2026