Discover Gävle

Those who want to combine coastal experiences and culture on a trip to Gävle will find different ways to do so: the approximately 15-kilometre-long Norrlandet Coastal Trail runs between Engeltofta and Marskärsudden, while museums, churches, music and the city’s history provide the cultural focus. This allows you to plan your stay around the topics that interest you most.

Churches, city history and special traditions

There has been a church on the site where Heliga Trefaldighetskyrkan now stands since the Middle Ages. The present Heliga Trefaldighetskyrkan was inaugurated in 1654. This means that several historical layers come together in one location, without the church’s present form replacing its earlier history.

Another special feature is the Gävle Goat. Its tradition began in 1966 with the idea of erecting a giant straw goat on Slottstorget in Gävle. The ten-metre-high Gävle Goat adorns Slottstorget every year from the first Sunday of Advent. If you visit Gävle during this period, this distinctive tradition is part of the city’s seasonal character.

During the city walks, you can take part in guided walks or explore Gävle independently with a map and a specially designed route. The focus is on the city’s history, architecture and hidden places. This is particularly suitable if you want to get to know the city not only through individual sights, but also through its different historical layers.

Museums with different focuses

Länsmuseet Gävleborg presents exhibitions about Gästrikland and Hälsingland from prehistory to the present day. This chronological overview is complemented by an extensive art collection spanning the 17th century to the present day. A visit to the museum therefore combines regional history and art history without limiting either subject to one period.

Järnvägsmuseet focuses on Sweden’s railways, the people of the railway and their future. The museum includes more than 300 railway vehicles. As a result, the focus is not only on technological development, but also on the human and social aspects of railway history.

At Sveriges Fängelsemuseum, you can see exhibitions in two old prisons. The exhibition “Androm till skräck och varnagel” in Slottshäktet deals with the period when people in Sweden were sentenced for witchcraft, sodomy and crimes committed out of necessity. This focus makes the museum a place for visitors who also want to engage with difficult chapters in legal and social history.

Music, cinema and events

Gävle Konserthus is a venue for a wide range of musical experiences: the programme ranges from Mongolian throat singers and the Gävle Symphony Orchestra to choral music and rock bands. At Agnes Kulturhus, the Krusenstjernasalen hosts theatre performances, lectures, dance events and other major events.

For a less formal cultural evening, Bio 7:an shows films from around the world in all genres and for all age groups. Families can also include the play area “Inte nudda marken” in their plans. It is suitable for children; there are picnic and barbecue areas along the route.

On the way between the city and the coast

Norrlandets kustled is an approximately 15-kilometre-long hiking trail between Engeltofta and Marskärsudden. Its clear route makes it an option in its own right for an active day, while the museums and venues offer other areas of focus. If you would also like to compare Gävle with other destinations, you can find Axmar Axmar, Hamrånge Hamrånge, Valbo Valbo, Bergby Bergby, Norrsundet Norrsundet, Forsbacka Forsbacka and Hedesunda Hedesunda.

Back to the main travel overview: Gävle.