Sundsvall: History, Culture and Nature

Stenstan and Culture in the Centre

After the Sundsvall fire of 1888, Stenstan was rebuilt in stone to prevent further fires. Stenstan is considered Sweden’s most cohesive example of a city of the 1890s type. Its spacious architecture, inspired by major European cities, shapes an area with shops, restaurants, cafés and meeting places. This gives you a clear sense of Sundsvall’s urban side when choosing the focus of your trip: the history of the reconstruction can be considered alongside today’s dining, shopping and social venues.

Kulturmagasinet is also located in central Sundsvall and can be reached by bus, bicycle, car or on foot. Events are held there throughout the year: guided tours, lectures and craft activities are accompanied by films, dance, concerts and theatre performances. If a particular type of event matters to your trip, check in advance which dates fall within your travel period.

Historic Buildings and Outdoor Trails

The Norra Berget open-air museum features around 40 historic buildings from different locations in Medelpad. The buildings and their surroundings are used to tell the region’s history. One building stands out for its age: Kyrkladan is one of the oldest preserved wooden buildings in Norrland. Norra Berget thus offers both a collection of historic buildings and a specific wooden building of regional significance.

Norra Berget is located in an area designated as a nature reserve and offers walking trails and views over Sundsvall. Those interested in architectural history who also enjoy being outdoors will find a range of things to explore here: historic buildings, trails and city views.

For cycling, Södra Berget Bike Arena offers trails through the forest landscape of Norrland, rated green, blue, red and black. The four levels help you choose a route based on the degree of difficulty you want. The Friluftscentrum on Södra Berget is a starting point for the Södra Berget recreation area. Södra Berget Arena is open daily, year-round.

Sidsjö recreation area offers a different point of reference: it lies three kilometres southwest of the city centre, by Lake Sidsjön. This makes it easy to distinguish from the cultural venues in the centre when planning your day.

Collections and Accessible Navigation

The collections at Sundsvall Museum range from finds from the Högom burial ground to objects related to the forestry industry and the city’s history, as well as contemporary Swedish art. This range of themes spans everything from archaeological finds and working life to art today.

Himlabadet is next to the sports hall at Universitetsallén 13 in Sundsvall. The swimming centre is fully accessible. A wide path runs around the entire pool area, allowing wheelchair users to move throughout the facility.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Accommodation Search

Kulturmagasinet offers a central point of reference; Sidsjö recreation area is southwest of the centre, while Norra and Södra Berget offer their own nature and activity highlights. Choosing a focus can help you align your accommodation search with your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Indal, Stöde, Kvissleby, Njurunda, Svartvik, Liden

Back to the main travel overview: Sundsvall.