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

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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!

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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.

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