Discover the hiking trail Tre öars led 

In the archipelago outside Kristinehamn, you will find the three islands Vålön, Kalvön, and Sibberön. Hike along cozy forest paths, smooth rocks, boardwalks over sparkling waters, and through swaying reeds. The Tre öars led trail is approximately 4 kilometers one way, and you walk between the islands over footbridges with very good accessibility. It’s an easy day hike in the Värmland forest, adorned with a magical view of the lake.

Along the trail, you can enjoy a packed lunch at picnic spots, benches, and windbreaks. Why not bring a sitting pad and enjoy your meal on the rocks by the water’s edge? Along the trail, you’ll find maps, resting spots, and outdoor toilets. 

For those who love swimming, there are inviting beaches offering a coastal feel while you can enjoy freshwater. On Vålön, there are shallow beaches like Sandvikarna, which are some of the most pleasant sand beaches in the Vänern archipelago. Take the opportunity to hike this gem of a trail with the Vänern horizon as your backdrop.

Take the water route to the hiking trail

The journey to the trail is an experience in itself. Travel by shuttle boat, kayak, rented motorboat, the electric boat Bowter, or bring your own boat to the islands’ docks and landing spots. Here’s how you can get to the trail:  

• Take the shuttle boat Stöten (boat bus 97) from Vålösundsbryggan in Kristinehamn to Vålön. During the summer, Stöten, a fine old wooden boat, runs several times a day. It takes ten minutes to reach Vålön. Dogs are welcome if there’s space. Read more about Stöten. 
• Rent a motorboat from VÅG. Book your own motorboat and choose whether to rent it for a full day or half a day. The starting point is Kapurja, Vålösundsvägen in Kristinehamn.
• Rent a kayak from Kayakomaten at Kapurja, Vålösundsvägen in Kristinehamn. It’s easy to kayak in Kristinehamn – regardless of wind and skill level, you can find a route within the archipelago, through the strait, to a beach, or around one or several islands. 
• At the guest harbor, board the electric boat Bowter, which you can rent via an app and glide through Vänern’s strait using solar power.
• At Herrgårdscampingen, you can rent a canoe, and paddling to the hiking trail is also a lovely way to get there.
• If you’re arriving by your own boat, you can dock at the islands.

5 tips på boenden i Kristinehamn

On Sibberön, there is a simpler overnight cabin, but for those who want a more comfortable stay, there are several lovely accommodation options in Kristinehamn and the surrounding area that will add a special touch to your trip. 

• Ölme Prästgård and Guesthouse

At Ölme Prästgård and Guesthouse, you will find sustainable accommodation just outside of Kristinehamn. Here, you stay in a classic Värmland parsonage with beautiful rooms decorated with respect for the house’s rich history. Be sure to enjoy local delicacies from Nordic cuisine. If you’re traveling with an electric car, you can charge it for free overnight. To reach Vålösundsbryggan, where you’ll find tour boats and kayak stations, you can either cycle along the Vänerleden into the town or take the bus to the railway station and then transfer to the archipelago bus.

• City-center hotels in Kristinehamn 

If you want to stay close to restaurants and shopping in central Kristinehamn, there are several hotels to choose from. At Stadshotellet Kristinehamn, you’ll stay in a modern and comfortable hotel right in the heart of Kristinehamn with easy access to unique shops and cafés. If you’re looking for a comfortable stay with a homely feel, the pet-friendly Park Hotell, where both you and your furry family members are welcomed, might be the place for you. The hotel opened in the 1930s, and the decor in the common areas has been chosen to reflect the era of its inauguration.

At Sockerslottet, you’ll find an oasis of comfort in the heart of Kristinehamn. In a unique setting, a respectfully renovated Baptist church from 1892, you will find eight exclusive hotel rooms that offer something extraordinary. At Hotell Bro, you’ll find newly renovated rooms with comfortable beds and fully tiled bathrooms, along with a continental breakfast.

• Waterfront accommodation at Fyrhuset 

Close to Vålösundsbryggan is The Lighthouse with a lakeside location and a short walk to the Picasso sculpture. If you haven’t stayed in a renovated lighthouse before, now is your chance! Here you will find a memorable accommodation just a stone’s throw from great swimming opportunities.  

• City- and Lake-Vänern-close camping 

Stay at a campsite close to both the small town and the archipelago in Kristinehamn. Kristinehamn Herrgårdscamping & Cottages is a year-round open campsite. Here you will find a campsite with Lake Vänern beach on one side and the city center on the other. You are close to the dock with the tour boat and the Kayakomat.

• Guest harbors for those arriving by boat 

At Kristinehamn Guest Harbor & Ställplats you can find accommodation close to the city center with views of Varnumsviken if you are traveling by water or in a motorhome. This year-round open ställplats (parking for motorhomes) offers lake views and the possibility of arrival at any time of the day or night. There are great accommodation options for both boats and motorhomes.

4 tips for enjoyable dining experiences

There are delightful dining experiences for all tastes in and around Kristinehamn. Sit down at a table and enjoy a first-class meal served to you, or pick up a packed lunch for your hike along the Three Islands Trail.  

• Picasso’s Veranda. Here you can enjoy everything from well-prepared meals to delicious sandwiches, large servings of ice cream, and pleasant coffee breaks. You can also buy a packed lunch for the islands.
• Italian cuisine in the heart of the city. Step from Värmland into Italy at one of the three Italian restaurants you can find in Kristinehamn. Here, you can enjoy homemade pasta, long-fermented pizza, and other Italian dishes made from high-quality ingredients. In the center, you can choose between Oliveriet‘s Sardinian-style Italian food and Parma, or Panncentralen Italian Meeting where the food is Neapolitan.
• The Stadshotellet Kristinehamn. Here you can dine at the hotel’s own Restaurant Axel, where you can enjoy both breakfast and lunch (not during the summer) and à la carte.
• Ölme Prästgård & Gästgiveri. At the priests’ farm restaurant, you can enjoy culinary experiences with a focus on locally grown and organic produce.

5 tips for fun activities

• • The Picasso Sculpture. A visit to Kristinehamn is incomplete without a stop by the Picasso sculpture – one of Kristinehamn’s prides! But how did a sculpture designed by the artist Pablo Picasso end up in Kristinehamn? Signs on-site will guide you to the answer.

• • Kristinehamn Art Museum. By Vänern in Varnumsviken, you’ll find the Kristinehamn Art Museum, which offers guided tours, fine permanent exhibitions, and exciting temporary exhibits.

• • Kristinehamn Historical Museum. For history enthusiasts, the Kristinehamn Historical Museum’s permanent exhibition “The Iron that Gave Birth to the Town” might attract your interest while walking along the Three Islands Trail.

• • Take the boat. There are many islands to discover with the boat bus. Be sure to visit Alvön, which is colloquially known as “the sunbathing island,” a fitting name for the island’s many smooth and polished rock surfaces. On Långön, you’ll find beautiful natural harbors where you can shelter regardless of wind direction. Therefore, Långön is especially popular among recreational boat owners and sailors. Here, you can easily find your own rock and take a swim at Långön’s little Riviera, right next to the dock on the island’s northwest side. There is a windbreak, campfire site, and dry toilet near the boat bus dock.

• • Join a historical city walk in the city of iron. The character Regina Nordenfeldt wears her period-specific clothes from 18th and 19th-century Kristinehamn while telling the story of the 120 years Kristinehamn was known as the City of Iron. The tour is a walk along the river in the center of Kristinehamn.

Sustainable travel

It’s easy to travel sustainably to and around Kristinehamn. By train, it takes just over two hours from Stockholm, and from Oslo, it’s about three hours to Kristinehamn without any transfers. Coming from Gothenburg, you can take a direct train in under three hours or change in Hallsberg. If you’re coming from the north, you can take the Inland Railway to Kristinehamn. From the train station, it’s a short walk to the center, and local buses also depart from here to the boats and the archipelago. At the City Hotel, you can rent a bicycle to get to the boat dock.

Welcome to Three Islands Trail and Kristinehamn!