Karlstad - the delta city

Karlstad – the delta city
The city of Karlstad lies on the river delta where two of Sweden’s great natural waterways meet; the 500 km long Klara river and the mighty Lake Vänern, with its archipelago of 22,000 islands.

The Klara river sets the tone of both the style and atmosphere of a visit to our city as does our people’s reputation for warmth, friendliness and hospitality. As the river meanders through the city its banks fill with traditional Swedish and international cuisine restaurants, café’s, eateries, nightspots and places of interest. When summer comes to Karlstad, the ‘summernight’ people come to its banks and the shores of Lake Vänern to enjoy the almost constant daylight.

Karlstad is a wonderfully compact Swedish city, built on a grid pattern with wide, tree-lined streets, avenues, promenades and squares. Karlstad has a ‘big city’, grand feel, with many quality hotel and other accommodation options, with the advantage that Karlstad’s many attractions are just a short walk away: shopping streets, malls and arcades, culture, historical sites, urban nature activities, parks, transport and amenities. Don’t forget that this is child-friendly Sweden and children are welcome everywhere in Karlstad.

Turning the clock back, Karlstad’s history stretches through down through the ages; to the Viking times at Tingvalla in the heart of the city. Karlstad received its charter in 1584 and it is named after King Karl IX of Sweden (‘Karl’s town’, or ‘Charles’ town). The fine architecture, our museums, typically Swedish country houses, manors, buildings and historical sites in and around the city testify to Karlstad’s importance to the region and Sweden through the ages. You should discover Sweden in Karlstad.