What to do in Sundsvall? This city, sometimes known as the Dragon City, is home to the beautiful and grand Stenstan neighbourhood. Here are all our top tips for things to see and do in Sundsvall.
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Sundsvall
In 1888, Sundsvall was hit by a violent city fire called the Sundsvall Fire, which is the largest fire in Swedish history. After the fire, it was decided to allow only stone houses in the city centre, resulting in 'Stenstan'. A dragon was placed on one of the grand buildings to protect against future disasters, and since then the dragon has become a symbol of Sundsvall.
Sundsvall is located on the coast in Medelpad, about 85 kilometres north of Hudiksvall.
What can you do in Sundsvall?
So what can you do in Sundsvall? There is a lot to see and discover in this beautiful city. Here are our top tips for things to do in Sundsvall and the surrounding area.
1. Walk along the river Selångersån.
The Selångersån river runs through Sundsvall and flows into the Sundsvall Bay, where you can see the Sundsvall Bridge. The river provides a wonderful environment and along this it is nice to walk or cycle, or like us, take the electric scooter.
There are a few different cafes and restaurants along the river, and we settled on Ågläntan Bar & Café. Here we each ate a fairly simple dish, pork fillet and chips, and enjoyed the sun and the fantastic location.
2. strolling in Stone Town
After the dramatic city fire of 1888, when 9,000 people lost their homes, a whole new neighbourhood was built entirely in stone. In just six years, 600 buildings were erected, made possible by favourable insurance conditions and wealthy timber patrons.
Sweden's top architects were hired to build Stenstan, and the result was a bourgeois neighbourhood reminiscent of continental cities. We were really impressed by Stenstan, which is very similar to Östermalm in Stockholm, and is the world's most northerly neighbourhood in this continental style.
3. check out Sundsvall's dragons
The first dragon in Sundsvall is said to have been a dragon on top of one of the houses in Stenstan, where it stood to protect against fires and disasters. Since then, the dragon has come to symbolise the city and the words 'dragon' or 'dragon city' are used by several different companies.
More than a century after the first dragon saw the light of day in Stone Town, the 'Dragon Parade' was born. Every year, during the summer season, kites are placed all over the city, painted by local artists and sponsored by local businesses. The kites really existed everywhere as we walked around the city. Charming!
4. Peek inside Gustav Adolf's church
Located in the centre of Sundsvall, Gustav Adolf's Church is a church building in the Gothic Revival style. The church was built in 1894, after the previous church was destroyed in the great fire of 1888, and much of the interior dates from a remodelling carried out in 1952.
5. Discover Kulturmagasinet
One thing you don't want to miss in Sundsvall is checking out Kulturmagasinet. Here you will find Sundsvall's museum, but also a library, shop and café.
We looked around the museum, which turned out to be very interesting. There are nice exhibitions that tell about the culture and history of the area, but also showcase art.
6. Hang out at Sundsvall's guest harbour
Sundsvall's guest harbour is a nice area where you can stroll along the water, and where there is also a café. We bought an ice cream in the harbour kiosk and made a stop at the "kissing station".
As we continued along the waterfront, we also found several fine works of art.
7. Have fun at Himlabadet
In the centre of Sundsvall you will find the popular adventure pool Himlabadet. There are adventure pools, children's pools and whirlpools, as well as a climbing wall, sauna and relaxation area.
8. Watch a football match with Gif Sundsvall
One thing you can do in Sundsvall, if you like sports, is to watch a football match with the local football team Gif Sundsvall. The venerable club plays its home games at the NP3 Arena in the centre of town.
9. Have a drink at the Clarion Hotel's rooftop bar
Clarion Hotel Sundsvall is located right next to Selångersån, in the city centre. There is a spa, among other things, and also a large rooftop bar with lovely views. Up here we each enjoyed a good drink, while looking out over the city.
10. Be active on Södra Berget
Södra berget is a mountain close to the city that offers wonderful views and lots of different outdoor activities. Here you will find hiking trails, cycling trails, a bike park, a disc golf course and Hotel Södra Berget with spa and relaxation. For the younger ones there are the adventure trails "Björnstigen" and "Tarzanstigen".
11. Visit the Norra Berget open-air museum
Norra Berget is Sundsvall's open-air museum. There is a large area with historic buildings and different types of farm animals. There is also a restaurant, café, shops and a playground, and various events are occasionally organised. When we were here, we were welcomed to the Sami centre, where a man showed Sami crafts and told us about the culture. Very interesting!
12. Go shopping at Birsta City.
Birsta City is one of the largest shopping centres in Norrland. Here you will find over 90 different shops with everything from fashion and interior design to building materials and electronics.
13. Swimming on Alnön
There are many different beaches in and around Sundsvall, and when we asked around, Alnön was the most popular. Alnön is a large island outside Sundsvall, with a bridge connection to the mainland. Around the island there are several different beaches such as Bänkåsvken, Hartungviken, Slädaviken and Tranviken. It is easy to understand that many people like to sunbathe and swim here!
14. admire Merlo Castle
Merlo Slott in Timrå, or Villa Merlo as the building is actually called, was once built as a summer residence for sawmill boss Fredrik Bünsow. Today the building is used as an archive for SCA (Svenska Cellulosa AB). The villa is not shown to the public, but you are welcome to walk in the garden and look at the building from the outside.
15. Take an excursion to Katan's fishing village
Just south of Sundsvall you will find Skatans fiskeläge, a charming place with a guest harbour, bathing area, restaurant, café, smokehouse with fish and delicacies and the possibility of accommodation in the archipelago. In summer, you can even see art in the Skat Gallery.
16. see Galtström Mill
Galtströms Bruk is Medelpad's oldest, largest and last ironworks, which operated between 1673 and 1916. There is a well-preserved and fine mill environment with several old buildings, including the blast furnace and the beautiful manor house. Guided tours are offered during the summer, and you can also take a ride on the steam locomotive Loke or go for a walk in the countryside.
17. Shopping at Selånger Market
Selånger Marknad is an annual event organised in the Bergsåker district and usually attracts around 350 stalls and 100,000 visitors. The popular market is usually organised during the weekend of week 33, i.e. during the month of August.
More things to do in Sundsvall for culture and history lovers
There is, of course, even more to see and do in Sundsvall than our tips. Here are some more suggestions for those who like culture and history.
- Alnö Old Church is a popular summer church on Alnö. (Alnövägen 85A, Alnö)
- Attmars Hembygdsgård displays old buildings and sometimes organises events (Lucksta, Matfors).
- The cemetery in Högom is Norrland's best known burial ground from the late Iron Age (Västra vägen).
- Lörudden fishing village is a fishing village dating back to the 17th century and has a restaurant. (Lörudden, Njurunda)
- Svartvik Industrial Centre showcases a historic environment with historic buildings, café, English park and more.
- Sundsvall Art Association has various exhibitions. (Trädgårdsgatan 20)
- Ceiling walk is a way to get a historical guided tour, on the rooftops of Stenstan.
- Vängåvan fountain was built in 1886 and survived the great city fire.
More things to do in Sundsvall for nature lovers
Do you like nature best? Then you'll find even more suggestions here for things to do in Sundsvall and the surrounding area.
- Brämön offers nature reserves, the fishing village of Brämöhamn and sandy beaches. You need a boat to get here.
- Haverö streams is a paradise for anyone who enjoys fishing. Fishing licences are available for purchase.
- The Indal Trail follows the deep valley of the Indalsälven river. Here you can hike, paddle, camp and experience Vättaberget.
- Mjällådalen is an area of nipas and dramatic scenery.
- Sidsjö recreational area offers opportunities for hiking, fishing, swimming, canoeing, cross-country skiing, slalom and long-distance skating.
- St Olavsleden is the northernmost pilgrimage trail in the world. The trail is about 580 kilometres long and starts from the Selånger pilgrimage centre.
More to do in Sundsvall with children
Travelling with children or teenagers? Then you'll find even more tips on things to do in Sundsvall here.
- Boda Borg offers quests with challenges to overcome. (Boda Borg 100, Torpshammar)
- High & Low is an adventure park at Södra Berget, with a zipline and climbing adventure.
- Kayak or canoe can be rented in various places, such as Juniskär kayak or canoe hire in Matfors.
- Strike Club, located on South Mountain, has bowling alleys, Prison Island and more.
- Sundsvalls Slalombacke is a city centre ski slope. (Mogatan 60)
Where can you stay in Sundsvall, or park your campervan?
Sundsvall has many different hotels and other accommodation options, such as the Clarion Hotel and the Elite Hotel Knaust, which is known for its beautiful staircase. If you, like us, are travelling with a campervan, there are also a bunch of different options in and around Sundsvall.
To explore the city, we found caravan sites at the Heffner avenuewith a good location for discovering the city. These are small parking pockets, and you have to promise to stand here for 24 hours. Please note that the pitches are under evaluation and may be subject to change.
We were planning to stay overnight, but a local caravanner came up to us and wanted to show us a better spot. We can agree that the squares are a bit oddly chosen, lengthwise right next to the traffic, and we were much better off in the car park next door, in the direction of the city centre.
In retrospect, we have realised that Sundsvall has many rules on parking for motorhomes. Our advice to the municipality is to fix a parking space like the one below, where you stand next to each other, preferably by the water, with or without service.
After a night in town, we chose to stay at First Camp Fläsian - Sundsvall. Here you can stand nicely by the water and beach and we chose to spend a whole day doing what we needed - washing clothes.
More things to see and do near Sundsvall
If you are travelling north from Sundsvall, you can get to the cosy summer town of Härnösand. Here also begins High coast, which has a lot to offer, especially if you like beautiful and dramatic scenery. If you're travelling inland, you can instead go to Östersundand if you're travelling south, take the opportunity to discover Hudiksvall.
More tips for things to do in Sundsvall?
Have you visited Sundsvall? Do you have even more suggestions on what to see and do in Sundsvall? Let us know!
Facts about Sundsvall
- Landscape: Medelpad
- County: Västernorrland County
- Population: More than 99 000 (2023)
- The name: Sundsvall was named in the 1621 letter of privilege after the pasture south of the river Selångersån, which belonged to the village of Sund.
- Read more: You can find more information at the city's website.
History of Sundsvall
- Prehistory: The area was a rich settlement, and nearby is the Högom burial ground, which is the largest Iron Age burial ground in Norrland, dating from 400-550 AD.
- 1030: According to legend, St. Olav landed at St. Olav's harbour.
17th century
- 1621: The town was built on previously undeveloped pasture land belonging to the villages of Sund, Köpstaden and Åkersvik. Shortly after the founding of the town, the Crown built a rifle factory and a crown estate.
- 1642: A first town plan was probably made by Olof Bure.
- 1648: Queen Christina decided that the town should be moved just over a kilometre to the east, where the stone town is today. Nicodemus Tessin the Elder drew a new town plan with a rectangular grid pattern.
18th century
- 1721: The Russians looted and burned the town during the Russian raids. A Swedish defence force of around 300 men was defeated by over 7 000 Russians in the Battle of Selånger, the last battle of the Great Northern War.
- 1756: Linderbergs metallfabrik (Linderbergs mekaniska verkstad) was founded.
19th century
- 1803: Sundsvall was hit by a city fire.
- 19th century: The town grew strongly thanks to the sawmill industry.
- Late 19th century: The Sundsvall area was the densest sawmill area in the world. The city was one of the richest in the country.
- 1879: The great Sundsvall strike broke out. Depression, reduced profits and wage cuts led to the conflict. The strike was called off by the military after eight days with no negotiations on workers' wages.
- 1888: The Sundsvall fire hit the city, and large parts of the city burned down. After the fire, it was decided to build only stone houses in the city centre.
20th century to present
- 1904: Linderberg's metal factory was absorbed into Sundsvalls Verkstäder, which became an important employer.
- 1970s: Several authorities' IT operations and IT development were relocated to Sundsvall.
- 2007: Sundsvall used the brand 'Capital of Norrland', until 2016.
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Lena - good for the soul says:
It seems nice in Sundsvall. Have been there briefly a couple of times. Among other things, looked into the ancient hotel Knaust and felt the wings of history. But I have never heard of the connection to dragons.
Hug Lena
04 October 2023 - 13:29