Things to do in Rättvik - 17 attractions and experiences

What can you do in Rättvik in Dalarna? This popular holiday resort attracts lots of holidaymakers who want to experience the wonderful atmosphere by Lake Siljan, combined with crafts, culture and nature. Here are all our top tips for things to do in Rättvik.

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Rättvik

Rättvik attracts many tourists, and after travelling all around Siljan by motorhome, we discovered that this is where they were, the motorhomes. Well, there are motorhomes everywhere around Siljanbut in Rättvik it was almost crowded. Sometimes we could count 14 motorhomes in a row in the central roundabout, without a single car in between ...

Rättvik is located at the eastern end of Lake Siljan, about 21 kilometres north of Leksand.

What can you do in Rättvik?

So what can you do in Rättvik? There is a lot to see and experience! Here are our top tips on things to do in Rättvik and the surrounding area.

1. Walk out on Långbyggan

The long bridge, which is 628 metres long, is a kind of landmark for Rättvik. It was built as early as 1895, both as a tourist attraction and as a steamboat pier. The fact that it is so long has to do with the ice age and the meteorite impact in Siljan - it is very shallow.

The weather was quite bad when we were here, but otherwise it can be nice to walk on the pier. There is also a nice sandy beach right next door.

2. Eat a Rättviks Ice Cream

Another thing you want to do in Rättvik is to eat an ice cream from Rättviks Glass. We are very fond of ice cream, so had time to eat Rättviksglassen several times around Siljan. Very good and creamy! Our favourite flavour was egg liqueur.

3. Shopping for crafts

If you like crafts, there are plenty of them in Rättvik. On the square in Rättvik you will find a timbered house, with craft products from Rättviks Hemslöjd and the craft cooperative The handshake. Here you can browse both traditional and innovative crafts!

Another place is Dala Wärdshus Hantverksbyn where there is a hotel, restaurant and handicraft shop.

4. Visit the cultural centre and Rättvik art gallery

In the centre of Rättvik, on Storgatan by the river Enån, is Rättvik's cultural centre. It was not open when we visited, but it has a library, art gallery, nature museum and picture archive.

5. Shop for thin bread at Rättviks tunnbrödsbageri

Rättviks tunnbrödsbageri was unfortunately closed when we were there, but it looks very charming inside. They bake barrel bread and tuttul (barrel bread sandwiches on soft barrel bread from Siljansbygden) daily. It also sells other locally produced goodies such as cheese and drinks.

6. Enjoy the view at Vidablick

Vida view is a really cool place! You have to drive up, up, up to get here by car, and once up there is a 28 metre high viewing tower. The place offers a fantastic view of Lake Siljan, regardless of the tower or not. There's also a café, a craft shop, mini golf and more. Well worth a visit!

7. go downhill skiing or try summer tobogganing

In winter you can go slalom skiing in Rättvik Slalombacke. Summer is possibly even more fun, as summer tobogganing is offered here. No, we didn't try it, but we saw that it was very popular!

8. See Rättvik church and church stables

Rättvik church is located on the banks of Lake Siljan and dates back to the 13th century. In December 1520, Gustav Vasa came here and gathered the people on the church hill, to get help to overthrow King Kristian. Later, when Gustav Vasa travelled on to Mora, the Danish army was stopped, and in memory of this, the Vasa Stone has been erected on Kyrkudden.

The church is beautiful inside, but we were most fascinated by the church stables. There are 87 stables in total, the oldest of which dates back to the 15th century.

9. Coffee break at Rättviks Gammelgård

At Rättviks Gammelgård you will find the cosy Café Curious, where you can have lunch or a coffee break. At the homestead there are also several nice old houses, and just when we were here, a theatre group was in full training for an Emil in Lönneberga play.

10. Shop for ceramics at Nittsjö Keramik

Nittsjö Keramik is a pottery with a 100-year tradition, which makes it one of Sweden's oldest craft companies. It was very popular to visit the shop, where there is also second-hand insurance. Very nice ceramics we must say! We were a bit eager to buy but didn't, as we don't have room ...

11. See a concert at Dalhalla

Dalhalla is an incredible and very special arena located in a former limestone quarry, in the forest outside Rättvik. Various concerts are regularly organised here, often with major national and international artists.

We had the opportunity to attend a concert here and see the musical "We Will Rock You", with songs by Queen, performed by Sarah Dawn Finer, Viktor Norén, Dotter, Anton Ewald and Alexander Lycke, among others.

The show was really good, and all in all it was a great experience! A bit sad that it rained from time to time, but that's how it is in Sweden. You have to prepare yourself with proper clothes!

12. discover the fountain

After the concert at Dalhalla, we camped for the night in a gravel car park in the forest, and the next day we set off in search of the "Springkällan". In 1869 they drilled for oil here. They didn't find any oil, but instead they accidentally drilled into a pressurised groundwater reservoir. The water gushed straight up, and has been gushing continuously ever since...!

13. Check out the Dalskåp Museum

If you want to know more about Dalskåp, you can check out the Dalskåp Museum in Övre Gärdsjö. The museum is located in Övre Gärdsjö's old dairy, and during the high season you can check out the opening hours, and join a guided tour of the museum. You are not allowed to take photos inside the museum and we opted out of this stop, but we leave it to you to peek inside if you are curious.

14. Take a trip to Styggforsen

Styggforsen is located about 19 kilometres north of Rättvik and is a really nice excursion destination. It didn't feel like there was much water in the rapids when we were here, but the surroundings are still very dramatic and beautiful.

You can walk a small loop around the falls which is very pleasant, and not very strenuous.

15. Take a boat trip on Lake Siljan

The boat M/S Gustaf Wasa makes trips from several places along Lake Siljan, including Rättvik. Starting in Rättvik, you can go on lunch cruises, but some evenings also on à la carte or shrimp cruises.

16. Cycle Dalhallarundan

Dalhallarundan is a 26-kilometre round trip that takes about 2-4 hours to cycle. The tour starts at the Travel Centre and passes Dalhalla, Rättviks Gammelgård and Nittsjö keramik.

17. Hiking in the Siljan region

If you like hiking, there are also various possibilities. For example, you can walk The one-way street (4.5 kilometres), Beach walk Vikarbyn - Rättvik (9 kilometres) or the Siljan Trail (340 kilometres).

More to do in Rättvik for those who like culture and history

There is of course even more to see and do in Rättvik than our tips. Here are some more suggestions for those interested in culture and history.

• Classic Car Week is one of Sweden's most popular car meetings. During week 31, Rättvik is taken over by lots of vintage cars.
• Dala Chocolate makes products by hand, from fine Belgian chocolate.
• Furudal mill is a 300-year-old working environment with accommodation, culture and golf.
• The church boat Sörbyggarn is an old church boat that is on display under cover in the centre of Rättvik.
• Nostalgia Museum The memory machine showcases 1950s toys and boyhood dreams of mopeds and bikes. 
• Persborg pier is a beautiful old steamboat dock that can be hired for various events.
• Rättvik market are usually held in spring and autumn, and attract large numbers of people.

More to do in Rättvik for nature lovers

Here you will find even more tips on things to do in Rättvik, suitable for those who enjoy nature or active activities.

• Bastu fleet with wood-fired sauna can be rented all year round, for up to 12 people.
• Fishing can be done, with a fishing licence, in Rättvik-Boda fisheries management area.
• Golf you can play at Rättviks golf club or Furudals Bruks golf club.
• Canoe canoeing, can be hired at Stiftsgården, Furudals fritidsby, First Camp Siljansbadet or Fist Camp Enåbadet.
• Cross-country skiing in winter, for example at Jarlstugan where there are tracks of different lengths.
• Cross-country skating in winter, can be rented at the Stiftsgården.

More to do in Rättvik with children

For those travelling with children or teenagers, there are of course even more suggestions for things to do in Rättvik. Here you will find some tips.

• Bathing places There are many, such as Siljansbadet, Vikarbybadet, Furudalsbadet, Svartviksbadet and Orebadet.
• High and Low is a climbing park with nine high-altitude courses for the whole family.
• Karl-Tövåsen's living mountain pasture dates back to the 17th century. It has animals and sometimes organises guided tours.
• Rättvik go-kart track at 1,240 metres, is one of the longest railway lines in northern Europe.
• The trotting school in Rättvik organises horse-related courses for both adults and children.

Where can you stay in Rättvik, or park your motorhome?

In Rättvik, there are of course several different accommodation options, both in and around the town. There are no less than two First Camp campsites: Enåbadet - Rättvik (by the meandering Enån river) and Siljansbadet - Rättvik (at Siljan).

We pulled into the car park Rättviksgården, which has a very good and central location. However, we found it quite expensive (375 SEK/day), given that the pitches are cramped and there are fewer services than at a campsite (electricity, rubbish collection and toilet and shower at the hostel). There also seem to be some other smaller pitches here and there, which can be explored.

More to see and do near Rättvik

From Rättvik it is not far to Leksand, with summer land and the interesting visitor centre Hildasholm. Around Siljan you can also visit charming Orsa and the home of the Dala horses Mora, where you don't want to miss making a visit to the interesting Zorngården.

More tips on things to do in Rättvik?

Have you visited Rättvik? Do you have any other suggestions for what to see and do in Rättvik? Please tell us!

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