This calm Swedish town near Lake Siljan has a 14th-century church and is known for its ice hockey team. Local artisans still make traditional blue-painted furniture and crafts.
In Leksand, a town on Lake Siljan's southern shores, you can walk through 94 villages with red-painted Dala houses, watch ice hockey matches at Tegera Arena, or learn how traditional Swedish crispbread is made at Leksandsbröd bakery. Visit during summer to experience the Medieval Market's sword fighting shows and period cooking, or come in winter to ski at Granberget's six slopes.
Traditional Villages of Leksand
Walk through any of Leksand's 94 villages to see the distinctive red-painted Dala houses with their decorated porches and traditional farmyards. Local families continue to live in these historic farmhouses, growing vegetables in their gardens and maintaining the traditional courtyards. In June, join the Midsummer celebrations where locals dance around maypoles in villages like Plintsberg and Tällberg. Take a guided walking tour to learn about the farming methods that have shaped these communities for centuries.
Sports Culture
The Leksands IF ice hockey team draws crowds to Tegera Arena throughout the season. Watch the four-time Swedish Championship winners play, or catch a practice session of future NHL talents - the team has produced players like Johan Hedberg and Per-Olov Brasar. Baseball fans can watch Sweden's most successful team, the Leksands Baseball and Softball Club, which has won 20 national championships. The Baseball Academy Leksand, Sweden's only MLB-sponsored facility, trains new players year-round.
Winter and Summer Activities
Ski down Granberget's six slopes, including a 1,400-meter run suitable for advanced skiers. When winter temperatures drop enough to freeze Lake Siljan, skate along the shoreline paths created by local residents. In summer, browse the Medieval Market where craftspeople demonstrate their skills, cook historical recipes, and stage sword fighting shows. Cool off at Leksand Sommarland, where you can ride water slides, swim in pools, or play mini-golf.
Local Food and Shopping
Watch bakers make traditional Swedish crispbread at Leksandsbröd, a bakery operating since the early 1800s. Buy fresh bread directly from their shop after seeing the production process. Visit the original Clas Ohlson store in nearby Insjön, where Sweden's largest department store chain began. At local food markets, you can buy regional products like honey from local beekeepers and homemade preserves.
