This lakeside town on Lake Siljan has Sweden's longest church pier, dating from 1895. Local folk music and traditional crafts remain active in its cultural scene.
Rättvik sits on Lake Siljan's eastern shore, where 4,700 residents live among medieval church stables and modern concert venues. Walk the 628-meter Långbryggan pier into the lake, watch rock bands perform in a limestone quarry, or explore one of Sweden's oldest churches. The surrounding wilderness includes waterfalls and geological formations from a 377-million-year-old meteorite impact.
Walking the Långbryggan Pier
Walk the 628-meter wooden pier into Lake Siljan from the train station area. Workers built it in 1895 for steamboat traffic, and now you'll find several sitting areas along its length. The pier's end has benches and trees where locals gather for evening picnics.
Exploring Rättvik Church Area
Step inside the 13th-century stone church to see its medieval artifacts, including a 14th-century German-made Triumphal Crucifix and wall frescoes depicting St. Olav and St. Stephen. Walk around the church grounds to find 87 wooden stables from the 15th century, where parishioners once kept their horses during services.
Discovering Dalhalla
Musicians perform in this former limestone quarry throughout summer. The 60-meter limestone walls create natural acoustics in the deep amphitheater, which hosts everything from opera to rock concerts. You can take guided tours of the quarry during daytime hours when no concerts are scheduled.
Visiting Styggforsen Nature Reserve
Walk the circular trail to see both the waterfall and a cave known as the "troll hole." Look for the distinct rock formations caused by a meteorite impact 377 million years ago. Information signs in English and Swedish explain the site's geological history along the trail.
Summer Activities
Ride the 725-meter summer toboggan run from June to August on the ski slope. Choose between single and double sleds, but remember children under 7 must ride with an adult. Cool off at the beach next to Långbryggan pier, which includes changing rooms and a swimming area marked with buoys.
Getting to Rättvik
Take trains from Stockholm to Rättvik, changing at Borlänge. If driving, follow Route 70 north from Borlänge. Fly to either Mora–Siljan Airport (45 km away) or Dala Airport (73 km away), both with connections to Stockholm-Arlanda.
