Located 395km north of Stockholm, this Swedish city is known for its 600 Renaissance Revival buildings in Stone City district, winter skiing slopes, and the nearby High Coast UNESCO site.
Explore Alnö island
This Baltic Sea island has 570-million-year-old volcanic rocks, a medieval church with defensive walls, and calm swimming coves. Population doubles to 16,000 in summer.
Shopping at Birsta City
Located in Sundsvall, this retail hub spans two levels with 100 stores, including Sweden's fourth IKEA store from 1967. The center welcomes 4 million annual visitors.
Historic ironworks
This preserved 1600s iron foundry includes original forge hammers, a white wooden church from 1680, and runs steam train rides along the Baltic coast during summer weekends.
The Stone Town
The stone city center has 51 blocks of Art Nouveau buildings from the 1880s, with carved dragons and copper domes. Nearby, the St Olavsleden pilgrim trail leads to Norway.
Norra Berget scenic park
Located 165 meters above Sundsvall, this hilltop site has red 1800s farmhouses, grazing sheep, and a 22-meter tower with harbor views. Home to Sweden's curious Skvader exhibit.
Drive the Indalsleden route
This 420-kilometer route along Indalsälven river includes calm paddling waters, forest trails near Byforsen waterfall, and an unexpected Thai Pavilion amid pine forests and glacial valleys.
Sundsvall lies 395 km north of Stockholm, where Renaissance Revival and Art Nouveau buildings create the distinctive Stone City district. You can walk past 600 decorated buildings from the 1890s, explore art exhibitions at the Kulturmagasinet, or climb the granite cliffs at the nearby High Coast UNESCO site. In winter, ski at slopes just 15 minutes from downtown, while summer brings swimming at Tranviken's sandy beach and live performances during the Hamnyran music festival.
The Architecture of Stone City - Stenstan
The 51-block center of Sundsvall dates from 1890-1896, rebuilt after a devastating fire. Swedish architects Knut Gyllencreutz and Gustaf Hermansson created buildings with copper-domed towers, carved stone details, and decorative elements similar to those in 19th-century Vienna and Berlin. The streets follow Nicodemus Tessin's mid-17th century grid system, with broad avenues leading to public squares. As you walk through Stone City, you'll pass marble-columned bank buildings, merchants' mansions with gilded details, and the Gustav Adolf Church with its pointed neo-Gothic spires.
Cultural Venues and Museums
The Kulturmagasinet occupies a restored warehouse in central Sundsvall. Its exhibitions focus on local art and document the city's urban development, with regular updates about industrial growth and social changes. Two historic theaters present dramatic performances and concerts year-round. The annual Musikschlaget festival brings musical groups with disabilities to perform across the city, while autumn sees metal bands take the stage during Nordfest, alongside intimate guitar concerts in smaller locations.
Year-Round Activities
From December through March, you can ski at several areas within 15 minutes of downtown, with on-site equipment rental. Summer activities include canoeing the waterways around Sundsvall and swimming at Tranviken Beach along the Gulf of Bothnia. The city's location between subarctic and cold continental climate zones results in warm summers and snowy winters, with ocean currents moderating the temperatures.
Exploring the Region
The High Coast (Höga Kusten), 90 minutes north of Sundsvall, has granite cliffs rising 286 meters above the Gulf of Bothnia. You can follow marked trails to viewpoints above the coastline and islands. Visit the fishing port of Spikarna to see traditional wooden buildings and working boats. One hour from Sundsvall, you'll find Sweden's geographical center point on a hilltop. Stop at the summit café for coffee and apple pie, and on clear days, look out across the surrounding landscape.
