Ice skating Sweden
Ice skating in Sweden on Natural Ice
Sweden is one of the best countries in the world for natural-ice skating, and it comes down to a unique combination of climate, geography, and culture: With long, stable winters and an incredible variety of frozen lakes that come in all shapes and sizes, it’s a paradise for all types of skaters.
Why Sweden Is the Perfect Destination for Natural Ice Skating!
So whether you’re gliding along groomed tracks or exploring untouched wild ice, Sweden offers breathtaking landscapes, a long season, and world-class ice conditions. The perfect mix for an unforgettable winter adventure. Here are 5 things that you need to consider if you are thinking of going Ice Skating in Sweden and
1. Where to go Ice Skating in Sweden?
Stockholm
There are many options about where you can skate. But in our opinion, you cannot beat Stockholm.
The greater Stockholm region (Stockholm +1.5 hours of driving time all directions) sits in a “sweet spot” between the colder north and the milder south. In the north it's much colder, so snow quickly piles up on the ice. In southern Sweden, ice is unpredictable and often not thick enough.
And here is what's really important: Stockholm has cold winters, but frequently also has days with plus degrees, So snow and the top layer of ice melts, refreezes overnight, and creates smooth, renewed natural ice. It's like nature's own Zamboni!
There is also a huge variety of waterways:
Small, shallow lakes that freeze early in the season
The massive lake Mälaren, whose different sections freeze at different times
And last but not least, the Stockholm archipelago—the dream of every Nordic skater
This gives Stockholm some of the best black-ice conditions in the world. Oh, and the fact that Stockholm is basically the capital of Scandinavia making travel logistics easy isn't too bad either. On our overnight ice skating trips, we always stay in country side mansions and castles. So you could combine several days of skating in nature and seeing some of the local towns whilst also having an evening in the city as well. All in one weekend!
You might have guessed by now, Stockholm is indeed our home, so we might not be 100% partial 😉 But even from only a skating perspective, you cannot really beat it!
Falun
A combination of artificial tracks and natural ice. The best-known track is on Lake Runn—and for good reason: you’ll find around 50 km of cleared skating trails here, the season is long, and the ice conditions are reliable. The lake itself covers almost 65 km².
During “Runn Winter Week” (Edit: 9–24 February 2019), many skating enthusiasts visit the area to enjoy natural-ice skating in Sweden. You can even skate an 'alternative Elfstedentocht here.' Because this region lies above sea level and has a land climate, it gets a lot of snow. That means ploughed tracks are almost always the only real option, and the “black ice season” is almost always short.
Ice Skating on Runn
Don’t expect to have the track to yourself—especially during Winter Week it can get busy! But if you want to skate on natural ice with the convenience of cleared routes, this is a great choice.
Jämtland
From a skating perspective, this destination is nowhere near the other two. But if you want to skate with the mountains as a back-drop, Åre is a fantastic region. It also is home to Sweden's largest skiing resort. So if you want to combine ice skating with alpine pleasure, this could be an option.
2. What 'kind' of Ice Skating do you wish to do?
Ice Skating on prepared tracks
Skaters on plowed track @ Runn. Photo: http://www.runn-is.net
This is a budget friendly option, as guides are not required and often there is no admission fee to enter the prepared tracks. So if your ambitions are limited to skating laps on the prepared tracks, we'd say that Falun should be high on your list! The best-known track is on Lake Runn—and for good reason: you’ll find around 50 km of cleared skating trails here, the season is long, and the ice conditions are reliable. The lake itself covers almost 65 km².
Prepared tracks in Stockholm
Northern Lights over Stockholm on our Evening Skating Trip on plowed tracks: https://www.thegreentrails.com/stockholm-excursions/stockholm-activities-stockholm-adventures/stockholm-nordic-ice-skating-at-night/
Stockholm also has it's fair share of prepared tracks, but they are less consistent on the plowing part, making it a difficult to plan a trip. With our local knowledge & contacts, we always know where the best prepared tracks are right now though. Which is why we also offer an nighttime experience of ice skating on a prepared track. Under supervision of a guide, and with inclusion of all skating- and safety equipment. If luck is on our side, we sometimes get to see the Northen Lights! And if we don't, we think that skating under the star- and moon light isn't so bad either.
Prepared Tracks Night Skating
Hellasgården is the most well-known prepared track in Stockholm. It is close to town and has nice scenery. But is often crowded and the preparation of the track often leaves to be desired...
Nordic Skating, the real deal
Nordic skating—also known as 'wild skating' or 'back-country skating'—is the Swedish way of skating. With Nordic skating, you navigate your own routes on natural ice across lakes or even the sea, rather than skating on maintained tracks. Needless to say, it requires a lot of ice knowledge and experience. So going by yourself is not for everyone. It also requires specific equipment. Many skaters hire a local guide who knows the ice conditions well.
Nordic Skating Day Trips
3. When is best time for natural Ice Skating in Sweden?!
Stockholm
📅 Best period: late December → early March
Early season (December - mid January), black ice bonanza: this is usually when we see the most smooth, black, new ice. Typically it's small and mid-sized lakes which freeze during this period. As it's the start of winter, not much snow has fallen, if any. Many lakes varying in size freeze during early season, but when they freeze depends on multiple factors. That's why almost always new black ice can be found somewhere during early season. The days are short due to early sunsets, which can be enjoyed on the ice.
Mid season (mid January - end February), 50 shades of ice: the peak of Nordic skating season: the large bodies of water are freezing or have frozen (we're talking Mälaren, the Stockholm archipelago, Hjälmaren etc), and the small and mid-sized lakes are still ice-covered as well. Nordic skating possibilities are endless. Quality typically varies, and we usually skate on all kinds of variations of ice. The days are getting longer, and each day offers a little more time skate.
Late season (end February - mid March), here comes the sun: typically defined by white & thick ice, sunny days and (relatively) warm weather. New ice is rare during late season, but smooth ice is usually easy to find. Most of the skating areas which froze during mid season are still accessible during late season, but weaker spots can weaken & melt quickly, which usually makes for some exciting crossings! Plenty of daylight and sunshine and there's many hours to skate.
Falun + Jämtland
Due to harsher temperatures, the more enjoyable parts of the seasons further North starts a little later than in Stockholm. Ice conditions, as it is limited to prepared tracks, are fairly the same throughout the season. During this period the ploughed 50 km trail system is at its best. “Runn Winter Week” usually takes place in February, as well.
📅 Best period: February → mid March
4. Where to book your skating trip?
Choosing guiding company
If you are choosing between guiding companies, make sure to do your research as there can be a lot of differences between tours that seem similar at first look. For example, some operators include hostel-style living on their overnights, where as others include luxury hotels. This can affect both your experience and the price. Then there can be a huge difference in group sizes, gear quality etc. The same counts for day trips. You can find an overview of our Nordic Skating day trips here.
Guided Nordic Ice Weekend Breaks
Where to book?
It is getting more and more common to book guided tours on platforms such as TripAdvisor or GetYourGuide. These platforms often make promises on 'the lowest price guarantee'. But our day tour for example costs about 100 SEK less p.p. than on platforms. The reason that we can do this is that these platforms take upto 30% commission. Which, unfortunately, means activity providers such as us have to raise their price as more customers book through platforms in order to make a living.
They also often claim to have 'the best cancellation policies'. But if you book our day trip on a platform you have free cancellation up to 24h, whereas for direct bookings we offer free cancellation up to 18h. You can read more about the advantages of booking directly here.
So in order to get the best price & conditions, it is almost always better to book directly with the activity operator which you have decided upon, cutting out the middle man. As a bonus, more money goes to them, making it easier for them to make a living rather than lining the pockets of some other large-company platform.
5. Bringing vs renting vs buying gear for your Ice Skating trip to Sweden?
This depends what kind of skating you will do, how long you are staying, and how picky you are! If you want to book a guided experience, you needn't worry. With us, and most other operators, gear is provided. But if you are picky, we always recommend to send an inquiry about what equipment is used on the tours, as this can vary greatly. For example: we buy new skates and boots almost yearly, and work closely with the best Swedish skating brands. We even helped Skyllermarks develop the shape of their latest skate! Whereas other operators might provide clip-on skates on your hiking boots which does not make for a very fun skating experience.
For experienced skaters, we also offer advanced gear options on our overnight trips. We actually also have a Ice Skating test-center where you can try the gear before buying, but that's for another post.
Renting Gear
Advantages
Convenient & lightweight travel — No need to carry bulky skates, poles, backpacks, or ice safety gear on flights or trains.
No maintenance required — Skates are sharpened and checked for you.
Cheaper for short trips.
Disadvantages
Limited fit & comfort — Rental skates might not fit perfectly; boots can be stiff or worn.
Availability depends on demand — Popular weekends or good ice years can mean fully booked gear.
Lower-quality gear — Rental equipment can be heavier or older.
You must adjust to unfamiliar gear — Not ideal for long-distance or high-speed skaters.
We offer high quality rental equipment. With us, you cannot only rent skates + boots, but also special skating backpacks with integrated safety systems & safety lines, ice claws, poles and everything else you might need on your skating adventure.
Nordic Ice Skating Rental Gear
Bringing Your Own Gear
(Applicable mostly to experienced skaters with Nordic blades & safety gear.)
Advantages
Best comfort & performance — Your own boots + blades = perfect fit.
You know your gear — Confidence and safety improve when you know how everything behaves.
Cost-effective long-term — No rental fees if you skate regularly.
Always available — No queues, no shortages.
Disadvantages
Bulky & heavy to travel with — Especially with poles, backpacks, picks, throw line, ice claws, etc.
Transport restrictions — Some airlines require special packing for blades.
You must maintain your gear — Sharpening, tightening, drying, checking bindings.
If conditions vary, you may not have the ideal blade length or binding setup.
Tip: Bring your own boots, rent the rest! Yours boots are key in good performance, with a perfect fit. Make sure to contact the company you are going with beforehand to check if they have matching bindings on their skates!
Buying Gear in Sweden
We actually also have a Ice Skating test-center where we have selected only the best gear for conditions in Sweden. You can try the gear before buying, and you can get expert advice! Currently we only have this page in Swedish, but contact us if you are interested.
Advantages
High-quality selection — Sweden has a much larger variety of Nordic skating equipment than most other countries.
Tailored advice — Staff understand local ice conditions and can help you choose the right blade length or boot stiffness.
Perfect if you’re staying longer — Great for seasonal stays or multiple trips.
Disadvantages
Still need to transport it home — Same travel issues as bringing your own.
Not ideal for beginners on a short holiday — You may not skate again soon.
Limited availability mid-winter — Top gear can sell out in good ice years. If you contact us in advance though, we can always put items aside!
So there you have it!
This is all you need to know when planning your Ice Skating trip to Sweden. Feel free to reach out to our friendly team if you have any more questions. For now we only have one question for you: when can we welcome you?!