First Camp Karlstad

Nice beaches for families

by Rojo72

The Bomstad Camping is, like its neighbour Skutberget a campground on which you can place a tent or caravan, but it is also the largest beach in Karlstad, with lots of people in the summer time. The beach is maybe 100 meters wide and 500-600 meters long and the water is shallow. When you're about 50-60 meters out in the water you can expect to be in 1 meter deep water.

The place is ideal for families, even though a lot of young people come here too to bath, play some beach games, like racket ball.

You can also rent pedal boats here and there is of course a small store where you can buy ice-creams, cold beverages and so on. Swim gear, blanket, picnic basket, maybe some beach games.

Nice places by the river part 1

by Rojo72

Karlstad lives on and about the river. You can find numerous places with a beautiful view and a nice place to have a picnic.

The first one I'll mention is in the category "almost splendid solitude" and is reachable both by car and bicycle.

By car, take the Hammarö road to the south, road 236. First you pass a waterway on a high bridge. Take the first small road after that to the right, marked "Karlstad" and "Sjukhus"(=Hospital). Drive along the river branch here, do NOT turn right again where it says "Sjukhus/Karlstad" go straight ahead and pick a spot, a table or a ponton bridge in the river and just relax!

By bicycle, follow one of the paths for Hammarö. From the city center for example, aim for the Löfbergs Lila Coffee-producer tower in the inner harbour, continue passed the inner harbour untilk. the traffic lights. Turn LEFT in the traffic lights and go on the bicycle path. Turn right before the next traffic light (maybe 50 meter before, cross the water and follow the directions for cars above here!

Bring picnic stuff!

Go see the museum of school

by Rojo72

The museum of schools and education is a small museum in a building just nest to the Dome and it's a rather unknown gem in the city. You get to see collections of material connected to education in past times, from the 1850's and onwards. The collections include old school books, desks, chalkboards, posters etc.

It is unfortunately closed for renovations until march 2005 but after that it is open:
Tuesday 10-12, 14-16
Wednesday 10-12
Thursday 10-12, 14-16
Sept 25th 12-14
Oct 30th 12-14
Nov 27th 12-14

Admission: 20 Kr, children under the age of 12 10 Kr.

Guided tours for groups of 15 people and more.

Visit the University

by Rojo72

Karlstad University is one of the youngest universities in Sweden, but that's only due to the fact that there are two different kinds of universities here, "Universities" and "high schools" (which are universities, not american high schools). When I started studying here in 1991 there was about 4500 students here, nowadays it's over 10000.

The university library is newly built and well worth a visit too. It's located on the court of the University, to the left in the picture.

Karlstad - the town in my heart

by Rojo72

Welcome to sun city!

Karlstad is known as the sun city of Sweden, almost always in the top 3-4 cities as far as sun hours per year goes. "Sola i Karlstad", "The sun in Karlstad" as a famous expression goes doesn't really point towards the sun though. It was rather a nice nick-name for a waitress in Karlstad in the 17th or 18th century who was always happy and sang for her customers. Nowadays there's a statue of her in front of the Bishop's Arms pub.

Karlstad is where I lived between 1991 and 2005. There are a lot of things to see in this city of 80.000 inhabitants. The major landmark of the city is the River Klarälven, which floats through the city in an easterly and a westerly branch before reaching the Lake Vänern.

UPDATE! HOORAY, I'M BACK IN KARLSTAD AGAIN!

Where is Karlstad?

Karlstad is the major city of the county of Värmland and also the residence city for the County Governor. The County of Värmland is situated north of Lake Vänern and has a border with Norway.

Karlstad is in the southern part of the country, just north of the lake, where the red dot is on the map here.

The Värmland Museum

One of the major tourist attractions in Karlstad is the Värmland Museum, the museum of the County of Värmland, situated just north in the city center and overlooking the point where the river divides. Read more about it in a must-see tip.