Gävle Travel Guide

Trek Zone

City

Facts and practical information

Gävle, located in the Gävleborg region of Sweden, is a charming city that offers a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and modern attractions. Situated on the east coast of Sweden, Gävle is known for its picturesque waterfront, vibrant city center, and friendly atmosphere.

One of the city's main attractions is Gävle Castle, a stunning medieval fortress that dates back to the 16th century. This well-preserved castle is a testament to Gävle's rich history and offers visitors a chance to explore its grand halls, ancient artifacts, and beautiful gardens. From the top of the castle's tower, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the city and its surrounding landscapes.

For those who appreciate art and culture, Gävle boasts a number of museums and galleries. The Gävle Art Centre is a must-visit for art enthusiasts, featuring a diverse collection of contemporary art exhibitions. The County Museum of Gävleborg offers a fascinating insight into the region's history, with displays ranging from Viking artifacts to modern-day inventions.

Nature lovers will find themselves in paradise in Gävle. The city is surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, including vast forests, serene lakes, and picturesque coastal areas. The Gävle archipelago, with its numerous islands and sandy beaches, is a popular destination for boating, fishing, and swimming. The nearby Furuvik Park is a great place to spend a day with the family, offering thrilling rides, animal exhibits, and beautiful gardens.

Gävle is also renowned for its lively festivals and events throughout the year. The most famous of these is the Gävle Goat, a giant straw sculpture that is erected every Christmas in the city's main square. This quirky tradition attracts visitors from all over the world who come to witness the lighting of the goat and take part in the festive celebrations.

Alternative names: Population: 77.7 thous. (2019)Area: 16.64 mi²Elevation: 20 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 60°40'22"N, 17°8'46"E

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GävleborgSweden

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Gävle Top Attractions

Gävle Attractions - What to See and Explore

Gävle offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Swedish Railway Museum, Gs 13, Gävle Castle, Folkteatern i Gävleborg. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

Railway museum with vintage trains
Swedish Railway Museum
The Swedish Railway Museum, in Gävle, Gästrikland, Sweden is the national museum for Sweden's railway history. The Swedish Railway Museum is tasked with acquiring, preserving and supplying knowledge about Swedish railway history on the basis of the national collection.
Stela
Gs 13
Gästrikland Runic Inscription 13 or Gs 13 is a runestone carved on red sandstone located in a church in Gävle, Gästrikland. It was carved in the 11th century by the runemaster Åsmund Kåresson.
Forts and castles
Gävle Castle
Gävle Castle is a palace in Gävle, Sweden, rebuilt several times since its foundation in 1583. It is the official residence of the County Governor of Gävleborg County.

Concerts and shows • Theater
Folkteatern i Gävleborg
Folkteatern i Gävleborg or Gävle Folkteater is a regional theatre, opened in 1983, located in Gävle, Gävleborg County, Sweden.
Bridge
Gävlebro
Gävlebro is a rest area with a restaurant, located near the E4 motorway outside Gävle in Sweden. Opened in 1987, the facility is built as a covered bridge restaurant.
60°40'21"N • 17°7'58"E
Gävle Concert Hall
Concert hall • Convention center
Sculpture
Gävle goat
The Gävle Goat is a traditional Christmas display erected annually at Slottstorget in central Gävle, Sweden. It is a giant version of a traditional Swedish Yule Goat figure made of straw. It is erected each year by local community groups at the beginning of Advent over a period of two days.
60°40'18"N • 17°8'37"E
Swedish Prison Museum
Specialty museum • Museum
60°40'39"N • 17°8'30"E
Gävle teater
Concerts and shows • Theater
Universities and schools
Högskolan i Gävle
University of Gävle is a university college located in Gävle, Sweden. It uses the name "University of Gävle" in English, although it is officially a 'University College'. The university was established in 1977 and is currently organized into three academies and nine departments.
60°39'32"N • 17°8'6"E
Gefle Forum
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Things to See and Do in Gävle by Category

Sights, interesting and unusual places and attractions valued by most tourists. See the list of places to visit in Gävle.

Culture

Folkteatern i Gävleborg
Gävle
Concerts and showsTheater
Gävle Concert Hall
Gävle
Concert hallConvention center
Gävle teater
Gävle
Concerts and showsTheater

Active

Monitor ERP Arena
Gävle
HockeyEvent spaceSport venue
Fjärran Höjderbadet
Gävle
WatersportsWater parkSwimming
Strömvallen
Gävle
FootballSport venueSport
Gävle GolfKlubb
Gävle
Golf
Gavlevallen
Gävle
Sport venueSportArenas and stadiums

Day trips

Gävle – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Gävle, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Hedemora gammelgård (Hedemora), Örbyhus Castle, Hedemora Gamla Theater (Hedemora).

48 milesSW
Museum
Hedemora gammelgård, Hedemora
Hedemora gammelgård is a local museum in Hedemora, Dalarna County, Sweden, located at the Badelundaåsen slope towards lake Hönsan. The museum was established June 12, 1915, which is one year before the national association for farmstead museums, Sveriges hembygdsförbund was established.
38 milesSE
Forts and castles
Örbyhus Castle
Örbyhus Castle is a castle in Tierp Municipality, Sweden. It lies some 12 kilometres east of European route E4, approximately halfway between Uppsala and Gävle. Known since the 14th century, the estate was turned into a castle during the 15th century by Johan Kristensson Vasa, grandfather of Swedish king Gustav Vasa.
48 milesSW
Concerts and shows, Theater
Hedemora Gamla Theater, Hedemora
Teaterladan, officially Hedemora Gamla Theater, is a theatre and a listed building in Hedemora, Dalarna County, Sweden. It was built somewhere between 1826 and 1829 as a combined barn and theatre in three floors, with the stage and dressing rooms at the top and the storage area at the two lower floors.
48 milesSW
Church, Gothic architecture
Hedemora kyrka, Hedemora
Hedemora church is a church in Hedemora, Sweden. The date of the building is unknown but it was first mentioned in 1362.
48 milesSE
Lighthouse, Vernacular architecture
Djursten, Gräsö
Djursten is a Swedish lighthouse located at Västerbyn on the west side of the island of Gräsö in the northern Roslagens archipelago. The nearest community is Öregrund.

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Best Time To Visit Gävle

Learn when is the best time to travel to Gävle weather-wise and what to expect in each season.

Popularity among visitors

JFMAMJJASOND

August is the most popular and therefore the most crowded month to visit this location. Slightly fewer tourists decide to visit in June and July.

Average temperatures in °F

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The highest air temperature is in June, July and August. While the coldest is in January and February.

Monthly rainfall in inches

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The lowest rainfall is recorded in February. Most of it rains in July and August.

Length of day in hours

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We can expect the longest days in June, while the shortest in December.

Sunrise

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the top attractions to visit in Gävle?

The top attractions to visit in Gävle are:

What is the best time to visit Gävle?

August is the most popular and therefore the most crowded month to visit this location. Slightly fewer tourists decide to visit in June and July. The highest air temperature is in June, July and August. While the coldest is in January and February.