Falun

• 🌍 Falun Tourist Centre, Trotzgatan 10–12, ☏ +46 480-41 77 00, falun@visitsodradalarna.se. M–F 10:00–17:00. Sa 10:00–13.00. (updated Sep 2017)

If you're in a hurry there is an airport at the neighbouring city of Borlänge, about 20 minutes from Falun, serving Gothenburg, Malmö, and Oslo in Norway.

The local/regional connections are served by Tåg i Bergslagen/Tågkompaniet and SJ. Many connections from Stockholm requires a change in nearby Borlänge. Railway tickets can be bought at the SJ website or Tågkompaniet (only in Swedish) All tickets are available on both sites.

Regional trains run hourly from Gävle to Sandviken, Storvik, Hofors, Falun (65 min) and Borlänge. Some continue to Kopparberg and Örebro.

The railway station is a 5-minute walk from the city centre.

• 🌍 Falun railway station (Falun centralstation). (updated Dec 2020)

There are very few bus connections from other cities.Swebus Express has 1-2 connections a day with Stockholm and Gothenburg. Buses stop at the railway station which is a five minute walk from the city center and the hotels there. Unless your bags are very heavy, save the taxi money and walk instead.

Falun is small enough to be explored on foot, however there is a local bus network handled by Dalatrafik. The price for a bus ticket is 22 kr for adults and 17 kr for children. Infants travel for free.

Bicycle is good way of getting around except for during snowy winter. Bikes for rental are available at:

• 🌍 Cykel & Fjäll, Rådhustorget Slaggatan 11 (right by the main square), ☏ +46 23 638-62. 

Taxis in Sweden are pricey. If you want to take a cab in Falun, you will most likely have to phone and ask for one to pick you up – you'd be extremely lucky to catch an available one on the street. Exceptions are the railway station where there is a taxi stand, and weekend nights in the centre. Major taxi companies in Falun include:

• TaxiKurir Falun, ☏ +46 23 153 00. Smart phone app offers address based routing and calculates price according to them. (updated Aug 2020)
• Koppartaxi, ☏ +46 23 630-00. 
• Taxi Falun, ☏ +46 23 189-00. 

Parking is free on many streets and when there's a fee it rarely exceeds 6 kr/hour. Count on getting fined if you ignore the fee.

• 🌍 Falun Copper Mountain, Gruvplatsen 1, ☏ +46 23 78-20-30. The mine and its surroundings were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in December 2001 – a must-see when in Falun. The mine was an important source of copper for an entire millennium until mining ended December 8, 1992. Part of it is still open for visitors with a guide. The interesting tour, with English translation available upon request, takes about an hour and visitors are taken 65 m underground. Tickets are bought in the souvenir shop, and helmets and raincoats are handed out before the tour. Do not wear your best shoes or trousers, since the red, copper-rich mud in the mine causes stains. Shoe protection is available in the souvenir shop for 5 kr. 220 kr for adults. (updated Sep 2017)
  • Mining Museum. It has exhibitions about the history of the mine and of coins in Sweden (including the largest coins in the world), and scale models of mining inventions by medieval tech genius Christoffer Polhem. Also an exhibition on minerals. Much of the museum is child friendly. Accessible by wheel chair (ask for instructions). Texts in Swedish and English. 90 kr, included in the underground guided tour fee. (updated Sep 2017)
  • The Great Pit (Stora Stöten). This can be seen from the surface for free. It's the result of an enormous collapse in the mine in 1687, and with a depth of 95 m and a diameter of 400 m, it's an impressive sight. Miraculously nobody was killed in the collapse since it occurred on Midsummer's Day when the miners were free from work! (updated Sep 2017)

• 🌍 Dalarnas Museum, Stigaregatan 2–4, ☏ +46 23 76-55-00. Tu–Su. Has several exhibits about the province and its history. Its main attraction is the reconstructed 1910 library and study room of famous writer Selma Lagerlöf, portrayed on the Swedish 20-kroner bill. 40 kr for adults. (updated Nov 2016)
• 🌍 Kristine Church, Kristinegatan 11 (At the main square). Daily 10:00-16:00. Built in 1655 and was one of the prerequisites for Falun to get city rights. The renaissance church has two organs, from 1906 and 1982. (updated Nov 2016)
• 🌍 Church of the Great Copper Mountain, Kyrkogårdsgränd 2 (near the corner of Kyrkbacksvägen and Seminariegatan). M–F 10:00–16:00, Sa 10:00–18:00, Su 09:00–18:00. The oldest building in Falun. It was most likely built during the 12th and 13th centuries. In the cemetery outside rests Fet-Mats Israelsson, a miner who was killed in a cave-in at the mine in 1677. He was discovered 42 years later, and since the conditions in the mine had preserved his body, his former fiancée immediately recognized him. Fet-Mats' corpse was put on display as an attraction for visitors – it wasn't until 1930 that he was finally laid to rest. 

• The Runn Days (Runndagarna). On and around lake Runn. Has a winter edition one weekend in mid-February, with tour skating, curling and other ice activities. The summer edition takes place on a weekend mid-August and features boat trips, music and general fun. 
• The Swedish Ski Games (Svenska Skidspelen) (in the Lugnet area). March. World Cup competitions of cross-country skiing. 
• The Falu Party (Falukalaset). early June. Turning the centre of Falun into a large market with vendors, carousels and entertainment. 
• The Copper Meet (Kopparträffen). Big meeting for motorcycle enthusiasts, around 500 riders gather every year. Includes a motorbike cortège through town, down into the Great Pit at the mine (no, it's not a lemming suicide; there are roads down to the bottom). Held late July every year.
• Falu Cruising. A vintage car procession through town, bringing car enthusiasts and almost everybody else out to watch the cars and the people in them. Arranged late July every year. Starts at 18:00 and goes on until 00:00.
• Falu Autumn Market (Falu höstmarknad), again turning the central parts into a market. Held late August/early September.
• Sabaton Open Air Metal Music Festival in the Lugnet Area. Held Mid-August

Self-catering is always the cheapest way to get a meal in Sweden and there's plenty of food stores in Falun where it's possible to stock up. If you're starving in the middle of the night, run to the Statoil gas station which is open 24 hr daily and offers hot dogs and groceries. Fast food is also available at the many pizzerias, at the Swedish fast food chain Sibylla, at McDonald's near Lugnet or at Gandhis Gatukök at the main square.

Close to the train station, you can find a 7-Eleven gas station, that also offers some food and MAX Burgers.

For fairly cheap restaurant food, catch "Dagens rätt" ("Dish of the day"), available weekdays at lunchtime in most restaurants. Price around 65 SEK. Check if the price includes drinks; if not, you can save money by asking for tap water instead. A daily overview in Swedish of what dishes are served in the different restaurants is found here. Most of the listed restaurants here are also open in the evening with à la carte prices around 100 kr for a meal.

• 🌍 Restaurang China Thai, Nybrogatan 23, ☏ +46 23 288-50. Asian restaurant with a popular lunch buffet. 
• 🌍 Geschwornergården, Gruvgatan 55 (by the Great Copper Mountain mine), ☏ +46 23 711-923. The place to go if you suddenly get hungry while visiting the area around the mine. It shares management with the Banken restaurants. Make sure you get a seat outside if the sun is shining. Dish of the Day 65 kr. 
• 🌍 Golden Palace, Holmgatan 26, ☏ +46 23 268-68. Chinese restaurant, specializing in real Chinese food and Hong Kong cuisine. Dish of the Day 75 kr. 
• 🌍 Restaurang Hammars, Åsgatan 28, ☏ +46 23 390-39. Tu-Su 15:00–00:00. Italian kitchen. Worth a visit just to see the cozy interior of the building which was built in 1776. They serve lunch with vegetarian alternatives and à la carte Italian food. 
• 🌍 The Kings Arms, Falugatan 3, ☏ +46 23 711-344. Downtown pub/restaurant with good food. Dish of the Day 70 kr. 
• 🌍 Kopparhatten, Stigaregatan 2 (same building as Dalarnas Museum), ☏ +46 23 19-169. In the Dalarnas Museum, serving local and international cuisine. 
• 🌍 Rådhuskällaren, Slaggatan 2, ☏ +46 23 254-00. Offers Dish of the Day in the town hall cellars. Summertime it moves outside and is one of the nicest places to eat lunch if the weather is good. 
• 🌍 Tzatziki, Myntgatan 33B, ☏ +46 23 109-80. Greek restaurant, specializing in coal-grilled food. Dish of the Day 65 kr. 
• 🌍 Åhlens Café & Restaurang, Åsgatan 21, ☏ +46 23 711-427. Convenient for shoppers since it's on the top floor of the Åhléns department store. Dish of the Day available. 
• O'Learys, Åsgatan 18, ☏ +46 23 794 888, falun@olearys.se. Sports Bar, American food, Irish Pub inspired style (updated Jul 2018)
• Blackstone Steak House, Hälsingtorget 1, ☏ +46 23 122 22, falun@blackstonesteakhouse.se. Steakhouse (updated Jul 2018)
• The Bishops Arms, Vattugränd 6, ☏ +46 23-193 00. Steakhouse (updated Jul 2018)

• 🌍 Banken Två rum & kök, Stadshusgränd 2, ☏ +46 23 260-25. The most expensive restaurant in town. Make sure to book your dinner table in advance and be prepared to pay at least a couple hundred kroner per dish. It is run in close cooperation with neighbouring Banken Bar & Brasserie (see below), but it has its own entrance from Stadshusgränd. (updated Nov 2016)
• 🌍 Tairyo, Åsgatan 18, ☏ +46 23 141-42. A surprisingly high-end restaurant, serving sushi and teppanyaki. Open for lunch and dinner. (updated Dec 2016)

Falun, like all of Sweden, has the Right to access rule which allows anyone to camp for one night almost anywhere in the woods.

• 🌍 Sjösidan Falun, Främby Udde 20 (About 3 kilometers outside the town centre. Follow Sturegatan south-east until you see signs for Främby udde), ☏ +46 10 585 13 40, boende@sjosidanfalun.se. Lakeside campsite with swimming, boat trips, miniature golf and canoe/kayak rental. Price for a campsite around 350 kr. 
• 🌍 Nordic Camping Lugnet (formerly Lugnet Camping & Stugby), Lugnetvägen 38, ☏ +46 771-101 200, lugnet@nordiccamping.se. For those who prefer their camping a bit more organized. It offers tent sites, camp sites with electricity and even well-equipped cabins. (updated Jul 2018)

• Cabins, ☏ +46 23 830-50. For those who prefer the countryside and plan to stay at least a few days. During high season (late June, July and early August) minimum time of rental is one week, from Sunday to Sunday. Only consider this option if you have access to a car. Prices vary from around 1500 kr/week for a small cabin during low season, to around 4000 kr/week for a larger one during high season. Each cabin normally houses three people or more. 
• 🌍 Lindsbergs kursgård, Lindsberg 10, ☏ +46 23 430-30, lindsberg10@gmail.com. Ecological hostel and course centre in the Bergsgården World Heritage area 8 kilometres north of the city centre. Nearest bus stop ~1km from the hostel. No direct online booking, contact via email or phone for availability. Free wireless internet in rooms, lobby and library. Prices range from 130 kr (per person in double room or dorm) to 170 kr (for private room). 
• 🌍 STF Falun/Vassbo Vandrarhem, Vassbo 30, 79193 Falun/Vassbo, ☏ +46 243 22 36 00, info@vassbovandrarhem.se. Falun's own Vandrarhem Youth Hostel closed in April 2021. The nearest alternative is in the forest at Vassbo, about 10km southwest of Falun, in the direction of Borlänge. There is an irregular bus service to the place itself with Dalatrafik bus 244, or more frequent buses 20 minutes walk away at Ornäs. Prices from 345 kr for a single room. 

• 🌍 Clarion Collection Hotel Bergmästaren, Bergsskolegränd 7, ☏ +46 23 701-700. Centrally located in the same area as Hotel Falun and First Hotel Grand. Prices include dinner. Singles from 600 kr, doubles from 790 kr. 
• 🌍 Hotel Falun, Trotzgatan 16, ☏ +46 23 291-80, info@hotelfalun.se. Family run hotel with 24 rooms featuring cable TV, phone, WC and a sink. Some have their own shower, the others have showers in the corridor. Some rooms have cooking equipment. Prices vary with season but start at 490 kr for a single or 590 kr for a double. 
• 🌍 First Hotel Grand, Trotzgatan 9, ☏ +46 23 794-880. Downtown four-star hotel with direct access to the night club Harrys. Singles from 618 kr, doubles from 718 kr. 
• 🌍 Scandic Hotel Lugnet, Svärdsjögatan 51, ☏ +46 23 669-22-00, falun@scandic-hotels.com. Near the Lugnet sports area about 10 minutes walk from the city centre. The building itself has an interesting design with windows made to resemble a ski jump ramp. Singles and doubles from 750 kr. 

The country code for Sweden is 46. The area code for Falun is 23, or 023 if you're calling from a Swedish phone. Mobile phones have numbers that start with 70 or 73, that is 070 or 073 if calling from a Swedish phone. When making international calls from a Swedish phone, dial two zeroes, 00, before the country code. The emergency number is 112.

Sweden is one of the most online countries in the world. The catch for visitors, however, is that there's a slight shortage of internet cafés since most people have good connections at home. An internet café/pool hall is on Falugatan 4, but it's a dark, dingy place.

• 🌍 City Library (Falu Stadsbibliotek), Östra Hamngatan 24, ☏ +46 18-727-17-00. M-Th 10:00-19:00, F 10:00-18:00, Sa 10:00-15:00, Su 10:00-16:00. The best place to get online in Falun, and in many other towns, is the library (bibliotek).