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Voykit pocket guide · Sweden
Falun
Give Falun one full day for the copper mine and the town centre, two if you add Lake Runn or Lugnet; base here, not in Borlänge.
Falun is the administrative centre of Dalarna and the largest town in the area, about 40,000 people, built around a copper mine that ran from the 11th century until 1992. The mine and its surroundings joined the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001. The centre is small and walkable, the mine is a 20-minute walk west, and the town works as a one- or two-night stop between Stockholm and the Dalarna lakes.
- Country
- Sweden
- Best months
- Jun–Aug for the mine's longest hours and lake swimming; Feb–Mar for tour skating and cross-country skiing
- Avoid
- Nov (dark, wet, few tours); late Dec–early Jan if you want the mine open daily
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- SEK
- Money
- Currency is the Swedish krona (SEK, kr); the euro is not used. About 11 SEK to €1 — check.
- Daily spend
- Budget 500–800 kr excl. bed · Mid 900–1,400 kr excl. bed · High 1,600 kr+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EU roaming applies for EU/EEA SIMs.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 112 · Police non-emergency 114 14 · Health advice 1177
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard European two-pin; UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Included; add 5–10% on the card terminal for good service.; Café and bar: Nothing expected.; Taxi: Round up.; Guides: Optional.
- Water
- Tap water is excellent; ask for 'kranvatten', often free.
- Toilets
- Public toilets are clean but often card-paid (SEK 5–10); cafés reserve them for customers.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | 30–50 kr |
| Lunch 'dagens rätt' (weekdays) | 65–120 kr |
| À la carte main course | 150–300 kr |
| Beer: bar / Systembolaget | 70–90 kr / 20–30 kr |
| Copper mine underground tour, adult | 220 kr |
| Museum entry (Dalarnas Museum) | 40 kr |
| Dala horse, smallest genuine one | from about 100 kr |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BLE · Borlänge (Dala Airport)
- About 20 min from Falun by road; limited routes — check current destinations
Typical fares
- Falun → Borlänge by train
- about 15–20 min (check)
- Local bus single ticket
- 22 kr adult, 17 kr child
- Taxi within town
- phone to book; station stand only (check)
Get around
The centre is small enough to walk; the mine is about 20 min on foot from Stora Torget. Dalatrafik runs the local bus network (single adult ticket 22 kr, child 17 kr). Bikes can be rented by the main square in summer. Taxis are pricey and rarely cruise the streets: phone one or use the stand at the railway station. Parking is free on many streets and rarely above 6 kr/hour where charged.
See and do
Known for
- Falun Copper Mountain (UNESCO World Heritage)
- The Great Pit (Stora Stöten)
- Falu red paint and Falukorv sausage
- Dala horses and Dalarna folk culture
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Borlänge | Train from Falun centralstation, about 15–20 min | About 30 min |
| Ludvika | Train towards Örebro, about 50 min | About 1 h |
| Avesta | Train towards Gävle via Borlänge, about 1 h | About 1.5 h |
| Lake Siljan and Mora | Train or bus via Borlänge, then local lines around the lake | 2–3 h |
Sleep
- Town centre (Stora Torget / Åsgatan)
- Hotels, restaurants and the station within a 5-min walk; best for a short stay without a car.
- Around the mine (Gruvplatsen)
- Quiet, close to the World Heritage site; a 20-min walk or short bus ride from the centre.
- Lugnet / Lake Runn side
- Sports area and camping by the lake; pick this if you come for skiing, skating or swimming.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hejhay |
| Thank you | Tacktack |
| Excuse me | Ursäktaoor-SHEK-ta |
| How much is it? | Hur mycket kostar det?hoor MICK-eh KOSS-tar deh |
| Can I pay by card? | Kan jag betala med kort?kan yag beh-TA-la med kort |
| Where is the toilet? | Var är toaletten?var air too-ah-LETT-en |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake with eye contact; first names; avoid: Kissing on the cheek with new acquaintances
- Fika: Accept the invitation; it is how people connect at work; avoid: Treating it as a quick takeaway
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring flowers or chocolates; avoid: Arriving early — or late
- Conversation: Keep calm, modest and factual; lagom; avoid: Boasting, raised voices, pushing opinions
- Queues: Take a number (nummerlapp); avoid: Jumping the queue
- Public transport: Let people off first, keep quiet, give seats to elderly; avoid: Loud phone calls
Scams and watch-outs
- The underground mine tour leaves red copper mud on shoes and trousers — do not wear your best clothes; shoe protection is sold in the shop for 5 kr.
- Mine tours run daily 10:00–17:00 May–Sep (to 18:00 in July) but only weekends at 12:30 and 14:30 from October to April: check times before you travel.
- Taxis are not hail-able outside the station and weekend nights; book by phone.
- Winter ice on Lake Runn is only safe when locals and the operator say so — never walk out on your own judgement.
Falun is a low-risk town; the real hazards are winter ice, dark unlit paths and the mine's slippery, staining underground floors. Emergency number is 112.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Falun yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Falun Copper Mountain (UNESCO World Heritage)
- The Great Pit (Stora Stöten)
- Falu red paint and Falukorv sausage
- Dala horses and Dalarna folk culture
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Visit Dalarna — Falun: www.visitdalarna.se/en/falun
- SJ (rail tickets): www.sj.se/
- Wikivoyage: Falun, revision 5294346 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5294346
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Falun
Till den här adressen, tack
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies in Falun; most countries keep embassies in Stockholm. US citizens: register with the embassy in Stockholm before travelling.
Check the mine's tour times and the tourist office hours before you go.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/falun). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.