Guide to Åre
Virtual tour in Åre
Åre boasts four distinct villages: Duved, Tegefjall, Åre By, and Åre Bjornen, all interconnected by bus services. Visitors staying in any of these villages can access all the ski lifts and slopes using a single ski pass. The skiing season in Åre typically spans from November to May.
The resort offers a variety of ski runs, including 12 green, 39 blue, 39 red, and 5 black slopes. There's a well-developed infrastructure with one gondola, one cabin lift, six chairlifts, 31 rope tow elevators, and one cable car, collectively capable of accommodating up to 47,000 people per hour. Additionally, night skiing is available from December 20 to April 6, four times a week from 18:00 to 21:00.
For beginners, the resort provides opportunities to learn skiing basics through ski schools. Group lessons are held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and reservations can be made through Skidakarna locations. Private instructors are also available for personalized guidance.
Beyond skiing, Åre offers a diverse range of entertainment options, including ice fishing, helicopter sightseeing tours, skydiving, and hang gliding. Visitors can also enjoy unique experiences like reindeer or dog sled rides.
Photos of Åre
Tours to Åre
Many tourists search for hot deals to enjoy active winter vacations, especially since ski tours can be quite expensive. In addition to the standard travel costs like accommodation, insurance, visa, and food, you'll also need to budget for equipment, ski passes, and possibly instructor services. Åre is known for hosting annual championships that attract experienced skiers and snowboarders along with spectators and fans.
Åre takes pride in being considered the best resort in all of Europe. This reputation is due to its long-lasting snow cover of over six months, its extensive terrain, and the appeal of Åreskutan, the highest point, which draws extreme athletes from around the world.
The cost of a trip to Åre is not excessive and can vary based on the chosen accommodation and the season of your visit. The most budget-friendly times are usually at the beginning or end of the ski season when there are fewer tourists.
If you're looking to save money, consider purchasing a ski pass for a single day or multiple days. For even greater savings, a season pass allows you to access lifts not only in one specific region but across several areas that are part of the Åre resort.
Interesting places in Åre
Aside from the skiing and outdoor activities, Åre offers a diverse cultural program to enjoy. Popular tourist attractions include excursions to Norway's Trondheim, visits to the Tännforsen waterfall, and relaxing at the Storsjobadet SPA pool. For a unique dining experience, consider a forest walk followed by dinner at "Karin's Hut," accessible by snowmobile or dog sled. The restaurant is known for serving game dishes cooked over an open fire, making it a memorable culinary adventure.
Flight ticket prices
The nearest airport (Östersund) only accepts domestic and seasonal flights, so traveling to Åre from Europe requires a transfer. Most tourists choose flights via Stockholm, served by airlines such as SAS, Ryanair, and Norwegian. Tickets from Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, or Budapest to Stockholm range from €50 to €120, depending on the season. A domestic flight from Stockholm to Östersund costs an average of €60-100.
Flights from Paris, Milan, or Barcelona to Stockholm typically cost between €80 and €180. The cheapest tickets can be found during the off-season, such as in September or May. For budget travelers, an alternative is taking a train or bus from Stockholm to Åre, which takes about 6-7 hours but significantly reduces travel costs.
The best hotels in Åre
Almost all hotels in Åre are located within walking distance from the ski elevators, so you won't have to spend time on the road. Budget tourists choose to stay in the so-called “mountain hotels”, which correspond to the level of 2*-3*. Most rooms in them have a small area and are equipped with bunk beds, which saves space. The cost of accommodation - from 60 EUR per day for two people. If you prefer comfortable 5* hotels, be ready to pay from 250 EUR per day.
Travel budget
The resort of Are pleases its guests with quite acceptable prices for accommodation, food and entertainment by European standards. And you can get here relatively inexpensively if you buy tickets to Stockholm 4-5 months before departure.
Additional expenses will depend mainly on the level of skiing. For example, beginners should include in their vacation budget the costs of several introductory lessons with an instructor and equipment rental; all athletes without exception would do well to get good medical insurance.
| The budget for a trip to Åre | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | from 300 EUR | Accomodation | from 60 EUR per day |
| Average check in a restaurant | from 300 SEK (approx. 30 EUR) | Ski pass | 404 EUR for 5 days |
| Total: about 1650 EUR for a week for two people | |||
Åre Airport
About 80 kilometers from the resort is the small Åre Östersund Airport. Ranked sixth in Sweden, it serves more than 370,000 people annually. Domestic flights and seasonal charters arrive here.
Transfer to Åre from the airport
In season (from late November to early May), most hotels in Åre offer a shuttle service from Östersund Airport. It costs about 280 SEK for an adult and 140 SEK for a child up to 11 years old.
Public transportation Åre
Buses run between the resort areas from 9:00 to 22:00 during the season. Ski pass holders can use them free of charge during the day, while in the evening a token fee is charged. Åre guests can also take a reindeer and dog sled ride.
Car rental in Åre
You can book your car online and pick it up at Östersund Airport, where the offices of the leading rental companies are located.
Security in Åre
Local authorities and rescue services unanimously urge resort guests to keep safety rules in mind when in the mountains: always be aware of your strength, choose the slopes according to your level of skiing and use protective equipment.