Orsa
Orsa is a small town of 7,000 in Dalarna, Sweden, mostly known for its ski resort, Grönklitt, and the Bear Park - Europe's largest. Also known for its folk music, in particular "Orsa Spelmän".
Get in
By train
Inlandsbanan offers passenger transport all year round. During the summer months, connections are offered twice daily in both directions.
The Sweden national railway operated SJ doesn't offer bike transport on the train, but there are private rail companies that do.
Tågåkeriet AB offers direct connections from Gothenburg to Borlänge. When traveling with them you can bring up to four bicycles. Tågkompaniet AB offers regional connections from Mora to Borlänge. When traveling with them you can bring up to four bicycles. In each case, bike seats can not be reserved, so it is not guaranteed that you may bring the bike.
By bus
Orsa is connected by bus through the company Dalatrafik to regional transport. There is also a bus to and from Östersund twice a day. The central bus stop is called Orsa busstation.
On SJ you can search combined train and Dalatrafik bus.
By car
The European route E 45 (old name: Riksväg 45) passes by Orsa. It continues south towards Mora and Gothenburg, and north towards Karesuando.
Get around
By bicycle
In Orsa proper there are only a few bike paths. Nevertheless, Orsa and its surroundings can be easily explored by bicycle. One popular bike route is the 45 km (28 mi) circuit around Orsasjö, but other destinations in Orsa are also easy to reach by bike. If you bike south towards Mora, it might be better to choose the bike path Lisselhedsvägen and not the busy E45. Local bike trips can be planned by using Siljansleden.
Dalatrafik buses can carry up to two bicycles (on a bicycle mount at the back of the buses)
See
- 1 Orsa Predator Park (Orsa rovdjurspark). More of a safari park than a zoo, this place features the Big Four (brown bear, wolf, lynx and wolverine), and exotic animals such as Siberian tigers, Kodiak bears, and snow leopards.
- 2 Orsa Grindstone Museum (Orsa Slipstensmuseum), Gruvbacksvägen 2, 794 91 Orsa, info@orsaslipsten.se. Museum decicated the history of grinding stones made of the local Orsa sandstone, a red Silurian sedimentary rock with few fossile remnants that qualifies for the making of excellent sharpening stones and millstones.
Do
- 1 Röda Kvarn (Cinema), Järnvägsgatan 33, ☏ +46 250-401 09. Screenings usually take place on Thursdays and Sundays; At weekends sometimes children's performances are also organized. The cinema is run on a volunteer basis by a small association. The conversion to digital technology but still current movies, sometimes even in 3D offered. English films are are not dubbed, but have Swedish subtitles.
- 2 [dead link] Orsa Grönklitt, ☏ +46 250-462 00. A wildlife park renowned for its bears.
- Orsayran. Street music festival every wednesday during July and the first wednesday of August. Live music in and around the railway station.
Buy
Eat
There are various ways to eat in Orsa. The opening times vary widely between peak season and low season.
- 1 [dead link] Strandrestaurangen Orsa, Timmervägen 1, ☏ +46 70 014 24 49. With a scenic view of Orsasjön you can eat in the beach restaurant Orsa.
- 2 [dead link] McGregors Sportsbar, Bowlingvägen 1, ☏ +46 250-59 40 40. Simple dishes are also offered in the restaurant next to the bowling alley.
- 3 Orsa Kaffestuga, Kaplansgatan 13, ☏ +46 73-087 56 03. As a café in a cozy atmosphere.
Drink
Nightlife is virtually non-existent in Orsa. Some restaurants are open in the evening.
Sleep
- 1 Hotell Kungshaga, Lindängsvägen 11, ☏ +46 250 44 260, info@kungshaga.se.
- 2 Hotell Strandvillan, Älvgatan 6, ☏ +46 250 408 73, reservation@strandvillan.com.
- 3 STF Jugendherberge Orsa Vandrarhem, Gillevägen 3, ☏ +46 220 421 70, info@orsavandrarhem.se. A hostel
Go next
- Mora - The largest city in Siljansbygden
- Rättvik - On the eastern coast of lake Siljan
| Routes through Orsa |
| Gällivare ← Sveg ← | N  S |
→ Mora → Karlstad |