WELCOME, VISITOR!

WELCOME, VISITOR!
INNEHÅLL
WORLD FAMOUS ARTISTS & GREAT SHOPPING
Big events, lots of shops and one of
the hottest cities for entertainment
in Sweden. There’s plenty to set the
pulse racing in Karlstad.
For big events, Karlstad has Löfbergs
Lila Arena, one of the most modern of
its type in Europe, which provides us
with the opportunity to arrange worldclass performances. There is seating for
8,250 spectators at ice hockey matches,
rock concerts or other events. The home
team, Färjestads BK, is one the best ice
hockey teams in the country (Swedish
champions in 2006). Since its opening
in 2001, world-famous artists such as
Rod Stewart, Elton John and Bob Dylan
have performed at Löfbergs Lila Arena.
Back in 1963 the Beatles’ first performance in Sweden took place in Karlstad in the main hall at Sundsta upper
secondary school. It lasted for about
20 minutes and the first chord came as
a shock to the audience, almost as big
a shock as the boys’ haircuts. Unfortunately, the concert ended abruptly
when John Lennon’s microphone broke
during the encore of ‘Twist and Shout’.
LOYAL CROWD
Entertainers return to Karlstad because
they know they have a loyal crowd here.
Local people turn out in numbers for a
big show. The city has a proven history
of managing large events. Organisers
know that they can trust the workforce
here to get things done properly.
UDDEHOLM SWEDISH RALLY
Every second winter, the Uddeholm
Swedish Rally attracts rally drivers from
over 20 countries to Karlstad. During
the four-day event, the region is visited
by around 250,000 people. TV broadcasts of this leg of the world championship are watched by 68 million viewers
worldwide. A special stage of the rally
is held at Färjestad horse-trotting track.
From the stands, 15,000 spectators can
watch the drama on the track. When
the Rally comes to town, the whole of
Karlstad becomes one big party.
SHOPPING
Karlstad is a commercial centre with
a long history. This is reflected in the
city’s high commercial index (130 for
consumer staples, 153 for consumer
discretionary). Market magazine chose
Karlstad as its retail municipality of the
year in 2008.
Bergvik shopping centre attracts lots
of people to Karlstad. The shopping
centre is four km from the city centre,
beside the western exit from the E18
motorway. It is the fourth largest shopping centre in Sweden, with an annual
turnover of SEK 2.2 billion and 865
employees. There are 58 shops along a
500-metre long mall. In 2007, Bergvik
shopping centre had 8 million visitors.
IKEA opened for business at Bergvik in
August 2007.
The centre of Karlstad is also very
lively. There are more than 250 shops of
all sorts. There is a mixture of culture
and commerce – everything from the
big chain stores, shops selling furniture and fittings and skateboard shops
to small, picturesque shops selling a
variety of wares.
In September 2006, Mitt i City was
opened. Covering an entire block in
central Karlstad, it meets the highest
standards for retail, housing and availability. The commercial part of Mitt i
City houses over 50 shops, restaurants,
cafés and bars. One of the attractions is
a sky bar with a tremendous view over
the River Klarälven.
The shopping mall has around 250
employees and during its first year was
visited by about 4 million people. Mitt
i City was voted the best shopping
centre in Sweden in 2007.
WELCOME, VISITOR!
ENTERTAINMENT, CULTURE AND THE OUTDOOR LIFE
Are you tempted by good food and
entertainment? With around 50
restaurants and nightclubs, Karlstad is
one of the hottest cities for entertainment in Sweden. During the course of
an ordinary evening, there can be as
many as 10,000 people out enjoying
themselves in Karlstad.
A party to celebrate a special event, or a
cocktail after work? A Thai, Indian, Lebanese or Swedish meal? The nightlife
in Karlstad has something to offer to all
tastes and ages.
Nöjesfabriken in Karlstad is one
of Sweden’s biggest entertainment
facilities. 10-pin bowling, golf simulator, nightclub and much more, with
everything under the same roof. British
pop icon Morrissey has chosen Nöjesfabriken for two exclusive club recordings.
Shows and club evenings for different
musical genres are arranged at pubs and
restaurants across the city. Karlstad has
been chosen as Sweden’s city of jazz for
2009.
also a park featuring the three themes of
art, music and literature. In Naturum,
there is an exciting exhibition with the
Värmland countryside as its theme.
The poet, Gustaf Fröding, was born in
Alster Manor on 22nd August 1860.
Nowadays, the manor is a memorial to
Gustaf Fröding’s life and work. The
lovely garden with views across lake
Vänern is a popular destination for local
people and tourists. During the summer
the manor hosts a series of exhibitions,
concerts and children’s theatre.
VÄRMLAND OPERA
The Värmland Opera has a long
tradition of producing stirring work.
Performances of Cosi Fan Tutte, Jekyll
& Hyde and The Wedding Singer have
been given standing ovations, both at
the local level and at the national level.
The theatre’s intimacy strongly contributes to the audience’s enjoyment.
The Opera has many fine solo artists
and an excellent orchestra. International
artists are delighted to appear here as
guests.
CULTURE
Värmland Museum, which is located in
central Karlstad, was chosen as ‘Museum of the Year 2005’ in Sweden.
Mariebergsskogen is the city park of
Karlstad. There is something here for
all the family. The children’s forest
is open all year round with its farm
animals, ponies, goats and pigs. There is
small forest lakes by a system of canals.
The area surrounding Lake Vänern is a
paradise for those who like to sunbathe
and swim, with its average 1,800 hours
of sun per year. Waterskiing, windsurfing, tours around the archipelagos and
kayaking are examples of activities that
go on in the Vänern area. The many waterways in the region also provide great
opportunities for fishing, both in the
winter and the summer. There are also
several places in Karlstad where you can
enjoy recreational and outdoor pursuits,
for example golf and hiking.
OUTDOOR LIFE
In Karlstad, one is always close to water
and one of the greatest lakes in Europe,
Lake Vänern, which could accommodate
the earth’s population on its surface.
Despite the fact that Lake Vänern is
situated in the middle of Sweden, it
is connected to both the sea and the
KARLSTAD.SE
TOURISM IN VÄRMLAND
The Municipality of Karlstad works
proactively to market tourism in
Karlstad in strong collaboration with a
variety of players, including Träffpunkt
Karlstad, Centrum Karlstad and Visit
Värmland.
The travel and tourist industry in the
Municipality of Karlstad had a turnover of some SEK 880 million in 2006
and provided work for 800 people. A
lot of visitors come from Norway and
tourists from China are increasing rapidly in number. Karlstad is the third
most popular destination in Sweden for
foreign visitors, after Stockholm and
Göteborg. The tourist office in Karlstad
receives 150,000 visitors a year, making
it Sweden’s busiest.