Gävle, Sweden, is only about 100 miles north of Stockholm, which makes Gävle one of the best destinations for day trips from Stockholm. All in all, Gävle is a very romantic and laid-back destination with scenic views and lots of colorful wooden houses. Don’t forget to bring your camera. When it comes to Gävle’s natural beauty, the rivers of Gavleån and Testeboan—and the piers along the water—bring life to this quaint city on Sweden’s east coast. “By the water” is by far the most common answer when people are asked where they would like to live and play in Gävle.
Gävle also provides plenty of opportunities to experience good taste—from intimate, personal restaurants to Sweden’s best coffee and chocolate.
In fact, the world-renowned Gevalia coffee plant has been part of the city for more than 150 years. Gevalia (the Latin name for Gävle) is the largest coffee roastery in Scandinavia. If you have an afternoon, take a tour through the plant, learn about the art of making coffee, and take home some delicious reminders of your visit to Gävle. There is no offseason here, which makes it a good choice for a day trip from Stockholm at any time of the year. In early December, the straw-made Gävle Goat (Gävlebocken) is built as a traditional Christmas display in the center of town at Slottstorget each year.