Storlien is a Swedish ski resort in western Jämtland, just 2 km (1.2 mi) east of the border with Norway.

Understand

Inauguration of the railway in 1882, Storlien

Storlien railway station, in the centre of the village and the highest station in Sweden

Storlien is a saddle point in the Scandinavian mountains, and the highest point on Saint Olaf's Way, a pilgrim route in use since the 12th century.

In Swedish history, it is infamous for a failed military campaign in the Great Northern War. After the death of king Charles XII, Lieutenant Carl Gustaf Armfeldt led thousands of men back from Norway in the winter of 1718–1719, into a blizzard where most of them froze to death.

As the railway was built in the 1880s, Storlien emerged as a prestigious resort. The Royal Family has a house here. During the late 20th century, it has been in the shade of the more developed resort in Åre. As living costs in Norway have become the world's highest, Storlien has a retail trade out of all proportion to its small size.

Get in

Storlien is at the Swedish-Norwegian border. Both countries are part of the Schengen area, normally without any passport checks. But Norway is not a member of the EU Customs Union, so you need to declare certain goods and you can be stopped for a customs inspection.

By train

The Storlien railway station is higher above sea level than any other in Sweden.

SJ (formerly part of Statens Järnvägar) has night trains from Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.

Norrtåg has day trains from Sundsvall and Östersund, Sweden.

NSB has day trains from Trondheim in Norway.

By plane

Vaernes airport (TRD ^IATA): outside Trondheim is the closest airport, just 73km from Storlien. There are international flights from London and Amsterdam.

At the airport you take the local train to Hell and get off just 3 minutes later (or walk). In Hell, you take the NSB train direct to Storlien railway station; it's worth checking the time of departures from Hell as the train only runs twice a day (in both directions). Generally there is a morning train at around 08:00 and an evening train at around 17:00. Avoid arriving at Hell station too far in advance as it is far less comfortable than waiting a few hours in a café at Vaernes airport. There is also a shopping centre between the airport and Hell.

Åre Östersund airport (OSD ^IATA): There are domestic flights operating daily from Stockholm to Åre Östersund Airport There are also charter flights from London, Moscow, Helsinki and Copenhagen in winter time.

By helicopter

You can charter a helicopter to pick you up at Vaernes Airport in Trondheim, Norway or at Åre-Östersund Airport on Frösön. The largest operator in Östersund is Jämtlands Flyg which has helicopters for 3-6 passengers.

By car

You will easily reach Storlien by taking the E14 that passes right through the village.

Get around

It's a small village where almost everything is within walking distance.

If you don't want to walk you can call "Wänseths buss" for a taxi.

See

Rensjösäterns jaktvilla

• 1 Brudslöjan (Bride's veil) (4 km from Storlien). A beautiful waterfall with a 24 m drop. (updated Oct 2017)
• Printzskiölds­monumentet (by the Skurdalssjön lake). A 1907 memorial to two brothers who died when skiing in a snowstorm. (updated Oct 2017)
• 2 Rensjösäterns jaktvilla (16 km north). This "Pink Castle" is a hunting lodge from the 1880s. It is privately owned; the interior is not open to visitors. (updated Oct 2017)
• 3 Stenen i Grönan dal (The stone in the green valley) (By the Skurdalssjön lake, 5 km from Storlien). A strange looking stone which, due to its location near the Trondheim pilgrimage route, has been a tourist attraction since the middle ages. (updated Oct 2017)
• 4 Stora Helvetet (the name means "Big Hell") (300 m from the border). A railway embankment named after troubles during construction in 1877. It has caused big problems also in 2012–2018; there was a risk of it being destroyed in a landslide, so was rebuilt into a bridge during 2017–2018. (updated Oct 2017)

Do

Panorama from the top of the ski area

• Hiking
• Mountain climbing.
• Biking (flat areas or uphill and downhill, mountain biking).
• Fishing (great fishing, summer and winter).
• Hunting mushrooms and berries.
• 1 Meråkerfjell Ridesenter, Ivarsmyra (on the Norwegian side of the border), ☏ +47 74 81 36 26. Go riding on Icelandic horses. (updated Oct 2017)
• 2 Rypetoppen adventurepark (on the Norwegian side of the border), ☏ +47 74 41 41 70. An outdoor climbing and adventure zone with rope-ways and zip-lines. (updated Oct 2017)

Winter snow sports

• Ice-skating (on the autumn just before the snow arrives).
• Snowmobiling. 3 Wänseth buss Storlien, Vintergatan 17, ☏ +46 647-704 77. (updated Oct 2017) and 4 Superpris, Vargvägen 2, ☏ +46 647-700 20. (updated Oct 2017) rent out snow mobiles.
• 5 Storlien Alpine Center, Vintergatan 72, ☏ +46 647-704 44. Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and ski touring. The alpine ski area's vertical drop is 191 metres, which is less than other Scandinavian ski resorts such as Åre and Duved, but suitable for children and beginners. (updated Oct 2017)

Buy

• 1 Coop extra, Vintergatan 4, ☏ +46 77-133 33 10. The main supermarket, also selling alcohol on pre-order. 
• 2 Storliens sportcenter, Vintergatan 72, ☏ +46 647-704 44. A sports shop that is selling and renting skiing equipment. 
• 3 Superpris, Vargvägen 2, ☏ +46 647-700 20. A filling station and supermarket focused on Norwegian customers, with products subject to high taxes and tariffs in Norway. Beer, sweets, soft drinks, meat, etc. They also sell fishing supplies. (updated Oct 2017)
• 4 Viltboden (in Storvallen), ☏ +46 647-705 00. Information centre and a store that sells everything that the hiker needs. (updated Dec 2018)

There are also supermarkets, design shops, fishing stores, etc.

Eat

• 1 Flammans skafferi, Vintergatan 46, ☏ +46 70-322 08 18. (updated Oct 2017)
• 2 Le Ski Restaurant & Night Club, Vintergatan 25, ☏ +46 647-701 51. (updated Oct 2017)
• 3 Rödluvan, Vintergatan 72. A family owned tavern. (updated Oct 2017)
• 4 Sylvias Kanonbar, Vintergatan 21, ☏ +46 647-702 12. (updated Oct 2017)

Drink

Storlien certainly has a nightlife during ski season, though nothing like Åre.

• Flamman
• Le Ski
• Kanonbaren

Sleep

• 1 Fjäll-Lien, Vintergatan 70, ☏ +46 647-703 01. A cabin-rental service. (updated Oct 2017)
• 2 Fjällyor Hotel, Vintergatan 24, ☏ +46 647-701 70. 
• 3 Le Ski Lodge, Vintergatan 25, ☏ +46 647-701 51. 
• 4 Storliens Högfjällshotell, Geijerbacken 10, ☏ +46 647-701 70. The largest hotel. 
• 5 Storlien Service, Vintergatan 52, ☏ +46 70-797 05 08. A cabin-rental service. 

Go next

• Norway (Nord-Trøndelag) is 2 kilometres from Storlien.
  • Hell (Norway) is one of the nearest towns in Norway, with an appeal to English-speaking visitors.
  • Trondheim is the nearest major city.
• Åre, with more ski slopes, is the centre of Åre Municipality.
• Östersund, is the only major city in Jämtland.

Routes through Storlien

Trondheim ← Stjørdalshalsen ←

W  E

→ Åre → Sundsvall