Åre

Åre [1] is a well-known ski resort in Jämtland, Sweden, approximately 80 km from the city of Östersund. The ski lift system is on the Åreskutan mountain with its highest peak at a height of 1420 meters, but the highest lift ends at 1260 meters, so the peak has to be reached by a snowmobile lift. The village and ski area are accessible by bus and train. The nearest airport is Åre Östersund Airport. Get in By train SJ passenger train service [2] has daily trains from Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö. There are also night trains. Veolia Transport [3] have day trains from Sundsvall and from Trondheim (together with NSB [4]). Veolia Transport also have night trains from Stockholm and Gothenburg during the winter. By plane Åre Östersund Airport: There are domestic flights operating daily from Stockholm to Åre Östersund Airport (SAS [5] and Flynordic [6]), direct bus from the airport to Åre costs about €25 one way. There are also charter flights from London[7], Moscow, Helsinki[8] and Copenhagen[9]. Vaernes Airport: You can also fly to Vaernes Airport outside Trondheim. International flights from London[10] and Amsterdam[11]. At the airport you take the local train to Hell (takes about 3 minutes). In Hell you take the train "Mittnabotåget" direct to Åre Railwaystation, it is worth checking the time of departure from Hell as the train only runs twice a day (in both directions). Generally there is a morning train at around 0900 and an evening train at around 1700. Avoid arriving at Hell station too far in advance as it is far less comfortable than waiting a few hours in a cafe at Vaernes airport! If possible, pre-book your train tickets [12] (from station "Vaernes" to station "Åre"). The ticket price is 145 SEK one way although there are discounts for students. By helicopter You can charter a helicopter to pick you up at Vaernes Airport in Trondheim, Norway (40 min) or at Åre-Östersund Airport on Frösön (22 minutes). The largest operator in Östersund is Jämtlands Flyg[13] which has helicopters for 3-6 passengers. By car Get around Bus The Skibus goes every hour and connects the 4 villages Duved, Tegefjäll, Åre village and Björnen. The bus is free if you have a Ski pass, 20 SEK when the lifts are closed. See The view from the top of the mountain Tännforsen, in the winter, a deep-frozen waterfall Do Skiing Åre is probably most famous for alpine skiing, and the Åre ski area contains three different areas. These are: Björnen Central Åre and Högzon (High zone) (Also including Rödkullen) Duved-Tegefjäll There are one skipass for all the four different systems, however a separate skipass can be bought for those who only wish to ski in Duved-Tegefjäll at a cheaper price. Björnen Family friendly and laid back. Featuring long blue slopes and a big children's area. Central Åre, Highzone, Rödkullen The biggest area, where also most of the people are which sometimes means there are long queues to the lifts. Best before lunch, when the pistes are in their prime condition and many people have not gotten out of their cabins yet. Duved-Tegefjäll Some of the best slopes in the entire system. Long, perfect slopes and not many people. The 6-chair express lift takes you to the top in no-time. For an easy and fun off-piste experience, take the 6-chair lift to the top, go straight right and down the ravine, a fun and fairly easy off-piste run which features an naturally shaped halfpipe. Pistemap: [14] Zipline, ☎ +46647-52525 (tony@campare.se), [15].  edit Åre has the largest Zipline park in Europe. There are many other extreme sports which you can endulge in Åre, for example kite-flying, ski-doo safaris, horseriding, ice-climbing etc. Visit Åre Chokladfabrik and watch as they make chocolate, ☎ +46647-15580 (info@arechokladfabrik.se, fax: 46647-15589).  edit There are also opportunities for cross-country skiing. Buy Don't miss the stores of local clothing manufacturer's Extreme and Peak Performance Extreme, Åre Torg Peak Performance General Store, Åre Torg Swedish sports retailer Stadium also recently opened a shop which offers slightly cheaper equipment aswell as high-end brands. Stadium, Åre Torg Hanson and Åre Skidsport, both found on Torget (the plaza) are other retailers that offer ski and snowboarding equipment and clothing. Åre is full of small shops that offer locally made handicraft and various sovenirs. Don't miss Mountain Recycle which is a store that resells used ski and snowboarding equipment at great prices. Mountain Recycle, Årevägen 70 The outstanding luxuary store in the village, Åre Guld (Åre Gold) for the ones who wants to buy weddingrings and local made jewels. Åre Guld, Stationsvägen 16 Eat Eating out in Åre can be a real experience as several high-end resturants have established themself close to the slopes. There are plenty of more causal places too but expect prices to be higher than average. Dahlbom på Torget, Årevägen 78, ☎ +46(0)647-508 20 (info@dahlbompatorget.se), [16]. Open daily from 6PM. Serving up innovative cuisine with local ingredients. The street level is ocuipied by a hip bar, resturant is upstairs. Mains 105-330 kr.  edit All Stars, just above Åre Torg, at the MittiÅre-Building. Broken just above the plaza close to Bergbanan offers great burgers and other American diner dishes and a great atmosphere Buustamons Fjällgård, In the ski system. Excellent food and environment. Good hamburgers. Fjällpuben, One of the best kitchens in Åre, serves local dishes. Situated behind the Etreem Store and Handelsbanken. Max, Åre Torg, pricy fast food with good burgers. Villa Tottebo, 100 meters from the square "Åre Torg", well renowned restaurant in an old hunting villa Wersen's, Åre torg, Pizza and a la carte. Drink Åre is the party hub of Sweden during the winter, and there is party 24/7, if not in one of the bars or clubs then in a cabin not far away. Popular spots are among others: Bygget Werséns Diplomat If you like to relax and talk you can go to for example: Fjällgården Tott or one of the many bars and restaurants scattered around Åre Torg. Sleep There is lots of Accommodation in Åre--hotels, apartments, cabins and campings. Skistar, the owner of the ski system have lots of lodging and accommodation available on their website [17] Hotels: Holiday Club Spa hotel & Resort, Årestrand, ☎ +46647-12060 (info@holidayclub.se, fax: +46647-12051), [18].  edit Tott Hotel, Tottvägen 111, ☎ +46647-15000 (info@totthotell.com), [19].  edit Hotel Diplomat Åregården, ☎ +46 647 178 00 (are@diplomathotel.com, fax: +46 647 179 60), [20].  edit Hotell Fjällgården, Fjällgårdsvägen 35, ☎ +46647-14500 (info@fjallgarden.se), [21].  edit Apartments: Åre Fjällby, ☎ +46647-13100 (bokning@areresort.se), [22].  edit Brunkulla, (bokning@areresort.se), [23].  edit Get out The Skiarea The slope "Tväråvalvet" is one of the best slopes in the skiarea The new Telemixlift "VM8" in the World championship area There are 40 lifts and 100 slopes in the skiarea. Slopes: Green: 11 Blue: 42 Red: 40 Black: 7 Night skiing: 7 slopes Longest slope: 6500 meters Total length of pistes: 95000 meters Lifts: Lifts: 40 Chairlifts: 5 Reversible Ropeways: 1 Gondolas: 1 Funiculars: 1 Surface lifts: 32 Liftcapacity: 48000 persons/hour Mountain high: 1420 Mountain low: 372 Vertical drop: 890 Night Skiing If you are watching the broadcasts from the World Cup competitions in Åre you probably think the races is running in daylight when in fact the sun had already set. This is due to the superb floodlight system covering two of the best pistes in Åre, Gästrappet and Lundsrappet (serviced by the skilift "VM8"). The visibility is actually better in the floodlight than in natural daylight. There is also night skiing on other pistes as well, but the most brilliant is found at Gästrappet and Lundsrappet. Night skiing season 2007-2008: ÅRE VILLAGE Skilift "VM8" Week 52-10 Monday, Wednesday and Friday (not 24/12) DUVED Skilift "Hamreliften" Week 52-10 Tuesdays and Saturdays BJÖRNEN Skilifts "Björnliften", "Nalleliften" and "Vargliften". Week 52-10 Thursdays and Sundays The night skiing is between 18:00 and 20:00. Summer 4 lifts are open in the summer as well. You can take the cabel car up to the peak and enjoy the beautiful view! Or why not eat at the highest located restaurant in Sweden: Stormköket. Zipeline, ☎ +46647-52525 (tony@campare.se).  edit Åre has the largest Zipeline park in Europe. The longest ride takes you on a 400 meter adrenaline kick above Åre's wild nature. A must for everyone who loves extreme excitement and beautiful nature. Everybody can zipline since the speed can be adjusted to age and demand. Routes through Åre END ← Trondheim ←  W  E  → Östersund → Sundsvall This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!