Sälen or Branäs – what are the differences between these resorts?

Sälen or Branäs? The main differences are scale and location. Branäs is a compact, family-friendly resort in Värmland with around thirty slopes, all clustered around a single mountain, and the shortest journey time in the country from Gothenburg and western Sweden. Sälen comprises four interconnected resorts plus neighbouring resorts in the valley, with well over a hundred slopes, a wider range of facilities and the country’s largest selection of private mountain chalets.

None of these destinations is objectively the best – they each address different needs. If you’re a larger group planning to stay together, the difference in accommodation options is the real deciding factor, and a mountain chalet for the whole group is simply on a different scale in Sälenfjällen. If you’re a family of four from Gothenburg with three days to spare, things look quite different.

Quick comparison: Sälen or Branäs side by side

The differences that usually make the difference:

• Size: Branäs has around thirty slopes around a single mountain – Sälen has well over a hundred spread across four interconnected resorts.
• Journey time from Gothenburg: Branäs: approx. 4 hours – Sälen: approx. 5.5–6 hours.
• Journey time from Stockholm: Branäs: approx. 4.5–5 hours – Sälen: approx. 4.5–5 hours. From the east, the journey times are similar.
• Price range: Branäs is usually below Sälen for both lift passes and accommodation.
• Accommodation: Branäs is dominated by flats and small holiday cottages – Sälen offers a full range of accommodation, including houses that can accommodate up to fifty people.
• Service and evenings: Sälen has more restaurants, more après-ski and more off-piste activities.

Always check the latest information on lifts and slopes at each resort – they are constantly expanding and renovating.

The situation: Värmland versus Sälenfjällen – who’s closest?

Branäs is situated on the Klarälven river in northern Värmland, in Sälen in western Dalarna. For someone from western Sweden, Branäs is clearly the closest – about one and a half to two hours’ shorter journey from Gothenburg. For someone in Stockholm or Uppsala, the distances are practically equivalent, with Sälen possibly marginally easier thanks to the quality of the roads. From Norway, and particularly from the Oslo region, both are within easy reach. It is therefore one’s home address, not the map, that determines the winner when it comes to journey time – and that, in turn, is what makes Branäs a strong choice for the whole of western Sweden.

The size, height and variation of the slopes

Branäs has a vertical drop of around a couple of hundred metres and a ski area that an average skier can cover in a day. The runs are well-groomed, wide and easy to navigate, with a clear focus on family skiing and a few steeper sections for those who fancy a challenge. Sälen has a greater vertical drop, significantly more runs and a variety that means groups with different skiing abilities can use the same lift without anyone being forced onto the wrong slope – from large practice areas to steep sections such as Väggen on Hundfjället. The difference is particularly noticeable on day three: in Branäs, you’ll start skiing the same slopes over and over, whereas in Sälen, there are still areas you haven’t had time to explore yet. We’ll go through how the areas are connected in how large the Sälen’s ski area is.

Families with children: two different ways of being family-friendly

Both resorts are designed with families in mind, but in different ways. Branäs is family-friendly because of its small size: you can see the whole resort from your cottage window, you can’t lose track of each other, the distances are short and there’s a clearly designated children’s area. It’s hard to beat for anyone with one or two young children who wants things to be simple. Sälen is family-friendly because of its variety: four children’s areas to choose from, the most ski school places in the country, long green runs where children can ski a proper distance, and plenty of alternatives when it’s time to take a break from the slopes – water park, dog sledging, bowling. If you have children of different ages, or children who outgrow the beginners’ slope during the week, the variety is more valuable than the overall view.

Accommodation options and standards – flats versus mountain chalets

This is where the clearest distinction lies. Branäs’ accommodation options consist mainly of flats and small cottages, often in an excellent location right next to the slopes and of a good standard, but in the four- to eight-bed category. Sälen falls into the same category but also covers the entire range above that: houses for ten, twenty and thirty people, complete with a sauna, a large dining room and communal areas, and in some cases even larger. Whether you’re two families travelling together, a group of relatives celebrating an occasion, or a group of twelve friends, it’s often this difference that determines whether the week can go ahead at all. See how luxury chalets in the mountains might look like on that scale.

Price level and value for money

Branäs is usually cheaper than Sälen for both lift passes and accommodation, and for a small group on a short trip, the total cost will be lower. However, always calculate per person and per day of skiing rather than per night. If there are ten of you sharing a large house, Sälen may work out cheaper per person despite the higher list price, as equivalent accommodation in Branäs would require three separate flats. And if you’re travelling from Gothenburg, you’ll need to factor in the fuel costs for the return journey. What’s included in the rent also varies between providers and resorts – always read the terms and conditions; we’ve compiled what’s included when you hire a mountain cottage.

When Branäs is the right choice for you

Choose Branäs if you live in Gothenburg, Borås, Trollhättan or elsewhere in western Sweden and want to minimise your journey time. Choose Branäs if you’re planning a long weekend rather than a full week, if you have one or two young children and want everything within easy reach, or if you’re on a tight budget. Choose Branäs too if you’re a first-time skier and want to see if skiing is for you before investing in a whole week in the mountains – it’s an excellent place to learn, and the short journey means that a disappointing weekend won’t cost you too much. What Branäs cannot offer is that true mountain atmosphere, a week’s worth of variety, or a house big enough to accommodate twenty people.

Summary – Sälen or Branäs: a short trip or the high mountains?

The question of whether to choose Sälen or Branäs comes down to three things: where you live, how many of you there are, and how many days you have. People from western Sweden with limited time and a small group head to Branäs, and they’re spot on. People from the Mälardalen region, large groups and anyone wanting a full week’s variety head to Sälen – and they’re spot on too. Weigh up journey time against the number of skiing days, and the range of accommodation against the size of your group – then the answer is usually obvious. If you’re torn between several mountain resorts, it might also be worth reading a comparison with Idre Fjäll, which is of a similar size to Branäs but further north.