How do you get to Sälen from Denmark?

The ski resort Sälen is situated in the province of Dalarna in central Sweden, near the Norwegian border. Most people travelling from Denmark go by car. You can either drive across the Öresund Bridge and north through Sweden, or take the ferry from Jutland to the Swedish west coast and continue from there. Experienced drivers can complete the journey in a day, but many families choose to split it into two stages.

So it’s not primarily a flight, but a car journey. This affects the whole planning process: you’ll be bringing your own kit, buying food along the way, and you’ll need accommodation that suits the whole group. If you’re travelling with children, there’s mountain cottages for families in Sälenfjällen They come in a range of sizes, and they all have room for everything you’d take with you when travelling in your own car.

Short answer: how to get from Denmark to Sälen

Which route is best is almost always determined by where in Denmark you live. The table shows the most common choice by region.

The exact distance in kilometres and the exact journey time will vary depending on the route you choose, road conditions and how often you stop. Enter your own starting address into a route planner and work out the times for the dates you are actually travelling. In winter, the journey takes longer than the route planner suggests, as the final stretch often has snow on the road.

The road journey via the Öresund Bridge – route, journey time and stops

From Zealand, the Öresund Bridge is the obvious choice. You’ll cross the bridge at Malmö, continue north through southern Sweden and then turn inland towards Dalarna. The final part of the journey takes you along smaller roads through wooded countryside. These roads are narrower than the motorway network you started on, and in winter they are often covered in snow.

Three things will make the journey easier. Plan your breaks in advance, ideally at a place where the children can stretch their legs. Fill up with petrol before you leave the motorway, as petrol stations become fewer and further between the further north you go. Drive the final stretch in daylight if you can, especially if you’ve never driven on winter roads before.

Bridge tolls, any ferry tickets and fuel should be included in the travel costs from the outset. Prices are revised each season, so please check the current charges with the Øresund Bridge and the ferry company before budgeting for your trip.

Ferry options from Jutland

If you live in Jutland, the ferry is often both quicker and more comfortable than the route via the Öresund Bridge. Frederikshavn–Gothenburg and Grenaa–Varberg are the routes usually taken by Danish skiers, as both drop you off on the Swedish west coast. From there, you drive further inland towards Sälen in Dalarna.

The ferry has one practical advantage: the crossing provides a real break in the middle of your journey. The children can run about, you can eat in peace and quiet, and the driver arrives on shore well-rested. The downside is that you’re tied to a specific departure time. Book well in advance of the Danish school holidays, and check the latest timetables and prices directly with the ferry company, as routes and service frequencies change between seasons.

Fly to Scandinavian Mountains Airport and on to the cottage

There is an airport in the local area, Scandinavian Mountains Airport. It is situated near the ski resort Sälen and is used by travellers who wish to avoid the long drive. The range of routes varies considerably between seasons and from one winter to the next, so the first thing you should do is check which routes are actually operating during your specific week. An overview can be found in our guide to flights to Sälen.

If you choose to fly, you’ll need to arrange the final leg of your journey to your accommodation. A hire car, transfer or taxi are the usual options, and these should be booked at the same time as your flight. We’ve explained how this works in practice in the article on transport from the airport to the cottage. Bear in mind, too, that there is an extra charge for equipment in the hold, which makes flying less cost-effective for a large group travelling with their own skis.

Swedish winter regulations that Danish motorists need to be aware of

Sweden has its own requirements regarding tyres during the winter months, and these requirements may also apply to a car registered in Denmark. This is the only issue on the entire journey that could stop you, so check this first. The relevant rules and dates can be found on the website of the Swedish Transport Agency, which is the Swedish authority responsible for this matter. We have summarised the most important points in our guide to the tyre regulations that apply in Sweden during the winter.

Apart from the tyres, there are a few driving habits that differ from those in Denmark. Dipped headlights are widely used even during the day. Moose and roe deer are often seen near the road at dusk and dawn, particularly on the smaller roads closer to Dalarna. Speed limits are signposted in km/h, just like at home, but the distances between towns are greater, and missing a refuelling stop costs time.

Payment, currency and buying food during your stay

Sweden has its own currency. Prices are quoted in SEK, not in DKK, which is easy to overlook when the figures look familiar. Get into the habit of converting the price in your head on your first day, so that you get a feel for the levels.

Card payments work practically everywhere: on the ski lifts, in shops, in restaurants and at ski hire outlets. Most Danish visitors never need to withdraw cash. Do, however, check what currency surcharge your bank charges for purchases in SEK, as this surcharge can add up to a significant amount over the course of a whole week.

Do your big weekly shop on the way up or in the valley below the slopes. There’s a wider selection there, and a fully equipped kitchen in the cottage is one of the biggest financial advantages of renting a cottage rather than staying in a hotel.

What Danish families tend to appreciate most about Sälenfjällen

The Sälenfjällen slopes are low and wide, and the terrain is open and gentle. This makes the area exceptionally suitable for children who have just started skiing. The beginners’ areas are clustered together, the distances between the lifts are short, and the weather is rarely as exposed as in high-altitude terrain.

The second thing that usually surprises first-time visitors to Denmark is just how much there is to do off the slopes: cross-country skiing, snowmobile tours, dog sledding and swimming. So a week doesn’t necessarily have to consist of seven days of downhill skiing. If you’d like a short walk from your accommodation to the ski lifts, there’s holiday cottages within walking distance of the ski lifts, which makes life with young children much easier.

Summary – plan your journey from Denmark to Sälen

The journey from Denmark to Sälen in Dalarna is essentially a simple choice between two routes: across the Øresund Bridge if you’re staying on Zealand, or by ferry from Jutland to the Swedish west coast. Book your ferry and accommodation well in advance of the Danish school holidays, check the tyre regulations with the Swedish Transport Agency before you set off, and bear in mind that the final leg of the journey will take longer than the route planner suggests. If you’re unsure which house is best suited to your group and your arrival time, please get in touch – we’re happy to help with the planning, even if you’re still comparing different routes.