The Sälen lives with the seasons, offering recurring events from New Year's Eve to autumn fun. The winter months are the busiest, but summer and autumn have their highlights too - from Vasaloppet to Midsummer celebrations and mountain marathons. No matter when you arrive, there's always something going on, and you can switch between pulse, nature experiences and relaxation according to your mood.
Winter: skiing fun, competitions and parties
Winter in Sälen starts with New Year celebrations - fireworks, special menus and sparkling slopes - and continues with sports holiday weeks full of life. In late February and early March, the Vasaloppet winter week across the arena with the Girl vasan, Open Track and the classic Vasaloppet culminating. In parallel, the SkiStar Winter Games and youth competitions roll on the slopes, and during Easter week the mountains offer sunshine, egg hunts and sheltered après-ski. March-April often ends with theme days, DJs and season finales filled with music and fun.
Summer: races, nature and bright nights
When the snow melts, running, cycling and hiking take over. Vasaloppet summer week in August with Cykelvasan, Ultravasan, Vasastafetten and Trailvasan is a highlight - thousands of participants fill Sälens by and Berga by with a starting pulse and summer feeling. Earlier in the season, the trail campers, mountain running events and family days in Lindvallen and Högfjället. The summer is topped by midsummer, where pole dancing and music meet long, bright evenings in the mountains.
Autumn: colours, rest and family love
When autumn arrives, the pace slows down, but the experiences continue. The mountain heaths are coloured in red and gold, perfect for hiking and horse riding in clear air. During the autumn holidays (week 44) restaurants, activity areas and family programmes open around Lindvallen and Experium. Some years, smaller festivals, food weekends and wellness retreats with yoga, spa and mountain food are organised. It's a time when nature takes centre stage and cabin life feels extra harmonious.
All year round: food, meetings & experiences
Outside of the big pub events, Sälen offers all year round business retreats and conferences, wine dinners, brewery evenings and small-scale events where the food and drink culture of the mountains takes centre stage. For private parties, the cabin stay itself becomes an event - with private chef, wine tasting or breakfast delivery that gives a hotel feeling in the middle of nature. The combination of experience, tranquillity and community makes the Sälen equally suitable for celebrations and relaxation.
Plan according to the calendar
The most popular periods - New Year, sports holidays, Vasaloppets weeks, Easter and summer race weekends - book up fast. If you want to secure the right accommodation near the events, book early and keep an eye on the SkiStar, Visit Dalarna and Vasaloppet calendars. A tip is to choose accommodation with walking distance or shuttle to the square or starting area, which Sälengodset or Fjällgodset. You'll be right in the centre of the action - from the first start in Berga by to the last note of the season finale.
Executive summary
Whatever the season, there's always something to experience in Sälen - from winter's big races to summer's races, autumn's calm and all the food and music weekends of the year. The rhythm of the mountains makes every visit unique, and it is precisely the variation between speed and rest that makes Sälen come alive all year round.