Sälen or Trysil – which mountain resort should you choose?

Sälen or Trysil? They’re only about 45 minutes apart – and yet many people find themselves torn between them. The short version: Trysil boasts Norway’s largest ski resort with greater vertical drop, whilst Sälen offers Sweden’s widest range of slopes, a shorter journey and Swedish prices. The best bit? You don’t actually have to choose between them.

Quick comparison: Sälen vs Trysil at a glance

The differences that usually determine the choice:

• Ski system: Trysil is Norway’s largest single resort, with a substantial vertical drop and long runs – Sälen has more resorts, more slopes in total and a greater geographical spread.
• Journey time: Sälen is on the Swedish side and can be reached without crossing the border – Trysil is about 45 minutes further away from the Mälardalen region.
• Prices: At Sälen, you pay in Swedish kronor – in Trysil, prices are in Norwegian kroner, which is often noticeable when it comes to food, drink and restaurants.
• Accommodation: Sälen offers the widest range of holiday cottages in the mountain region, including exclusive houses for large groups – Trysil is dominated by flats and hotels near the ski lifts.
• Cross-country skiing: Both are excellent – Sälen with the Vasalopp Arena, and Trysil with its superb high-altitude trails.
• Combine: Stay in Sälen and go on one or more day trips to Trysil – many of our guests do just that.

Just 45 minutes apart – that’s why it’s easy to combine the two

Det som gör just den här jämförelsen speciell är närheten: från Sälens dalgång når du Trysil på ungefär trekvart med bil, över en gräns som du knappt märker att du passerar. Det öppnar en möjlighet som få andra ortsval erbjuder – att bo på ett ställe och åka på båda. Många av våra gäster bokar en vecka i Sälen och lägger in en Trysildag mitt i: en dag med ny terräng, längre åk och norsk fjällkänsla, innan de återvänder till huset, bastun och middagen på svenska sidan. Scandinavian Mountains Airport ligger dessutom mitt emellan orterna och betjänar båda. Ur det perspektivet är frågan sällan ”Sälen eller Trysil?” utan snarare ”var vill vi ha vår bas?” – och det är där boende, priser och vardagslogistik fäller avgörandet.

A comparison of skiing systems: vertical drop, slopes, cross-country trails

Trysilfjället is Norway’s largest single ski resort, with a connected network of slopes around a striking mountain, a substantial vertical drop and long, winding runs that impress even experienced skiers. The upper slopes offer open mountain skiing and there is plenty of challenging terrain. Sälen offers scale and variety: four resorts with more runs and lifts combined than any other Swedish destination, ranging from safe family areas to steep Väggen on Hundfjället – and with Stöten and Kläppen as a bonus in the same valley. For mixed groups, Sälen’s breadth is often more valuable than Trysil’s vertical drop; for skiers primarily chasing altitude metres, Trysil is the more attractive option. When it comes to cross-country skiing, both are strong: Trysil with its excellent high-altitude trails, and Sälen with the Vasalopp Arena and miles of groomed trails – read more about the distances between the ski resorts to understand how the Sälen system works.

Prices: Swedish kronor vs Norwegian prices

Prices are a clear dividing line. In Trysil, you shop, eat and fill up your car at Norwegian price levels, and restaurants, drinks and everyday shopping in particular are noticeably more expensive than in Sweden – something that really adds up over the course of a week for a family or a large group. In Sälen, you pay in Swedish kronor throughout, with full-range shops and Systembolaget in Sälen’s village. Ski passes and accommodation are more comparable between the resorts, and the exchange rate affects the figures from year to year – but when it comes to the overall budget, the Swedish side usually comes out on top, particularly for groups who cook a lot of their own meals. We’ve also worked out Which mountain resort is the cheapest in Sweden? when all the costs are taken into account. A common approach amongst Scandinavian visitors is therefore to stay and shop in Sälen and treat themselves to a day trip to Trysil, rather than the other way round. Those staying in Sälen can also significantly optimise the cost of accommodation per person by gathering their group in a large house.

Family, après-ski and entertainment

Both resorts are exceptionally family-friendly, with good children’s areas, ski schools and off-piste activities. Sälen offers a wider range of activities: the Experium water park, bowling, the Troll Forest, dog sledding and snowmobile safaris – all within the valley, a short distance from the accommodation. Trysil has a lovely, close-knit village atmosphere centred around the Turistsenteret and good facilities for children, but a somewhat more limited range of activities. There’s après-ski on both sides of the border – Sälen’s classic options around the resort square meet Trysil’s Norwegian equivalents – though neither resort claims to rival Åre’s party scene. For most groups in the premium segment, evenings spent at the accommodation take centre stage anyway: sauna, long tables and socialising. If you’d like to fill your days with more than just downhill skiing, we’ve put together winter activities in Sälen – from walks in the mountains to activities for the children.

Live in Sälen – travel on both networks

Our honest advice to most groups is: make Sälen your base. The reasons are practical. The range of accommodation on offer at Sälen is unrivalled in the region – here you’ll find luxury accommodation in Sälen with a sauna, spa and space for up to 24 guests – something Trysil simply cannot match when it comes to holiday cottages. Day-to-day life is cheaper and simpler with Swedish prices and a full range of services in the valley. And when it comes to skiing, you get the best of both worlds: your main skiing for the week at Sälen’s four resorts, plus one or two day trips to Trysil when you fancy new terrain and greater vertical drop. That way, you get Norway’s largest ski resort as a bonus – without giving up the benefits of Swedish holiday cottage life. For those of you flying, the airport’s location right between the resorts makes the whole arrangement even smoother: land, pick up your hire car, and you have skiing in two countries within easy reach.

Sälen or Trysil – recommendation per group

Here’s how to choose between Sälen and Trysil:

• Skilled skiers looking mainly for vertical drop and long runs: Trysil – or Sälen as a base for Trysil Days.
• Families with children and mixed groups: Sälen – the widest range of both skiing and activities.
• Large groups wishing to stay together in their own house: Sälen – unrivalled in the region.
• Budget-conscious: Sälen – Swedish prices for food, drink and everyday essentials make the week cheaper.
• Can’t make up your mind? Stay on the Sälen and travel on both systems – there’s just a 45-minute difference.
• Are you also considering other Swedish options? Read on the comparison Sälen or Åre.

Would you like to Rent a holiday home in Sälen With Trysil as your go-to destination? Get in touch, and we’ll find you the cottage that turns your week in the mountains into an experience spanning two countries.