How do you get to Värmland for a canoe trip?
Short answer
Most paddlers from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany drive, crossing Denmark by ferry or bridge and continuing via Gothenburg, a two-day trip. Without a car, the easiest option is a flight to Oslo Gardermoen or Gothenburg plus a transfer; Karlstad airport has almost no scheduled flights. Trains run to Karlstad and Arvika, and long-distance buses stop in Årjäng, but the last kilometres to a canoe base usually need a car, taxi or shuttle.
Värmland lies in west-central Sweden, along the Norwegian border. The lake district of Nordmarken, where most multi-day canoe trips start, sits in its south-west corner next to Dalsland. That corner is closer to Oslo than to Stockholm, which shapes every route below.
By car from the Benelux or Germany
Driving is the most common choice, because you arrive with your own gear and are free on the last stretch. Count on roughly 1,200–1,500 km from Belgium, the Netherlands or western Germany, depending on where you start. Most people split it over two days.
There are three ways across the water to Sweden:
- Puttgarden–Rødby ferry, then through Denmark to Copenhagen and over the Øresund Bridge to Malmö, then north along the E6 to Gothenburg.
- Great Belt and Øresund bridges, driving through Jutland and Funen. No ferry, but two bridge tolls.
- An overnight ferry to Gothenburg, from Kiel or from Frederikshavn in northern Denmark. Longer and dearer, but you sleep on the way.
From Gothenburg you drive north towards Bengtsfors and Årjäng. Ferries and tolls for a return trip come to about €190–330 per car, according to The Canoe Trip’s estimate for 2026. Swedish fuel prices are similar to Benelux prices; check before you go.
By plane
Oslo and Gothenburg are the airports to use. Karlstad is closer, but has few flights.
| Airport | To the Nordmarken lakes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Oslo Gardermoen (OSL) | about 2.5–3 hours by road | Most direct flights from Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt and Munich |
| Gothenburg Landvetter (GOT) | about 2.5–3 hours by road | Good link if you plan to rent a car |
| Karlstad (KSD) | about 1.5–2 hours by road | In 2026 only Copenhagen (Sola Air) plus holiday charters |
Karlstad looks like the obvious airport for Värmland, but its scheduled service in 2026 is a single route to Copenhagen. The Stockholm route stopped in 2020. For most travellers, Oslo or Gothenburg is quicker and cheaper.
From either airport you still need to cover the last 150–200 km. Rent a car, combine train and bus, or book a shuttle. The Canoe Trip runs a shuttle from Oslo Gardermoen to Outpost North for €95 per person, timed for its Sunday and Thursday starts.
By train
Trains reach Värmland’s towns; none run to the lakes themselves.
- Karlstad is the main station. Direct SJ trains from Gothenburg take a little under 2.5 hours on the fastest services and around 3 hours on others. Trains from Oslo take around 3 hours.
- Arvika lies on the Oslo–Karlstad–Stockholm line. From Karlstad it is 40 minutes to an hour; from Oslo around 2 hours. Arvika is the town nearest to Glaskogen.
- Ed (Dals-Ed) is on the Gothenburg–Oslo line, in Dalsland. From there a bus runs on towards Bengtsfors.
From the Benelux you reach Sweden by train via Hamburg and Copenhagen. Allow a full day, often more, and book the Swedish leg with SJ or Vy.
By bus
Long-distance buses are the cheapest option, and Årjäng is the place to aim for. Bus4you and Flixbus stop there on their Oslo–Stockholm routes, according to Visit Värmland. Regional buses run by Värmlandstrafik connect Årjäng with Karlstad and Arvika; on the Dalsland side, Västtrafik serves Bengtsfors. Timetables change between seasons and some lines run only on weekdays, so check the journey planners of Värmlandstrafik and Västtrafik before you travel.
From mid-June, The Canoe Trip runs a night bus from Brussels, Utrecht and Hamburg straight to the lakes, at €155 per person. It is the only option that takes you from the Benelux to the water without a change.
Distances to the main canoe areas
| From | Nordmarken (Gustavsfors/Årjäng) | Glaskogen (Lenungshammar) | Klarälven (Torsby area) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oslo | about 2.5 hours | about 2.5 hours | about 3 hours |
| Gothenburg | about 2.5–3 hours | about 3 hours | about 4.5 hours |
| Karlstad | about 1.5 hours | about 1.5 hours | about 1.5 hours |
Treat these as planning figures: they are rounded driving times and depend on the route you pick. Check them in a route planner before you book. The overview of where to canoe in Värmland explains how the three areas differ.
The last kilometres
Buses and trains stop in the towns, and most canoe bases sit at the end of small roads by the water. Outpost North, for example, is 15 km north of Bengtsfors and 20 km south of Årjäng. Ask your base about pick-up, use a taxi, or bring a car.
Where we would start
Outpost North in Gustavsfors is easy to reach from all three directions: about 20 km from the bus stop in Årjäng, on the road between Gothenburg and Årjäng, and within reach of Oslo. It sits on the water between Lelång and Västra Silen, so once you arrive the car stays parked for the trip (€10 a day in 2027). The Canoe Trip starts its trips there and runs the Oslo shuttle and the night bus mentioned above.
Sources
Karlstad Airport: destinations, Visit Värmland: travel to Årjäng, Västsverige: travel to Bengtsfors, Värmlandstrafik, Västtrafik, SJ, Vy, Outpost North, The Canoe Trip.
