A fire in 1869 wiped out most of the old wooden buildings that formed the town’s core. Today the little cluster that survived the fire is preserved in the rickety area that is Gamla Gefle, just south of the river. There are lovely cobblestoned streets, colourful houses adorned with bright flower boxes in summer, and a feeling of community pride on display.
Gamla Gefle
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
1.68 MILES
Mackmyra Svensk Whisky, established in 1999 as the first Scandinavian malt-whisky distillery, offers tasting sessions that must be booked in advance via…
1.09 MILES
Inside Gävle’s former engine shed, this excellent museum traces the history of the railway in Sweden through seriously hands-on displays. Besides numerous…
0.07 MILES
The county museum, Länsmuseum Gävleborg, has beautifully designed exhibitions on regional culture through the ages, from prehistory to the ‘golden era’ …
0.4 MILES
The oldest church in Gävle has an 11th-century rune stone inside, as well as incredible woodcrafted decoration – the work of German artisan Ewardt Friis…
0.05 MILES
One of the old houses in Gamla Gefle is a museum marking the birthplace of Joel Hägglund, who moved to the USA, changed his name to Joe Hill and became a…
0.22 MILES
Duck into underground dungeons, check out ye olde instruments of retribution, peer into the windowless 'punishment' cells and enjoy the tableaux of…
6.73 MILES
From late May to late August up to three daily 45-minute boat tours on the M/S Drottning Silvia run from Södra Skeppsbron, Gävle's port, to the island of…
0.18 MILES
On the south side of the river, Gävle Castle (Gävle Slott) was originally built by King Johan III in 1593, looking like a real castle with pinnacles and a…
Nearby attractions
0.05 MILES
One of the old houses in Gamla Gefle is a museum marking the birthplace of Joel Hägglund, who moved to the USA, changed his name to Joe Hill and became a…
0.07 MILES
The county museum, Länsmuseum Gävleborg, has beautifully designed exhibitions on regional culture through the ages, from prehistory to the ‘golden era’ …
0.18 MILES
On the south side of the river, Gävle Castle (Gävle Slott) was originally built by King Johan III in 1593, looking like a real castle with pinnacles and a…
0.19 MILES
Gävle's impressive town hall was completed in 1790 after the previous one burned down in 1776. The upper part of the building was then destroyed in the…
0.22 MILES
Duck into underground dungeons, check out ye olde instruments of retribution, peer into the windowless 'punishment' cells and enjoy the tableaux of…
0.4 MILES
The oldest church in Gävle has an 11th-century rune stone inside, as well as incredible woodcrafted decoration – the work of German artisan Ewardt Friis…
1.09 MILES
Inside Gävle’s former engine shed, this excellent museum traces the history of the railway in Sweden through seriously hands-on displays. Besides numerous…
1.68 MILES
Mackmyra Svensk Whisky, established in 1999 as the first Scandinavian malt-whisky distillery, offers tasting sessions that must be booked in advance via…