A big city in an alpine village costume Åre is northern Europe’s largest and most advanced alpine resort. Repeatedly voted Sweden’s best ski resort at the World Ski Awards, this village is unquestionably phenomenal. This season sees new, exciting additions to the already fabulous culinary scene, as well as the return of Åre Sessions, the music and ski festival at the end of April.
strengths. “The village is full of momentum and lovely people,” Sjölundh enthuses. “It’s big enough to have everything you need, yet small enough to keep that village feel and atmosphere.”
By Malin Norman | Photos: Niclas Vestefjell
Expanding culinary scene
Being the best and biggest is all well and good, but what does it mean in real terms? For starters, there are slopes for all kinds of skiers, always maintained to perfection. Åre Björnen offers a selection of slopes suitable for beginners, naturally attracting plenty of families with children, and the next step is Duved, with its mix of easy to intermediate challenges. Those keen on powder and forest skiing will enjoy Tegefjäll, while Blåstensbranten is superbly steep, offering huge scope for hardcore free-riders. 68 | Issue 131 | December 2019
“Central Åre is unique, with skiing opportunities both above and below the tree line, as well as incredibly fun and challenging off-piste,” says Therese Sjölundh, CEO of Destination Åre. Of course, Åre would not have been chosen to host so many global alpine competitions if it was not a world-class skiing destination. The resort has been host to numerous Alpine World Cups since 1969. Perhaps the idea of all hands on deck and shared benefits is one of Åre’s key
The official population of Åre is a modest 2,000, yet the village boasts more than 50 restaurants, many of them run by award-winning chefs and listed in the White Guide. Take the spectacular alpine setting, a mountainous view and a cosy village vibe, and add flavours from all the world’s culinary traditions, and you will understand why Åre has been described as a big city in an alpine village costume. Plenty is happening on the culinary scene this season, with more additions to the large selection of existing restaurants.