West of the capital Stockholm, Sweden's Lake District is a scenic area where there's often more water than land. Kristinehamn stands on the biggest lake of all, Vanern. This is Sweden's inland sea. It's the biggest lake in Europe outside Russia. The city was built where two rivers drain into the lake. It has a busy harbour dealing with the heavy shipping traffic that crosses Vanern. Hire a car in Kristinehamn to explore the rest of the Lake District. Nearby attractions include the Järsberg Runestone, a red granite pillar covered with 6th-century Viking inscriptions, and Alvon, one of the more accessible of the 22, islands in Lake Vanern known as the 'sun-bathing island'.
The most famous sight in Kristinehamn is the strange 15-metre high statue made by Picasso that stands right on the shores of the lake. The city's modernist Victorian church has a quirky design too. There are various boat trips out into the lake but to see all these sights it's probably easiest to hire a car in Kristinehamn.
There's a town farm for families to visit, walking trails in the woods and an acclaimed art gallery. When it's time for a break try heading for the Olme General Store, a meticulous recreation of a 100-year-old shop and café.
