Visitors who hire a car in the town of Saffle amid the lakes of southwest Sweden can explore its rural surroundings in Varmland County. Saffle grew up around a 19th-century canal joining a series of smaller lakes to Sweden's biggest, Lake Vanern. South of Saffle is a peninsular poking into the lake with its own freshwater archipelago that has become a popular destination for tourists. The highlights of the area include the swimming beach at Ekenäs, boat trips and dining on the island of Luro, Oro's harbour and beach, and Millesvik's prehistoric monuments and Viking runestones.
Saffle is known as the home of a legendary Viking, Olof Trätälja, and many local streets and churches named after him. On the outskirts you'll find a Viking Museum named after Olof and specially-named walking trails too. Discover how the local canal and its locks are now a visitor attraction, and that many visitors hire a car in Saffle as a base to explore Lake Vanern and the Glaskogen Forest. Many visitors fish in the local lakes after buying a permit from Saffle Tourist Office - it's a prime area for catching perch and pike.