Östersund sits on the eastern shore of Lake Storsjön in the heart of Jämtland, a region that has always been slightly apart from the rest of Sweden — geographically remote, culturally independent, and possessed of a dry humour about its own situation. The city is the capital of Jämtland County, a biathlon and cross-country skiing centre of international standing, and home to Jamtli, one of the best open-air history museums in Scandinavia. It also officially has its own lake monster.
The city makes an excellent base for the Jämtland region in both summer and winter. In summer, Frösön island (reached by bridge across the lake) offers good cycling, the northernmost runestone in Scandinavia, and a small zoo. In winter, the lake sometimes freezes solid enough to skate on, the surrounding forests offer hundreds of kilometres of cross-country ski trails, and the biathlon stadium is a working World Cup venue. The Storsjöyran music festival in late July fills the lakeside with an enthusiastic crowd. Give the city at least two days.