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visit umea sweden

Umeå – a cultural hotspot immersed in nature

With world-class museums and universities, Umeå is the cultural capital of northern Sweden – and a European Capital of Culture as well – with magnificent wilderness on its doorstep.

  • No one knows for sure where the name Umeå stems from, but one theory is that it derives from the word “uma”, referring to the roaring sound of the city river. 
  • In 1888 a devastating fire destroyed the city. Wide avenues with birch trees were put in place as fire prevention, and since then Umeå has been known as the "City of Birches".

Located near the northeast coast of Sweden, Umeå was founded in 1622 by Swedish King Gustav II Adolf. Today, Umeå is often referred to as the “capital of northern Sweden”, since it’s the largest urban community in the region. It’s one of Sweden’s, and Europe’s, fastest growing cities – well on its way to passing the 200,000 population mark by 2050 (today the number stands at around 127,000). 

Umeå is also known as the City of Birches (Björkarnas Stad). Wandering around the city centre, you’ll see why – some 2,300 birches line the avenues. In 1888, parts of Umeå burnt down, leaving thousands of people homeless. When it was rebuilt, birches – whose hard-wood consists of 50 percent water – were planted as a natural fire barricade. 

The city has a decidedly intellectual air. It’s home to Umeå University and its sister establishment Umeå Institute of Design , which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019 and attracts top talent from Sweden and abroad. It’s been ranked the world’s number one school for product design several times. There are some 32,000 students in Umeå, and this community gives the city a young, vibrant feel.  

With easy access to the coast – Umeå is located a mere 15 km from the sea – and with mountains and deep forest on its doorstep, this northern city is also a nature lover’s dream destination. The climate is subarctic, defined by four distinctive seasons, with proper winters and fairly short but pleasant summers – complete with midnight sun. Due to the influence of the Gulf Stream, winters are mild considering the latitude. The average temperature in January is -8°C and 16°C in July.

Skeppsbron, Umeå

Audience at an event at Skeppsbron.

Photo : Umeå kommun

Photo : Philip Avesand / Visit Umeå Content Bank

Summer in Umeå

Photo : Calle Bredberg

Umeå Institute of Design

Photo : Jonatan Stålhös/imagebank.sweden.se

A city of culture and design   

Umeå was named the European Capital of Culture 2014, and for good reason. The city has an entrepreneurial, innovative spirit and a number of highly regarded museums. Väven , which first swung open its doors in 2014, is Umeå’s buzzing cultural centre. This architectural landmark – with its abstract, birch-inspired aesthetic – houses museums, an eminent library, a cinema and several restaurants and cafés. It also hosts events and activities year-round, from concerts to vintage fashion markets. Upstairs, you’ll find the hip hotel U&Me , whose bar and restaurant are popular with the locals.  

Elsewhere in the city, contemporary art and design museum Bildmuseet is another cultural highlight. Located within the so-called “arts campus” near the river, it’s actually part of Umeå University. Housed in a standalone building, spectacularly clad in wood panels, Bildmuseet puts on world-class exhibitions across design, architecture and photography. It was awarded European Museum of the Year in 2014. 

Umeå's science centre Curiosum opened in 2020 and is a part of the university. Curiosum invites kids and grown-ups to explore science and technology, hands-on, via a range of experimental workshops. 

Västerbottens Museum is another notable, interactive museum featuring exhibitions and participatory experiences on cultural history, art, photography and textiles. A good family option, it regularly offers arts and crafts workshops. Don’t leave without taking a look at the world’s oldest skis, dating back to 3400 BC.

The Women’s History Museum ( Kvinnohistoriskt Museum ) is one of a kind. Housed within Väven cultural centre, it inspires action and debate via exhibitions on different themes across “gender and power, identity and history”. 

Sami Week – or Ubmejen Biejvieh as it’s known in the Sami tongue – is a celebration of Sweden’s indigenous population. Held once a year (dates TBA), this vibrant festival plays host to the Sami summit as well as a range of activities centring on art, music, culture and language.

Cultural centre Umeå

Väven ("weave" or "loom" in Swedish) is a cultural centre in Umeå, located next to the Ume River. Väven opened in 2014, the same year as Umeå was the European Capital of Culture.

Photo : Sara Ingman/imagebank.sweden.se

Image museum in Umeå

Photo : Guillaume de Basly/imagebank.sweden.se

Sami culture

Photo : Anna Öhlund/imagebank.sweden.se

A city embedded in nature

Surrounded by mountains, forest and endless coastline – Umeå is a draw for outdoor enthusiasts, and there are numerous natural adventures to embark on. Tavelsjöleden hiking trail starts at Väven and will have you trekking over mountains and lakes, discovering caves and other natural highlights along the way – perhaps even the mythical Tavelsjö lake monster. The trail is about 42 km long, linking up with Vindelälvsleden and Vännforsleden. 

There are several nature reserves to explore in and around Umeå. Grössjön Nature Reserve is located near the city and offers plenty of variation. The idyllic walking trail circling the lake is about 4.5 km long, and there’s an observation tower for bird watching. Also take the opportunity to explore the beautiful forest and cloudberry-yielding marshland. These nutritious amber-hued berries ripen at the end of summer, and you’re free to pick them as part of Sweden’s right of public access . 

Known as Umeå's Central Park, the area around Lake Nydala is located 6 km from the city centre. You’ll find a 12 km hiking trail as well as mini golf, a boules court and an animal farm – providing perfect family entertainment. There is also a camping site and cabins to hire.

Biking on Isälvsleden

Biking on the beautiful trail Isälvleden in Västerbotten.

Photo : Petter Lämås/Visit Umeå Content Bank

Cloudberries

Photo : Jørgen Håland

Umeå’s culinary identity  

Umeå, like much of Sweden, takes pride in locally sourced ingredients. In Umeå’s case, that translates to reindeer and elk meat, char, whitefish, lingonberry and arctic raspberries. Traditional food products of the region include Västerbottensost – a delicious sharp cheese. Västerbottenpaj – a quiche made with Västerbottensost - is a popular dish, while ’ Brännland Cider ’ is a locally made drink enjoyed around the world from the USA to Hong Kong. 

DUÅ , run by twin brothers Per and Lars Åkerlund and located in Väven cultural centre , is a deli serving up carefully sourced charcuterie products and cheeses as well as a well-curated selection of kitchen accessories. 

Hunger och Törst bases its recipes on seasonal, organic local produce. In this atmospheric high-end restaurant, you’ll get to choose between menus of three, five or seven courses. 

The unique restaurant Gotthards Krog – housed within the historic landmark hotel Stora Hotellet – is another must-visit restaurant. In this elegant and warm environment, you’ll be able to sit down for breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday afternoon tea. There’s a cocktail bar, too. 

Umeå has many strings to its bow. It respects and celebrates its surrounding nature and local culture – including its culinary heritage – while looking to the future and pushing innovation via its thriving educational institutions and entrepreneurial spirit.

Practical information before your trip to Umeå

Travel to Umeå by train, car or plane. Sweden’s extensive train network is operated by SJ . 

Travelling from Stockholm by train or by car via the E4 road takes roughly seven hours – the distance is just under 640 km. 

Umeå airport is conveniently located a ten minute car ride from the city. The Flygbuss airport buses are timed to coincide with most flights to and from airports including Arlanda and Bromma in Stockholm.

In Umeå, you can easily get around on foot. Cycling is another option – the city’s cycle paths are very well established. To reach the outskirts, take the bus . Ultra operates the bus network within the city, while Länstrafiken is Västerbotten county’s public transport authority.

Umeå is an ideal destination to visit year-round. Winter activities include dog sledding in nearby Vindeln and spectacular northern lights sightings. 

During summer, Sjungaregården in Granö is a cultural centre housed within an 18th-century Västerbotten farm. Everything from art and crafts exhibitions to concerts and lectures are held, and there’s a delightfully old-fashioned resident café. 

Make sure to explore Umeå’s wide range of museums including Guitars - The Museum , which showcases a world-class collection of electric guitars and associated accessories from the 1950s.

If you fancy staying in the heart of the city, the young and trendy U&Me and the historic, nautical-themed Stora Hotellet are two top choices, both located within cultural centre Väven. 

Elite Hotel Mimer is another centrally located option, beautifully set within a former school building. 

For an experience that takes you closer to nature, stay in one of Granö Beckasin ’s artfully designed ‘bird’s nests’ on the edge of the Ume River, just an hour outside the city centre.

Umeå is a perfect family destination with plenty of space and magical nature to explore. During the wintertime, kids will enjoy ice skating along lake Tavelsjö AIK ice trail, located some 25 km from central Umeå. 

Indoor activities include Stora Hopp & Skoj, Sweden's largest inflatable play-land. You’ll find 2,000 square metres filled with inflatable features – including bouncy castles – that will delight kids of all ages. 

Equally adventurous, Navet aquatic centre in central Umeå invites both kids and adults to swim, exercise and relax. Kids particularly enjoy the water slides, stream channel and climbing wall. Open every day, all year round.

Design & Architecture Design & Architecture

Top 6 design places to visit in northern sweden, nature & outdoors nature & outdoors, top 8 lake vacations in sweden – from wild swimming to kayak adventures, the gardens of sweden – a botanist’s dream, culture, history and art culture, history and art, discover sweden's traditional sámi culture and way of life.

Things to Do in Umeå, Sweden - Umeå Attractions

Things to do in umeå.

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  • Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

visit umea sweden

1. Guitars the Museum

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2. Vasterbottens Museum

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3. Bildmuseet

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4. Umedalen Skulptur

visit umea sweden

5. Bolesholmarna

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6. Arboretum Norr

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7. Norrlandsoperan

visit umea sweden

8. Grössjön Nature Reserve

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9. Umea stads kyrka

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10. Umevatoriet

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12. Umeå Folkets Hus

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14. Umea Ostra Railway Station

visit umea sweden

16. Avion Shopping

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17. Kärleksviken

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18. Tuvans Naturreservat

visit umea sweden

19. Rådhusparken

visit umea sweden

20. Tegs kyrka

21. leos lekland.

visit umea sweden

22. Backen Church

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23. Universitetsdammen

visit umea sweden

24. Curiosum

visit umea sweden

25. Den Forhistoriska Varlden

visit umea sweden

26. Grotteatern Amatörteaterförening

visit umea sweden

27. Hamrinsberget

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28. Norrmjöle Beach

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29. Megazone Umea

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30. Airportgolf

What travelers are saying.

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  • Guitars the Museum
  • Vasterbottens Museum
  • Arboretum Norr
  • Umedalen Skulptur
  • Grössjön Nature Reserve
  • Bolesholmarna

Umeå Attractions Information

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Home » Travel Guides » Sweden » 15 Best Things to Do in Umeå (Sweden)

15 Best Things to Do in Umeå (Sweden)

Capital of the Västerbotten County in northern Sweden, Umeå is by the Ume River, close to where it empties into the Gulf of Bothnia. Northern Sweden’s largest university is here, in a young culturally-vibrant city in pristine surroundings.

The gulf to the east is sprinkled with islands, some like the Holmön and Norrbyskär archipelagos are summer retreats. The wonderful Nydalasjön lake is nearby, and right outside Umeå there’s fresh wooded parkland on the banks of the Ume. But don’t overlook Umeå’s tip-top attractions, like the outdoor county museum and guitar museum. And on the riverfront are brand new, eye-catching architectural statements like the contemporary art museum, Bildmuseet, and the peculiar lines of the Kulturväven, cultural centre.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Umeå :

1. Guitars – The Museum

Guitars The Museum

You wouldn’t know it from the outside, but this discreet-looking former schoolhouse from the early 1900s is a rock, blues or jazz fan’s idea of heaven.

This museum that opened during Umeå’s recent spell as Capital of Culture has more than 500 electric guitars, mostly from the 1950s and 1960s.

Connoisseurs can size up some extremely rare instruments like a Les Paul from 1960, a Gibson Flying V from ’58 and a Fender Broadcaster from 1950. This beautifully laid out musical trove was assembled from the 70s on by two brothers, and many of the guitars have had famous owners.

2. Västerbottens Museum

Västerbottens Museum

On the eastern edge of Umeå is a museum for the Västerbotten County, revealing the history and unique culture of this part of northern Sweden.

Among many things, you’ll get to know about the Sami people, and enter their typical huts (kåtan), made from timber and peat moss.

Some 40 historic buildings from around the county have been dismantled and rebuilt at the outdoor museum, among which are a threshing house, farmhouse and bakery.

In summer it’s a mini town with domestic farm animals and populated by people in period costume informing you about life and crafts in old times.

Finally, the ski museum studies the long history of this Nordic mode of transport, and has a preserved ski, so old that it predates the Egyptian pyramids.

3. Umedalen Sculpture Park

Umedalen Sculpture Park

A former psychiatric hospital in the Umedalen suburb has been converted into Sweden’s largest art gallery.

After closing down in the 1980s and being sold off, the hospital and its extensive parkland were chosen by the developer Balticgruppen for an annual (now biannual) outdoor art exhibition.

This company has purchased a sculpture from each exhibition, gradually amassing more than 40 works and permanently installing them in this evocative environment.

Many well-known artists are represented at the park, like Jaume Plensa, Antony Gormley, Anis Kapoor, Louis Bourgeois and Tony Cragg.

4. Bildmuseet

Bildmuseet

It’s hard to take your eyes off this remarkable museum in front of the UmeRiver.

This is the new home of the Bildmuseet, unveiled in 2012 and set within the riverside Umeå Arts Campus.

The building, easily identified by its square lines and windows in random positions, was designed by Henning Larsen Architects and has been lauded internationally.

There are six split-level floors for short-term contemporary art exhibitions, all with far-reaching views over the river.

The shows are rotated every few months , so there will always be a different experience each time you come.

You can expect anything from contemporary Chinese art to architectural photography or industrial design by the likes of Charles and Ray Eames.

And kids are catered for with an art corner where they’ll have art-oriented games and activities.

5. Umeå Rådhus

Umeå Rådhus

After a fire claimed most of Umeå in 1888, the architect Fredrik Olaus Lindström was drafted in to design the city’s new landmarks.

Maybe the most important was the Town Hall, completed just two years after the devastation.

This red brick edifice is on the same ground as the former 17th-century building, facing the river harbour, which was a vital means of transport before the railway arrived.

Lindström gave his building a Neo-Renaissance design, with a Dutch influence in its crow-stepped gable and mullioned windows.

The towers were purposely asymmetrical and have different outlines, bringing some playfulness to the silhouette.

6. Nydalasjön

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The closest lake to Umeå is full of activity on clear summer days.

This is when the pools, playgrounds, lawns for sunbathing and cafe a UmeLagun are all open.

There’s also a campsite nearby with a holiday village that has an adventure golf course.

The waters of the lake itself are unusually clear, and if you’re up for a swim there’s a sandy beach on the north shore.

As the seasons change there are still reasons to come to the lake, whether you’re foraging for lingonberries, blueberries or mushrooms in autumn, or cross-country skiing or ice fishing for perch, pike or roach when the lake freezes over in winter.

7. Kulturväven

Kulturväven

Arching over Strandgatan in the centre of Umeå by the Ume River is the city’s new, labyrinthine cultural centre.

The centre is in essence two buildings that fuse together over the street, and is a surprising muddle of amenities, visitor attractions and performance venues.

The city’s library, theatre, art house cinema and market are all here, as well as a cafe on the waterfront and a gallery for art exhibitions.

There’s also a museum to women’s history, studying gender dynamics through Sweden’s past.

8. Umeå City Church

Umeå City Church

Umeå’s largest place of worship was erected in just two years up to 1894 and is wrapped in grenery.

One of the church’s predecessors was demolished by the Russian Army in 1770, and the other was burnt down in the fire in 1888. This Neo-Gothic edifice was designed Fredrik Olaus Lindström and built according guidelines set out by Helgo Zettervall who designed and restored churches and cathedrals all over Sweden at the end of the 19th century.

Two of the best bits to check out are the colourful rose window on the western facade and the 19th-century organ crafted by the esteemed Åkerman & Lund company.

9. Arboretum Norr

Arboretum Norr

A short way up the River Ure from the city is the village of Baggböle.

In the 19th century this was the scene of a huge water-powered sawmill responsible for cutting down large swathes of woodland.

Now, the word “Baggböleri” is a synonym for reckless deforestation in Swedish.

Starting in the 1970s, this became somewhere to appreciate foliage as an arboretum was planted along the left bank of the river.

It is now made up of 1,600 trees and shrubs from around 280 species, sourced from all over the world.

These plants are all being assessed to find out how they respond to the northern climate.

10. Umevatoriet

Umevatoriet

In former army barracks is a kid-friendly science museum that opened in 2006 and runs during term time.

There’s an exhibition about space, a mathematics room with a wealth of brain teasers, puzzles and games, and a planetarium with three shows in the evening, one of which is in English.

The attraction’s showpiece though is its observatory, which has a 35-cm optical telescope with a ccd camera for guided stargazing on nights when the weather is clear.

11. Olofsfors Ironworks

Olofsfors Ironworks

A trip well worth making, this industrial attraction is in the town of Normaling, under half an hour down the coast.

What you’ll discover there is an intact ironworks going back to 1762. The special thing about this factory is just how much of its original equipment is still here, like a water-powered trip hammer and its blower, an 18th-century blast furnace and a forge where the iron would be honed into all manner of items.

There’s more to see outside the factory in the shape of worker’s residences, a coachman’s house, a fine manor house which is now a restaurant, and a schoolhouse containing the museum’s cafe and shop.

12. Älgens Hus

Älgens Hus

Another recommended excursion lies west of Umeå just outside the town of Bjurholm.

This is the setting for Europe’s first ever moose-themed attraction.

There’s a farm, museum and cafe at Älgens Hus, managed by Christer Johansson, a former ski champion.

The museum has ancient rock carvings of moose, as well as collections of giant antlers and displays explaining the life of a moose in each of the seasons.

In the farm the moose are tame and you’ll be allowed to approach and touch them.

These creatures are also milked, and this goes into a few of the treats served at the cafe and is also used to make cheese that you can purchase.

13. Norrbyskär

Norrbyskär

In the 1890s something very interesting happened on this small archipelago not far from Umeå.

On what had been uninhabited islands, the timber industrialist Frans Kempe established a Utopian working community around the largest steam-powered sawmill in Europe.

Life was made as comfortable as possible for Norrbyskär ‘s workers, in order to undercut union power.

The spacious houses built for the employees are still here and are now holiday homes in summer.

There’s a museum about the island’s history, trips on a tourist train, activities for kids, while the natural beauty of Norrbyskär is undeniable.

Holmön

In summer you can escape to this archipelago accessed only by ferry from Norrfjärden.

The crossing takes 45 minutes, and in winter when the water freezes over there’s a hydrocopter service.

Holmön only has 70 or so permanent residents, but in the warmer month is a delight for its untouched nature, quaint homes and all the things you can get up to outside.

You can hire a bike and go where you please, discovering secret beaches, coasting through aromatic woodland and chancing upon little lakes and ponds.

You can also sail a traditional sloop, the kind that kept these remote communities in touch with the mainland.

Also call in on the archipelago’s lighthouse, which dates to 1896, or inspect historic vessels at the boat museum.

15. Music Festivals

Umeå Open

Sweden’s indie scene has always been productive, and in spring you can see what’s new at Umeå Open.

This festival is about to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2018. After welcoming international bands for its first decade or so, it has turned its attention to domestic acts like Peter Bjorn & John, Little Jinder and Säkert! who all headlined in 2017. The Umeå Jazz Festival in October is now coming up for its 40th anniversary and stages around 30 concerts at various venues in the city.

It’s often listed as Sweden’s premier jazz event and luminaries from the jazz world show up each year.

One of 2016’s headliners was New York-based guitarist and vocalist DIDA.

15 Best Things to Do in Umeå (Sweden):

  • Guitars - The Museum
  • Västerbottens Museum
  • Umedalen Sculpture Park
  • Umeå Rådhus
  • Kulturväven
  • Umeå City Church
  • Arboretum Norr
  • Umevatoriet
  • Olofsfors Ironworks
  • Music Festivals

Download GPX file for this article

  • 1.1 History
  • 1.2 Climate
  • 1.3 Tourist office
  • 2.1 By plane
  • 2.2 By train
  • 2.4 By boat
  • 3.1 By bike
  • 3.3 By taxi
  • 5.2 Annual events
  • 9.2 Mid-range
  • 9.3 Splurge
  • 11.1 Camping
  • 11.2 Budget
  • 11.3 Mid-range
  • 11.4 Splurge
  • 13 Stay safe

visit umea sweden

Umeå , called Ume by locals, is a city near the mouth of the Ume River. It is the capital of Västerbotten County in northern Sweden , and with about 110,000 citizens it is the largest city in Norrland . Umeå is known for its university and many birch trees, giving it the nickname "Björkarnas stad", or the "Town of Silver Birches".

Understand [ edit ]

Being the regional capital of Västerbotten , Umeå is also the educational and economic capital city of the region, with no Swedish city of similar size further north. With its strategic location along the E4 national highway , most transportation to the northern part of Sweden goes through here. Umeå has the largest hospital in Northern Sweden as well as the largest university. Situated on top of a small hill overseeing the Ume river and downtown Umeå, they are by far the largest employers in the region. Due to the university, Umeå has one of the lowest average ages in the entire country with a lively night life and creative scene. Umeå was awarded the title European Capital of Culture 2014 [dead link] .

History [ edit ]

Umeå is near the maximum of the Nordic post-glacial rebound , with the land rising at a rate near 1 centimetre per year.

Sami peoples have lived in the Västerbotten area since prehistoric times. The area was also settled by Germanic peoples, including Swedes during the Viking era . Umeå, however, is first mentioned in written sources in the early 14th century. The area remained a small parish until the late 16th century when the locals asked for and were granted city privileges. The proposed site for the new city was in "Backen", some 5 km west of modern day Umeå. However, building the city proved difficult and it didn't attract many settlers. New attempts to build a city were made in the 17th century by the Swedish king Gustav II Adolphus, this time at the site where Umeå is today. In 1647 Umeå, with its 40 inhabitants, became the seat of Västerbotten county. In the 18th and early 19th centuries Umeå was destroyed and pillaged by Russian troops several times. In 1888 the city was devastated by a large city fire, and 2,300 out of 3,000 residents lost their homes. During the reconstruction of the city a large number of birch-trees where planted, and hence Umeå is sometimes called the "City of Birches". During the 20th century communications improved with the construction of a train station in 1902 and an airport in 1961. The national highways E4 and E12 were also built by the city. In 1965 Umeå University was founded as the fifth in Sweden and the first in Norrland.

Climate [ edit ]

Umeå has boreal climate with short summers and long, cold winters. While not northerly enough to see a genuine midnight sun , Umeå has astounding white nights in June and July.

Tourist office [ edit ]

  • 63.82709 20.260924 1 Umeå Turist office , Renmarkstorget 15 , ☏ +46 90-161616 . M-F 10:00-17:00 . Helps you with booking hotels, day trips and provides information about Umeå and Västerbotten.  

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ].

  • SAS [dead link] has seven flights on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, five flights on Thursdays and Fridays, two flights on Saturdays and three flights on Sundays from Stockholm-Arlanda . The flight from Kiruna has been rerouted and goes through Luleå now.
  • Malmö Aviation has five flights Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday and six flights Thursday and Friday from Stockholm-Bromma, some of them continuing on from Göteborg. On Saturdays there are two flights.
  • Norwegian has four flights Monday to Friday from Stockholm-Arlanda . On Saturdays there is one flight and on Sundays there are three flights.

Transports to and from the airport include a special airport shuttle bus (40 kr) which goes to Vasaplan in the city center. Shuttle tickets can only be bought using credit/debit cards or a smartphone. The ticket includes a two hours transfer time within the city buses. Taxis operate fixed prices to destinations within the city and charge from 120 kr and up.

By train [ edit ]

visit umea sweden

Railway connections to Umeå improved greatly as Botniabanan , the coastal railway, opened in 2010. SJ offers direct high-speed services from Stockholm , four on weekdays and two to three on weekends. Journey time is just over six hours with regular prices from 195 kr. Several more services are available that requires a quick change in Sundsvall . There's also the more traditional overnight service, departing Stockholm 22:12, arriving next morning 06:45. Couchettes and regular sleeping carriages are available. Prices starts at 600 kr one-way for a berth. It's possible to travel cheaper if booking a seat. Regional services are provided by Norrtåg connecting Umeå with Luleå , Lyckelse, Sundsvall and Vännäs.

Umeå has two railway stations.

  • 63.8176 20.2939 3 Umeå East railway station ( Umeå Östra station ), Storgatan 125 ( Eastern part of the city, next to university campus ). ( updated Jan 2021 )

By bus [ edit ]

Bus routes are well developed in Umeå. It is the cheapest way to get around in Northern Sweden and a comfortable one as well. Don't be surprised if there is service onboard of the long distance routes or even free Wifi internet. Usually there are discounts for students and sometimes even a business class section (surcharge) with wider seats and simple meal included in the ticket price.

Linje 100 has 6 buses a day on the Sundsvall - Örnsköldsvik - Umeå - Skellefteå - Luleå - Haparanda route departing Sundsvall at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:00 and 20:00. The Sundsvall - Umeå or Umeå - Luleå segments cost 295 kr each.

Ybuss is a long distance bus company with 3 buses a day on the Stockholm - Umeå route departing Stockholm at 08:20, 12:40 and 20:40. The travel time is around 9 hours and the bus stops for a meal break half way. The tickets range is 330 - 415 kr depending on if you have student discount.

Linje 31 has 3 nonstop buses a day from Tärnaby with one bus starting from Mo i Rana in Norway. This 5½-hour ride stops in Lycksele and Storuman along the way. One way ticket is 242 kr. Tärnaby is Västerbotten's biggest ski resort [dead link] and lies on the border with Norway.

Tapanis Buss has a route going from Stockholm to Tornio , Finland stopping at Umeå. Ticket from Stockholm 590 kr, from Tornio 380 kr.

By boat [ edit ]

Wasa Line runs ferries between from Vaasa , Finland across the Gulf of Bothnia. The crossing takes 4½ hours (mind the time zone change). Depending on season and day of week the departure may be in the morning, day or evening. There are daily departures in each direction. The one way ticket price is €36/27/15 off season, 390/300/150 in season (children 6–17). Cabin €30–60. A normal car costs €55/57, a bike €7. A return cruise can be had for €25 (€73 for four+car) off season; check campaigns.

The port 63.681136 20.339946 4 Umeå hamn is in the small town of Holmsund at the mouth of the Ume river, about 15 km south of the city along the Blå vägen . The shipping company provides a transfer bus from 63.681136 20.339946 5 Umeå hamn to the city centre, which can be booked when buying tickets in advance (€8/4, children 7–19) or bought on the bus if there is space. The bus from Umeå starts 1½ hours before the ship departure and passes the centre 8 min later.

By car [ edit ]

649km (403 miles) north on E4 from Stockholm . Note that driving in Norrland can be dangerous, especially in winter. Collisions with moose are a common cause of road accidents. During the latest years the road administration of Sweden (Vägverket) have invested much in upgrading road safety, which includes wild-life barriers/fences along major roads. This is by no means a guarantee, but it reduces the risk of moose-collisions. Other upgrades include 3-lane roads, where one direction is provided with two lanes to allow for safe passing of other vehicles while the other direction only has one. This changes from one direction to another along the road, so within a reasonable distance, the direction you travel in will have 2 lanes. It is recommended to have experience of driving in snow and poor visibility when driving in the winter, as even major roads get snow covered during days with lots of snow falling, just as strong winds in some parts cause snow to drift onto the road surface. All in all, though, the roads are kept free from snow or with a minimal surface layer of snow and ice, but roads away from the coast usually are snow covered during the entire winter, not being salted but rather just plowed for vehicle traffic.

Get around [ edit ]

Map

By bike [ edit ]

Umeå has a lot of students and bikes are common. The city offers a wide variety of bike-friendly roads and bike-only bridges. It is often both easier and faster to get around by bike rather than by car or bus. Bikes can be rented at Cykel & Mopedhandlaren (Kungsgatan 101, ☏ +46 90-140170 ) or Umeå Camping [dead link] If you plan on staying longer, buying a used bike is a good investment - with a bit of effort you can find a good used bike for as low as 400 kr.

If you prefer to use public transport, the local bus system (run by Västerbottens Lokaltrafik ) has Vasaplan as its hub in central Umeå and costs 23 kr per ride for adults, 17 kr for youth below 26 and 12 kr for children below 18 (including one hour of free transfer). Buses tend to be very infrequent in summertime and as a general rule it is advisable to check the timetable before getting to the bus stop during all seasons - waiting for 10 or 20 minutes in a bus stop at -20 °C is a potential health risk. Night buses are available on Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets on the busses can no longer be paid with cash. All tickets have to be paid using credit/debit cards or using mobile phone.

By taxi [ edit ]

  • TaxiKurir Umeå , ☏ +46 90 18 18 18 . Smart phone app offers address based routing and calculates price according to them. ( updated Aug 2020 )
  • Smartphone apps: Uber

See [ edit ]

visit umea sweden

  • 63.840039 20.116116 1 Arboretum Norr , Baggböle ( about 10 km upstream the Ume river from the city centre; the best way to get there is by bike, following the Ume river ). Umeå universitet, Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet and Umeå kommun has laid out an arboretum with trees from places all over the world found on the same latitude. The scenery can be stunningly beautiful, especially in the fall. ( updated Oct 2017 )
  • 63.8204 20.2774 2 Bildmuseet , Östra Strandgatan 30 B , ☏ +46 90 786 7400 , [email protected] . An art museum which is part of the arts campus of Umeå University, in a spectacular modernist larch building. ( updated Dec 2017 )
  • 63.82935 20.28935 3 Gammlia , Gammlia , ☏ +46 90-171801 . Tu–F 10:00–16:00, Sa 12:00–16:00, Su 12:00–17:00 . Open-air cultural showcase, centered around the Västerbottens Museum. Exhibits focus on the region's history, with art exhibits and musical performances as well. Free .  
  • 63.827345 20.268193 4 Guitars – The Museum , Vasagatan 18-20 , ☏ +46 90-580 90 . M-Sa 12:00-18:00. Guided tours at 12:00, 15:00 & 17:00 . With some 500 guitars it is one of the largest of its kind world-wide. The facility also houses a rock club, a restaurant, a music store and a record store.  
  • 64.147548 20.168792 5 Mickelbo Gård , Mickelträsk 35 ( road 364 towards Burträsk ), [email protected] . Mickelbo Gård is a rural mini-zoo where you can explore everything from camels to mice. About 30 different species live here, which you will meet either in the park or in the barn. Adults 130 kr, children 2-18 years 70 kr .  
  • 63.821824 20.347699 6 Nydalasjön . A beautiful lake with public paths and barbeque spots all around it. Popular for bathing in the summer. The Nydala camping site is at the northern end of the lake and also has a pool that is open during the summer months.  
  • 63.837732 20.159912 7 Umedalen Skulptur , Umedalen , ☏ +46 90-14 49 90 . Open park (24 hours daily) . Public park financed by Balticgruppen displaying sculptures. Both permanent and annual exhibitions. Free .  
  • 63.825269 20.262817 8 Umeå Rådhus , Rådhustorget 1 . Lies in the middle of Umeå. Behind it (on the north side) lies Rådhustorget (City Hall Square), the heart of Umeå's central shopping district. Rådhusesplanaden leads you from the square to Järnvägstorget (The Rail Square), next to which lies the train station as well as the long-haul bus station. Off to the side of Rådhusesplanaden you will also pass Umeå Stadsbibliotek (Umeå City Library) and Vasaplan (the hub of local bus traffic). In front of the City Hall is Rådhusparken and down by the waterfront is Trädgård i Norr (Garden in the North), which is a small flower park.  
  • 63.820605 20.30365 9 Umeå Universitet , ☏ +46 90-7865000 . Founded in 1965, it is Sweden's fifth oldest university. Foreign students are welcome to apply here .  
  • 63.824436 20.268597 10 Vänortsparken . A small park in central Umeå, next to Umeå Stadskyrka. The park contains art related to each of Umeå's sister cities around the world.  
  • 63.804829 20.220886 11 Robäck's 4H Farm ( Röbäcks 4H-gård ), Svidjevägen 37 , ☏ +44 70 226 33 19 , [email protected] . The 4H farm mimics a Swedish agriculture - the animals kept are Swedish livestock breeds and plants that are grown are those that belong on Swedish farms. ( updated Jun 2022 )

Do [ edit ]

  • 63.825279 20.263996 1 Megazone , Östra Rådhusgatan 8B , ☏ +46 90-130777 . Adventure centre on Rådhustorget in central Umeå. Here anyone can get their dose of action in the 600 m² area for Laserdome, Phazerzone and 26 Fort Boyard style cells with various problem solving tasks. This wonderful place also holds an arcade game centre and a large pool and snooker hall. On top of this, there is a reasonably priced grill restaurant.  
  • 63.827876 20.268896 2 Norrlandsoperan , NorrlandsOperan , ☏ +46 90-154300 . The city has an opera house and a famous opera company. Besides opera, the building hosts a large number of other events.  
  • 63.824245 20.263139 3 SF cinema , Östra Rådhusgatan 2 D , ☏ +46 90-137200 . The main cinema in the city centre mostly showing Hollywood blockbusters and Swedish films.  
  • 63.826201 20.269873 4 Navet - Public Swimming Pool , Västra Kyrkogatan 6 . Water slides, climbing wall, wave machine, stream channel, children's warm pool, jacuzzi, steam bath. Adults 145 kr, discounted 100 kr . ( updated Jan 2021 )

Sports [ edit ]

Being the city in Sweden with the youngest average age population, Umeå has a long tradition in sporting events. Although the local teams success in the Swedish leagues has faded, for the sport-bitten there is a variety of spectator friendly events to watch.

  • Björklöven is the local ice hockey team playing in Division 1 (Third Division). The season ranges typically September - March. Tickets cost 60-100 kr depending on visibility.
  • Umeå IK is among the top women football teams in Europe. Regularly playing in the Champions league, this is your best opportunity to watch good women's football team in Sweden. Tickets cost around 100 kr for most games.
  • IBK Dalen floorball team plays steadily in Superligan, the highest league. Home games are played in Gammliahallen and prices 40-65 kr.
  • IKSU Sport centre is the largest sport and leisure centre in Scandinavia. There is a large gym, beach volleyball, squash, swimming pool, martial arts centre, spa and a lot more. Located at the campus area close to the university, this is an incredibly popular workout spot for locals.

Annual events [ edit ]

  • House of Metal , Vasaplan , ☏ +46 90-156200 . House of Metal is a two-day indoor festival concentrating on rock and metal in different forms, held in late February or early March. It has three main stages and two cover band stages, with approximately 25 bands from Sweden and all over the world performing. 360 kr one-day pass, 625 kr two-day pass .  
  • [formerly dead link] Umeå Open , Umeå Folkets Hus , ☏ +46 90-126180 . Annual popular music festival during three days in mid-April attracting thousands of visitors. This is the biggest music event in Umeå. Most of the artists and bands are of Swedish origin.  
  • Brännbollsyran , Campus Area . Last weekend every May, Umeå changes it shape into a celebration of the upcoming summer break. Brännbollsyran is an unofficial world cup in the Swedish game of brännboll spread out all over the city. Anyone can join and over 1000 teams of 8-11 competitors so do. The final games are held on the university campus on Sunday. This Thursday-Sunday event has grown into a festival with virtually every part of the city holding some kind of event. Nordic Rock arranges an annual Friday-Saturday hard rock music event at Hamnmagasinet in downtown during Brännbollsyran.  
  • Umeå Jazz Festival . Annual jazz festival, usually held in October.  

Learn [ edit ]

visit umea sweden

With 27,000 students, Umeå is Sweden’s fifth largest university city.

  • 63.821097 20.3141 2 Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences ( SLU ). Forestry, Agriculture, Landscape planning and Garden science, plus the School of Environmental Studies. ( updated Oct 2017 )
  • 63.820624 20.303768 3 Umeå University ( UmU ), ☏ +46 90-786 50 00 . Faculties include Humanities, Medical, Teacher Education, Science and technology, Social Sciences, Fine Arts, Restaurant and Culinary Arts, Institute of Design, Business and Economics, Environment, Physical Education and Sports and Technology. ( updated Oct 2017 )

Work [ edit ]

Work is quite hard to find in the city, even for locals. The biggest employers are the University, the Hospital and Volvo (which has a factory in the outskirts). Knowledge of Swedish as well as a work permit (not needed for Nordic or EU citizens) are essential in order to get a job at either.

Students (especially foreign/exchange students) will find it even harder to get a job, but have a chance at the pubs, student papers and at the Student Union. Additionally, a French or Spanish native speaker might just get a temporary job as a teaching assistant.

Buy [ edit ]

Most shops are downtown (along Kungsgatan and Storgatan), in a fairly small area. Each neighbourhood will have a small shopping centre, with one or two supermarkets (ICA or Konsum/coop) and a few kiosks and fast food outlets. Two large shopping centres and hypermarkets are at the outskirts - one, Strömpilen (with a shopping gallery, an electronics hypermarket and an ICA hypermarket), at the end of Sofiehem and the other one (with a Willy's supermarket, and a Coop supermarket) in Ersboda.

  • 63.825072 20.264832 1 Burmans Musik , Kungsgatan 56 , ☏ +46 90-12 02 42 . Sweden's oldest record store still in business. ( updated Oct 2017 )
  • 63.826256 20.259382 2 Hemslöjden , Renmarkstorget 5C . A handicraft store selling merchandise made by local craftsmen. ( updated Oct 2017 )
  • 63.822644 20.280926 3 Pryl 1900 , Kungsgatan 92 , ☏ +46 70-448 51 43 . A second hand store focusing on fin de siècle -objects. They also have retro merchandise from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. ( updated Oct 2017 )
  • 63.825676 20.264962 4 Tiger of Sweden , Kungsgatan 65B , ☏ +46 90-77 90 80 . A Swedish fashion warehouse. ( updated Oct 2017 )
  • 63.828639 20.290312 5 Tráhppie , Helena Elisabeths väg 4 , ☏ +46 70-260 15 95 . Sells Sami handicrafts. ( updated Oct 2017 )

Eat [ edit ]

Budget [ edit ].

  • 63.818317 20.308755 1 Fantastisk Grill , Umeå University . Kebab and hamburger meals for the students at the university. Fast food in town. About 45 kr .  
  • 63.833626 20.287119 2 Rådhusgrillen , Rådhustorget . "Rull"-kebab and -pizza, a local specialty. About 35 kr .  

Mid-range [ edit ]

  • 63.821943 20.274174 3 Droskan , Storgatan 60, Öst på stan , ☏ +46 90-135588 . Lunch restaurant with "husmanskost" (Swedish food). 99-265 kr (evenings), 95-115 kr (lunch) .  
  • 63.829245 20.265203 4 Gandhi , Rådhusesplanaden 17 B , ☏ +46 90-12 50 75 . Indian restaurant. 100-150 kr .  
  • 63.830553 20.262658 5 Great Eastern , Magasinsgatan 17 , ☏ +46 90-138838 . Chinese restaurant. 90-150 kr .  
  • 63.82577 20.26416 6 MAX , Kungsgatan 63, Rådhustorget , ☏ +46 90-120070 . Popular Swedish hamburger chain. About 50-70 kr .  
  • 63.82562 20.259379 7 Sea Street Sushi Bar , Renmarkstorget 6 , ☏ +46 90-13 52 10 . Japanese sushi bar. 50-140 kr .  
  • 63.80985 20.342033 8 Älvans Pizzeria , Älvans väg 246,Tomtebo , ☏ +46 90-196965 . A small pizzeria with the best kebab pizza around. 40-70 kr .  
  • Restaurang Maria , Mariehemsvägen 7G 906 54 , ☏ +46 90-777500 . A good pizzeria with high quality shawarma and pizza dough baked on the spot. Offers a special "spicy mango" sauce. 80-160 kr . ( updated Dec 2020 )

Splurge [ edit ]

  • 63.836 20.1645 9 Bistro Le Garage , Umedalsallén 15 ( from the centre of town, a nice hour-long walk along the river and through the Backens kyrka churchyard, or via bus 1 to Umeå Löftets gränd ), ☏ +46 90-316 52 . Vary, check website . Modern nordic cuisine, great staff. 145-350 kr for a la carte dinner, 110 kr and up for lunch . ( updated Jun 2017 )
  • 63.825977 20.25983 10 Invito , Renmarkstorget 6 , ☏ +46 90-14 53 60 . Upscale Italian restaurant. 165 kr and up for main course.  
  • 63.829198 20.265722 11 Köksbaren , Rådhusesplanaden 17 , ☏ +46 90-13 56 60 . Gastrobar with great food. 180 kr and up . ( updated Sep 2017 )
  • 63.825311 20.262453 12 Rex Bar & Grill , Rådhustorget 1 , ☏ +46 90-706050 . Upscale restaurant. 200 kr and up .  

Drink [ edit ]

Nightlife is relatively good. Clubs and pubs are either on campus or in a cluster downtown. The campus clubs are either student-only (admittance based on student-card) or offer entry fees discounts, whereas downtown clubs and pubs usually have a higher age limit for admittance. All pubs and nightclubs close at 02:00 on weekends and usually at 01:00 on weekdays. Admittance fees range between 25 and 100 kr for a regular night (100 kr and up for concerts, etc.)

Additionally, a number of events occur on a regular basis, with a traditional venue being the Plaza, Universum (on campus) or Norrlands Operan (the Opera House).

  • 63.826077 20.259355 1 Allstars , Kungsgatan 50 A , ☏ +46 90145200 . Another sports bar in addition to O'Learys. This place turns to a club on weekend and offers a typical pub menu with burgers and barbecued chicken wings. 100 kr .  
  • 63.829416 20.265252 2 [dead link] Connect E-sportbar , Rådhusesplanaden 17C , [email protected] . A different kind of sports bar. ( updated Oct 2017 )
  • 63.826157 20.265674 3 O'Learys Umeå Event Center , Skolgatan 64D , ☏ +46 90-125555 . The local franchise of a nation-wide sports bar dedicated to the NHL team Boston Bruins. A perfect spot if you want to enjoy a well done burger and watch your favourite football team on one of the more than 30 widescreen TVs. Minimum age limit is 19 to 21 years. 100 kr entry fee, 50 kr for students .  
  • 63.82813 20.266835 4 Pipes of Scotland , Västra Norrlandsgatan 17 , ☏ +46 90-134100 . A laid back Scottish-style pub with a wide assortment of draught and bottled stouts, porters and ales. A great place for an after-work beer and some buffet style food. Popular on weekends by people who aren't into clubbing. Free entrance .  
  • 63.825311 20.262453 5 Rex Bar & Grill Umeå , Rådhustorget 1 , ☏ +46 90-706050 . An upscale nightclub and restaurant in the City Hall building. Usually open only on Fridays, Saturdays. 3 bars, 2 dance floors, minimum age 21 on Fridays and 27 on Saturdays. A popular summer hang out due to its outdoor serving area. 100 kr entry fee .  
  • 63.826786 20.26647 6 TC , Skolgatan 59 ( Vasaplan ), ☏ +46 90-156321 . This two story bar and restaurant is close to the public library in central Umeå. It has a large outdoor sitting area during summer but the indoor part gets easily crowded, especially during weekends. TC represents a modern white decor bar and nightclub and is popular among house music fans. 80 kr entry fee .  

On campus pubs:

  • 63.820063 20.30572 7 E-Puben , Universum , ☏ +46 90-7867679 . This renovated student pub is on the campus. Driven by the Business and Economics students, this pub gets crowded on Fridays and Saturdays. You will need a valid ISIC or national student card to gain entrance here. 30 kr entry fee .  
  • 63.819234 20.316609 8 Kårhuset Origo , Gösta Skoglunds väg 25 , ☏ +46 90-7869299 . A student pub/club close to IKSU sport centre. Open Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Shows big sport events on two projector screens. Club on Fridays and Saturdays with the occasional concert with local bands every month or so. 30 kr entry fee .  
  • 63.815785 20.296374 9 Kårhuset Villan , Klintvägen 55 , ☏ +46 90-135135 . Another student pub, belonging to the Medicine Students' Union, next to the hospital. 30 kr entry fee .  

Sleep [ edit ]

Camping [ edit ].

  • 63.843455 20.344895 1 First Camp Umeå , Nydalasjön 2, 90654 , ☏ +46 90702600 . Cottages and camping. Close to the university, 15 minutes by bike to city centre. Wireless internet connection available. Popular among students and workers all year around, families during the summer. Outdoor pool area close by.  
  • 63.82762 20.2576 2 Umeå Vandrarhem , Västra Esplanaden 10 , ☏ +46 90771650 , [email protected] . Youth hostel in the downtown area. Dorm bunks, singles and doubles available. Discount with IYHF or STF card. Linen towels and breakfast excluded. From 220 kr, Bed linen: 50 kr .  
  • 63.82788 20.27178 3 Ny Hostel ( YMCA hostel ), Järnvägsallén 20 , ☏ +46 90-18 57 18 , [email protected] . Hostel popular among school groups. Dorm bunks, singles and doubles with/without shower available. Extra charge for linen, breakfast and internet usage. From 180 kr, Bed linen: 75 kr .  
  • 63.802421 20.280265 5 Best Western Hotel Botnia , Norra Obbolavägen 125 , ☏ +46 90135490 . Near the airport 3 km from the city centre, but provides free car transportation to and from locations within the city; also bicycles. Built as the "Flyghotellet" or "Aviation Hotel", its decor is entirely aircraft-related. 490 kr and up .  
  • 63.821862 20.276787 6 Hotell Pilen , Pilgatan 5 , ☏ +46 90-141460 . Hotell Pilen is a stone's throw from the Umeå River, in the central, but quiet part of town known as "Öst på Stan". The hotel is one of the oldest in Umeå, dating back to early 20th century. 650 kr and up .  
  • 63.82838 20.265957 7 Hotel Aveny , Rådhusesplanaden 14 , ☏ +46 90-134100 . A business hotel in the heart of downtown. The rates include breakfast, gym and Wi-Fi. 79 kr and up .  
  • 63.825403 20.258247 8 Scandic Plaza Umeå , Storgatan 40 , ☏ +46 90-2056300 . Four-star hotel in the highest building in Umeå in the middle of downtown. 720 kr and up .  

Connect [ edit ]

  • 63.824894 20.260988 4 Umeå Stadsbibliotek ( Umeå City Library ), Storgatan 46A , ☏ +46 90-16 33 00 . Has internet PCs for public use (10-minute limit). ( updated Oct 2017 )
  • Umeå Tourist Centre (See section Tourist office ) is open all year round, and is situated at Renmarkstorget in the centre of Umeå.

Stay safe [ edit ]

All parts of Umeå are very safe; there is no reason to be worried walking around at night. Beware of cold weather during the winter; several drunk students have frozen to death after falling asleep in the soft snow.

Go next [ edit ]

  • Lycksele - Some 126 km northwest of Umeå lies the scenically beautiful town of Lycksele. If you are heading to Mo i Rana or the skiresort of Tärnaby/Hemavan you might consider a lunch break here. There is a forestry museum (50 kr) and a zoo (95-135 kr).
  • Norrbyskär - Norrbyskär is an island group with a fascinating history, in the archipelago of Västerbotten 40 km south of Umeå. This is a popular hang out place for families and kids, especially in the summer months. There is a museum (40 kr), a hotel, a kiosk, a church and a YMCA camp. A ferry with many trips each day during the summer will take you to the island from Norrbyn.
  • Vindel - The town of Vindeln 55 km northwest of Umeå is a perfect day excursion spot. Rafting trips in the Vindel river are a very rewarding experience during nice summer days. A half day rafting trip with tea/coffee and a nice sandwich will set you back some 450 kr and there are longer excursions up to 2 days as well. It is also possible to rent a hot tub and just chill out with a beer. If you happen to be in Umeå during winter, the nearest skiing resort, Buberget is also in Vindeln. It has got one ski-lift and 5 slopes to ride down. Well worth a day excursion if you want to get out of the city. 120 kr for a day. There are regular ski-buses departing from Umeå to Buberget in winter.

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Europe , Sweden , winter · October 4, 2021

9 Amazing Things To Do When You Visit Umeå In Winter

​​Umeå, Sweden is a winter wonderland. Imagine walking through streets lined with 1m snow walls, ice bathing in crisp frozen lakes and skiing through enchanting white forests. Imagine sitting inside cosy cafes drinking coffee and eating cinnamon buns while watching the snow fall out the window. Golden sunsets and bright night skies lit up by the colours of the aurora. There you have Umeå in the winter.

Last winter I took the night train from Gothenburg up to Umeå for a week of cross-country skiing. Exploring fairytale forests, skiing over snow covered lakes and across frozen beaches was literally a dream winter holiday. Umeå is the perfect place to visit in the winter if you are looking for true Swedish winter.

This guide will look into:

How to get to umeå.

  • Some great hotels to stay in
  • The best things to do in Umeå in winter

Please note that this post contains affiliate links meaning that if you make a purchase through my affiliate link, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only do promote products and brands that I have used and like.

umeå in winter

The overnight train run by SJ is the best way to get to Umeå from all over Sweden . The routes go from most major cities and are relatively low cost. This is true especially if you book far in advance and go for a bed in a shared cabin. The train from Gothenburg to Umeå takes about 11 hours, while the train from Stockholm takes 8.

Where to stay in Umeå in the winter

On a budget: U&Me Hotel

Middle budget: Elite Hotel Mimer

A higher budget luxury stay: Stora hotellet; BW Premier Collection

visit umea sweden

Things to do in Umeå in the winter

Cross country skiing .

Umeå is the perfect place for a cross country skiing adventure in the winter. Here, the snow piles amount to over 1m for weeks on end, with fresh powdery snow falling almost every day. There are many different cross country skiing tracks (or ski spår in Swedish) to explore throughout the city of Umeå. These include Nydalasjön, the city’s central lake, and Gammliaskog, a beautiful forest. You can also take a trip to the outskirts of the city and explore places like Tavelsjön by ski. Cross country skiing is one of the best things to do in Umeå in the winter for beginners and more advanced skiers.

If you want to know more about cross country skiing in Umeå, you can see my full guide here!

visit umea sweden

Visit Tavelsjö

Tavelsjön is a big lake about a 30 minute drive north of Umeå. This can also be reached via the bus from central Umeå and it takes around the same amount of time to get there. Tavelsjön is a beautiful nature reserve with a big lake perfect for cross country skiing, a cafe selling sourdough pizza, and an ice bath. I will take more about the isvak below. Tavelsjö Wärdhus also offer sleigh rides across the lake throughout the winter time.

If you are feeling a little more adventurous you can do some snow hiking up the 10 peaks of Tavelsjö . These hiking routes vary from 0.5 to 2.1km one way but have amazing views of the surrounding nature. In the peak of winter, they do recommend you wear special snow shoes as the snow here can be very deep and it can be dangerous if you are inexperienced in this sort of activity.

travelsjö umeå in the winter

Fika in one of Umeå’s cosiest cafes

Kulturbageriet.

Kulturbageriet is one of the cosiest cafes in Umeå to visit in the winter time. Attached to the library, this glass-roofed building brings in all the cosy feelings as you sit sipping coffee under the dark snowy sky. Here they sell great pastries for fika, and ecologically based lunch meals including soup and toasted sandwiches made with locally produced foods.

visit umea sweden

Nya Konditoriet

Nya Konditoriet is one of the oldest cafes in Umeå and a great place for a fika if you want traditional options and good coffee. Located on one of the main shopping streets of Umeå, this cafe is a great spot for people watching, or simply sitting and looking at the window down onto the picturesque snow covered streets.

Nya Konditori Umeå fika

Bokcafe Pilgatan

Bokcafe Pilgatan is just what it sounds like – a book cafe. Here you can come and read from the many books they have, or bring your own. They have a daily soup on offer and many pastries to choose from. Throughout the week they hold different events such as author talks, a tuesday jazz evening  and a workshop for aspiring authors. This is a super interesting cafe to visit if you are interested in writing or culture and want to experience something a little different!

Root, Tavelsjö

Root was honestly the best place we ate during our trip to Umeå. We came here after our ice bath in Tavelsjö for sourdough pizza and hot chocolates and were so happy with our meal we almost returned the next day. The pizza here was very unique flavours which we loved. We ate a butternut pumpkin pizza, a chilli and peanut chicken pizza, artichoke heart and pine nuts and a more traditional tomato pizza. 

Roots cafe tavelsjö umeå in winter

The Ume Älvdal river valley walk

The Ume Älvdal river valley walk, in combination with Umeås Strandpomenaden is a popular walking route along both sides of the Älvdal river. The walk is around 4km long and passes across both Umeås oldest bridge (Gamla Bron) and the newer suspension bridge,  Lundabron. This walk is one of the most beautiful places in Umeå in the Bölesholmarna islands where you can walk through frosted forest. This is a great place for a fika stop along the walk. From here you get a great view across the river towards Umeås’ city center. 

ume älv river valley walk winter

Visit the Västerbotten Museum

The Västerbotten Museum is a great place to visit if you want to learn a bit more about Swedish culture and heritage on your visit to Umeå. Here you can wander around timber houses from the 1700s in the Gammlia open air museum or visit the more contemporary exhibitions that often feature local artists and social issues from the Västerbotten region.

Visit the Bildmuseet (Photo museum)

Not only is the Bildmuseet building one of the most iconic in Umeå, the museum is also one of the best places to visit. The museum is free to enter and holds many different exhibitions throughout the year including those related to architecture, photography and art.

Taking an isvak, or an ice bath in English, is one thing you must do while you are visiting Umeå in the winter. There is no feeling as great as dipping yourself into a pool carved into 10 thick ice surrounded by candles. It might sound crazy but I am definitely a lover of ice bathing, even down in Gothenburg we swim all year round so this was a must for me! There are several Isvak’s available for swimming in both Nydalasjön and Tavelsjön. My personal favourite was at Tavelsjön as here there was a changing room and we were able to go into the cafe after ( Root ) and sit by the fire with a hot chocolate and eat fresh baked sourdough pizza. It was a once in a lifetime magical experience.

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Wander around the city

Under the short days, with streets covered in snow, the inner city of Umeå is a really beautiful place to explore on a winter’s day. Make sure to look out for the unique older houses that line the streets outside the city centre.

Some places to look out for in Umeå are:

  • Umeå Stads Kyrka
  • Cleaners sweeping snow off the roofs

Umeå in the winter city photographs

Take a sauna in Umeå

One of the best things to do in winter in Sweden is have a sauna, so of course I had to include it in this post about Umeå. There are a few different places to have a sauna in the city, including most hotels, however my favourite was the sauna at Iksu spa . Here the sauna was around 70 degrees and it was a great place to relax in the evening after a day cross country skiing around Umeå.

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Exploring the Hidden Gems of Umeå: A Must-Visit City in Sweden

Introduction.

Situated on the eastern coast of Sweden, Umeå is a vibrant city known for its rich cultural heritage, beautiful natural surroundings, and friendly locals. Often overshadowed by popular tourist destinations like Stockholm or Gothenburg, Umeå is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. In this article, we will explore some of the hidden gems that make Umeå a must-visit city in Sweden.

The Cultural Hub: Umeå’s Artistic Scene

Umeå prides itself on being a cultural hub, with a thriving artistic scene. Those looking for unique cultural experiences will not be disappointed. The Umeå Arts Campus is a true gem, offering a fusion of art, design, architecture, and music. The campus is home to several prestigious institutions, including the Umeå School of Architecture and the Umeå Academy of Fine Arts.

One can also explore the Bildmuseet, a contemporary art museum located on the banks of the Ume River. With its diverse range of exhibitions and stunning architecture, the museum is a must-visit for art enthusiasts. And if you’re lucky, you might catch one of the many art festivals that take place throughout the year, showcasing the talent and creativity of Umeå’s residents.

Unspoiled Nature: Umeå’s Outdoor Paradise

For nature lovers, Umeå offers breathtaking natural landscapes that are sure to leave you in awe. The city is surrounded by forests, making it a perfect destination for hiking, biking, or simply going on a leisurely stroll. Just a short distance from the city center, you’ll find Norrland’s largest hiking trail, the Umeleden. This picturesque trail takes you through forests, over hills, and along lakes, providing a truly immersive nature experience.

The nearby Umeå River is another natural gem worth exploring. Renting a kayak or canoe and paddling down the river allows you to take in the serene beauty of the Swedish countryside. During the winter months, when the river freezes over, ice fishing or ice-skating on the river is a popular activity among locals.

Historical Delights: Umeå’s Old Town

Umeå’s Old Town, Gamla Umeå, is a charming and well-preserved area that dates back to the 17th century. Strolling through its narrow streets, you’ll find beautifully preserved wooden houses that are a testament to the city’s historical heritage. The Old Town is also home to several delightful cafés, restaurants, and boutique shops, where you can immerse yourself in the local culture and cuisine.

Don’t miss a visit to the Gammliavallen, a historical park located within the Old Town. Here, you can learn about the city’s history through interactive exhibits, traditional buildings, and cultural events.

A Taste of Umeå: Culinary Delights

No trip to Umeå is complete without indulging in the local cuisine. The city is known for its excellent food scene and offers a wide variety of culinary delights. From traditional Swedish dishes to international flavors, there is something for every palate.

Head to the Umeå City Food Market, where you can explore a plethora of local produce, artisanal products, and street food. This vibrant market is a feast for the senses and a perfect place to sample authentic Swedish delicacies.

Umeå may be a lesser-known destination, but it is certainly not lacking in charm and beauty. From its vibrant cultural scene to its stunning natural landscapes, this hidden gem in Sweden has something for everyone. So, if you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path adventure, make sure to put Umeå on your travel bucket list.

Originally posted 2023-07-29 10:55:32.

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9 TOP THINGS to do in Umeå

When you walk about this charming city and note the plethora of popular tourist attractions in Umeå that dot the streets, you may get the impression that it is a unique travel destination.

Through this Umeå blog, I will share with you some of the most interesting things to do in Umeå.

In my opinion, 3 days in Umeå is good time to see the best that city has to offer. But if you can spare couple of days more that’s even better, you can take the sights more slowly. Let me share with you the best things to do in Umeå and tips to make the most out of your trip.

1. Bildmuseet

2. västerbotten museum, 3. kulturväven, 4. guitars, the museum, 5. umedalen skulpturpark, 6. nydala lake, 7. nydalasjön, 8. umeå city church, 9. döbelns park.

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If browsing through quirky art displays interests you, Bildmuseet is the one you should head to.

The museum presents well the contemporary works of the local as well as the international artists.

The very well maintained Bildmuseet museum is run by the Umea University. The museum also hosts cultural events regularly.

The collection is speread out amongst the art pieces belonging to quirky installations, electronic art experiences and experimental photography. The multimedia exhibits with a clever mixe of sound and light is a must watch.

Quick Facts:

  • Bildmuseet is housed in a gorgeous building.
  • There is no entrance fee to get in contemporary art museum.

Address: Östra Strandgatan 30B, 903 33 Umeå, Sweden

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A museum located in Umeå displaying various cultural artifacts.

The museum was established to serve the purpose of collecting and presenting the historical and cultural heritage of Umeå. I specially liked the colorful traditional costumes worn by men and women.

Regular cultural performances are also held here, check their website before visit. I particularly liked getting to know about the native Sami people.

  • Easy to get to Västerbotten museum is located in Gammlia area.
  • There is no entrance fee to get in cultural museum.

An incredible sight, Västerbotten museum scores high in the list of the best things to do in Umeå.

Address: Helena Elisabeths väg 3, 903 42 Umeå, Sweden

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Kulturväven is a cultural center which hosts several important concerts, exhibits and events.

The center holds a variety of aorkshops, artistic presentations and musical performances. Check out online to see the events happening here.

  • The cultural center is located near Ume River.

Address: Storgatan 46 A, 903 26 Umeå, Sweden

A visit to Guitars, the Museum is unlike your typical museum, meant for those seeking and wanting to learn something different.

The museum makes for a perfect attraction for music enthusiasts. The range of guitars on display is simply amazing.

  • Guitars, the Museum is housed in an elegant brick building.
  • It was in 2014 Pending review when it was established.

With so much to offer, no wonder Guitars, the Museum is one of the top things to do in Umeå.

Address: Skolgatan 59, 903 29 Umeå, Sweden

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Umedalen skulpturpark is a large park filler with interesting stone sculptures.

It makes for a curious walk to get around in this kind of an open air gallery.

It mainly contains artworks done by the local artists of Umeå and around.

Address: 903 64 Umeå, Sweden

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Nydala Lake is a calm and beautiful body of water located in Umeå.

There is also a park on shore, with a playground for little ones too. The lake has a serenity around it that wraps up on you quickly.

Add it to your Umeå trip if you have time.

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Nydalasjön is an alluring lake, a drop from heaven with clean, clear water.

If you like bird watching, this is the place to go, as the area is home to over hundred-fifty different species of migrating birds. With water so clear that you can see through, swimming is a good option.

  • Spread over an area of 146 ha, it is difficult to take-in all in one go.
  • It has a max depth of about 6 meters.

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Umeå City Church, one of city’s medieval church, is one of the city’s many architectural gems.

As this is a sacred location, anyone who want to enter are advised to cover their knees and shoulders. There is so much beauty in this church, from the front facade to the interior that it’s hard to choose a favorite.

  • It is actually Fredrik Olaus Lindström who is credited with designing this whole place.
  • Umeå City Church was opened in 1894.

If you have time, it makes for a nice addition to your Umeå trip.

Address: Västra Kyrkogatan 3, 903 29 Umeå, Sweden

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Döbelns Park is a beautifully landscaped park spread over a large area in Umeå.

It will not be wrong to say that Döbelns Park is truly an icon of landscape architecture.

The gardens are beautiful in nearly every season, but if there’s one time of year to visit, it’s around spring season.. Scattered around the park are many paths encouraging you to walk, jog or bike.

Address: 903 30 Umeå, Sweden

Thanks for reading this travel blog, hope now you know plenty of must see places in Umeå. All in all, whether you are a backpacker, a solo traveler, slow traveler, a female traveler or a couple there are plenty of interesting things to do in Umeå for everyone.

And it’s not difficult to create an itinerary that includes some of the best tourist attractions in Umeå. If you have any questions or suggestions on sightseeing in Umeå, I would love to hear them in the comments section below.

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Last Updated on August 27, 2022 by Triplyzer

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The Best Time to Visit Umea, Sweden for Weather, Safety, & Tourism

The best times to visit Umea for ideal weather are

June 18th to September 23rd

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

Umea Travel Guide

Temperature.

  • Perceived Temperature
  • Rain and snow
  • Humidity and wind
  • The busiest and least popular months
  • Overall travel experience by time of year

Other Umea Travel Info

Weather in umea.

Average temperatures in Umea vary drastically. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for most of the year with a fair chance of precipitation about half of the year. The area is less temperate than some — in the 26th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above . If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Umea, the hottest months are July, August, and then June. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally late July where highs are regularly around 69.2°F (20.7°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 57.4°F (14.1°C) at night.

Umea Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Umea temperatures (celsius), “feels-like” temperatures.

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Umea Perceived Temperature (F)

Umea perceived temperature (c), average umea temperatures by month.

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Show celsius, precipitation (rain or snow).

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Umea are April, June, and then March. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early June. For example, on the week of June 4th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in early December with an average of 2 days of significant precipitation the week of December 3rd.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Umea.

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Umea (in).

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show inches, show centimeters, humidity and wind.

Umea has some extremely humid months, and above average humidity throughout the year. The least humid month is June (69.9% relative humidity), and the most humid month is December (86.1%).

Wind in Umea is usually moderate . The windiest month is November, followed by December and October. November’s average wind speed of around 11.3 knots (13 MPH or 20.9 KPH) is considered “a moderate breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in late November to early December where average top sustained speeds reach 20.2 knots, which is considered a fresh breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Umea.

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Average Wind Speeds

Show wind speeds.

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Is it safe to travel to umea.

Our best data indicates this area is somewhat safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are travel warnings for Sweden; exercise a high degree of caution. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories . This advisory was last updated on Oct 26, 2023.

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Umea, Sweden is May, followed by September and July. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Umea in March. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

Most popular months to visit, overall umea travel experience by season, spring (march through may).

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderately cold. Highs range from 56°F (13.3°C) and 30.9°F (-0.6°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 3 to 5 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is fairly slow for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for deals.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have comfortably cool weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see moderate precipitation with 4 to 6 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in Umea, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 61°F (16.1°C) and 35.8°F (2.1°C), which will feel chilly given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a significant amount: 5 to 6 days per month. Tourism is the second busiest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be slightly higher priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is far too cold this time of year in Umea to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 34.8°F (1.6°C) and 24.8°F (-4°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 4 to 9 times per month. These times of year are the slowest with tourists.

Best Times to Travel › Sweden › Umea, Sweden

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GlobalData

Implenia given $43m contract for Ersmark Tunnel in Sweden

T he Swedish Transport Authority has awarded Implenia the €40m ($43.4m) contract for the construction of the Ersmark Tunnel on the new North Bothnia railway line in Northern Sweden. 

The contract covers the planning and construction of the 1.6km tunnel between Fäboberget and Ersmarksberget, as well as a service tunnel, concrete structures, wastewater management systems, and drainage mats. 

Jiri Tomasek Englen, Implenia Sweden’s head of tunnelling, said: “We are very proud to have been selected to carry out the project in Ersmarksberget. This means that Implenia Sweden is returning to the north, and this time we are here to stay permanently. 

“We also look forward to as good cooperation as we have in our other projects with the Swedish Transport Administration.” 

Work on the project will begin in May 2023 and is expected to last two years as part of the second phase of the 270km North Bothnia line, which will run between Umeå and Luleå. 

The new rail and freight line is expected to have the travelling time between the two cities when complete and forms part of the longer Bothnian Corridor connecting Sweden and Finland with the wider EU rail network. 

Implenia has a well established presence in the rail construction sector, and specifically with rail tunnels, having worked on other major projects around Europe including the Brenner Base Tunnel extension in Italy and a $360m twin-track rail expansion between Varberg and Hamra in Sweden which began in 2019.

"Implenia given $43m contract for Ersmark Tunnel in Sweden" was originally created and published by Railway Technology , a GlobalData owned brand.

The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.

The tunnel is part of the next phase of the North Bothnia line. Credit: Scandphoto/Shutterstock.com

IMAGES

  1. Tourist’s guide to Umea, student town in northern Sweden

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  2. Umeå

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  3. 15 Best Things to Do in Umeå (Sweden)

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COMMENTS

  1. Visit Umeå

    This is the home page for Visit Umeå's website. Here, visitors will find information on what to do, where to eat, what to see and experience in the Umeå region. Here you will also find information about current events.

  2. Umeå

    It's one of Sweden's, and Europe's, fastest growing cities - well on its way to passing the 200,000 population mark by 2050 (today the number stands at around 127,000). Umeå is also known as the City of Birches (Björkarnas Stad). Wandering around the city centre, you'll see why - some 2,300 birches line the avenues.

  3. THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Umeå

    Holmön is an island northeast of the university city of Umeå in northern Sweden. The island is famous for its annual music festivals: ballads and jazz, that usually takes place in July every summer. There is a ferry from Norrfjärden, Sävar, about 20-30 km northeast of Umeå. The boat trip takes 45 minutes easy road.

  4. Travel

    This means that many companies and places to visit are currently affected. Please, visit the facilities' own websites for up-to-date information and opening hours. For current information on COVID-19 in Sweden, we refer to The Public Health Agency of Sweden and the emergency information from Swedish authorities

  5. 15 Best Things to Do in Umeå (Sweden)

    The city's library, theatre, art house cinema and market are all here, as well as a cafe on the waterfront and a gallery for art exhibitions. There's also a museum to women's history, studying gender dynamics through Sweden's past. 8. Umeå City Church. Source: Scandphoto / Shutterstock.com.

  6. Why Umeå

    Umeå is a young and progressive city that always wants more. Umeå offers an urban experience of the peaceful northern Sweden - the best of both worlds. Both wilderness and vibrant city life. A city abounding in creativity, culture, shopping, restaurants, top-class accommodation, world-class education and research, world-leading businesses ...

  7. Travel to Umeå

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  8. The Umeå region

    With almost 120,000 residents, Umeå is the north's major culture and entertainment city. It offers experiences of an entirely different sort. Umeå has a wide range of good restaurants and bars. There are venues for everything from opera to hardcore rock. The clubs are many, as also various types of festivals.

  9. Umeå

    Umeå. Umeå, called Ume by locals, is a city near the mouth of the Ume River. It is the capital of Västerbotten County in northern Sweden, and with about 110,000 citizens it is the largest city in Norrland. Umeå is known for its university and many birch trees, giving it the nickname "Björkarnas stad", or the "Town of Silver Birches".

  10. Top 10 Things To Do In Umeå, Sweden

    Check out our list of the top 10 things to do in Umeå, Sweden. 1. Explore local heritage at Västerbotten museum. Västerbotten museum is one of the most popular tourist spots in the country, welcoming thousands of guests every year. The museum is responsible for collecting, guarding, and displaying various items that are a vital part of ...

  11. Umeå Travel Guide: Exploring Sweden's Lapland City

    Umeå Travel Guide: Exploring Sweden's Lapland City. Unassuming Umeå was European Capital of Culture in 2014, but few people will know of this remote city at the cold end of Sweden. A snowballs' throw from the Arctic Circle, the tree-lined streets are home to just 120,000 people. Stieg Larsson, author of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, is ...

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  13. 9 Amazing Things To Do When You Visit Umeå In Winter

    The Ume Älvdal river valley walk. The Ume Älvdal river valley walk, in combination with Umeås Strandpomenaden is a popular walking route along both sides of the Älvdal river. The walk is around 4km long and passes across both Umeås oldest bridge (Gamla Bron) and the newer suspension bridge, Lundabron.

  14. Places to discover by the sea in Umeå and Västerbotten

    Photo: Visit Umeå Holmön Sweden's sunniest island, Holmön, is best discovered by bike. Make your way along the narrow roads and experience nature and the beautiful village. ... The museum is free to visit and has the same opening hours as the Salteriet. How to get here: From Umeå, take the E12, Holmsundsvägen past Umeå Airport towards ...

  15. Exploring the Hidden Gems of Umeå: A Must-Visit City in Sweden

    Sweden is a country known for its picturesque landscapes, vibrant culture, and welcoming people. While many travelers flock to popular cities like Stockholm and Gothenburg, there are hidden gems waiting to be discovered in the lesser-known locales. One such gem is Boo, a charming area in Sweden that offers a unique blend of nature, history,…

  16. 9 TOP THINGS to do in Umeå » 2023 » [by a TRAVEL BLOGGER ]

    Address: 903 64 Umeå, Sweden. 6. Nydala Lake. Nydala Lake. Nydala Lake is a calm and beautiful body of water located in Umeå. There is also a park on shore, with a playground for little ones too. The lake has a serenity around it that wraps up on you quickly. Add it to your Umeå trip if you have time. 7.

  17. Fun Things to Do in Umea

    3. Experience the Umea Arts Campus: Umea is known as the European Capital of Culture in 2014, and the city's Arts Campus is a must-visit. Attend a concert or performance at the Umea Opera or Umea Jazz Festival, or explore the contemporary art at the Umea Art Museum. 4.

  18. 9 Sights in Umeå (with Map and Images)

    A total of 9 sights are available in Umeå, Sweden. Sightseeing Tours in Umeå. 1. Broparken. Mickeno / CC BY-SA 3.0. Broparken in Umeå was built in 1897. The park is located on a south-facing slope down towards the promenade by the Ume River, next to the Old Bridge, and consists of a large grassy area with large old trees, including poplar ...

  19. The Best Time to Visit Umea, Sweden for Weather, Safety, & Tourism

    Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you're looking for the very warmest time to visit Umea, the hottest months are July, August, and then June. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally late July where highs are regularly around 69.2°F (20.7°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 57.4°F (14 ...

  20. Living in Umeå

    If you prefer the indoors, you can visit IKSU, the largest indoor gym facility in Sweden. There is something for everyone: workout machines, group training facilities, climbing walls, beach volleyball courts (indoors!), swimming pools, basketball, floorball, volleyball and so much more. Image Ulrika Bergfors

  21. Umeå University

    Umeå University is the first in Sweden to be certified as a Healthy Campus. Health and well-being are the focus of the international certification. 60 million cancer images available in 14 EU countries. Professor Katrine Riklund has a leading role in a project that can improve precision medicine in cancer. ...

  22. Implenia given $43m contract for Ersmark Tunnel in Sweden

    The Swedish Transport Authority has awarded Implenia the €40m ($43.4m) contract for the construction of the Ersmark Tunnel on the new North Bothnia railway line in Northern Sweden. The contract ...