Northern Sweden

Northern Sweden and Swedish Lapland are unique. There is nowhere else in the world where you can sit around the campfire with a Sami guide, sharing stories of the day’s dog sledding adventure. Stay at the world-famous ICEHOTEL or Treehotel for a really special experience.

MEDELPAD
Sundsvall
Sundsvall is one of Sweden’s most fascinating cities, offering not only a cool urban setting but also unique natural landscapes.

Sundsvall – located in the Medelpad province of Sweden’s northeast coast – has everything you could wish for, whether you’re an urban type or more of a nature lover. According to some historians, Sundsvall brought industrialisation to Sweden in 1849. And, boasting a major forestry industry since the early 20th century, it continues to be an important industrial hub.

A town with an eventful past, Sundsvall has been destroyed by fire four times. Following a particularly devastating fire in 1888 – the worst in Swedish history – the city was rebuilt entirely in stone, giving it the nickname Stenstaden (Stone City).

Urban meets wilderness, the best of both worlds
For a healthy dose of culture, visit Kulturmagasinet in the heart of the city. Home to the city library as well as the Sundsvall museum, you’ll find exhibitions that showcase the historical and artistic heritage of the town.

Venture beyond the urban borders, with its diverse range of culture spots and entertainment venues, and you’ll discover that Sundsvall and its surrounding areas boast immense natural beauty. You’re also within easy reach – about an hour and a half drive north – of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Höga Kusten (the High Coast). Höga Kusten is renowned for its granite cliffs and rocks that jut up from the edge of the sea and is a popular hiking destination.

The Sundsvall area’s must-see sites can be enjoyed year-round. Take it all in while hiking, cycling, jogging or – for the slightly more adventurous – whilst enjoying a canoe ride along the many waterways surrounding the city. In wintertime, you can whizz down the snowy slopes of the various ski stations located less than 15 minutes’ drive outside the city centre.

Sundsvall weather falls somewhere between subarctic and cold continental, meaning you’ll enjoy four distinct seasons.

Sundsvall – a hiker’s haven
The famous Swedish walking trail St. Olavsleden will take you from Sundsvall on the east coast and straight across Sweden, all the way to the city of Trondheim in Norway. St. Olavsleden is the northernmost pilgrim trail in the world and you’re likely to meet fellow pilgrims on the way.

Also consider hiking Indalsleden, running along Indalsälven, one of the country’s longest rivers stretching 430 km. This trail offers stunning views from Vättaberget mountain. Take a well-deserved break at Liden’s Old Church – which dates back to the 15th century.

The magnificent Stone City of Sundsvall
A symbol of Sundsvall’s rich industrial heritage, its historic centre – Stone City – is a must-see.

NORRBOTTEN
Kiruna – an arctic city bathed in the Northern Lights
Kiruna – Sweden’s northernmost city – has a lot to offer. This is where to see the Northern Lights and experience the Midnight Sun. It also boasts the country’s highest mountain, Kebnekaise.

Nestling some 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle in Norrbotten province, Kiruna is a gem of a city that forms part of Swedish Lapland. This vast area covers about a quarter of Sweden and stretches across the very north of Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia.

An outdoor enthusiast’s dream destination, Kiruna is surrounded by varied and vast terrain – from deep forests and expansive marshes to lakes, rivers and mountains – including Kebnekaise, Sweden’s highest mountain, towering at 2,106 metres. These landscapes are ideal for activities such as hiking, fly fishing, skiing, snowshoe walking and dog sledding. The city of Kiruna is celebrated as the best place to see the Northern Lights and soak up the Midnight Sun.

Kiruna is fascinating from an urban perspective. This historic mining community – first established in 1900 – is undergoing a transformation due to the impact that the mining has on the area. For the mining to be able to continue, a large part of the city needs to be moved. This involves the physical lifting and shifting of buildings and the occasional demolishing and erecting of others. The modernist Kiruna City Hall – known as “the crystal”– was the first landmark to be completed in this major push to create a new urban landscape.

Kiruna – land of the Northern Lights and Midnight Sun
Kiruna puts on two natural light shows – the Midnight Sun and the Northern Lights. The Aurora Sky Station in Abisko – an hour’s drive from Kiruna – is known as one of the best places in the world to admire this kaleidoscopic display. The spot benefits from relatively low levels of precipitation and cloud cover, and although the electromagnetic interplay between sun and earth – the trigger behind this otherworldly effect – occurs constantly, you’ll only be able to see it when it’s dark from August to April.

If you’re keen to experience the Midnight Sun – the 24/7 sunlight you get summertime north of the Arctic Circle – plan your trip between May and mid-July. You can also combine the experience with skiing as late as midsummer (mid-June) in the popular ski resort Riksgränsen.

Kiruna – an ultimate hotspot for outdoor activities
Take advantage of the long days by setting off on an epic hike along the famous King’s Trail (Kungsleden). The section extending from Abisko to Nikkaluokta takes you through the lake-studded Abisko National Park, with its barren mountainside and high peaks. Kebnekaise is one of the trail’s star attractions and there’s a separate 18 km round-trip trail that will take you up to the top.

With thousands of lakes and numerous major rivers, Kiruna is a fly fishing paradise. The clear waters are inhabited by species such as Arctic Char, pike, whitefish, grayling and salmon. There is a range of guided fishing tours to choose from – complete with fishing licence – lasting from a few hours to several days. Go pike fishing in the flowing water of the Caledonian mountain range or take a short boat ride from Riverside Lodge near the Torne river to fish for grayling and trout. This trip is one of many organised by Lapland Wilderness Tours.

As for wintertime experiences, dog sledding through Kiruna’s magnificent Arctic landscapes is a definite highlight. The friendly huskies are a joy to spend time with and there are various tours to choose from. Family-run Husky Home is one that offers an array of exhilarating experiences, including the opportunity to drive your own dog sled.

 

Treehotel, Swedish Lapland
Have you ever considered sleeping in a bird’s nest, a UFO or in a mirror cube? Probably not, but when it comes to design and architecture in Sweden, everything is possible it seems.

The Treehotel all started in 2010 with Britta and Kent Lindvall’s dream to turn a 1930s retirement home into a guesthouse in their home village Harads, roughly 100 kilometres from Luleå airport in the North of Sweden. The end result was not an ordinary B&B – it turned into a tree hotel complete with seven huts inspired by the film The Tree Lover.

VASTERBOTTEN
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Umedalen Sculpture Park
Located in the gardens of a former mental hospital, this sculpture park has exhibited art by almost 200 Swedish and international artists.

35 works by artists such as Miroslaw Balka, Louise Bourgeois, Tony Cragg, Antony Gormley, Anish Kapoor and Clay Ketter make up Umedalen Sculpture Park, open year round and free to the public. A unique garden experience by world-renowned landscape architect Ulf Nordfjell completes the experience.

ANGERMANLAND
The High Coast – a UNESCO World Heritage site
The High Coast (Höga Kusten) is a part of the Gulf of Bothnia and characterised by its steep granite cliffs and rocky islands rising from the sea.

UNESCO World Heritage site
The High Coast, in the Ångermanland province of north eastern Sweden, is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its unique and highly scenic land and seascape and its distinctly red Nordingrå granite cliffs and rocks.

On the vertical rebound
Due to a combined process of glaciation and glacial retreat stemming from the last Ice Age 9,600 years ago, the once compacted land is now steeply moving on up and dramatically reclaiming its right to vertical space. Technically, it boasts an approx. 295 m rise or ‘rebound’.

How to do it
The area included on the World Heritage list stretches over 100 km from north to south, with the Skuleskogen National Park at the centre. The High Coast is best explored by foot or bike. But you also get the fantastic views by car, starting from the towns of Örnsköldsvik or Härnösand. In the summertime, there are also boat and ferry tours operating along the coast.

High Coast Hike
The High Coast Hike is a 40 kilometer long hike and folk festival through the highlights of the High Coast. The Hike has quickly become the second largest hike in Sweden and attracts hundreds of hikers from all over the world. Bring your family, friends or colleagues on an adventure and experience the unique combination of coastal mountains, ancient forests and glimmering coastline.

To do
Activities in the area include guided wild bear or beaver safaris, archipelago exploration by kayak, fishing, horse riding, and coastline cycling and hiking. You can also visit Sweden’s second highest waterfall (90 m) at Västanåfallet nature reserve.

A must try
The High Coast is home to Sweden´s most peculiar delicacy, fermented herring. Love it or hate it, the surströmming premiere traditionally takes place in August.