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Northernmost region of Sweden
Photo: Strokin.ru, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Norrland is one of three lands of Sweden, besides Svealand and Götaland. Norrland encompasses two thirds of the country's surface, but no more than 12 per cent of its population; about 1.18 million in 2016. The region is characterized by forests, mountains, rivers and elongated lakes, a harsh winter climate, long distances, as well as university towns with young populations.
The gateway to Norrland, with open plains shifting into deep forests, with some mountains.
The heartland of Sweden's forest industry, where the land rises from the sea by one centimetre each year.
Famous for its ski resorts: Åre, Vemdalen, Storlien and Östersund, good for hiking during summer.
Contains Umeå, Norrland's largest city, as well as tall mountains at the Norwegian border.
Contains the Torne Valley (Tornedalen); the world's northernmost farmland. The county extends into the Arctic, with the Jukkasjärvi Ice Hotel, and the largest wilderness within the European Union.
By plane
Most major cities in Norrland have a commercial airport, with connection from Stockholm Arlanda Airport.
By public transport
Regional rail service is provided by Norrtåg, with lines connecting Trondheim, Sundsvall, Umeå, Lycksele, Luleå and Narvik.
By car
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Gävle is a port on the Baltic Sea in Gävleborg County, the southernmost part of Norrland. In 2020 the city had a population of 79,004.
Härnösand is a city in Västernorrland County in Sweden, at the coast of the Bothnian Sea. It has 17,500 citizens, a cathedral, and was once an administrative centre.
Kiruna (Sami: Giron) in Norrbotten County is Sweden's northernmost city and home to 18,000 citizens. It is the centre of Kiruna Municipality, Kiruna kommun, which also includes several small villages, resorts and settlements scattered around a large wilderness area.
Luleå, also called Lule, is the seat of Norrbotten County in northern Sweden. The city lies at the mouth of the Lule River, in the north-west corner of the Gulf of Bothnia.
Östersund is the seat of Jämtland County in Norrland in Sweden. It was founded in 1786, as the only Swedish city founded during the 18th century.
Sandviken is a town, and a municipality, in Gävleborg County, in the Gästrikland province, 20 km west of Gävle, the county seat.
Skellefteå, called Skellefte by locals, is a town in Västerbotten County, Sweden, at the Baltic Sea, with around 33,000 inhabitants. Skellefteå municipality, Skellefteå kommun, has 72,000 inhabitants in total.
Sundsvall is the seat of Västernorrland County, and the only city in the Medelpad province of Sweden. The city's population is about 51,000 (2010), but including suburbs, the total is close to 100,000.
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.
a national park.
The High Coast (Swedish: Höga kusten) is a dramatic coastal area and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Västernorrland County, Sweden, famous for its traces from the last Ice Age, with rising land and glacial moraine. It is approximately bounded by the cities Härnösand in the south and Örnsköldsvik in the north, and also cover parts of the rural municipalities Kramfors and Sollefteå.
a village famous for the Ice Hotel.
Sweden's highest mountain surrounded by vast wilderness areas and a popular trail to Abisko National Park.
a marked well-known hiking trail that runs through Norrland.
four national parks, together forming Europe's largest wilderness.
home to three out of seven UNESCO World Heritage site "Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland".
a ski resort.
Sweden's busiest ski resort.
Articles and travel topics about Norrland and Sweden.
Nature & adventureWhere to see the northern lights in 2026 and 2027 during Solar Cycle 25, comparing weather in Tromsø, Abisko, Fairbanks and Iceland.
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ItinerariesE4 can also refer to E4 Mediterranean Arc, see Long distance walking in Europe. European route E4 stretches 1,590 km (990 mi) with most of Sweden's length between Helsingborg in the south, and Haparanda in the north,…
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ItinerariesEuropean route E6 stretches from Trelleborg in Sweden to Kirkenes in Norway, 3,120 km in total. The leg through Norway is 2,628 km – the longest road within a single country in Europe except Russia.
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Travel tipsSweden has an extensive railway network. Long-distance lines are operated by the government-owned company SJ AB, or by private enterprises.
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