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City in Sweden
Photo: Paul Richter (Paul Richter?), CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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".
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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.
An art museum which is part of the arts campus of Umeå University, in a spectacular modernist larch building.
Open-air cultural showcase, centered around the Västerbottens Museum. Exhibits focus on the region's history, with art exhibits and musical performances as well.
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.
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.
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.
Public park financed by Balticgruppen displaying sculptures. Both permanent and annual exhibitions.
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.
Founded in 1965, it is Sweden's fifth oldest university. Foreign students are welcome to apply here.
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.
Röbäcks 4H-gård
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.
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.
The city has an opera house and a famous opera company. Besides opera, the building hosts a large number of other events.
The main cinema in the city centre mostly showing Hollywood blockbusters and Swedish films.
Water slides, climbing wall, wave machine, stream channel, children's warm pool, jacuzzi, steam bath.
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.
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.
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.
Annual jazz festival, usually held in October.
Umeå European Film Festival
Kebab and hamburger meals for the students at the university. Fast food in town.
"Rull"-kebab and -pizza, a local specialty.
Lunch restaurant with "husmanskost" (Swedish food).
Indian restaurant.
Chinese restaurant.
Popular Swedish hamburger chain.
Japanese sushi bar.
A small pizzeria with the best kebab pizza around.
A good pizzeria with high quality shawarma and pizza dough baked on the spot. Offers a special "spicy mango" sauce.
Modern Nordic cuisine, great staff.
Upscale Italian restaurant. 165 kr and up for main course.
Gastrobar with great food.
Upscale restaurant.
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.
A different kind of sports bar.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Another student pub, belonging to the Medicine Students' Union, next to the hospital.
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.
Youth hostel in the downtown area. Dorm bunks, singles and doubles available. Discount with IYHF or STF card. Linen towels and breakfast excluded.
YMCA hostel
Hostel popular among school groups. Dorm bunks, singles and doubles with/without shower available. Extra charge for linen, breakfast and internet usage.
An old prison converted to a hostel. 10 minute walk to city center, 20 minute walk to campus.
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.
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.
A business hotel in the heart of downtown. The rates include breakfast, gym and Wi-Fi.
Four-star hotel in the highest building in Umeå in the middle of downtown.
Sweden's oldest record store still in business.
A handicraft store selling merchandise made by local craftsmen.
A second hand store focusing on fin de siècle-objects. They also have retro merchandise from the 1950s, 60s and 70s.
A Swedish fashion warehouse.
Sells Sami handicrafts.
By train
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.
By bus
Bus routes are well developed in Umeå. It is the cheapest way to get around in Northern Sweden and a comfortable one as well.
By boat
Wasa Line runs ferries between from Vaasa, Finland across the Gulf of Bothnia. The crossing takes 4½ hours (mind the time zone change).
By car
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.
By bus
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…
By taxi
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Umeå · International · UME
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