Making the most of Lulea
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Four harbour sections occupy the port area: Victoria Harbour handles dry goods, Uddebo deals with liquid products, and LKAB and Cementa have their respective industrial quays. The former iron-ore loading quay now serves government icebreakers and cruise ships.
The cruise berth is about a 25-minute walk from town, and taxis are available.
Getting around Luleå is straightforward on foot, by public transport or by taxi. Everything in the city centre lies within walking distance, while regular local buses depart Smedjegatan in the heart of town for various destinations. Taxi companies can arrange guided tours and trips to places of interest on request. The cities and towns of Swedish Lapland are safe to explore independently.
Central Luleå is an appealing summer destination with sunshine by day and night, plus a broad choice of shops, cafés and restaurants. Follow the seashore around the city for an attractive walk.
Visit "Kulturens Hus", the Arts & Congress centre. It provides a rich cultural experience, stages a wide range of events and contains the Tourist office, City Library, Hall of Art, Concert Halls, Conference facilities, a café and restaurants.
Norrbottens Museum is the regional museum for Sweden's largest province, which covers almost one fourth of the country. An exhibition commemorates the 300th anniversary of renowned Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus's birth, while numerous celebratory events were scheduled across Sweden during 2007.
Steam-locomotive enthusiasts should not miss Norrbottens Järnvägsmuseum, the railway museum in Karlsvik.
On the Luleå University of Technology campus, Teknikens Hus is a science centre and "a hands-on museum" for every age. Numerous exhibitions invite visitors to experiment and explore.
Getting around
"Kulturens Hus", Luleå's Arts & Congress centre, combines a varied events programme and strong cultural offering. Inside are the Tourist office, city library, hall of art, concert halls, conference facilities, restaurants and a café.
Nearby places
Explore Gammelstad church town independently and allow several hours. Walk around the old village, enter the church and open-air museum Hägnan, shop for Norrbotten handicrafts in small boutiques, then enjoy coffee and a cinnamon swirl in authentic surroundings. Gammelstad church town is also home to some of Luleå's finest restaurants.
Along the Norrbotten coast, a world-unique phenomenon blends saltwater and freshwater into brackish water. Luleå's archipelago contains over 700 islands. Several boats follow scheduled routes, with thematic trips devoted to areas such as nature, culture, art and food.
Money
Exchange-rate examples are 12.28 SEK for 1 GBP, 9.43 SEK for 1 EUR and 5.91 SEK for 1 USD. The national currency is the Swedish krona (SEK; plural kronor).
Cash machines accept major credit cards, as do most shops, restaurants and bars. In some instances, however, a SEK 5 charge or minimum spend of between 50 - 100 SEK applies.
Staying connected
Swedish is Sweden's national language, but people, particularly those younger than 70, generally speak excellent English. An estimated 89% of Swedes can speak English.
For fire, medical or criminal emergencies in Sweden, dial 112.
Opening Hours and
Most shops, especially those downtown, trade throughout the week, including Sundays.