Umea

Larger vessels use tenders at this port.

Umea harbour is not located in Umea itself, but in a nearby town named "Holmsund". After arriving in Holmsund, passengers need a bus to reach Umea. The operator is called "Länstrafiken Västerbotten", and its bus number is "124: Umea - Homsund - Umea". The journey into Umea city centre takes 40 minutes.

Umea's history stretches back 5,000 years to its first hunters and fishers. Stone carvings from that era remain just outside town. The local community began developing during the 14th century around a church, market and harbour.

King Gustav II Adolf founded the city in 1622. Sweden's last war on home soil, during 1808-1809, reached the Umea region, which fire devastated several times.

In 1888, fire left almost all 3,000 residents homeless. Several thousand birch trees were subsequently planted as a fire barrier.

Modern Umea is filled with life, well-being and fun. Beneath waving birch tops and beside its constantly flowing river, the town grows and changes with great confidence in its future. Umea is northern Sweden's most densely populated municipality and one of the country's largest university towns.

1. Gammlia: every summer, Gammlia's lush green surroundings become a lively open-air museum. Discover woodwork and handicrafts, taste freshly baked Swedish thin bread and join period-costumed guides to learn about its historic buildings. The site includes Västerbotten's County Museum, fishing and maritime displays and the Swedish Ski Museum. Permanent Museum exhibitions cover regional prehistory, settlers' lives and Sami culture.

2. Bildmuseet Museum of Contemporary Art and Visual Culture: this institution ranks among Sweden's foremost art museums. Its programme showcases both historical and contemporary art exhibitions of international standing, expressed through forms that include film, photography, painting and installation.

3. The Elk House: stroking a live elk is a genuinely unforgettable experience for most visitors, and this attraction offers that and much more. Watch an elk cow being milked and taste elk cheese, a delicacy made from its milk.

4. The Sculpture Park at Umedalen: Umedalen district contains a distinctive cultural landscape where northern Europe's most important sculpture collection has developed. More than 40 artworks appear in a captivating outdoor setting. Open around the clock, the Sculpture Park receives over 200,000 visitors each summer.

5. Olofsfors Ironworks Museum: one of Sweden's most authentic and carefully preserved ironworks settings. Step into the past, where almost every museum building dates from the ironworks' glory years in the 1700s. The manor, workers' homes, blast furnace, foundry and finery forges all survive as a lasting legacy.

6. Guided tour: Umea is a relatively young city with a compelling history. A guided tour explains how it became the City of the Birches. See structures that survived the great 1888 fire, learn why the old Town Hall has two fronts and collect excellent shopping suggestions on the way.

7. Umeleden/Ume Trail and salmon ladder: Ume Trail follows the River Umeälven valley past many pleasant experiences and interesting sights, including Norrfors salmon ladder. Thousands of salmon use the ladder each summer on their route to spawning grounds in the River Vindelälven, and visitors are almost certain to see them.

8. Vindelälven's nature reserve: follow the picturesque road to Vindeln through authentic Swedish farming country and experience the majestic Vindeln rapids. Walk through beautiful scenery and admire the dramatic rapids forming this fascinating reserve. The Nature Room also presents and brings to life the River Vindelälven's natural and cultural story.

The national currency, abbreviated SEK, is called the Swedish krona, or kronor in the plural. About 5.91 SEK equals 1 USD, about 9.43 SEK equals 1 EUR and about 12.28 SEK equals 1 GBP.

Automatic teller machines accept major credit cards. Most shops, restaurants and bars take all leading cards, although some impose a SEK 5 fee or minimum purchase between 50 - 100 SEK.

The centrally located Umeå Stadsbibliotek library provides public internet PCs with a (10 minute limit).

Swedish is Sweden's national language, but people, particularly those under 70, also speak English very well. An estimated 89% of Swedes can speak it.

The number to dial for a fire, medical or criminal emergency is 112.

Most shops, at least in the centre, trade throughout the week, including Sundays.