Umeå walking tour & city guide

The city

Birch trees line the streets and the Ume River promenade. The Bildmuseet art museum sits on the riverbank, and Väven is a striking cultural center.

Around

Gammlia is an open-air museum of northern life. In winter, the northern lights are sometimes visible above the city.

A day in Umeå

Walk along the Ume River promenade, lined with birch trees, to Väven, a striking cultural center with a library and a women's history museum. Cross the river to visit the Bildmuseet, a contemporary art museum on the university's arts campus.

In the afternoon, explore Gammlia, an open-air museum of farm buildings and a Sámi camp, and the Västerbotten Museum.

Good to know

Umeå has a large university and one of the youngest populations in Sweden. In summer, the sun barely sets; in winter, there are northern lights.

Ferries cross the Gulf of Bothnia to Vaasa in Finland. The High Coast, a UNESCO site of dramatic coastline, is a few hours south.