Umeå

Umeå belongs to the historical province of Västerbotten and is also the seat of the provincial government. It lies on the Ume älv river. With around 135,000 inhabitants in the municipality (end of 2025), it is one of Sweden’s larger cities, and the number of people living in Umeå has grown strongly in recent decades. This makes Umeå one of the fastest-growing cities in the whole country. Umeå’s nickname is “City of Birches”. In 1888 the town was struck by a devastating fire. Afterwards there were hardly any plants left in the city centre, so around 3,000 birch trees were planted. Umeå is also home to many students, who have two universities to choose from. Umeå was European Capital of Culture in 2014, with Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel as patrons of the project.

Umeå was officially founded in 1588, but it took almost 55 years before the town was able to develop at all. In 1714 the town was burned down by the Russian army during the Great Northern War, but it recovered quickly afterwards. At the beginning of the 19th century there were still armed conflicts in and around Umeå. Finally, in the 20th century, the city developed into a cultural centre for northern Norrland. Volvo Trucks is worth mentioning as a major industrial company in Umeå. In addition, several government and military authorities are located in the city. Umeå also has a port, from which a ferry sails to Vaasa in Finland.

There are numerous museums here. The open-air museum and Bildmuseet (the museum of contemporary art and visual culture) are well worth a visit on any trip. The sculpture park also has plenty to offer, and not only for art lovers. Cyclists will find perfect cycle paths in and around Umeå. There are also many nature reserves, cross-country ski trails and hiking trails. The impressive archipelago landscape is worth a trip at any time of year. Umeå also offers plenty of opportunities for active people, especially for winter sports. Music plays a very big role in Umeå. For many years the MADE Festival was held here, which was not only about music but also about culture and dance. Umeå has also produced many hardcore bands, the best known of which is Refused. There are many other festivals held in Umeå every year as well, for example the Umeå Jazz Festival and the Umeå Film Festival.