Car Hire Umeå - Mini guide to Umeå

Umeå is the largest town in the north of Sweden. Here, shopping and entertainment opportunities as well as unspoilt countryside are within easy reach. Hotels are of a high standard and the region offers many exciting outdoor activities along with pleasant beaches.

Visitors come here for adventure on the beautiful canoe waterways. White-water rafting and hiking in the wilderness are just a couple of the activities that make the Umeå region so attractive. Fishing on the coast, in running waters and on the serene lakes, is also a favourite pastime; the tranquillity of the area is especially ideal for anglers.

A wander around the town reveals birch-lined boulevards and red-brick architecture, which is best admired in the 19th century neo-Gothic church lying to the west of Döbelns Park. The district known as the Östra Kyrkogatan contains a rich concentration of antique houses. Also worth visiting, the sprawling museum complex, known as the Gamlia, lies to the northeast of the centre.

Umeå is a university town and the large student presence along with the theatre, opera, concerts and other cultural attractions, keeps the city vibrant. Apart from fishing and adventure sports, there is also a choice of five different golf courses, offering between 9 and 27 holes. Alternatively, a truly magical way to explore the countryside is on horseback.

If you have a car, the other towns in the region make up for the things the city lacks, such as the rushing waters of an unexploited national river and several elk farms. Nearby sunny Holmön Island is a gem of a place to explore; while Norrbyskär is famous for its magnificent cultural history.

The E4 motorway runs through Umeå and route 92 connects with the interior of the country. There is an overnight train from Stockholm, but the most convenient way to get here is to fly to Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport, then on to Umeå Airport, which is five kilometres south of town. Ferries from Finland arrive at Holmsund Port to the south.