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Northern Sweden (Norrland) Travel Guide

Aurora Boarealis in Lappland (© jamenpercy - Fotolia.com)
Aurora Boarealis in Lappland.

Introduction

Norrland, Sweden's northernmost and largest region, encompasses about 60% of the country's territory but is home to only 12% of its population. This vast wilderness is characterized by rugged mountains, including Sweden's highest peak Mount Kebne, extensive forests, and numerous pristine lakes and rivers that provide hydroelectric power.

The region is renowned for its natural phenomena such as the Midnight Sun and Northern Lights, as well as its rich cultural heritage, including the indigenous Sami people. Visitors can explore notable cities like Umeå (the largest in Norrland), Kiruna, and Sundsvall, while experiencing unique culinary delicacies such as Kalix bleak roe, Arctic char fish soup, and the traditional kaffeost (coffee with cheese). The region offers year-round attractions, from summer hiking and fishing under 24-hour daylight to winter activities like dog sledding, snowmobiling, and visits to the famous ICE hotel in Jukkasjärv.

Attractions

Northwestern Mountains

Abisko National Park
Abisko Nature Park
outstanding Established in 1909 as one of Sweden's first national parks, Abisko National Park spans 77 square kilometres in Swedish Lapland and boasts a rich cultural heritage of the indigenous Sami people, who have inhabited the region for thousands of years as reindeer herders. The park is renowned as one of Earth's premier locations for viewing the Northern Lights, with its unique positioning in the Atlantic rain shadow creating optimal viewing conditions. Visitors can explore the historic Kungsleden (King's Trail), enjoy the rare flora of Mount Njulla (including blunt-leaved orchids and Lapland rosebay), spot diverse wildlife such as wolverines, bears, and golden eagles, or visit the Abisko Sky Station for gourmet dining beneath the starlit sky. The park also houses the prestigious Abisko Scientific Research Station, where scientists worldwide conduct vital climate change research. Adventure seekers can partake in activities ranging from dog sledding and skiing to hiking and visiting the dramatic Abiskoeatnu Canyon, whilst history enthusiasts can discover ancient Sami pitfalls, huts, and hearths that dot the landscape.
Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi
Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi (© Marco Regalia - Fotolia.com)
very good The world's first ice hotel, located in the village of Jukkasjärvi about 17 kilometres from Kiruna in northern Sweden, began as a happy accident in 1989 when visitors requested to sleep in an ice art exhibition. Today, this remarkable establishment features both seasonal and permanent structures, with the seasonal hotel being completely rebuilt each winter using 900 tonnes of ice and 27,000 tonnes of snow harvested from the pristine Torne River. The hotel boasts roughly 120 rooms, including 55 spectacular 'cold rooms' where guests sleep at -5°C, whilst the permanent Icehotel 365 section offers 18 year-round icy chambers powered by solar panels. Each year, about 30 international artists gather to sculpt unique suites, creating an ever-changing art exhibition where even the drinking glasses in the famous Icebar are crafted from river ice. The hotel's restaurant, helmed by a Michelin-trained chef, serves local delicacies such as Arctic char and moose, often presented on plates made of ice, offering a truly immersive Nordic dining experience.
Stora Sjöfallet National Park
Stora Sjöfallet National Park (photo by Liberal Freemason - Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license)
outstanding Stora Sjöfallet National Park, Sweden's third-largest national park, is a majestic wilderness area north of the Arctic Circle that forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Laponian region. The park derives its name, meaning 'great waterfall' in Swedish, from five historic cascading waterfalls that once thundered into Lake Láŋas, though these were largely diminished by hydroelectric development shortly after the park's establishment in 1909. The landscape is dominated by the impressive Áhkká massif, known as the 'Queen of Lapland', which boasts thirteen peaks and ten glaciers that are unfortunately retreating by 10 metres annually due to global warming. The park serves as traditional grazing land for the Sami villages of Sirges and Unna Tjerusj, whilst its diverse terrain encompasses alpine mountains, glacial heaths, mountain birch slopes and primeval pine forests. Wildlife enthusiasts can spot rare birds such as the gyrfalcon and great grey owl, whilst the area boasts approximately 400 mountain flora species, including the celebrated 'gold of Lapland' - cloudberries.
Padjelanta National Park
Aurora borealis, Padjelanta National Park (© Jens Ottoson - Fotolia.com)
outstanding Padjelanta, Sweden's largest national park, derives its name from the Lule Sami word 'Badjelánnda' meaning 'the higher land'. This spectacular 1,984 square kilometre expanse features rolling mountains, vast lakes, and some of Sweden's most luxuriant flowering meadows, boasting unique alpine flora that has attracted botanists since the 17th century. The park is traversed by the 160-kilometre Padjelanta trail, which offers relatively easy hiking with convenient mountain cabin accommodations. The area has one of the highest concentrations of ancient remains in the alpine world, with traces of settlements dating back to the Stone Age. Three Sami villages—Duorbun, Jåhkågasska and Sirges—continue their traditional reindeer herding practices in the park, using modern methods like helicopters whilst maintaining their cultural heritage. The park's rich wildlife includes wolverines, Arctic foxes, brown bears, and golden eagles, whilst its lakes teem with Arctic char and whitefish that local Sami often sell to visitors.
Sarek National Park
Sarek Nature Park (© Tony Johansson - iStockphoto.com)
must-see Established in 1909, Sarek National Park stands as one of Europe's oldest national parks and represents Sweden's most mountainous region, featuring six of the nation's thirteen highest peaks above 2,000 metres. This vast wilderness, spanning 1,970 square kilometres, harbours nearly 100 glaciers and offers a truly untamed experience with no marked trails or facilities. The park's dramatic landscape showcases the spectacular Rapa River delta, considered one of Europe's most remarkable views, whilst its rich wildlife includes brown bears, wolverines, golden eagles, and impressive moose with enormous antlers. The area holds profound cultural significance as the ancestral home of the Sami people, who have practised reindeer husbandry here for thousands of years through three distinct communities: the Sirges, Jåhkågaska Tjiellde, and Tuorpon.

Baltic Coast

Gammelstad Church Town
Gammelstad Church Town (© rolf_52 - Fotolia.com)
outstanding Gammelstad Church Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site situated 10 km north of Luleå, is a captivating historical settlement featuring 404 charming red and white wooden cottages surrounding a 15th-century stone church. These cottages, originally built to house distant parishioners during religious gatherings, are still in use today and represent the largest and best-preserved example of a church town in Sweden. The site includes the Hägnan open-air museum, which showcases farm houses from the 18th to 20th centuries and features a vintage shop, café, and delightful farm animals including two hogs named Mist and Rist. What makes Gammelstad particularly fascinating is that it escaped industrialisation when the town's commercial centre was relocated due to natural land upheaval rendering the harbour unusable in the 17th century, thus preserving its medieval character. Visitors can explore the quaint medieval streets, participate in traditional handicraft activities such as butter churning and blacksmithing, and take atmospheric lantern-guided tours through this remarkable historical settlement.
Skuleskogen National Park
Skuleskogen National Park (photo by Mickaël Delcey - Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license)
outstanding Skuleskogen National Park, established in 1984 as Sweden's 19th national park, stands as a remarkable testament to natural geography where mountains dramatically meet the sea. The park features some of the Gulf of Bothnia's deepest waters and highest islands, characterised by beautiful red Nordingrå Granite and an uplifted coastline that showcases Sweden's emergence from the sea. One of its most striking features is the Slåttdalsskrevan, a 40-metre-high mountain crevice that recently received a new hiking trail allowing visitors to experience it from both above and below. The park harbours one of the coastland's few remaining old-growth forests and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed High Coast, which boasts the world's highest coastline at 286 metres above sea level and continues to rise by approximately 8 millimetres yearly. Visitors can explore the park through three different entrances, each leading to various hiking trails that wind through verdant spruce forests, beautiful lakes, and offer grandiose views of both forest and sea.
Gävle
Gamla Gefle, Gävle (photo by Baltica - Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license)
very good Gävle, Sweden's 13th most populous city, offers a fascinating blend of history and quirky traditions. As the oldest city in historical Norrland, chartered in 1446, it boasts a beautifully preserved Old Town (Gamla Gefle) and a 16th-century castle. The city is internationally famous for its annual Christmas tradition of erecting the Gävle Goat - a giant straw goat that has been burned down 42 times since 1966 despite security measures. Culture enthusiasts can enjoy the city's three major museums, including Sweden's Prison Museum, the County Museum, and the National Railway Museum, whilst music lovers can attend performances by the century-old Gävle Symphony Orchestra at the concert hall. The city's industrial heritage is represented by the Gevalia coffee brand, and sweet-toothed visitors can discover local treats like Läkerol throat lozenges and the car-shaped sweets Ahlgrens Bilar. The bustling port, which welcomes over 1,000 ships annually, stands as a testament to Gävle's historical importance as a trading centre.

Other attractions

very good Jokkmokk
very good Luleå
very good Sundsvall
good Gällivare
good Kiruna
good Lycksele
good Umeå


Eupedia's Rating System

Cities, towns, villages & historic buildings

  • very good : Local interest
  • very good : Moderately interesting
  • outstanding : Outstanding place
  • must-see : Must-see in the country
  • best in Europe : Top cities in Europe

Natural attractions

  • : Local interest
  • : Moderately interesting
  • : Highly recommended
  • : World-class natural attraction
  • ※ : UNESCO World Heritage site