The guide to Umeå: what not to miss

Umeå has a long and proud history as a maritime city – and Stora Hotellet is a historic part of this. The hotel opened its doors in October 1895 and has been a popular place to stay in Umeå ever since. It comprises 82 rooms ranging from compact sailors' cabins to an impressive suite that's perfect for celebrating something special, or just if you want to indulge. Stay in a grand brick building just steps from the river, close to the city's culture and shopping.

Elite Hotel Mimer is housed in a historic school building from 1897, where you can stay in four-star surroundings with a gym and relaxation area, as well as a restaurant serving both breakfast buffet and à la carte dinner. The 139 rooms are decorated in a calming colour scheme and are available in both simpler and more luxurious styles. From here, you also have easy access to culture, shopping, and cafés.

Stay right in the thick of it at Scandic Plaza, on the pedestrian street in Umeå. At the top of the 14-storey hotel, you can relax in the relaxation area with a view of the city and river, work out in the gym, and warm up in the sauna. The hotel is environmentally certified and consists of 196 rooms, including 20 allergy-friendly, five accessible, and four pet-friendly rooms.

Are you looking for somewhere slightly different to stay during your visit to Umeå? Then perhaps Hotel Gamla Fängelset could be the place for you. As the name (which means 'the Old Prison') suggests, it's a former prison that has been converted into a hotel with single and twin cells featuring large windows, high ceilings, and comfortable beds. For larger 'cell groups', there are also double and family rooms available.

Clarion Hotel is a modern hotel with restaurants, a sky bar, rooftop terrace and a lovely spa. Stay with views over the Ume River. The many amenities, which also include conference rooms and an events hall, make it a hotel that suits both families and business travellers. 

If you want to indulge in a luxurious meal made from the best seasonal ingredients, make your way to Hunger & Thirst, which is Facit Bar's and Harlequin's sister restaurant. Choose a three, five, or seven-course meal and whether you would like a drinks package. Dine in cosy surroundings that, during the summer, expand with an outdoor seating area by the river.

Bodegan is in central Umeå and, as the name suggests, everything revolves heavily around wine. They describe themselves as a wine restaurant, with a vibrant atmosphere and relaxed vibe. The wine selection is lively and the cooking is hearty, with an emphasis on ingredients. Drop by for a glass of wine and a snack or book a table for a longer sitting.

This restaurant is named after cellar master Gotthard Zetterberg, who laid the foundations for the restaurant, located today at Storgatan 46, back in the 1800s. You can still feel his influence in the current concept, which revolves around modern gastronomy with local ingredients in the starring role. The restaurant features a square, bar, and dining room in beautiful bistro style. They often host events, from wine tastings to guest menus and other fun activities.

This wine bar and restaurant is constantly updating its menu based on what's in season. Enjoy a filling starter or opt for a classic starter-main course-dessert sitting – there are no set rules on how to dine here. You can also let the chefs choose their favourites for you. You'll be served four courses with a common theme throughout the dinner. At the heart of the vibrant restaurant is the wine bar, where the aim is to create a dynamic and exciting wine list, many of which are available by the glass to complement the food.

Bistro Le Garage in Umeå is an intimate bistro that focuses on Swedish ingredients. These are transformed into a menu filled with bistro classics, such as hearty fish and meat dishes and delicious vegetarian options, which can be enjoyed with, for example, a nice glass of wine – drinks are also taken seriously here. A relaxed and stylish restaurant that's perfect for enjoyable moments with friends and family.

Guilty Pleasure is somewhere between a restaurant and a bar, with its hearty street food and delicious cocktails. Pizza, sandwiches, burgers – if this sounds up your street, it's a great place to meet for lunch, dinner, drinks, or brunch.

With large windows overlooking the Ume River, Tonka is a great choice for those who really want to maximise their stay in Umeå. Lunch and dinner are served, made from seasonal ingredients with flavours from both Sweden and Europe.

Facit has made a name for itself across the country thanks to its creativity and fabulous cocktails made with Swedish spirits and they have chosen to work only with Swedish producers. Their aim is to create something truly unique that guests have never tasted before. To complement the drinks, guests can enjoy dishes with Swedish flavours, such as flatbread tacos with smoked reindeer.

Inside the restaurant Tonka Strandgatan you'll find the Rus cocktail bar, where you can enjoy delicious drinks and play board games. The focus is on cocktails and wine, and the place is well-suited for, for example, a pre-dinner drink or before heading out into town.

Inside the walls of this grand entertainment palace, you'll find a restaurant, pub, café, bistro and cocktail bar in one single festive mix. The venue features Rex Brasserie, which combines Swedish and French flavours, the cocktail bar Juliette that has a 1920s vibe, and Rådhuskällaren where you can drink beer and enjoy street food. In the evenings, the venue transforms into a lively nightclub.

At Taps & Tacos, craft beer is paired with tacos in a relaxed combo. Beer comes from the Luleå brewery This Is How and will satisfy even the most nerdy beer lover. In addition to tacos, they also snacks in the same style, perfect for combining with a cold beer.

At Cinco, students and music enthusiasts alike gather to dance the night away. The club books both local talents and well-known Swedish DJs who know how to get the dance floor jumping.

Have a bowl of soup for lunch or enjoy a bun with your coffee in the inspiring surroundings of Bokcafé Pilgatan. As the name suggests, this is a cultural café where you can both eat and buy books to take away, and of course, listen to intriguing author talks and participate in other cultural events.

Nya Konditoriet has been an integral part of the city since opening in 1927. Buy classic cakes, pastries, desserts, pralines, and freshly baked goods such as buns and bread. The managing director and co-owner is Jessica Sandberg, who is one of Sweden's most accomplished pastry chefs and a member of the Swedish national pastry team.

Kulturbageriet takes pride in craftsmanship, natural ingredients and its suppliers, whether it's flour for baking, vegetables from their own farm, or local dairy products. Based on this principle, they bake buns, bread, and pizza to enjoy on-site or take home. You can find them in the indoor market in Stora Hotellet's old stable building.

Costas IS coffee – you can not only enjoy a really well-brewed cup but also buy coffee from their own roastery and other items for true coffee aficionados. The interior is also coffee-themed in various ways, accompanied by numerous photos that create a cosy atmosphere for the place.

Rost is good for both people and the environment with its green concept, which means that they have chosen to exclude all meat and instead only serve lacto-vegetarian and vegan food. Enjoy a snack and eat well, with offerings ranging from classic buns to hearty salads and sandwiches that you can consume with a clear conscience.

At Gamla Bibliotekscaféet, you can enjoy the entire menu all day, whether it's breakfast in the afternoon or a snack in the morning. It's an environmentally conscious café that offers a wide menu with both sweet and savoury options, focusing on organic and locally sourced ingredients.

Check out the Väven cultural centre if you fancy going to see a performance, concert, talk or similar. There's something happening most evenings of the week, with a programme that covers everything from crafts and exhibitions to book discussions and cinema.

In a stunning wooden building by the river is Bildmuseet, one of Sweden's leading art galleries for international contemporary art. Across seven floors, you can engage with exhibitions featuring artists and institutions from around the world. They also organise openings, guided tours, image workshops, and various cultural events.

Norrlandsoperan is a concert hall with its own symphony orchestra and a wide range of opera, dance, music, art, workshops, and studios. In other words, it's an important cultural hub in Umeå where you can enjoy programmes and activities for both young and old.

Get to know the region at the Västerbotten Museum, which reflects the area's history, culture and traditions. You'll find exhibitions on Sámi culture, local history and handicrafts, as well as a comprehensive collection of photographs and images. The museum houses the open-air museum Gammlia with its historical buildings, a 19th-century farmhouse complex, a school building and a Sámi tent. They also offer workshops, lectures and activities for both children and adults.

Curiosum is a science centre and experience museum where you can explore natural sciences, technology, and space through exciting experiments and activities. The centre is aimed at both children and adults and offers workshops, lectures, and exhibitions. One of the highlights is the planetarium where you can enjoy spectacular space journeys and stargazing.

Umedalen Sculpture Park is one of Northern Europe's leading collections of sculptures, featuring around forty works by artists from both Sweden and abroad. This stunning art experience is located in Umedalen and is open all year round, 24 hours a day.

Concerts and music programmes of various sizes and for different ages are organised. Each year, they invite a wide range of artists and music styles, from pop and rock to jazz and classical music.  

The Museum of Women's History opened in 2014 and is Sweden's first women's history museum. Visitors can engage with exhibitions and programmes that highlight issues of gender, power, and representation, with women and their history at the centre. The narratives also include discussions of male norms, trans issues, and non-binary perspectives.