How to travel to Umeå?

In February 2020 I went on a press trip to Umeå. I discovered a nice city. Big enough to give that city feeling, compact enough to instantly feel at home. Moreover, there is also a lot to do and experience in the surrounding area. Want to know how you can travel to Umeå? How far is it from Stockholm to Umeå? And is Umeå above the arctic circle?

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Where is Umeå located?

Umeå is the largest city in Norrland and is located about 600 km above Stockholm. The city is located a few kilometers from the Gulf of Bothnia, Vaasa (Finland) is located on the other side of the water.

Umeå is the southernmost point of Lapland, depending on which definition of Lapland you use. You are north enough to have a good chance of northern lights. The city is located about 300 km below the arctic circle.

Travelling by plane to Umeå

There are currently no direct international flights to Umeå. With a stopover in Stockholm and thanks to the regular domestic flights, you can limit the waiting time.

Check the best prices for flights to Umeå.

From the airport to the center of Umeå

The airport is barely 10 minutes from the center of Umeå. You can use the taxis at the exit of the airport, but the cheapest is without a doubt the Airport bus.

Umeå airport bus

During peak times, a bus departs every 20 minutes and has several stops in Umeå. You can find the timetable and the price on this website. A ticket costs only a few euros. Tickets can be purchased through the ‘Ultra Vill Mer’ app. This app is also available in English. You can also buy a ticket from the vendor machine in the airport or from the driver on the bus (no cash).

Transfer in Stockholm

Transfer times are often limited in Stockholm. Because Arlanda has a different terminal for international and domestic flights, you may have to change terminals. Sometimes you also have to go through security for this. Check at the airport whether there is a transfer bus that can transport you between the terminals so that you can avoid the security check and thus save time.

By train to Umeå

This time I took a domestic flight from Stockholm to Umeå, but you could also perfectly travel by night train to Umeå. You can choose a flight that lands in Stockholm in the morning and then spend the day in Stockholm (use the lockers in Centralen for your luggage) or choose a flight that lands in the late afternoon / early evening and then immediately travel on with the night train.

Traveling with the night train in Sweden is quite comfortable. You get on the train in the evening and you arrive at your destination in the morning. You save a hotel stay and have a whole day on site. Book your train tickets via Omio.