Lulea is the largest city in Swedish Lapland with around 75,000 inhabitants. It is located on the northern shores of the Gulf of Bothnia, part of an archipelago of islands.
If you’ve ever wanted to walk on water then Lulea is the place to come. In fact, you can even drive on water here! In late winter, the ice is thick enough for paths and roads to be constructed across the bay to a handful of the 1,312 beautiful islands that surround the city. So, if you fancy being an Ice Road Trucker (but don’t fancy travelling all the way to Alaska) then head to Lulea. It might look scary, but the ice roads are tested regularly and open only when able to withstand a load of at least 2 tonnes. That may not be enough to support one of the eighteen-wheelers shown on the TV show, but it will get you and a small car across the frozen sea. The roads are usually created from late December/early January and stay open as long as the ice remains strong enough (and, if you don’t want to drive yourself, you can always opt for a hovercraft ride instead for a high-speed thrill.)
The name is pronounced loo-le-aw (search for a sound clip if you want to practice sounding like the locals). Lulea is around 150km south of the Arctic Circle and is said to experience five seasons rather than four with the addition of Varvinter (spring winter). You’ll need to wrap up warm as temperatures are usually around -10° between December and February with a thick layer of snow on the ground. In summer the average temperatures are between 13-16° and everyone heads outdoors to make the most of the water and the stunning surroundings.
If you use social media, there’s a good chance that some of your messages will have looped through Lulea. Facebook’s first data centre outside the US is located right here in huge warehouses. It is the largest computer centre in Europe and in an ideal location – the climate is naturally cool (less chance of all that equipment overheating) and electricity here is relatively cheap and 100% renewable. The arrival of Facebook gave the city’s IT industry a boost but the area is also known for its steelworks and, with its large natural harbour, it is also a major shipping centre. The Lulea University of Technology is the most northerly University in Sweden and is also a major employer in the city.
So, how do you get to Lulea? Well you could take the train or drive over 900km from Stockholm but flying from Stockholm to Lulea only takes around an hour and 15 minutes.
It’s very easy to get around in Lulea itself. The airport is around 5km from the city centre and there are regular shuttle busses and taxis to take you into town. Much of the city is laid out in a grid pattern which makes navigation straightforward (but also means that it can be a bit breezy with strong draughts whistling along the long straight roads).
In contrast, in Gammelstad (about a 10 minute bus ride from Lulea) the streets developed organically over many years. Here you will find the famous church town which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is more than 400 years old and comprises hundreds of small cottages plus stables and other buildings. Most of the cottages are single storey with only one or two rooms. The buildings are typically painted red with large white shutters and were built by farmers who needed to travel to Gammelstad from the surrounding area. They were used for overnight accommodation when going to church or the local market at a time when geography and weather conditions meant such a trip could take many hours. Over time, the church get-togethers evolved into family events and youth weekends and became a great way for people living in remote places to socialise and even find romance.
Many of the cottages are privately owned and some are still in use, but the area is primarily a living museum. You can try your hand at local handicrafts such as butter churning and candle making or take a sleigh ride around the town. It makes a great day out but if you are looking for something more adventurous Lulea has it all. From iceskating in winter to sailing in summer there is plenty to keep you busy.
Skating is a huge sport here, a 30metre wide ice track which runs for 13km around Lulea is built every winter which is popular among the world’s best speed skaters as well as those taking to the ice for the first time. You don’t have to skate, you can walk, ski or even cycle using a ‘Fatbike’ with huge tyres (like a mountain bike on steroids). You can also try dogsledding with huskies, cross country skiing, kick sledding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. We’d be happy to put together a winter package for you to combine all your favourite activities with a top hotel and spa.
And, of course, like all our Arctic destinations, we can’t forget the Northern Lights. There are ample opportunities to take a trip into the quiet areas around the city to see this amazing natural phenomenon which is also known as the Aurora Borealis. The Aurora is visible in Lulea between late August and very early April. It can’t ever be guaranteed but the best chances are on a clear night (or if there is only scattered cloud) in a place with no light pollution so head out of the city on one of our organised tours and scan the skies.
The waters around Lulea are a mixture of freshwater from the rivers and saltwater from the sea which is why the bay freezes in winter but it also means a wide variety of fish and other animals. Depending on the time of year you can see a range of creatures here from roe deer and moose to sea eagles and seals. It’s a great area for fishing and wildlife watching.
The food in Lulea is fantastic. Like much of the rest of Sweden the locals enjoy salmon, fried herring, lingonberries and mushrooms picked on the islands. There are some amazing restaurants in the city and plenty of cafes to enjoy a short break for fika. If you are feeling a little more adventurous why not try Kaffeost? This is hot coffee with little cubes of cheese stirred in. As the cheese melts slightly it has a wonderful texture and taste.
If you are visiting Lulea in summer, as well as all the sporting activities there are also festivals such as the Lulea Harbour Festival (or Hamnfestival). It’s free and brings around 130,000 music lovers to the area each July. Lulea is one of the sunniest places in Sweden, so heading to the beach is always a good idea and there are lots of different ones to choose from depending on whether you like your beaches wild and unspoilt or family-friendly and accessible. The midnight sun casts a gorgeous golden glow during the summer months and the further North you travel the longer it is visible. Above the Arctic Circle the sun doesn’t set between late May and mid-July.
If you would like to visit lovely Lulea and experience for yourself all that this fantastic city has to offer, we are currently offering a city break holiday staying at the award-winning Clarion Hotel, one of the best hotels in Sweden. It includes a spa treatment on arrival, a snowmobile trip into the wilderness and use of the panorama pool and a sauna afterwards. It’s also possible to combine a stay in Lulea with a visit to one of our other resorts so if you want to spend some time away from the city at the iconic Tree Hotel or on the shores of a lake in an exclusive lodge then just let us know.
Please call us or email our team and we would be happy to put together the ideal Arctic holiday for you.
