Top Things to do in Umea
10 Things to Do in Umea That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Umea, Sweden including Guitars the Museum, Vasterbottens Museum, Bildmuseet, Umedalen Skulptur, Grossjon Nature Reserve, Umea Ostra Railway Station, Vaven, Arboretum Norr, Umea stads kyrka, Holmon.
Restaurants in Umea
1. Guitars the Museum
Overall Ratings
5 based on 211 reviews
This space holds a guitar similar to the one Keith Richards used to play the Honky Tonk Women riff. And here's one like the one Eric Clapton used for his solo in Layla. And the kind that Jimi Hendrix set on fire in Monterrey. But how in the world did these and hundreds more rare and priceless guitars from the 1950s and 1960s end up in Umea and become Guitars - The Museum? Why aren't they hanging in the MoMA in New York, or in the Tate Modern in London? This is the story of how the Ahden twins from Vannasby managed to put together the world's finest collection of vintage guitars surreptitiously, almost in secret. Guided tours 12.00, 15.00 & 17.00.
Reviewed By Bianca S
If you're in Umeå looking for something to do, then the Guitars Museum is worth a visit. The entrance fee is alright according to Swedish standards (if you're a student you get a reduced price, but this might only apply to Swedish students). The staff there are absolutely lovely, and you can feel how passionate they are wheen you talk to them.
There's a guided tour which is included in the entrance fee, you just need to make sure to time your visit so you'll be there before it starts.
The tour takes about 45 minutes, but you'd probably want to spend some more time on your own to check out the things that weren't covered by the tour.
2. Vasterbottens Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 116 reviews
Reviewed By Gyongyver Gwen R - England, United Kingdom
The place is full of locals enjoying the outdoors and the beautiful scenery. I went on a cold Sunday and chose the 3.6km length walk. ( There are longer and shorter paths as well to follow, all indicated by different coloured signs.) The tracks are well signposted, it's impossible to get lost. Ideal for cross country skiing, mountain biking or an easy hike.
The beautiful snowy views and the old wooden cottages took me to a magical wonderland place. A very relaxing few hours, with a little exercise walking up and down the undulating forrest roads.
3. Bildmuseet
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 112 reviews
Bildmuseet exhibits contemporary international art, photography, architecture, design and other forms of visual culture, somtimes along with art history retrospectives. The Exhibitions are complemented by guided tours, lectures, films and other cultural events. Open workshops and educational activities inspire creativity. Museum shop, cafe/restaurant and great views over Umeaalven river and the city of Umea. Bildmuseet is housed in an acclaimed building at the Umeå Arts Campus by the shores of the river, right next to the Umeå Academy of Fine Arts, the Umeå Institute of Design and the Umeå School of Architecture. The museum building was designed by Henning Larsen Architects in collaboration with White. Bildmuseet received a Special Commendation from the European Museum of the Year jury, and was 2014 one of the top candidates for the Swedish Museum of the Year Award as well as for the Council of Europe Museum Prize.
Reviewed By EugenMartel - Zell (Mosel), Germany
the museum is nice, the building is nice too but the exibition was not very good. as we were there, there were only one of four exibition interesting the other were quite bad.
4. Umedalen Skulptur
Overall Ratings
4 based on 82 reviews
Reviewed By Georgina P - Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
We got the bus out here (remember - card payments only on the buses!) and were a bit confused as to where the park was. It's not well mapped/signed, so we wandered about a bit and found one or two sculptures (although some could equally have been playground equipment as there's also a school in those grounds!). It was nice enough and we did see a few bits, but not great. You probably need to work out in advance where you're going, with a map of the artworks (there was a board with an empty pocket for them, I'd thought there was an info center/cafe somewhere but we didn't find it) and perhaps go in summer when the sculptures aren't hidden by snow anyway! Still, nice enough and a pretty trip out through the suburbs, always nice to see out of town on holiday.
5. Grossjon Nature Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By Bearsm53 - Umeå
Grossjon Nature Reserve is a 2 square kilometer large area southeast of Umeå. With a good map in hand you can reach it from Carlshojd at the terminus of bus lines No 6 and 9. With a car, it is easiest reached from the road leading to Holmsund.
Grossjon is a shallow lake in a wetland that is home to several species of water loving birds. On the western shore, a small tower has been raised to facilitate bird watching. The area is also good for hiking and trail running. You will find a 4.7 km (3 miles) long trail surrouning the lake. The trail is clearly marked in blue. Trails leading to the area are marked in red and they go from five different points around the lake. There are plenty of duck-boards where the trails pass over wetland.
If the weather allows, you can make your own fire where fire-places have been built, but nowhere else as this is a nature reserve. Usually you will find dry wood at the fire-places. Just make sure to extinguish your fire when you leave. The lake is not good for either fishing or swimming because of the lake's bottom conditions.
Surprisingly few people find their way to this area. On week-ends you may see other persons here, on weekdays it's more rare to meet someone. A word of caution, be sure to use shoes that can sustain the wet conditions that often is the norm here. For running, I use normal running shoes, but they may need drying afterwards.
6. Umea Ostra Railway Station
Overall Ratings
4 based on 32 reviews
Reviewed By Bearsm53 - Umeå
Umeå Östra is Umeå's new railway station. It was opened in August 2010, but it has taken a while for it to settle in its environment. The station is located directly adjacent to the hospital and university area. Travellers pass a tunnel to get to the campus from the station.
Passersby can easily look into the glass building from outside. Emphasis has been placed on availability. You can change floor by elevators, escalators or stairs. Sadly, this is not the busiest station so much of the time it's relatively empty for inspection if you feel like visiting it.
7. Vaven
Overall Ratings
4 based on 31 reviews
Väven is a cultural center in Umeå, accomodating both public and commercial businesses. In Väven you can find all kinds of culture and experiences. Enjoy a wonderful experience in our city library, restaurants, conference rooms, hotels, exhibition halls, cafés, shops, movie theatres and much more.
Reviewed By Bodil L - Turku, Finland
I visited Väven twice during my stay in Umeå. I had a look at the open and nice museum, listened to a book presentation inside the museum and the next day I visited the museum of womens history and the cafe "Fika" at the bottom floor. Väven seemed to be a cool place open for everyone! I do recommend a visit into the buidling just because of its interesting architecture. It is easy to take the lift upstairs to the upper floors (the library and the museum). As the building has a strange form arching over a street, there is two entrancies, on both sides of the buidling and of the street. One entrance is close to the City Center and another on the riverside by the café. The café was okay too. The personel was helpful all over and really wanted you to make the most of you visit! Great wiews over the Ume-river.
8. Arboretum Norr
Overall Ratings
4 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By Tomatoman66 - Chicago, Illinois
How do you review an arboretum? Actually, i love trees in their native habitat, and this place is the opposite. Kind of educational, but they could had had better labelling and maybe some english. GO for sure, it's cool they have several sections with trees from Europe, East and West North America, Siberia, and Asia. Always good to get out, walk around and look at trees :)
9. Umea stads kyrka
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By Lukasz A
Beautiful church in the city Centre. Worth a short visit. We went there for a wedding so I even recommend the church for a wedding if you want that!
10. Holmon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By PattiM-S - Herne Bay, United Kingdom
Lovely island, easily reached by (free!) ferry with a terrific boat museum and good, easy hiking. The shop near the ferry has everything you could want for a picnic and the cafe a bit down the road is also very good, with a view of the little harbour. To see the whole island, hire bikes...but it is a short walk through the forest to a lovely little lighthouse and rocky shore. Overnight tent camping is permitted - and there is also an interesting church.
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