SWEDEN

GOTENBORG

Founded in 1621 by King Gustav II Adolf, Göteborg’s position at the mouth of the Baltic and North Sea gave the city vital strategic importance as a gateway to the sea. Today, Göteborg is still Sweden’s primary shipping and passenger port and acts as a gateway to Europe and to Sweden.

If on a cruise ship you will enter the archipelago of Bohus and Göteborg. You might glide by the picturesque lighthouses and quintessential red or brightly coloured sea-side towns crowded onto small rocky islands. But you will know you have arrived in Göteborg when you have passed the Älvborgs bridge with its modern sweeping spires and spot the Göteborg Opera House with its distinctive prow shape. The cruise ship pier is conveniently located only 1 kilometre from the centre of town with quayside public transport available.


Paddan Canal Boat Tour

Kungsportsavenyn - The Avenue
The most fashionable street in the city. This street links Kungsportsbron bridge with Götaplatsen, the cultural centre with the statue Poseidon in the middle.

Liseberg amusement park (included in the Göteborg Pass)
Scandinavia´s biggest amusement park. Attractions, Sweden´s top artists, fun games and myriad flowers.
Season April - September and mid November - 23 December

Universeum (included in the Göteborg Pass)
The national science discovery centre for the family. Rainforest and aquatic environments combined with live animals, as well as experimental sections.

The Museum of World Culture (included in the Göteborg Pass)
The Museum's work tries to ensure people feel at home across borders, rely on and take responsibility for a common global future in an ever-changing world.

The Paddan sightseeing boats (Included in the Göteborg Pass)
A guided tour around the city in the old moat, the canals and into the harbour. The tour takes 50 minutes and leaves from Kungsportsbron.

The Göteborg Art Museum (included in the Göteborg Pass)
The world´s leading museum of Nordic art. Carl Larsson, Anders Zorn, P S Kröyer and Edvard Munch. There is a café and museum shop.

The Botanical Garden (included in the Göteborg Pass)
Sweden´s biggest botanical garden with some 20,000 species. A stunning park with herb gardens, a bamboo grove, a Japanese valley, an arboretum with forest plants from all over the world, rock gardens and hothouses with orchids. There is both a restaurant and café.

Trädgårdsföreningen, the horticultural garden (included in the Göteborg Pass)
A central park opened in 1842. Home to a rosarium, beautiful flowerbeds and the Palm House with rainforest and Mediterranean enviroments.

The Slottsskogen park Free entrance
The park is always open. A meeting-place for locals and visitors alike. Seal pond, Nordic animals such as elks and deer, flamingos and tropical birds. Most fun for children is probably Sweden´s oldest children's zoo, (open in summer)

Maritiman (included in the Göteborg Pass)
The world´s largest floating ship museum. There is a restaurant, café and maritime gift shop.

The Eastindiaman
A replica of an 18th century ship. Made her maiden trip to China in 2005-2007. Back in Göteborg in June 2007.

City Card
The Göteborg Pass gives you free entry to museums and attractions plus free travel on public transport, free parking in public parking lots, and discounts in shops and restaurants. The Göteborg Pass comes complete with a comprehensive guide including a map of the city and detailed information on museums, sights and other services. www.goteborg.com

Shop opening hours & banking
Department stores and larger shops open weekdays: 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m & Sunday: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Other shops open Weekdays: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m & Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00/4:00 p.m.
Banks open weekdays: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., extended hours to 6:00 p.m. on Thursdays

Climate
Göteborg enjoy a reasonably mild climate thanks to the Gulf Stream. The climate is varied, and each of the four seasons has its own charm. For more detailed weather information visit www.worldweather.org

Airport Information
Gotenborg is served by two Domestic / International airports. Landvetter International Airport which is 25 kilometres from the city centre and Göteborg City Airport which is 15 kilometres from the city centre. Taxis, limousines and buses are available.

HELSINGBORG
The water that divides Sweden and Denmark is called Öresund. At the narrowest point of the Sound (about 40 kilometres north of Copenhagen), the twin cities of Elsinore and Helsingborg mark the entrance to the Baltic Sea. Historically, the two cities have always been closely connected because of their strategic position. From ships anchoring in the Öresund, the passengers can enjoy the view of Kronborg, Hamlet’s famous castle on the Danish side and the medieval fortress tower, Kärnan, on the Swedish side.

More than 100 daily ferries make it very easy to go from one city to the other. Cruise ships berthing in the Helsingborg city area have a lovely view over the waterfront area with the city’s new cultural house, housing almost 3,000 square metres of exhibition space, the Dunker Culture Centre.


Dunker Culture Centre

Sofiero Castle and Garden
Helsinborg's best-known tourist attraction is the newly restored Sofiero Castle famous for its lovely garden with more than 10,000 rhododendrons. It was the royal summer residence until 1973 when King Gustav VI Adolf died and Helsingborg town inherited the castle.

Fredriksdal Museum and Gardens
Fredriksdal was originally an 18th century mansion. Today, its museum covers a large area in the centre of the town. The museum is famous for its botanical gardens and its work in preserving rare plants and animals.

Kärnan
The tower Kärnan is the only remains of the medieval Helsingborg Castle. It has guarded the town for more than 600 years and is now the symbol of Helsingborg.

Town Hall
The magnificent Town Hall in the city centre was built in 1897 in Neo-Gothic style. Beautifully painted glass windows in the city council meeting rooms show the history of Helsingborg.

Dunker Culture Centre
The latest contribution to modern architecture is the Dunker Culture Center. Its façade facing the waterfront is inspired by the waves where as the façade towards the city is more urban like. Modern art exhibitions, the city history exhibition and many music events take place here.

Ramlösa Spa
During the 18th and 19th century the Ramlösa Spa had its glorious days where people of all classes came to drink the healthy water. The water still pours from the original spring.

Helsingborg Concert Hall
The building from 1932 is one of the finest examples of Swedish functionalism and is rated as a protected building. The Concert Hall is home of the internationally renowned Helsingborg's Symphony Orchestra.

Tycho Brahe Astronomical Centre and the Island of Ven
In the middle of Öresund is the beautiful island of Ven, where the famous astronomer Tycho Brahe lived in the late 16th century. The heritage houses the remains of his observatory, the Renaissance garden and the museum with reconstructions of the astronomical instruments he developed.

Ceramic region
Helsingborg area is traditionally the ceramic area of Sweden. Here the clay has been formed by skilled hands for centuries. The ceramists all work with clay, but design, colors, glazing and production methods vary. The special salt glazed ceramic is still produced in traditional brick kilns fuelled by coal.

City Card
Citykortet (The Citycard) give you special offers from the stores in Helsingborg City. You can buy Citykortet in 40 different places around the City, included Helsingborg Tourist Office, Town Hall. The price for Citykortet is currently 100 Swedish Krona. www.helsingborgcity.se

Shop opening hours & banking
Shopping: Weekdays 10 am-6 pm - Saturday: 10 am-4 pm - Sunday: closed
Banks: Weekdays 10 am-5 pm. Weekends closed

Climate
Windy, wet and cold winters but warm and sunny summers. For more details visit www.worldweather.org

Airport Information
Copenhagen International Airport by train or taxi (approx 80 minutes)
Ängelholm/Helsingborg (domestic) Airport by Shuttle bus or taxi (approx 30 minutes)

KALMAR
The entrance of the Kalmar harbour is dominated by the city’s impressive renaissance castle with a history stretching back more than 800 years. On dry land, the visitor will feel the presence of history everywhere. Kalmar has been awarded the Europa Nostra prize twice for protecting and enhancing its rich historical heritage. The region also represents a proud tradition of art and design. Do not miss the world famous handmade Swedish crystal from Orrefors Glassworks.

From Kalmar, a fixed link leads to the Island of Öland where the Swedish Royal Family has its summer residence. Discover Öland’s protected nature reserve and abundant birdlife, its many old windmills, ancient strongholds and the friendly inhabitants.

Kalmar Castle
The history of this legendary castle stretches back over 800 years. Its present appearance dates back to the 16th century when the Vasa Kings rebuilt it in the style of a Renaissance palace. Kalmar Castle is one of the best-preserved Renaissance castles in Scandinavia, and here you can experience a Renaissance Banquet with jesters and musicians as well as food and drink inspired by the 16th century. The tables are set with plates replicating archaeological finds made in and around the castle.

Royal Warship Kronan
This royal warship was one of Sweden’s largest warships, which exploded and sank in 1686 during a battle off the coast of the Island of Öland. The wreck was located in 1981 and every year since then, professional divers find new parts from the wreck that reveal more and more about the life onboard. More than 25,000 finds are now on display at the exhibition, including several canons and Sweden’s largest gold coin discovery.

Kalmar Maritime Museum
This museum has a collection of 5,000 objects, There are model ships, navigational instruments and examples of seamen’s work.



Kalmar Cathedral

Kalmar Cathedral
This cathedral is designed by Tessin and built in the Italian baroque style during the second half of the 17th century. During that time, Sweden was one of the great European powers.

Old Town
The medieval centre of Kalmar, known today as the Old Town, lies just beside Kalmar Castle. It still has many well-preserved 17th and 18th century buildings and is a fine cultural and historical quarter.

House of Krusenstiernska
To walk through the gate of the Krusenstiernska House is to take a step back in time. The main building, kept intact since the 19th century, with furnishings from different periods and countries, brings to light the lifestyle of a typical middle-class home. The hereditary estate and its possessions have been collected over several generations. Most of the furniture is in Gustavian style, but there is some in Baroque and Rococo styles. The Krusenstiernska House is also famous for its beautiful East Indian porcelain. The fine garden is full of old walnut- and fruit trees, berries, flowers and aromatic plants and is ideal for picnics or strolls.

City Card
The Discover Kalmar card is available from the Tourist Information Office. The card gives free entrance to the city's main attractions and offers a range of attractive discounts. It is valid all summer.

Shop opening hours / banking
Shops: Weekdays: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m./7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m./4:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12:00 noon - 4:00 p.m. (selected shops only)
Banks: Weekdays: 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., extended hours to 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays

Climate
The Kalmar region has a moderate climate with dry, cold winters and warm summers with lots of sunshine and low rainfall. Average temperatures: May: 10°C June: 15°C July: 16°C Aug: 16°C Sep: 12°C. For more detail visit www.worldweather.org

Airport Information
Kalmar Airport is approximately 10 minutes by taxi from downtown. The airport bus takes 15 minutes from the central station.

KARLSKRONA
A visit to the charming town of Karlskrona is an exciting encounter with Sweden’s proud navy traditions. Nowhere else is naval history more present than in this port, home to the Royal Swedish Navy since the 17th century. The presence of the navy has given the town its distinctive architectural qualities. In fact its unique layout with roots in the baroque and the well-preserved dockyards dating from the 17th and 18th century have placed Karlskrona on UNESCO’s prestigious World Heritage list. The dockyards are one of the few remaining docks in the world specially designed for the construction of sailing warships.

Despite its militant past, Karlskrona is a quiet and peaceful town with lots of opportunities for relaxing and enjoying the scenery – on land or from boat trips in the beautiful skerries.


National Naval Museum

National Naval Museum
The museum dates back to 1752, when Adolf Fredrik, then the King of Sweden, decreed that a Ship’s Model Room be established in Karlskrona. Ever since then the museum has been charged with the collection and preservation of artifacts, which document the history and development of the Swedish Navy. The Museum houses a unique collection of figureheads, which are displayed in a conservatory with the waves of the Baltic Sea on three sides.

Blekinge County Museum
Filled with exhibitions that tell the history of Blekinge – the history of the drudgery of the fishing boats and the hard work in the quarries, but also of the frivolity and parties of the 18th century upper class.

Båtmanskasernen
The Municipal art gallery and regional museum. It was originally built in 1847 as lodgings for five hundred bosons.

The Naval Base
The Karlskrona shipyard is one of the few dockyards in the world where it is still possible to see buildings and docks specially designed for the construction of sailing warships. The most important of these buildings are the Ropewalk, the Wasa Shed, the Polhem dock, the “five finger” dock and the Old Mast Crane.

The Admiralty Church
Holds a congregation of some 4,000 persons and is already part of the town plan as far back as 1683. The church was consecrated in 1685, but the interior was not completed for several decades. The well-known statue of “Old Rosenbom”, a sailor from the 18th century, holding the poor box, stands outside the main door of the church.

The Fredrik Church
Originally called the Swedish, or the Great Church, it served as the town parish church, the cruciform building designed in the 1690s resembles a Roman basilica. The façade was probably inspired by the Santa Trinita Del Monti church at the top of the Spanish steps in Rome.

The church of the Holy Trinity (The German Church)
A considerable number of Germans were among those that had moved to Karlskrona and they were granted permission to build their own church. Work on the church, designed by Nicodemus Tessin the younger began in 1697. The interior of the church was destroyed in a fire in 1790, but was later rebuilt following Tessin’s plans.

The Wachtmeister Palace
Built in 1795 for the admiral-general, it is the most famous and well-preserved private house in Karlskrona from that era. In the baroque garden, two yew trees date back to the 17th century. Today, the Palace is the County Museum. Much of the interior has been preserved.

Drottningskär Citadel
Located on the Island of Aspö, a short free ferry ride from the city, the Citadel is one of the foremost historic military installations in Sweden. It has four bastions named Maria, Christina, Hedvig and Ulrika. There is a restaurant available in the summer season.

Kungsholm Fortress
This was an active installation until the 1980s and is presently used as a training establishment. The fort has been manned for an unbroken period of more than 300 years. The botanical garden with plants and trees from all corners of the world is of particular interest. The plants were collected during the navy’s sea training cruises and the tradition of bringing a plant or tree to Kungsholmen at the end of a cruise continues to this day.

Shop opening hours & banking
Opening hours for shops: 10am - 7 pm
Opening hours for banks: 10 am - 5 pm

Climate
Seasonal but with pleasant temperatures and usually nice weather in the summer season. Average temperature 15-20°C. For more details about the weather visit www.worldweather.org

Airport Information
Karlskrona Airport is 30 kilometres from downtown and takes approximately 25 minutes by taxi.

MALMO
Malmö is centrally placed in the Öresund Region and has always had close connections to the Danish capital, Copenhagen, which lies just across the water. With the building of a bridge between the two cities, the ties have become even closer. For the visitor this opens up for a lot of interesting possibilities. By train, it only takes 35 minutes to travel from one city to the other.

In the recent years, Malmö has become a centre for modern architecture. In the Western Harbour area, fascinating new buildings shoot up everywhere. One of the most interesting new projects, The Turning Torso, has actually become one of the city’s most popular attractions. Still, as a visitor you should not miss out on the old town centre with its narrow streets and variety of design and clothes shops, cafés and restaurants.


The 'Turning Torso'

Turning Torso and the Western Harbour area
The Western Harbour has been turned into a completely new town part characterized by new and experimenting house types. Most eye-catching is the Turning Torso. Whether it is a sculpture turned into a building or a building turned into a sculpture is up to the spectator. It has become a new landmark of the region and once completed, the 190 metres Turning Torso will be Europe’s tallest residential skyscraper and Scandinavia’s tallest building.

Malmöhus Castle with Malmö museums
Malmöhus is the oldest existing renaissance castle in Scandinavia. It was built in the 15th century and has served as both a fortress and a prison until it finally became a museum. Here, you will find art collections as well as natural history. The museum presents changing exhibitions all year round.

Rundan – canal tour
Rundan is a canal boat that sails both through the harbour and the parks of Malmö, past Malmö Castle, and the old area of the city. All tours have a guide.

Form/Design Centre
The Form/Design Centre in Malmö is a combined shop and showroom for Swedish and Scandinavian design, handicraft, architecture etc. The centre hosts various design exhibitions during the year.

The Medieval Ships
The Malmö Coq Project is the reconstruction of two medieval coqs. The wrecks were found in the Malmö harbour during an excavation. The aim of the project is to create two fully seaworthy ships.

Rooseum, centre for contemporary art
Rooseum shows various exhibitions of modern and experimental art of the highest international standards. Retrospective exhibitions of leading Swedish and international artists can also be seen in this former powerhouse.

Malmö Konsthall, art gallery
Malmö Konsthall arranges exhibitions with an international focus that encompasses both the classics of modern art and current experiments. It was opened in 1975 and is one of Europe’s largest exhibition halls for contemporary art. The exhibition hall offers great flexibility, generous space and fantastic light.

The Öresund Bridge
The Öresund Bridge opened for traffic in 2000. It is one of the biggest constructions in Europe and consists of an 8 kilometres (5 miles) long bridge, a 4 kilometres artificially made island called Pepparholmen and a 4 kilometres long tunnel. The Öresund Bridge is unique because it connects two countries. Within a radius of about 100 kilometres, there are about 3.5 million people.

St. Petri Church (and other historical buildings in the city)
The magnificent and majestic church of St. Petri dates back to the 14th century and the days of the Hanseatic League. Lilla Torg (the Little Square), with buildings dating back to the 1590s, boasts many beautifully restored houses as well as vibrant city life.

City Card
The Malmö Card gives you free entry to Malmö museums, Casino Cosmopol, Slagthuset nightclub and Wallmans Golden Hits Show Restaurant. Free travel by bus and discounts on travel by car, boat or train to Copenhagen. Free sightseeing by bus during the summer and much more. You can buy the Malmö Card in the Tourist Information Office. One card is valid for 1 adult and 2 children under the age of 16 years. www.malmo.se/malmocard

Shop opening hours & banking
Shops and department stores: Weekdays: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m./7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12:00 noon - 4:00 p.m. (shopping malls and department stores)
On the last Saturday of each month, shops have extended opening hours and special offers.

Climate
Malmö is located in the south-west of Sweden, where the climate is quite mild. In July and August, the warmest months, the average daytime temperature is 21°C. For more detailed information and statistics visit www.worldweather.org

Airport Information
Copenhagen Airport (Kastrup) is only 20 minutes away by train from downtown Malmö. Trains run round the clock. Malmö Sturup Airport is 40 minutes from downtown Malmö by airport shuttle.

STOCKHOLM
Stockholm’s beauty is legendary. A modern capital city with a flourishing business life, it has successfully retained its history and natural splendour. Founded in the 13th century, the narrow streets and medieval buildings of the Old Town sit comfortably close to the modern harbour and port facilities, office blocks, hotels, cafes and, of course, cruise ships.

Set across 14 different islands, water accounts for a third of Stockholm’s total area and contributes significantly to one of the world’s most alluring cityscapes. Its numerous waterways are criss-crossed by 57 bridges, while green parklands seem to be around almost every corner. And during the long summer days, there are countless open-air drinking and dining options for enjoying the magnificent natural setting.

Entering Stockholm by ship is to sail through one of the most unique natural scenarios in the world - the archipelago. Made up of over 24,000 small islands no other place has this unique beauty.


Stockholm Harbour


Arriving by ship you dock right in the centre of the city, just steps away from a wealth of cultural treasures to the city’s elegant stores and historic sights.
Stockholm is a shopper’s paradise. World famous for its design and crystal, you’ll find a whole lot more from exclusive fashion stores filled with the latest trends, to handicrafts and souvenirs. For the Non European Union visitor, it is easy to get a refund of the local sales tax (VAT) on purchases.

Stockholm itself is a city of culture. With over 70 museums throughout the city, there is something to suit everyone’s taste. Don’t plan on sitting around while in Stockholm because there is plenty to do.

Vasa Museet (The Vasa Museum)
The impressive warship Vasa sank on her maiden voyage in 1628 but were salvaged 333 years later in 1961. She has since been restored and can now be seen with her complete lower rigging at the Vasa Museum – the only museum of its kind in the world. www.vasamuseet.se

Skansen (Skansen Open-Air Museum)
Skansen, the world’s oldest open-air museum, was founded in 1891 and features some 150 cultural-historic buildings from all over Sweden. It includes a zoo with wild and domestic Nordic animals and is the venue for traditional annual festivities, markets, folk dance displays and other celebrations. Here, you can learn about traditional Swedish handicraft and folklore. www.skansen.se

Gamla Stan (The Old Town)
The historic centre of Stockholm is renowned for its narrow cobblestone alleys, beautiful houses, many shops, restaurants and sights. Explore the Old Town on your own or join one of the many, guided walks.

Kungliga Slottet (The Royal Palace)
The Royal Palace is the official residence of His Majesty the King of Sweden. Completed in 1754, it is one of the largest inhabited palaces in Europe. Many parts of the Palace are open to the public, i.e. the State Apartments, the Royal Armoury and the Treasury. www.royalcourt.se

Stadshuset (The City Hall)
The City Hall is one of the best-known landmarks of Stockholm and the city’s administrative and representative centre. In the Blue Hall, the world famous Nobel Prize banquet takes place every year, followed by a ball in the Golden Hall. Daily guided tours. www.stockholm.se/stadshuset

Moderna Museet (Museum of Modern Art)
Designed by one of the world’s most distinguished contemporary architects, Rafael Moneo, the museum is regarded as one of the most interesting architectural buildings worldwide. The museum houses one of Europe’s finest collections of modern art. Free entrance. www.modernamuseet.se

Nationalmuseum (The National Museum of Fine Arts)
Sweden’s largest art gallery with collections of paintings, sculptures, drawings, engravings and handicrafts. Works by Sweden’s foremost painters, as well as Rembrandt, Rubens, Goya, Renoir, Degas and Gauguin. www.nationalmuseum.se

Millesgården (The Milles Museum)
The home of sculptor Carl Milles. Some of his best works are on display in a beautiful outdoor setting. www.millesgarden.se

Historiska Museet (The Museum of National Antiquities and the Gold Room)
The Museum of National Antiquities in Sweden is responsible for Swedish cultural history and art from the Stone Age to the 16th century and houses a much-appreciated Viking exhibition. Sweden’s finest gold and silver treasures are on display in the magnificent Gold Room. www.historiska.se

Junibacken
A house full of stories, laughter and mischief. The story train takes you on an amazing journey through the magical world of Astrid Lindgren. Meet Pippi, Emil, Karlsson on the Roof and many others. www.junibacken.se

Drottningholms Slott och Slottsteater (Drottningholm Palace and Court Theatre)
The current residence of the Royal Family. In 1991, Drottningholm became the first Swedish site to be included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. One may enjoy the Palace, the surrounding Baroque Garden and English Park, the Chinese Pavilion and the Court Theatre. The court theatre is the oldest theatre in the world, preserved in its original state and with the stage machinery still in use. Performances take place during the summer. www.royalcourt.se

Nobel Museum (The Nobel Museum)
Cutting edge design and technology present the history of the Nobel Prize. Learn about Alfred Nobel, the Laureates and their groundbreaking discoveries and ideas. www.nobel.se/nobelmuseum

City Card
The Stockholm Card gives admission to 75 museums and attractions, free travel on local public transport, free sightseeing by boat on selected departures during summer, and an illustrated guidebook with maps and several other offers. The card can be purchased at Tourist Information Centers in Stockholm, at SL centers (SL=local transportation network), and selected hotels and tourist attractions (City Hall and the Royal Palace). The card can also be ordered on-line at www.stockholmtown.com
Choose between a 24-hour, 48-hour or a 72-hour card. Children's cards are available at reduced rates - up to 2 children's cards can be purchased with every adult card.

Shop opening hours & banking
Shops open weekdays: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. downtown).
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (departments stores 5:00 p.m.).
Large stores, shopping malls and a number of shops in downtown Stockholm are open on Sundays and public holidays. Larger supermarkets are open daily until 8:00 p.m.

Banks open weekdays: 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. with extended opening hours once a week.

Climate
Sweden has four distinct seasons, which differ depending where you are in the country. The following average midday temperatures apply to Stockholm:
Winter (Dec. - Mar.): -7°C - 2° C
Spring: (Apr. - May): 5°C - 15°C
Summer (Jun. - Aug.): 20°C - 25°C
Autumn: (Sep. - Nov.): 5°C - 18°C
For more detailed information visit www.worldweather.org

Airport Information
Arlanda International Airport is 42 kilometres from downtown Stockholm and it takes 20 minutes by train .

UMEA

Umeå, the City of the Birches, is scenically situated by the River Umeälven that runs through the city and flows into the Gulf of Bothnia. It can be clearly seen that Umeå is a university town.

The thirst for knowledge and youthful energy is obvious, and they combine to ensure that the city is always on the go. Umeå has 110,000 inhabitants, making it the largest city in northern Sweden. By contrast to the pulsating city life, there are many fascinating things to enjoy in the surrounding countryside.

Within a few minutes you can be in one of the forests that encircle the city, on a raft surging down the turbulent River Vindelälven or enjoying a relaxing stroll in the Gammlia open-air recreation area. Umeå's cultural life is rich and varied, with first-rate theatre and opera as well as flourishing jazz, rock and pop scenes.

Umeå is now pursuing an ambitious campaign in its bid to be named European Capital of Culture 2014. Umeå is a modern city where nature, culture, shopping and history combine to form a dynamic entity

Gammlia
During the summer the lush green surroundings at Gammlia are transformed into a lively open-air museum. You can acquaint yourself with woodwork and handicrafts, taste newly baked Swedish thin bread and join the guides dressed in period costumes to learn about the historical buildings. Here you will find Västerbotten's County Museum, fishing and maritime exhibitions, and the Swedish Ski Museum. The museum's permanent exhibitions at the Museum depict prehistoric times in the region and explore the life of the settlers and the culture of the Sami people.

Bildmuseet Museum of Contemporary Art and Visual Culture
The Bildmuseet Museum of Contemporary Art and Visual Culture is one of Sweden's foremost art museums, which showcases both contemporary and historical art exhibitions of international standing. The forms of artistic expression featured include photography, film, installation and painting.

The Elk House
Petting a live elk is truly an unforgettable experience for most people. At the Elk House you can do just that and much more. See how an elk cow is milked and sample elk cheese, a delicacy produced from the milk of the elk.

The Sculpture Park at Umedalen
The Umedalen district of the city is home to a unique cultural environment where northern Europe's most important collection of sculptures has evolved. Visitors can view more than 40 works of art in a captivating outdoor setting. The Sculpture Park attracts over 200,000 visitors each summer and is open round the clock.

Olofsfors Ironworks Museum
The Olofsfors Ironworks Museum is one of Sweden's most genuine and well-preserved ironworks milieus. Step back in time - almost all the buildings that make up the museum date from the ironworks' glory days in the 1700s. Not only are the manor house and the workers' dwellings well preserved, the blast furnace and foundry and finery forges also remain as a lasting legacy.


The old Town Hall

Guided tour
Umeå is a relatively young city with a fascinating history. Take a guided city tour and learn how Umeå became the City of the Birches. See buildings that survived the great fire of 1888, and find out why the old Town Hall has two front sides. There are also some excellent shopping tips along the way.
Umeleden/Ume Trail and salmon ladder

The Ume Trail follows the valley of the River Umeälven and offers many pleasant experiences and interesting sights to visit. The salmon ladder at Norrfors is one of them. Each summer, thousands of salmon pass through the salmon ladder on their way to the spawning grounds in the River Vindelälven. You are almost certain to see them.

Vindelälven's nature reserve
Take the scenic road to Vindeln through authentic Swedish farming countryside, and see and experience the majestic Vindeln rapids. Enjoy a stroll through the scenic beauty and marvel at the dramatic stretches of rapids that make up this fascinating nature reserve. You can also visit the Nature Room, where the nature and culture of the River Vindelälven are presented and brought alive.

Norrbyskär Island
At the end of the 19th century, one of Europe's largest sawmills was established on this beautiful archipelago island just south of Umeå. Today the history of the island is interwoven with art, handicrafts, the culinary traditions of Västerbotten, and outdoor adventure activities to create an attraction that is not to be missed.

Water activities
Umeå's proximity to rivers, lakes and the sea makes water activities a natural part of the recreational scene. Try some thrilling white-water rafting on Sweden's national River Vindelälven, enjoy a leisurely paddle by canoe and search for beavers, or join an unforgettable seal safari.

Shop opening hours & banking
Shops open weekdays: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Banks open weekdays: 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. but are closed at weekends.

Climate
The following average temperatures apply to Umeå:
Jan.-Feb.: -9 °C / Mar.: -4 °C / Apr.: 2 °C / May: 8 °C / Jun.-Aug.: 15 °C
Sep:: 9 °C / Oct:: 4 °C / Nov:: -2 °C / Dec:: -7 °C For more detailed information and statistics visit www.worldweather.org

Airport Information
Umeå Airport is a 35 minute journey by bus to & from downtown. There is a regular shuttle service operating. By taxi, the journey takes about 7 minutes.

VISBY

The first thing that catches the eye when arriving at Port of Visby, is the impressive cathedral and all the rooftops of the stone buildings in the town, surrounded by the mighty medieval town wall with its towers.


Visby

Centrally placed, Visby was for a long time the natural meeting point for sailors and merchants from all over the Baltic region. Still today, you can enjoy the majestic merchants houses from 17th and 18th century along with almost 200 stone buildings – some of them dating back from the 12th century. Still, the town is not a museum. More than 2,000 people inhabit the old town that offers a great variety of shops, cafés and restaurants. Here you can enjoy a promenade among picturesque ruins and charming rose gardens in some of the most idyllic streets imaginable.

The rest of Gotland has also a great deal to offer. It is famous for its mild climate and the exotic landscape and has because become one of Sweden’s most popular summer holiday destinations.

Visby, The Hanseatic Town with its Town wall
The town has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1995. The 3.4 km long, well preserved stonewall is surrounding the old town with almost 200 stone buildings that have survived since the 12th and 13th centuries. There are also many church ruins in the town, as well as majestic merchants’ houses from the 17th and 18th century. Still, the town is not a museum, because 2,000 people live inside the Town Wall, and there are also many shops, restaurants and offices.

Botanical Gardens
The famous Botanical Gardens of Visby, dating from 1855, are just a 5 minutes walk from the Pier area.

Gotlands Fornsal Museum
Gives you an overview of Gotland’s 8,000-year history.
Saint Mary's cathedral
Dominating the townscape since the late 12th century, the only surviving church from that time inside the town wall. All the others are ruins, some of them housing concerts or exhibitions in the summer in an exciting surrounding.

The Gotland Museum of Art
The museum is both a museum and an art hall with a collection of 20th century art from Gotlandic artists and craftsmen. Temporary exhibitions show contemporary art, design and handicraft. Almedalen. Almedalen is a beautiful park that has been the Visby meeting place for many years. This was once the medieval harbour in Visby where trading and seafaring prospered

Klinten
Is the area inside the wall but above the town, the cliff terrace. This used to be the town´s poor quarters well into the 20th century but is now one of the most exclusive and attractive areas. There is a beautiful view over Visby from the Church Mount on Klinten.

Gallows Hill
This used to be the old place of execution but all that remain on this site are three stone pillars that once bore up three wooden beams from which people where hanged. Today Gallows Hill is a beautiful place to visit with a magnificent view over Visby.

Shop opening hours & banking
Shops open weekdays: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m./7:00 p.m.
and Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m./4:00 p.m.
On Sunday some shops open 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Banks open weekdays: 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., extended hours to 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays.

Climate
Average annual temperature: 5.4°C with a max. temperature of 32°C and a Min. temperature of -28°C. For more information visit www.worldweather.org

Airport Information
Visby airport is situated about five kilometers north of Visby. During the largest part of the year there are no airport busses, so it is necessary to take a taxi downtown. From mid June to mid August there are Airport busses leaving the airport for Visby about 20 times per day.

Currency
Swedish krona - 1 krona =100 öre. For current exchange rates please go to www.xe.com

Visa Information
For up to date visa requirements visit www.projectvisa.com