Umeå is the largest urban community in Northern Sweden with over 122 500 inhabitants.
Umeå, the capital of north Sweden is situated on the inlet of the Gulf of Bothnia at the mouth of the Ume River. Umeå is about 600 km north of Stockholm and about 400 km south of the Arctic Circle.
We are known as the young university city, the culture city, the festival city, the city of birches and much else. Over the past 50 years, Umeå’s population has trebled. This growth is continuing at a rapid pace. As the major hub and university city of northern Sweden, Umeå is a place where different worlds meet. Over half of the people who live here are from outside the region. More than 50 languages are spoken - with English widely used everywhere.
The climate of Umeå is subarctic, with warm summers and cold winters. Despite these conditions, cycling all year round is very popular. Umeå has more than 240 km of popular cycling routes that can take you all around the city. During 2017 a cargo bike rental system will be established for the inhabitants to use. The bikes are powered by electricity and is a sustainable alternative to the car.
