Lulea Mini Guide
Give me Some reasons for Going to Lulea?
You might be interested in the technological innovations that have been developed there including 4G and GPS. For the less technologically fascinated there is amazing scenery there and many opportunities for camping, hiking, hunting and fishing. Vast swathes of forest cover the region leading, further north, to Sweden’s part of the Taiga. In winter, survival is the name of the game and many go there to pit their skills against nature.
I’m Interested so How do I get There?
There are some direct international flights to Lulea Airport including a weekly service from
London, a flight from
Latvia and from
Russia but there’s a daily connecting flight from
Stockholm which gets you there in just over an hour. There is a train from Stockholm taking fourteen hours but, whilst comfortable and with sleeping facilities available, it’s tedious.
What’s Worth Seeing Whilst I’m There?
Gammelstad Church Town is fascinating and a World Heritage Site. It is the best surviving example of a community that was widely prevalent in centuries gone by. The church was built in the 15th century and the houses around it sprang up afterwards to accommodate parishioners who could not return home because of distance or weather. The houses were only occupied on days either side of a church service. You’ve also got the world’s oldest shopping centre called simply ‘Shopping’. Built in 1955, it is a quaint reminder of shopping in the fifties.
What Else Can I do There?
If you love the great outdoors you can hire a sailing boat and travel around the 700 or more islands of the Lulea Archipelago. Land lubbers should pack a tent and a sleeping bag and hike and camp the interior where you can walk through pine scented valleys and past crystal clear, cool waterfalls.
I Love Shopping…
As well as ‘Shopping’, the oldest mall in the world, Lulea has several other shopping venues with a range of national and international names. There are also traditional clothes from this part of the world such as warm knits, scarves and hats. Several shops also sell souvenirs and crafts made from reindeer bone and antlers.
Getting Hungry Now?
There’s plenty of meat and fish locally. Try the traditional dried or smoked reindeer meat; it’s chewy but delicious. There’s not much in the line of fresh fruit and vegetables here because of the climate and most of it has to be transported in. Wash your meal down with some of the very fiery Swedish vodka.
Lulea is an interesting but remote town. It’s the centre of Sweden’s hi-tech industry and has been responsible for many innovations. The town also has the world’s oldest shopping centre, built in 1955 and now cherished as a historical monument.
If you’ve hired a car there, you can explore further afield, driving north to Norway or east to the border of Finland. Both drives take less than three hours and pass through stunning wild scenery. In winter, the drive can be quite treacherous yet thrilling to the more experienced and adventurous driver.