A weekend in Skelleftea between forest and sea
Skelleftea is a small town in northern Sweden with 70,000 inhabitants and in close vicinity to nature and wilderness. 1,500 lakes and over 400 kilometres of coastline dotted with beaches and cliffs are contained within this town's greater area. You will find ample opportunities for hiking, swimming and fishing. Dive into the sea from smooth rocks or sandy beaches, in Skelleftea which surprises as a wonderful summer destination.
The old Bonnstan is a historic part of the town which contains the houses and stables that countryside folks used when they came to town to worship. Many people lived far from the church, but had to visit once a year due to the compulsory church attendance, and they needed accommodations for both people and horses. This type of church villages are common in northern Sweden, and the one in Skelleftea is famous for being so well kept. Visit Bonnstan during the Swedish holiday of Midsummer when you will experience a traditional celebration, or the weekend after when there is a market in the square.
During the winter there are plenty of exciting things to do in Skelleftea, like ice skating to music, dog sledding, horse back riding, ice fishing, snowshoeing and moonlight cross country skiing. Glide through the forest and hope to see some of the wildlife active at night. During the day old and young can enjoy the creative exhibition at LEGO Center. If you are a Star Wars fan, this gives you a special reason to visit Skelleftea.
Discover cultural delights in the area around Nordana, where you find the handicraft and woodworks centre Handens Hus, Skelleftea Museum, Skelleftea Art Gallery, The Meijer Collection and Museum Anna Norlander. Families with kids may enjoy the large playpark Leos Lekland which is open all year, and summer there is also the family entertainment centre Lilleputtlandet. Take a trip out to the archipelago, for example to the island of Hamnskar and enjoy the light summer evenings with over 21 hours of daylight per day.
Fly to Skelleftea or travel overland by day or overnight train from Stockholm. Get the train to Bastutrask, Umea, Jorn or Lulea from where you continue your journey by local bus. Stay at many different types of hotels, or why not book a weekend package trip to Skelleftea?
On a holiday in Skelleftea you will discover an old time Swedish town in beautiful surroundings. With the river next door and the wilderness just around the corner, this environment is typical for the northern part of Scandinavia.
