Located near the northeast coast of Sweden, Umeå was founded in 1622 by Swedish King Gustav II Adolf. Today, Umeå is often referred to as the “capital of northern Sweden”, since it’s the largest urban community in the region. It’s one of Sweden’s and Europe’s fastest-growing cities—well on its way to passing the 200,000 population mark by 2050 (today the number stands at around 127,000).
The city has a decidedly intellectual air. It’s home to Umeå University and its sister establishment Umeå Institute of Design, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019 and attracts top talent from Sweden and abroad. It’s been ranked the world’s number one school for product design several times. There are some 32,000 students in Umeå, and this community gives the city a young, vibrant feel. With easy access to the coast – Umeå has located a mere 15 km from the sea – and with mountains and deep forest on its doorstep, this northern city is also a nature lover’s dream destination. The climate is subarctic, defined by four distinctive seasons, with proper winters and fairly short but pleasant summers—complete with the midnight sun. Due to the influence of the Gulf Stream, winters are mild considering the latitude. The average temperature in January is -4°C and 16°C in July.
