Experience in Umea, Sweden by William

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What is it like to live in Umea? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

There might be an element of home bias involved here, as Umeå is the city in which i was born and raised, but I'll try my best to give it an honest review anyway. Umeå is a vibrant and growing city, but it is still not the metropolis that its city planners envision it to be. I truly love Umeå for its friendly and warm population and overall intellectual and progressive air. There is a great multitude of diverse restaurants, many of which have a wide selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes as well. The local D. I. Y. music scene is another highlight unique to the city, if you're interested in vibrant youth culture. There is also a wonderful art museum down by "Umeälven" - the big river that runs through the city. There are a few beautiful old buildings in the city - sadly many of them have been or are currently in the process of being, torn down in order to make room for huge, ugly buildings, such as the phenomenally unattractive monstrosity known as "Väven" (google "vaven umea", to see just how hilariously out of place it looks), or the equally uninspired and soulless shopping mall ironically named "Utopia". Let's face it, Umeå's main selling point is not its architectural beauty (even less so since its stint as "culture capital of Europe" resulted in the previously mentioned abominations). Instead what you will find is a laid-back and friendly city, rich in food and culture. It's a great city to live in as a student, and if you like the great outdoors it has a lot to offer in the way of nature and wildlife. It's the kind of city that you just might fall in love with, if you spend some time in it.

What is the student lifestyle like in Umea?

The campus in Umeå is seperate from the city, and students might find that they've actually spent very little time in the actual city during their studies, as many of the necessities of the average student (grocery store, GYM, barberer, pizzeria, pub) can be found on or around campus.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Again, there is a wide selection of different kinds of restaurants, there's sure to be something to your liking.

What places would you recommend visiting in Umea?

Bildmuseet, Västerbottensmuseet, Bokcafé Pilgatan, Valls Café (known as "BC" to us locals), Båten (terrific summer-restaurant and nightclub), Bölesholmarna, Verket Umeå (D. I. Y. venue for many promising up-and-coming bands).

Is it good to eat out in Umea? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Yes. Try Båten (only open during the summer), ROST, Gotthards, REX or Restaurang Mimer, to name a few.

Is the nightlife good in Umea? Where is good to go?

Lots of places in the city, sadly they've killed off one of the best ones, called "Scharinska villan". As a student though, you'll probably be partying mostly on and around campus.

What advice would you give future students heading to Umea?

It gets pretty dark and cold during a long period of the year, but on the flip-side, the sun's up almost around the clock during summertime!