Umeå Central Railway Station

The university town of Umeå is the largest city of the northernmost region of Sweden, Norrland. The city is located on the banks of the Ume River, approximately 20 km from the Baltic Sea. Situated 1 200 km from Malmö in the south and 630 km from of the country’s capital Stockholm, there is still an additional 600 km between Umeå and the city of Kiruna in the far north.

Travelling to Umeå
Carpool
Travel visa
Staying in Umeå
Scandic Plaza Umeå
Comfort Hotel Umeå City
Clarion Hotel Umeå
U&Me Hotel
Things to do in Umeå
Travelling from Finland

Travelling to Umeå

The quickest, easiest and many times cheapest mode of travel through Sweden with a bike bag is by air. The airlines SAS, Norwegian and Malmö Aviation all have regular domestic flights to Umeå from Stockholm, Gothenburg or Malmö. From Stockholm Arlanda the flight time is around fifty minutes. The transfer time from Stockholm Central Station to Arlanda Airport with Arlanda Express is about twenty minutes. The flights from Malmö and Gothenburg usually require a layover at Stockholm Arlanda so these flight times to Umeå are in general around five hours. Transfer time by shuttle from Umeå Airport to the town centre is eight minutes (bus stop Vasaplan).

If you plan to take the train to Umeå from Europe then the main part of your trip may involve travelling through Sweden. Most trains in Sweden will officially allow disassembled bikes in bike bags however the designated luggage areas on many trains are very often too small for bike bags so makeshift storage spaces are created at the discretion of the train guard. On SJ trains the size limit for bike bags is 140 x 85 x 30 cm (weight 25 kg). There is usually more space for bulky luggage on the night trains. If travelling as a group the best alternative is to book a whole sleeping cabin and to store your bike bags there.

Please note, during the summer, trains in Sweden are often fully booked so book train tickets as soon as they become available in April. From Stockholm Central Station and Arlanda Airport there are express or night trains to Umeå. Travel time is between six and a half and ten hours by express train or night train. Travel time from Malmö is between eleven and a half and sixteen hours by express train or night train.

From Stockholm City Terminal there is a daily bus service to Umeå. Travelling to Umeå by bus from Stockholm will take around nine and a half hours.

There are car rental services both at Stockholm Central Station and Stockholm Arlanda Airport. By car it’s a seven hour drive to Umeå from Stockholm Central Station, if driven non-stop. Driving non-stop from Malmö Central Station to Umeå will take thirteen hours. A suggested route from Malmö is: Helsingborg via E6, Jönköping/Mjölby via E4, Örebro via 50/E20, Västerås via E18, Heby via 56/72, Gävle via 56/E16, Umeå via E4.

Carpool

As mentioned above, suitable train connections through Sweden can be hard to book during the summer and travelling with a bike bag on Swedish trains can be difficult. If you plan to drive to Umeå and/or would like to share a ride, please add your name to the carpool when entering the event. Your name will then be added to a forum where ride-sharing arrangements can be made.

For inhabitants in the far south of Sweden, Copenhagen Airport in Denmark is the main international airport. If travelling from different countries, a suggested meet-up point for the journey through Sweden is Malmö Central Station after flying to Copenhagen Airport. There are good options for car rental directly at Copenhagen Airport however you will have to pay a toll on the E20 before crossing the Öresund bridge to Sweden. And it may also at the time be cheaper to rent a car in Sweden. If so then take the train Öresundståg from Copenhagen Airport to Malmö Central Station and rent a car there. The train service from Copenhagen Airport has dedicated carriages for bikes.

Alternative meet-up points for carpooling are Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt or Munich. To shortern the journey when driving from Germany, there’s a ferry from Rostock to Trelleborg in Sweden. There’s also a ferry from Gdańsk in Poland to Nynäshamn south of Stockholm. These ferries are all very busy during the summer. For the best prices on make bookings in early spring.

Travel visa

If you have questions concerning travel restrictions to Sweden please consult the website of the Swedish government. You will find information on how to apply for a travel visa here, if one is needed. Travel visas to Sweden are valid for the Schengen area which also includes Norway. Countries whose nationals require a visa to enter Sweden are listed here.

As an EU/EEA citizen, including Switzerland, you will need a valid passport or national ID card to enter Norway. A driving licence is not accepted as a valid ID. If you are not a citizen of a Nordic country or the EU/EEA you may need a travel visa in addition to a valid passport. For information concerning travel visas and Norway please consult the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration.

Umeå seen from Old Bridge. The tall building in the foreground is Clarion Hotel Umeå.

Staying in Umeå

The event finishes at Scandic Plaza in the centre of Umeå. If you are staying at the hotel and arriving to Umeå by train you will have a ten minute walk (850m) through the town centre to the hotel. If instead you’re flying to Umeå and arriving by airport shuttle you’ll have an eight minute walk (600m) to the hotel from the bus terminal at Vasaplan. If you’re driving to Umeå and staying at one of the hotels below we recommend the parking garage Parketten on Storgatan 47.

After you have assembled your bike at your hotel you will find air compressor pumps and a bike wash in the city centre.

1. Scandic Plaza, 2. Comfort Hotel Umeå City, 3. Clarion Hotel Umeå 4. U&Me Hotel.
Umeå Scandic Plaza, Storgatan 40.

Scandic Plaza Umeå

Scandic Plaza is located next to the pedestrianised area in Umeå where you’ll find shops, restaurants and bars. The hotel has restaurant and bar, a gym and also a sauna on the 14th floor. Only a limited number of discounted rooms are available to MSR-participants so we recommend that you book early.

Book a room via the link below or call +46 8 517 517 00, #1.
Use booking code BMID150625
The booking code is valid until the 15th of May for stays between the 13th and 22th of June.
To guarantee a room, bookings are made to a credit card.
Payments are made in conjunction with your stay.
Reservations can changed or cancelled until 18:00 on the day of arrival.
For amendments/cancellations made after 18:00 or in case of no-show, bookings are fully charged.
For information about the hotel send email to mice.plazaumea@scandichotels.com or phone +46 90 205 63 00, #2.
Parking: 150 SEK per night.
MSR-participants staying at the hotel have a separate luggage room for bike boxes during the event.

BOoK RooM

Comfort Hotel Umeå City, Storgatan 47B.

Comfort Hotel Umeå City

Comfort Hotel is located right in the city center. You’ll find restaurants, bars and shopping just outside the door. All guests have access to a gym, sauna and a bar at the reception. The hotel offers a limited number of discounted rooms to MSR-participants.

The booking link is valid until 13th of May for stays between the 13th and 22th of June.
Payments are made in conjunction with your stay.
Reservations can be changed or cancelled until 18:00 on the day of arrival.
Late cancellation or no show will be fully charged.
Parking: 140 SEK per night.
Please note, this hotel does not have a luggage room (if driving leave bike box in car).

BOOK ROOM

Clarion Hotel Umeå, Storgatan 36.

Clarion Hotel Umeå

Clarion hotel Umeå is situated 100 m from Scandic Plaza. The hotel has a rooftop bar, spa, gym and restaurant. The spa has a swimming pool, sauna, relax area and sun deck, and is located on the top floor. Also Clarion Hotel Umeå offers a limited number of discounted rooms to MSR-participants.

Book a room via the link below.
Use booking code MSR2025 for a 15% discount.
The booking link is valid until 13th of May for stays between the 13th and 22th of June.
Payments are made in conjunction with your stay.
Reservations can be changed or cancelled until 18:00 on the day of arrival.
Late cancellation or no show will be fully charged.
MSR-participants staying at the hotel have a separate luggage room for bike boxes during the event.

BooK Room

U&Me Hotel, Storgatan 46.

U&Me Hotel

U&Me Hotel is an innovative and sustainable hotel located in the heart of Umeå approximately 200m from the finish line at Scandic Plaza. In all rooms the beds face the window, guaranteeing an amazing panorama of either of Umeå city centre or Ume River when you wake up. Take the lift down to the indoor courtyard and enjoy our carefully composed breakfast buffet with delicious freshly baked bread from our fantastic artisan bakery. U&Me Hotel offers a limited number of discounted rooms to MSR-participants.

For discount use booking code msr25.
The booking code is valid for stays between the 14th and 19th of June.
Single room 790 SEK including breakfast buffet.
Dubbel room 920 SEK including breakfast buffet.
MSR-participants staying at the hotel have a separate luggage room for bike boxes during the event.
The hotel also has a bike room with tools and repair stand.

BooK Room

Things to do in Umeå

Participants travelling with family and friends who are arriving to Umeå before the weekend, or staying a few days after the event, may find options for sightseeing and excursions around Umeå on these sites: VisitUmeå, Västerbottens Museum, Bildmuseet. 

Travelling to Umeå from Finland via Vaasa

How to get to Umeå from Finland.

1. Getting to Finland
– By air to Helsinki / Turku / Tampere / Lappeenranta (ryanair.com)
– By ferry to Helsinki.

2. Getting to Vaasa, Finland
– By car.
– (By bus. Usually, not possible to travel with a bike. Bus tickets: matkahuolto.fi/en )
– By train:

  • Train tickets: vr.fi/en
  • Tickets become available 2½-3 months before.
  • Dynamic pricing (the earlier purchase, the cheaper ticket).
  • Bike supplement 4-8 €, mandatory reservation.
  • Example: By train from Helsinki Airport to Vaasa: Commuter train P to ”Tikkurila” station (8 minutes) + InterCity train to Vaasa (ca. 4 hours). 15-50 € + bike supplement 7 €.

3. From Vaasa Railway Station to Umeå and Brännland Inn
– Cycling route (4 km + ferry 96 km + 32 km): https://maps.app.goo.gl/y6bYUJX6LqMPAxUS7

  • 4 km to Vaasa harbour
  • Ferry to Sweden: wasaline.com/en (4 hours, 42 € + bike 7 €, add some euros if you buy the ticket from the check-in desk), >arrive at the latest 1 hour before departure. Complete the check-in inside the terminal and wait for detailed instructions.
  • 20 km to Umeå centre (via crocery stores at Holmsund by 3.5 km, Gimonäs by 16 km)
  • 10.5 km to Brännland Inn (via lunch & rest at Baggböle Manor by 8 km, side road 0.5 km)

Note: It is possible that you arrive to Sweden in the starting day of MSR: Ferry from Vaasa harbour 8:00-11:00 (check the timetable!), then cycling/driving 20 km to Umeå (hotel?) + 10 km to Brännland Inn.