Traveler's Notebook
- yougoeric
- Oct 17, 2015
- 4 min read
Here are some info & tips on travelling to and out of Umeå: by plane, train, boat, and bus.
By Air
Several airline companies operate flights from Umeå: Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Norweigian, Malmö Aviation, Finnair, etc. Main destinations include Stockholm, Gothenburg, Kiruna in Sweden, and Helsingfors in Finland. I will mainly discuss SAS and Norwegian as these are the two airlines I have experiences taking.
Scandinavian Airlines:
If you are under the age of 26, you are qualified to purchase youth tickets from SAS. You will not need an account to book youth tickets unless you are using the Swedish version of the website (sas.se). Same discount applies to all flights to/from Scandinavia.
The price of ARN(Stockholm Arlanda)-UME(Umeå) / UME(Umeå)-ARN(Stockholm Arlanda) route is subject to less fluctuation, as there are at least 4 flights arriving / departing each day. The usual price for a one-way youth ticket betwen Umeå and Stockholm is 448SEK when booked at least a week in advance. It can rise to 548SEK as the departure date gets closer, but not much more than that.
They quality of service on SAS flights is great and consistent. SAS flights are usually on time if not early, and free coffee/tea is always served.
Norwegian Air Shuttle:
Regardless of destination, prices of Norwegian flights usually start lower. So it is a good option if you are planning a trip a few months in advance, or just looking for a random cheap flight for the weekend. If booked earlier, fares between UME and ARN from Norweigian can be as low as 399SEK. Yet the price of Norwegian flights depend entirely on supply and demand. A price like 1599SEK for this route is not unseen.
Norwegian has adopted numerous new 737-800's to operate its short-haul flights within Europe. They are equipted with comparatively comfy seats and color changing mood lights in the cabin, which does make the journey more relaxing, and adds a bit of atmosphere. There is free wifi onboard, and they work like a charm. Also, their inflight magazine ¨N by Norwegian¨ is always a good read.
Fare Search:
For trip planning, Google Flights is my go-to search engine. Its map view really comes in handy when booking an multiple-stop trip for longer holidays. Youth and student fares however are not usually included in the results.
On the day of travel:
A flight from Umeå to Stockholm takes one hour. Flygbuss(Airport Bus) number 80 will take you to airport. The fare is 45SEK and is valid for 2 hours since validated. For details regarding local transportation in Umeå, check out this article.
For connections between Arlanda Airport and Stockholm city center, Arlanda Express is the most efficient and comfortable option - It takes you to the airport in 20 minutes directly from city terminal for 140SEK (assuming you are a student. 150SEK for youths between the age of 8-25), and it there is a train departing every 10-20 mins during bormal hours. You can also choose to take the airport shuttle ¨Flygbussarna¨ for a youth fare of 89SEK (99SEK when booked at counters).
By Train
Travelling by train in Sweden is a comfortable experience. An 8-hour train ride can even be enjoyable in the company of friends.
SJ is the government-owned and main train operator in Sweden. Most SJ trains, including the double-deck SJ Regional and long distance models X 2000, SJ 3000 are all modernly furnished with bright interiors, spacious seats, and equipted with free wifi.
SJ is the only option between Umeå and Stockholm, and it takes 6 hours and 20 minutes with a direct train. You can also choose to sleep in the cabin on a night train, which will allow you to hop on at 22:00 and wake up in Stockholm at 6:30 the next morning. For a one-way non-refundable student ticket from Umeå to Stockholm, the price starts from 445SEK. The price usually goes up dramatically according to demand, so it is strongly advised to book early.
Several other train operators are present in Sweden, depending on the region. A few choices exist for connections between Gothenburg and Stockholm. If you favor wooden interiors and old-fashioned cabins, Blå Tåget (The Blue Train) might be just right for you. They feature classy bistro cars and live piano performances onboard. There is also MTR Express, a private company offering fast connections between the two cities.
By Boat
Tired of staying on the ground? It's probably a good time to go on a boat trip! You can take a Wasaline ferry directly from Umeå to Vaasa in Finland, the counterpart of Umeå of similar latitude. A student ticket costs 250SEK. Connecting bus rides need to be purchased individually if you are not brining your vehicle on the ferry. Transfer from Umeå center to Umeå port in Holmsund will cost 90SEK, and 35SEK to go from Vaasa port to Vaasa city center.
By Bus
Travelling by coach is not the most popular choice in Sweden. It is not the cheapest(364SEK+), yet the most time consuming(9~10hrs). Common options are Ybuss and Swebus.
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