Orientation

 

Luleå’s city centre occupies a hook-shaped spit of land at the mouth of the Lule River. Most of the city’s sights can be found within its compact grid of streets, as can the majority of the hotels and restaurants.

A good landmark to help you find your feet is Domkyrkan – Luleå’s big, neo-Gothic cathedral, which sits right in the middle of the action. From here it’s just a short walk west to Norrbottens Museum, which provides a good introduction to the region and its history.

Heading one block north of the cathedral you’ll reach Storgatan, the city’s main shopping street. It’s a broad pedestrianized thoroughfare with a couple of good places to grab lunch or a warm up with a cup of coffee.

Nearby Smedjegatan runs from one side of the peninsular to the other. At it’s northern end you’ll find the harbour called Norra Hamn and also Kulturens Hus, a sleek, modern cultural centre that houses a small art gallery and puts on regular shows. The local tourist office, with maps and flyers about local events, is just inside this building on the lower level.

Luleå’s bus terminal, which handles traffic from up and down the coast, is a few blocks further east off Storgatan. The train station is just a quick stroll southeast from there.

Meanwhile Luleå’s old town – Gammelstads Kyrkstad – is 10km to the northwest of the city centre.