Getting to Skellefteå

 

Over the past few years, Skellefteå has become a popular arrival point for international tourists visiting northern Sweden – thanks in no small part to its tiny but well-run airport, which is served by direct flights from London and Stockholm. Skelleftea also has good road connections, allowing easy bus and car journeys from regional hubs such as Umeå and Luleå. There is no train station in Skellefteå.

By air

Update: 31/03/2015: Ryanair has confirmed that it will stop flights to Skellefteå in late 2015

Skellefteå’s airport is around 20km southeast of the city centre, close to the village of Bureå. Ryanair currently runs a twice-weekly service to Skellefteå from London Stansted (on Wednesdays and Sundays) but has announced plans to close the route in late 2015. SAS takes care of direct flights to Stockholm (up to five daily).

The airport offers free wifi and has car rental desks operated by Avis, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt. A small café inside the terminal building provides expensive drinks and snacks.

Getting to Skellefteå from the airport is easy. Shuttle buses run by Skelleftebuss are timed to meet arriving planes and go on to stop near several central hotels, including Stiftsgården, Rum för Resande, Quality Hotel Skellefteå and Scandic Skellefteå.

Tickets cost 80 SEK one-way (or 60 SEK if you’re aged between 20–25) and can be bought aboard the bus using a credit or debit card.

Heading back to the airport from Skellefteå, the bus stops at the same hotels and arrives at the terminal around 60 minutes before each flight’s scheduled departure time.

By bus

As there is no train station in Skellefteå, overland journeys using public transport must be made by bus. The bus station is just off Torggatan, a short walk from most of the downtown shops and restaurants. Long-distance services from Umeå, Luleå and Arvidsjaur all stop here.

If you want to travel to Skellefteå from Stockholm or another part of southern Sweden, it is possible to take the train for the main part of the journey north. You’ll need to stop at either Umeå Östra, Jörn or Bastuträsk, and then take a bus for the final run in to Skellefteå. You can check available routes and buy tickets for the full journey at SJ.se. For more information, see our guide to getting the best deals on train tickets.

By car

Skellefteå is bisected by the E4, which runs practically the entire length of Sweden. It’s a decent road but some sections around Skellefteå are unfenced at the sides; keep an eye out for elk and reindeer.

Heading inland from Skellefteå, Riksväg 95 cuts through some beautiful forest scenery en route to Arvidsjaur.

By ferry

Talk of a ferry line between Skellefteå and the Finnish town of Karleby (Kokkola) has so far come to nothing.

 

Last updated: March 2015