:collected and proved by Böhlertours (Erasmus Student 1998; 1999)
I am writing this because I found it often hard to get some information. For example it took me 9 calls in order to rent a sailing boat. 

Tourist-informations are informed about their area ("län") very well but provide foreigners with English leaflets only, which are often a short summary of the Swedish one with less information. Ask for the Swedish one, which you can understand too. So do not stop to party and travelling on!

Most tourist sights will open even in the off season if you are group and make an appointment.

• Holmön Island
  A big island which is said to be the sunniest in Sweden, has a huge nature reserve with a varied bird population. Every day there are two ferries (45 min.) free of charge for passengers and bikers.
  Nice boat museum opened until the end of August.
  Rent a bike for 50 SEK or discuss like we did with the guy in order to get it for free (Erasmus bonus at the last day of season in the end of August).
  40 km to the northeast, daily bus from Vasaplan or Mariehem to the ferry.
  
• Norrbyskär Island
  A small lovely island (skär) with good picnic possibilities.
  At the beginning of this century there was the biggest sawmill of the Europe, with a good museum opened until the beginning of September.
  Daily ferry for 10 min. for 40 SEK. even in off-seasons, call 090-203 23 00 for times. KFUM (a youth club) with some sport facilities like climbing.
  30 km to the south, ferry from Norrbyn next to Hörnefors.
  
• Visit the old houses of Västerbotten in Gammlia, Västerbottenmuseum and the Painting Museum
  Gammlia, an open air museum, is opened until the end of August only.
  
• Old rock paintings (Hällristningar) in Norrfors and Stornorrfors Kraftstation
  You can find 5.000 year old rock paintings and a historical path back to this time down on the dam of the water power station.
  Also there are salmon stairs (laxtrappan) which will be empty every day around 12 a.m. until September.
  The power-station is one of Europe biggest around 600 megawatt and you can go down 90 m to see the turbines with a guide (female, blond and even in German language) until End of August, free of charge.
  
• Old power-station Klabböle with Energiezentrum
  100 years old water power station next to the new one situated near by the river. Free of charge, open until the end of August.
  
• Rent a sauna (Bastu flotte) at Nydalasjön
  A wooden sauna for 8-10 persons on the lake, you have to row to get there
  3 to 4 hours for 400 SEK; Best time in the evening (open end after 6 p.m.).
  Ring 090-161855 for reservation or the camping place reception tel. 702600

Possible until the middle of September.

• Sealsafari (Sälsafari) by Norrbyskär
  Rent a boat and go on a four hours trip to see some of the seals
  
• Rent a sailing boat at Norrbyn
  A 8,50 m yacht, Express, with four beds for 800 SEK a day.
  At least one of you should have good sailing experience.
  Sailing Club at Norrbyskär Wärdshus 0930-24049.
  
• Laserdom
  With some friends, max. 3 groups of 6 persons = 18 per. in a huge room
  (more than 600 sq.m.) running and hiding 20 min. for 60 SEK.
  Bargain about the price (like: last time…) and "fight" half an hour.
  In the basement at Rådhusetexplanaden between Åhlens and Åkerbloms bookshop. Book at 090 ???
  
• Walking path Tavelsjönleden
  From Umeå to Tavelsjönberget a 30 km walking path in the forest with some raststugas on the way.
  
• In the first week of every term:
  Funny games with the new students at the campus next to the pond
  
• Brännbåll-Festival
  World’s biggest Brännbåll games with over 900 teams, taking place next to the University and Mariedal, => Umeå´s biggest festival
  Big festival at the Campus with same good bands and nations "beer" stands.
  In the beginning of the spring!
  Till the end of May! From Thursday until Saturday.

• Tavelsjö (25 km north-west)
  Swimming until the end of August.
  Walking path to the Tavelsjönberget, 220 m, 1,5 hours around with some really small caves (grottor).

• Lövånger
  Small church town
  On the way to Bjuröklubben, a nice peninsula out in the Baltic Sea with some nature reserve
  
• Robertsfors
  Glashytta and Europe’s biggest artificial diamond factory

• Ratan
  Nice old coast summer village with water level marks around 18th centuries at the rocks. Kulturrum about the last war at Swedish ground at 1809, opened Saturday and Sunday 12-17
  50 km in the north
  
• Bygdeå
  Old famous (for Västerbotten) church (about 300-400 years).
  Open in September until 21:00!
  
• Nordmaling and Olofors
  Olofors = old mill village with a museum (free entrance), two workers’ huts (key under the stairs), a villa with a restaurant – good for fika, and handcraft stores.
  Fair with typical Swedish goods in the middle of October at the camping place.
  Old church in Nordmaling.
  A real cave (more impressive than the one in Umeå) 5 km in the west of Olofors: Thyvees Antjes Grottar, half a hour walk up in a nature reserve with a great panoramic view.
  
• Bjurholm
  Small town next to a canyon with canoeing possibilities (200 SEK for 24 hours and a free hut on the way to stay overnight)
  Open air museum with historical farms
  
• Ångermanbalen (500 m)
  Climb to the top in 45 min. and enjoy a great view around
  Raststuga

• Elkfarm
  Go there in order to make sure that you don’t leave Sweden without having seen any elks. Entrance about 60 SEK. but you can take pictures through fence without paying

• Björnlandet
  A nature reserve with an primeval forest (urskug) - my favourite!
  Raststuga at the lake with barbecue possibility
  
• Lycksele
  An huge zoo for animals from the Nordic area (djurpark)
  Market at the end of September
  
• Ö-Vik = Örnsköldsvik
  Cosy coastal town with 50,000 inhabitants and with a great adventure baths,

a cheap compared to IKSU – swimming hall.
Fjällräven factory outlet, special sale from time to time with last season’s garments. Call to ask when. Phone 062?-?

• Skuleskogen
  Nature reserve at Höga Kusten (high coast) with a good raststuga at the small island outside of it. Stay there overnight and enjoy the nature. (Free of charge to stay there)

• Stockholm

• St. Petersburg – trip every term offered by "Natascha-tours" and the internat. Student secretary

• Tallinn in Estonia
  Ferry to Vaasa, train, bus or stand-by flight for 150 FIM to Helsinki, ferry to Tallinn

• Lofoten and Norwegian fjords

• Northcap
  1.200 km one-way and it is only a huge cliff for what you have to pay an entrance fee of 120 NOK from spring until the end of October

Since ´99 there is a channel to the island.

Don’t miss Hammerfest and Inari on the way.