Discover the raw and rugged natural beauty of Swedish Lapland in Pitea. The city is a stone’s throw from the Polar Circle and will amaze you with its dramatic scenery and shimmering sheets of ice. Bask on sandy beaches, paddle in the Bay of Bothnia and fill up on local delicacies like sauteed reindeer.
Things to do in Piteå
Set sail on an icebreaker safari around the Pitea archipelago. Listening to the hull break through the enormous chunks of floating ice is an incredible experience. Some tour operators offer the option to walk on the ice sheets or don a survival suit and swim in the water, or you can also chat to the captain on the bridge and peer into the heavy-duty machine room. Winter is also a good time to try activities like skiing, snowshoeing and sledding.
Swedish Lapland is one of the best places in Europe to see the Northern Lights. Your best chance is in the winter when dark skies make it easier to see the rainbow-coloured lights dancing in the sky. Visit in the summer to experience the famous Midnight Sun.
Pite Havsbad is a lively neighbourhood fringed by a sandy beach and popular in the summer. Relax on the sand and swim in the cobalt-blue water of the Bay of Bothnia. Rent a canoe or kayak and explore the islands and inlets around Pitea or pack lunch supplies and enjoy a picnic on a deserted beach.
Fill up on pitepalt, a local delicacy of potato dumplings stuffed with chopped pork. You’ll see plenty of Arctic char and salmon on local menus, as well as dishes featuring wild herbs and berries. If you’re feeling adventurous, try sauteed reindeer served with mashed potato and lingonberry jam.
Getting around Piteå
Pitea is pedestrian-friendly and easy to get around on foot. Lulea Airport is a 45-minute drive away. The city is a 3.5-hour drive from Oulu in Finland and 10 hours from Stockholm.