Activities in Umeå during ESWW2025

Even though the programme for ESWW2025 is fully packed, you may find time for some of these activities that are organised in Umeå during the week of the conference.

Kallbad

Each Wednesday and Friday morning, Umeå Kallbad organizes Morgondopp. You can join them to start your conference day in the most refreshing way – with a wild swim and a hot sauna! Participation is free and no booking is needed. All information is on the Umeå Kallbad website.

Höstljus Light Festival

During Höstljus, local artists and community organizations light up the November darkness with light installations and artworks throughout Umeå city center. Höstljus 2025 takes place from October 31 to November 23 and is free to enjoy for all conference participants. You can find a map of the installations here.

Photo: Umeå Kallbad / Visit Umeå

Time for culture 

• Guitars - The Museum is the result of two brothers' lifelong collection of guitars and other curiosities. For a long time, the collection of 100s of guitars was secret, even from the closest family. Today, the public can take part in this world-unique collection.
• Sweden's first women's history museum, with the mission to challenge the historiography that has excluded women and tell about the past in a way that makes room for voices other than those that have been heard the most so far.
• Bildmuseet is one of Sweden's foremost art galleries for international contemporary art, part of Umeå University and the public heart of Umeå Arts Campus.

Walk or run

• The Riverwalkway and the Lunda bridge
  Take the promenade along the Ume Rive to discover the surroundings around Umeå city centre, close to many of the hotels. Walk in a westerly direction and cross the river over the Lund Bridge. It takes you over to Bölesholmarna with an option to continue to the south side of the river. Then walk back towards the city center over Umeå’s Old Bridge, the beautiful wooden bridge. A total of about 4 km. 
• Bölesholmarna, a quiet oasis in the middle of the city, you find upstream from the old bridge over the river (Lunda bridge) in central Umeå. Managed as a recreational area with a swimming area (Umeå Kallbad), walking and cycling paths. Some has been left relatively untouched to create an oasis for birds and insects in the central parts of Umeå.

Local food and crafts

• Gårdshem, DuÅ and Gotthards Salutorg are examples of shops that sell carefully selected products. Here you will find home-grown vegetables, freshly baked bread, local delicacies and local producers of cheese, meat, jams and marmalades as well as imported quality products but also handicrafts, books and other gift items.
  
• Frukthörnan, Umeå's oldest fruit and chocolate shop with an irresistible assortment of goodies.
• Hemslöjen, the shop with gifts and utensils by selected craftsmen. Both established and a little less known. Woodwork, Sami handicrafts, woven, knitted, turned, silver and pewter. Yes, here you find it all.

Photo: Visit Umeå