Umeå is the largest city in northern Sweden and one of the country's fastest-growing, driven by its large university and a lively cultural scene that belies its position well inside the Arctic Circle. Sitting on the Ume River where it meets the Gulf of Bothnia, the city has a youthful energy — students make up a significant portion of the population — and more going on culturally than many Swedish cities twice its size.
The city is young by Swedish standards: it was almost entirely rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1888, which is why the streets are wide and lined with silver birch trees planted as a firebreak. Those birches have become Umeå's signature, earning it the nickname Björkstaden, the Birch City.
Umeå is home to Bildmuseet, a striking contemporary art museum on the waterfront, and the Väven cultural centre next to it on the river. The Guitars – the Museum downtown reflects the city's improbable status as Sweden's rock capital, home to bands including Refused and Meshuggah. The city served as a European Capital of Culture in 2014. Ferries run from Umeå across the Gulf of Bothnia to Vaasa in Finland, making it a natural stopping point for travelers crossing between the two countries.