Swedish Lapland includes the counties Västerbotten and Norrbotten, which together covers an vast area of 165 sq kilometers, approx. about 2/3 the size of England. The region has a diverse array of environments and excellent fishing and hunting opportunities: from the relatively flat region on the coast, to the forests and the lakes in the middle of the region, and finally the mountains that border on Norway.

Lots of variation
This vast county also allows visitors to experience different seasons over the course of just a few days. It can be full winter in the mountains while spring and early summer have begun towards the coast. You can enjoy ice fishing for arctic char in late May in the mountains, drive down to the coast and try the Baltic pike or the first run of Baltic salmon returning from the sea.

The largest city in the region is Umeå, a university town with approximately 110,000 residents. The population in the region is concentrated to the coast and the inner part of Lapland has less than 1 inhabitant per square kilometre.

Comfortable climate
Summer in Lapland is between June and August and the temperature varies between 15 and 30 degrees centigrade. Summers are usually very nice. Many Norwegians spend their vacation in Swedish Lapland since the weather is relatively warm and stable compared to their own country. Many anglers have discovered that shorts are as much a necessity as a warm shirt. If the wind comes from the north or a heavy rain falls, temperatures drop. The evenings in the summer, especially in June and July, are very bright. In fact, Swedish Lapland is known as "The Land of the Midnight Sun".


Hunting and fishing seasons
The best season depends on what you are looking for. Hunting season is mainly autumn/winter (August-March) except for beaver seasons, which is in the spring. The fishing season is May-September except for ice-fishing, which is naturally a winter event. For more specific times, look under each species.

How to get there
There are several airports in Lapland and all of them are 1-2 hours flight from Stockholm. Communications with Stockholm are very good with several flights a day to and from Umeå, Skellefteå and Luleå. If you want to visit the inner part of Lapland, the airports in Lycksele, Vilhelmina, Storuman and Kiruna may be a better choice. Once you've arrived by plane, the best alternative is to rent a car and drive to your chosen destination. The roads are good, there's easy access to the wilderness and you won't have to worry about traffic.

Lapland in Europe

Overview of Sweden