Lulea Car Rental

Lulea is in Swedish Lapland, and your experience will change drastically depending on the time of year you visit. At any time of year, visitors are drawn by the city's laid-back atmosphere and stunning natural surroundings. In winter, there's the chance to see the northern lights and try all kinds of snow sports. In summer, it's a paradise for hikers and kayakers who want to enjoy the great outdoors in the land of the midnight sun.

Visit Lulea in winter for a truly unique experience. One of the city's most popular attractions is the ice path on the frozen Bothnian Sea. You'll see people ice skating and sledding on the path. You can also take part in an icebreaker cruise aboard one of the boats that breaks the ice to keep shipping lanes free. The truly daring can even take a dip in the freezing waters. The cruise will provide you with a survival suit before you jump in. Meanwhile, back on the land, you can try dog sledding, snowmobiling and other fun winter activities.

Lulea has an archipelago with over 1,000 islands. Some are inhabited, with small fishing villages where you can get a taste of the traditional Swedish way of life. Others are empty of people but full of nature. Ideal for hiking, they have trails that run through the shade of ancient forests. Among the most popular are Junkön, Kluntarna and Smaskär, but with so many islands to explore, you can find your own personal favorite.

Use a rental car in Lulea to see more of the area. One of the top attractions is Gammelstad, an old church town. In this sparsely populated area, small towns often did not have their own churches, and people were unable to make the trip to and from a church in one day. Church towns grew as a place where worshippers could spend the night before going back to their village. Gammelstad is one of the best preserved, with rows of charming traditional houses.

You can rent a car or van in Lulea to visit Cape Wild, a wildlife park 10 km from Lulea. This is a great place to come with children in winter. Its friendly reindeer and moose are quite tame. The kids can feed them in an unforgettable encounter that is sure to inspire dreams of Christmas!

You generally won't find much traffic around Lulea, making it easy to drive around. In the spring and summer months, keep an eye out for cyclists, as you will probably be sharing the road, particularly inside the city.

Driving around Lulea and Swedish Lapland can be tricky in winter due to the snow. Vehicles are legally required to be equipped with snow tires between December 1st and March 31st. You will also see some road signs indicating that snow chains are mandatory in certain areas. Always go slowly in snowy conditions.

One unique aspect of driving in Lulea in winter is the presence of ice roads. Every year, the local council prepares about 30 km of roads, connecting the city with some of the islands of the Lulea archipelago across the frozen Bothnian Sea. The ice is extremely thick, and the roads are regularly plowed to keep them free from snow. Council workers also test the ice with drills, ensuring it is safe for vehicles. If there are any problems, the ice roads will be closed, so check the local weather reports.

Lulea is a city in the far north of Europe, and the length of days changes dramatically during the year. In winter, you will need to be prepared to drive in the dark. Allow yourself plenty of time to get to your destination, as driving along the snowy roads in the dark can be difficult at first. However, summer conditions can be just as tricky. Days are extremely long. In fact, the sun never really sets but rather reaches a level of twilight and stays there all night long. This can cause fatigue for visitors who are not used to it, which in turn can lead to problems on the roads. Take plenty of breaks and avoid driving long distances, particularly in the first couple of days of your trip while your body is adapting to the long hours of light.

Remember, when driving in Sweden, you are legally obliged to keep your headlights on at all times. Watch out for animals on the roads, particularly if you are driving in rural areas. Sweden has a large moose population, and these heavy animals can be extremely dangerous if they choose to cross the road.

Speed limits in Sweden are based on the potential risk of the road, not its category. Don't make assumptions, and always check the speed limit signs.