This coastal town in Swedish Lapland has beaches, pine forests, and winter activities. Visitors can spot the Northern Lights, tour frozen rivers, and taste local reindeer dishes.
Located 900 km north of Stockholm, Piteå spreads across the mouth of Pite River and an archipelago of 500 islands. You can swim at Pite Havsbad's 2-kilometer sandy beach, watch ice-breaking ships crush through frozen sea in winter, or attend classical concerts at Studio Acusticum's 400-seat concert hall. The town's restaurants serve pitepalt - local potato dumplings filled with diced pork and seasoned with butter.
Location and Climate
Piteå's central district occupies Häggholmen, an islet that's gradually connecting to the mainland as the ground rises 9mm each year. The town faces the Bay of Bothnia, with water on three sides. Summer days see average temperatures of 22°C in July, occasionally reaching 30°C. Winter temperatures typically hover around -15°C in January, with cold spells dropping to -22°C.
Summer at Pite Havsbad
Pite Havsbad stretches along two kilometers of sandy beach on Sweden's northeast coast. Pine forests line the beach's edge, and the water warms up to 20°C in July and August. The resort's water park includes an 81-meter slide with electronic timing for races. Indoor facilities include a 25-meter swimming pool, saunas, and treatment rooms. Next to the resort, you'll find an 18-hole golf course.
Winter Activities
From December to March, the Arctic Explorer boat breaks through meter-thick sea ice. You can step onto the frozen sea during stops and watch the boat crush ice sheets against its reinforced hull. The town maintains 52 kilometers of cross-country skiing tracks, used by both beginners and the Piteå Elit skiing club. Local regulations allow snowmobiles on town streets - you can even use them at drive-through restaurants. The winter swimming club meets every Saturday at the harbor sauna.
The Piteå Archipelago
The 500 islands lie 100 kilometers south of the Arctic Circle, creating different light conditions throughout the year. From June 1 to July 8, the sun never sets. In December, daylight lasts about 3 hours. Baggen island has 12 rental cabins and a wooden chapel that seats 60 people. Mellerstön island maintains a population of 25 year-round residents. Summer boat taxis run scheduled routes to major islands, while winter brings ice roads connecting some islands to the mainland.
Local Food and Culture
Local restaurants prepare pitepalt following traditional recipes: grated raw potatoes mixed with flour, filled with pork, and boiled. Studio Acusticum's concert hall, built in 2014, contains a 9,000-pipe organ and hosts weekly classical music performances. The town calendar includes the Piteå Dansar och Ler street festival in July and the Dark Season light festival in November, each drawing around 20,000 visitors.
