Explore the Royal Albert Dock and experience a captivating fusion of history, art, and entertainment. Opened in 1846, this architectural marvel, designed by Jesse Hartley and Philip Hardwick, stands as Britain's first structure constructed entirely from cast iron, brick, and stone, with no reliance on wood for its structure. This iconic complex houses an impressive array of cultural landmarks, including the renowned Tate Liverpool, The Beatles Story, Merseyside Maritime Museum, and the thought-provoking International Slavery Museum. Beyond its rich cultural offerings, the dock also boasts a vibrant assortment of shops, bars, and restaurants, creating a lively and diverse destination for visitors.

Luleå has a wide range of hiking trails, each with its unique character and showcasing distinctive parts of Luleå’s natural environment. Several of them are within walking distance of the city centre, others are easily reached by bus or bicycle. If you have access to a car, then the possibilities are endless. Hiking in Luleå is almost like strolling through the history of this unique city. For instance, you can begin by hiking across the large shingle fields on Bälingeberget — the first spot to rise from the sea, following land uplift after the recession of the inland ice sheet. At the time, Bälingeberget was just an islet in the middle of the sea and the waves shaped the rocks that now make hiking on the mountain a fascinating experience. Continue through the history of Luleå by visiting the place we now call Gammelstad Church Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and once the centre of Luleå, before the city was moved in the 17th century. Today, it is a popular tourist destination and there are also many rare birds in the area. Here, you can hike on what was once the seabed, now a beautiful forest with pleasant walking paths. When you have made your way to the modern city of Luleå, on the peninsula by the coast, you’ll find many other amazing areas to explore on foot. When people moved here in the 1600s, they also began exploring the surroundings. This helped create several excellent hiking trails near the city centre, such as one of the locals’ favourites, the trail around Hertsöträsk. You can pick up a copy of Luleå’s hiking guide at the Luleå tourist centre in Kulturens Hus.

One of the largest wooden churches in Sweden, dating back to the 18th century, Pajala Church was originally built in Kengis in the 1790s but moved to Pajala in 1879. The church still bears a striking resemblance to its original self and is a landmark hard to miss when in Pajala.