There’s a reason why one of the most common stops while travelling along the Bothnian Coast (or when visiting Luleå) is the iconic church town of Gammelstad which is also a UNESCO Heritage Site!
This lovely church town is just a short drive from Luleå and it’s the most well-preserved church town in the entire country. Gammelstad has over 400 of the iconic wooden houses where churchgoers used to stay on the weekends when they would come from the countryside to go to church.
The beauty of Gammelstad is that it doesn’t matter if you’re there in summer or winter – it’s a beautiful place to visit any time of year! In this post, we’ll go over why you should visit and what to do when you get there.
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Everything you need to know about Gammelstad
Walking around Gammelstad felt like we were taken back in time and we could really envision what life was like back in the day when this town was used as an actual church town. This means people from afar would travel to Gammelstad and stay in their cottage for the weekend in order to go to church.
We also heard some fun stories about how this was basically the real-life Tinder back then and all the young people from the countryside would find a potential partner. So fun!
In this post, we go over some of the fun things you can do in Gammelstad and cover all the things you may want to know before visiting this beautiful little UNESCO town.
Gammelstad is well worth a visit at any time of year – whether you’re travelling during summer or winter. The information center is also open all year except for a few Swedish public holidays. You canfind more information about the opening hours in Gammelstad here.
How to get to Gammelstad from Luleå
The best way to get to Gammelstad is by car. It is possible to get there by public transport (check Google Maps for directions) but if you prefer to go at your own pace, we suggest going there by car.
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Fun things to do in Gammelstad
Below we’ve listed out 7 fun things you can do in Gammelstad – most of these activities you can do year round, but a few of them are seasonal and only available during the winter months or during the summer months. Whether you travel during summer or winter, it’s worth visiting this well-preserved church town.
Explore the Visitor Center at Gammelstad
When visiting Gammelstad Church Town, we recommend the Visitor Center to be your first stop. Here you’ll be able to find out what’s going on in the town, if there by chance are any events going on while you’re there, and get a good feel for what this town is like.
You’ll also be able to explore the free exhibition on Gammelstad upstairs and learn more about the history of this beautiful town. We had a tour guide tell us about the history and show us around the town.
At the Visitor Center, you’ll get a better understanding of how this town became so popular, why this is the best preserved church town in Sweden (hence why it is UNESCO), and learn some other random facts and parts of history that are super interesting.
The staff will also be able to guide you in the right direction if you’re wanting to do a walking tour of the town or visit one of the local shops!
Try out the Swedish Kicksled (winter)
This is one of multiple unique things you can do here in Sweden – and in Gammelstad you can try it for free! It’s basically a mode of transport you can use around town and you can pick them up right at the visitor center.
It was so much fun riding on this little kicksled but also a little scary as they actually go quite fast (especially downhill when the snow is compact and icy) and can be a little hard to control. And there are cars driving around town too, so just keep that in mind!
That being said, it’s so much fun just sledding through the cute and narrow streets of Gammelstad! We had a blast just sledding around down the hills and exploring the town on these sleds.
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Traditional bread making
What better way to get to know a culture and the way of life of people than by making some of their local food? This tour runs on a reservation basis and takes about 60 minutes.
It’s a really cool experience where you’ll learn a little bit more about Swedish culture, Gammelstad, and (of course) how to make the best klådda bread. It’s a recipe you’ll be able to bring home with you so you can make homemade Swedish bread to remember your trip!
If you’re interested in making some local “klådda bread”, you’ll have to make a reservation online here.
Visit Nederluleå Church
Nederluleå Church is the largest late medieval church in the North of Sweden and it’s very well-kept! It was actually under slight renovation while we were there which was a shame for us because that meant we didn’t get to go see it on the inside. But it’s good that they maintain everything in the town so well.
Most of the time it is open to the public so you should be able to see it from the inside – but there are times when the church is booked for private events as it is a very popular church for locals and people around the area.
This is another reason why we suggest you stop by the Visitor Center first so you can ask them if you’ll be able to access the Nederluleå Church or not.
Visit the local animals (summer)
During the summer months, you’ll be able to visit the local animals that live here in Gammelstad on a traditional Swedish farmstead! This activity is available from late June to mid August and you’ll be able to see all the typical farm animals they have here in Northern Sweden – from cows to goats to sheep.
It’s a nice little area where you can get out and walk for a bit – especially if you’ve been driving around the Bothnian Coast and want to stretch your legs, this is a fun little stop. You can learn more about the open-air museum Hägnan here.
Stop by The Country Store and The Souvenir Shop
If you’re looking for a little souvenir or Swedish treat then stop by at least one of these two shops: The Country Store and The Souvenir Shop and check out what goodies and nick-nacks they have.
There’s a bunch of cute and local products and other Swedish-related goodies that you’ll be able to find. Definitely worth the stop when you’re exploring Gammelstad!
Have some Fika at a local cafe
Last but not least… When in Sweden, you must have Fika. Right? If you’re not sure what Fika is, it’s something the Swedes live by, and it basically means taking a break from your busy life to relax a bit and have some coffee and chat with coworkers.
You’ll find a few places in Gammelstad where you can have Fika such as at Ulla’s Café right next to the visitor center. When in a traditional Swedish Church town why not relax a bit and enjoy some local fika?
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Recap of visiting Gammelstad a UNESCO Heritage Site
Now you have a bit more information on Gammelstad and everything there is to do and see here in this beautiful little church town. It’s a small town but it’s definitely worth visiting when exploring this part of Sweden!
The little church cottages are beautiful, and just walking around this lovely little town is an attraction on its own. It’s a UNESCO Heritage site for a reason and it’s very well-preserved. We highly recommend you stop by and see what this town is all about – and don’t forget to enjoy some Fika!
We hope you have the best time here. And if you have questions about Gammelstad, Luleå, or the Bothnian Coast feel free to DM us on Instagram @redwhiteadventures or leave a comment below!
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