How to get to Hemavan

Plane, bus or car?

How to get to Hemavan depends mostly on where you start. Hemavan is a small mountain village in Västerbotten County in northern Sweden, far up the E12 road from Umeå on the Baltic coast, with Mo i Rana in Norway on the other side of the border.

• Flying is the quickest option from Stockholm, and from abroad via Stockholm Arlanda. You land in the middle of the village.
• The bus runs from Umeå along the E12 – long but simple, and you avoid driving in the winter dark.
• A car lets you move between Hemavan and Tärnaby, cross into Norway and carry more luggage.
• The train does not go all the way, but you can combine train and bus on one ticket.

Flights to Hemavan

Hemavan Tärnaby Airport (airport code HMV) is in the village itself, about a 10-minute walk from Centrumliften, the main lift in the centre of Hemavan. Flights go to and from Stockholm Arlanda, either direct or with a stop. The direct flight currently takes just under two hours. If you are flying in from another country, you change planes at Arlanda – leave plenty of time for the connection, especially in winter.

The route is currently flown by populAir under a contract with Trafikverket, the Swedish Transport Administration, so the airline can change when the contract is renewed. Times, tickets and baggage rules are on populAir's website (opens in a new tab).

• Skis and boots can currently be checked in as special baggage for a fee. Check the airline's weight and size rules, or hire equipment in Hemavan instead.
• Winter weather – snowfall, wind and poor visibility can delay or cancel flights. Read your accommodation's cancellation terms before you book.

Train and bus to Hemavan

There is no railway to Hemavan. With SJ, the Swedish rail operator, you can book a train and the connecting regional bus on the same ticket, so the change is planned from the start.

The bus runs along the E12 from Umeå via Lycksele, Storuman and Tärnaby to Hemavan. It is currently run by Länstrafiken i Västerbotten, the regional transport company, as line 31, with daily departures. From Östersund there are currently daily buses to Storuman, where you change to the bus for Hemavan. Times and tickets are in Länstrafiken's journey planner (opens in a new tab).

The journey is long, so bring food and something to drink, and allow a margin if you need to catch a train or flight in Umeå.

Driving to Hemavan

The E12, known in Sweden as Blå vägen (the Blue Road), runs from Umeå along the Ume River via Lycksele, Storuman and Tärnaby to Hemavan, and on to Mo i Rana in Norway. It is easy to follow and passes through sparsely populated forest, river and lake country.

From Stockholm the drive is a full day or more, so it makes sense to split it over two days.

Driving in winter

In Sweden, winter tyres are required from 1 December to 31 March when there are winter road conditions, with a tread depth of at least 3 mm. Studded tyres are allowed from 1 October to 15 April, and outside that period if there are, or are expected to be, winter road conditions.

• Check road conditions before you set off and along the way, for example with Trafikverket.
• Fill up or charge in good time. Distances between towns are long, and charging points along the E12 are further apart than in southern Sweden. Cold weather also reduces an electric car's range.
• Keep warm clothes, a blanket, food and a charged phone in the car in case you get stuck.
• Watch for reindeer and elk (moose) on the road, especially in the dark. Reindeer often stay on the road – slow down and let them move. If you hit an animal, call 112.
• It gets dark early in midwinter. Plan to drive in daylight if you can.
• An engine heater makes cold mornings easier. Ask your accommodation whether there is a socket for one.

From Norway

From Mo i Rana it is about 100 km along the E12 to Hemavan. Just west of the border the road runs through the Umskar Tunnel at Umbukta, which opened in 2006 and is 3,670 metres long. It replaced the highest and most exposed stretch of road over the mountain. Check the rules of Tullverket, Swedish Customs, if you are bringing goods across the border.

Mo i Rana is on the Nordland Line railway. During parts of the ski season there has been a Saturday ski bus from Mo i Rana to Hemavan – current departures and prices are on Visit Helgeland (opens in a new tab).

From Finland

The ferry between Vaasa and Umeå takes about four hours and is currently operated by Wasaline. From Umeå you follow the E12 all the way to Hemavan.

Getting around on arrival

In Hemavan you can do a lot on foot – from the airport, the bus and your accommodation to the slopes. Taxis can be booked in advance, which helps if you arrive late or with a lot of luggage, and car hire companies are currently available in Hemavan and Tärnaby. Electric car charging is currently available at Bayhill Center, Hemavan Fjällcenter and the airport, among other places.

Tärnaby is about 20 km down the E12, and the lift pass currently covers both villages. Read more about Tärnaby, and find somewhere to stay on the accommodation page.