Höga Kusten: A Beginner’s 3-Day Summer Itinerary for Sweden’s High Coast 

Considering that I had visited Sweden over 10 times beforehand, a trip to the High Coast was well overdue. But better late than never; this beautiful part of Northern Sweden was the outdoor adventure I had been craving. My only regret was that we didn’t spend longer here. 

Höga Kusten has everything you need for a fun getaway in nature. Pristine lakes, endless forests, and dramatic mountains await in this lovely corner of Scandinavia. It’s no wonder this is the birth of the famous Fjällräven brand; based on my summer 2024 trip, I’m putting together this three-day beginner’s itinerary. 

I actually recommend staying in this UNESCO World Heritage Site for much longer, but nonetheless, this guide is a useful starting point. My aim is that you’ll be much better prepared for your trip, and that you can take what interests you and leave the rest. 

Where to Stay on Höga Kusten 

We stayed in Mjällom, and I suggest that you do the same if you plan to follow this itinerary. Sweden’s High Coast is huge, and you will burn yourself out if you try covering it all in three days. Staying in these regions will also make the itinerary easy to follow: 

• Norrfällsviken (we spent a bit of time here and enjoyed it) 
• Kramfors
• Nordingrå
• Domsjö

You can browse and book accommodation via the widget below.

I also strongly suggest a car for this itinerary as public transport in the region is limited. We rented one from Hertz and had no problems picking it up in Umeå before leaving it in Sundsvall. However, it might make more sense to pick one up in Örnsköldsvik or wherever else you start your Swedish adventure (car rentals are normally available in Sweden’s bigger cities). 

If you’re interested in comparing car prices, you can go to the Discover Cars website.

How Do I Get to Höga Kusten? 

In my opinion, Örnsköldsvik is the easiest entry point to Höga Kusten (it’s the largest city in the region). It’s around six hours from Stockholm. I recommend staying in Stockholm for a few days since you’ll probably arrive here when flying internationally; Sweden’s capital has plenty of fun things to do.

You can check train/bus prices and book directly below.

It’s also possible to book trains on the SJ website.

You can also reach Höga Kusten by flying domestically to High Coast Airport (airport code: KRF). The airport is between Kramfors and Sollefteå; you can catch a direct flight from Stockholm Arlanda. 

If you’re driving from more of a southern part of Sweden, you can take the E4 route. Höga Kusten is around six hours from Stockholm. We drove downwards from Umeå; it took just over two hours to drive from Umeå to Mjällom. I think this is the more adventurous route, and Umeå is also well worth visiting. 

Your First Full Day: Ulvön 

I recommend arriving in Höga Kusten during the afternoon/evening and settling into your accommodation. You can visit your local supermarket and stock up on food, and hopefully, you’ll get a good night’s sleep so you’re ready for the adventure that awaits. 

Ulvön was the highlight of my Höga Kusten trip, and it’s one of my favorite places in Sweden. I recommend coming here on your first full day in the region; it’s easy enough for a day trip, but you can stay overnight if you have more time. 

While you’re on Ulvön, learn more about the islands’ fishing history—including the notorious surströmming—at its museum. You can then enjoy a quick hike up to Lotsberget for a great view over the northern island and its surrounding areas. 

Back in Ulvöhamn, I recommend stopping for some lunch at Bistro Ruben and wandering around the beautiful harbor area.

We took the ferry from Mjällomslandet; the journey was around 45 minutes and very scenic along the way. You can’t bring your car, but parking at the ferry terminal is free. You can also take the ferry from Köpmanholmen. You should book in advance regardless of where you depart from. 

Here are the websites to book your tickets to Ulvön: 

• Höga Kusten Båterna (to and from from Mjällomslandet, Docksta, and Ullånger)
• M/F Ulvön (to and from Köpmanholmen)

Day II: Skuleskogens Nationalpark and FriluftsByn

FriluftsByn is a pleasant outdoor village close to Skuleberget, with year-round activities (I’d love to go back and ski in the winter, for example). We did the Södra Bergsstigen hike, which started from a staircase close to the campsite. 

The trail is 2.1 kilometres long and was moderately challenging, but nothing too complicated if you have reasonable fitness levels. Sadly, we couldn’t see the surrounding views in all their glory because there was so much fog. But I guess there’s always next time 🥲.

We went to a nice little café called Toppstugan at the top, and treated ourselves to some waffles with cloudberry jam (because, well, we’re in Sweden). You’ll find various other cakes, along with hot and cold drinks. There are also some well-maintained toilets outside. 

Oddly enough, I actually found the descent more challenging; it was quite slippery going through the forest. I slipped a fair few times and also caused my water bottle to leak by falling on it, but that was also largely because I didn’t pay attention. So, I’d suggest keeping your camera in your bag and not walking while taking pictures; stop, take your camera out, and enjoy the moment before continuing. 

Once you’ve returned to FriluftsByn, you can enjoy sandwiches and other meals. It is possible to stay overnight; we didn’t do this, but I would like to at some point. 

Useful note: 

When hiking on any Höga Kusten route, you’ll see different-coloured dots along your trail. Check the map and follow the colour for the trail you wish to take. 

Day III: Högklinten, A Farmer’s Market, and Norrfällsviken 

Your third day on Höga Kusten will be a mix of hiking and eating; I recommend following each thing in chronological order below.

Högklinten

We actually hiked Skuleberget and Högklinten on the same day, but to be honest, I do not recommend doing that. So, after getting a good night’s sleep, head out to Högklinten on your third day. Advance warning: The drive to the parking lot can get *very* steep… make sure you’re prepared for this. 

Högklinten has a handful of beginner-friendly and more challenging hikes; we unintentionally did a mixture of both as we went off-track. Nonetheless, the view is very pleasant (even though there were a lot of insects when we were at the top). I also recommend bringing a picnic with you or some snacks (crispbreads are my personal favorite).

Important Note: When hiking in Sweden (or anywhere, for that matter), make sure you bring all of your trash with you. I can’t remember seeing any bins on the trails, so bring a plastic bag or put it in your backpack and dispose of it later. 

Nordingrå Gårdsbutik

After hiking Högklinten, it’s time to explore some local produce. Nordingrå Gårdsbutik is a cute farmer’s market in the village of Nordingrå, and I *really* recommend getting the fig jam. Besides food, you can also buy pots, cups, and plenty of other goods. 

The market also has a restaurant and café, with a large outdoor seating area. 

Norrfällsviken

I love the red cottages that you find all over Sweden, especially when they’re lined together along the water. Norrfällsviken offers that and a friendly vibe, so it’s needless to say that I really enjoyed spending the evening here. 

We went for a lovely walk and also had some pizza at Kompassen. The restaurant and pizzeria is open throughout the summer (but closed throughout the rest of the year). You can also get ice cream and drinks here, and as a bonus, we saw lots of cute dogs outside. 

If you only visit one part of Sweden this summer, I really think it should be Höga Kusten. It’s one of Scandinavia’s most beautiful regions, and although popular, it doesn’t feel busy whatsoever. 

As I mentioned before, it’s definitely worth staying on the High Coast for more than three days if you can. You’ll only have gotten a small taste of this region by the end of a three-day trip, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll already be planning your next adventure by the time you leave. Nonetheless, you can still cover a good amount of the region in a short period.