Visiting Norra Ulvön for a Day: An Absolute Must on Sweden’s High Coast

I’ll be totally honest with you: I had never heard of Ulvön until we were already in Sweden and thinking of things to do for our Höga Kusten adventure. But a day trip here was the highlight of our trip, and I wish we had stayed overnight. We spent all of our time on Norra Ulvön, the northernmost island.

With great food, beautiful houses, and a picturesque boat journey that’s an attraction in and of itself, you need to make Norr Ulvön part of your Swedish High Coast itinerary. Did I mention, by the way, that this is the birthplace of the notorious surströmming? (And no, I’m afraid, I did not try it this time.)

What We Did on Norra Ulvön 

We had around seven hours on Norra Ulvön, most of which we spent in and around the main town of Ulvöhamn. Here were my favourite things that I think you should make time for. 

Visit the Ulvö Museum 

As I mentioned in my Umeå travel guide, we love visiting museums that give us an insight into how people of previous centuries lived. Ulvö Museum is a great place to learn about this part of the world, with seafaring artifacts aplenty. You’ll learn about the region’s rich fishing heritage, which was a major contributor to the invention of surströmming. 

We had a really nice guy explain the movie we were watching there, and he was happy to communicate with us in English. The museum isn’t very big, and it’s the first place I’d recommend visiting after your boat has arrived in Ulvöhamn. 

Address: Ulvö Hamngata 177, 893 99 Ulvöhamn 

Map: 

Hiking to Lotsberget 

This was not the most strenuous hike we did on the High Coast, but it’s pretty much all uphill. Much of the path has a staircase, so it’s pretty easy to get up and down if you have reasonable fitness levels. 

The view of Ulvöhamn and the surrounding regions is lovely; this is a great spot for photography and people-watching. I recommend bringing some food and enjoying the scenery for a while before heading back down; there’s also a café at the top of the mountain. 

A Photography Adventure Around Ulvöhamn’s Harbour 

Ulvöhamn has a beautiful harbour; since it’s small, you only need a few hours to see everything. The various wooden houses make for fantastic photography opportunities, and you’ll get a great view out towards the water. 

On your way in and out of Ulvöhamn, you can also get some fantastic shots of the many summer houses here from the water. 

Where to Eat on Norra Ulvön 

Bistro Ruben 

Bistro Ruben was one of the best restaurants we visited on our summer 2024 Sweden trip. You can enjoy an ever-changing meal of the day (Dagens Rätt), available until it’s sold out. But you’ll also find fish, salads, and Scandinavian-style open sandwiches. 

We didn’t stay for dinner, but the menu changes (and admittedly looks *very* good). So, if you plan to stay overnight (which you should), consider coming here for dinner. We ate outside, which—despite the wasps who clearly also like lingonberry jam—was very pleasant.

You can reserve a table in advance, and it’s also possible to stay overnight in the private house. 

Address: Ulvöhamngata 140, 893 99 Ulvöhamn 

Website: https://bistroruben.se/en/ 

Grabbing Some Ice Cream

It would be foolish to visit a summer island and not get ice cream, so naturally, we did precisely this before getting back on our boat to the mainland. We found a small kiosk close to the harbour, but I sadly cannot remember its name.

How to Get to Norra Ulvön

Ulvön is a popular summer destination with Swedes; therefore, it’s easy to reach by boat. Since we stayed in Mjällom, we sailed with Höga Kusten Båterna from Mjällomslandet. The journey took around 45 minutes and was pretty smooth.

You’re blessed with some of Scandinavia’s most wholesome scenery on the way to Ulvön, with mountains and several skerries and islands when you approach your destination. The view of Ulvöhamn’s colourful houses also makes for great photography opportunities. 

We booked our tickets in advance via Höga Kusten Båterna and took the 10:45 boat out, returning at 15:45. According to the 2025 schedule, the return boat from Norra Ulvön leaves at 15:00 instead. Still, this should be enough time to see the island at a pretty relaxed pace.

Höga Kusten Båterna also picks up passengers from Ullånger and Docksta. 

If you’re staying closer to Örnsköldvik, it’ll probably be easier to take the M/F Ulvön ferry from nearby Köpmanholmen. We didn’t sail with them because Höga Kusten Båterna was easier from where we were staying, but it is another option to consider. 

Whereas Höga Kusten Båterna is seasonal, M/F Ulvön sails to and from Ulvön year-round. Most attractions will be closed, but I can imagine that the island is even more beautiful in the serenity of a Northern Swedish winter. You can buy tickets on their website.

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