Haparanda

Haparanda has been the easternmost outpost of Sweden since 1809 when Finland was lost to Russia. Haparanda has always been an important trading post, this continues until this day with the world's northernmost IKEA store, bringing customers from all across the Barents region. It is a great gateway to the wild north of Scandinavia. Most people here speak all of Swedish, Finnish and English.
The two towns Haparanda and Tornio are a showcase of cooperation across the border. Not only is the border more or less invisible, with people living, shopping and working on either side, regardless of the other two, or nationality, but there are also e.g. shared police patrols, with one in a pair taking command and responsibility depending on what side of the border they happen to be at.

By plane

Haparanda has no airport of its own, the nearest one being Kemi-Tornio airport on the Finnish side (24 km from Haparanda), where Finnair runs scheduled flights from Helsinki. From there you'll have to continue with the bus service (see Matkahuolto), the nearest bus stop of Kemi airport is named Kemi lentoasema th. From elsewhere in Sweden, fly to Luleå and take the bus to Haparanda.

By train

Although Haparanda has a train station, passenger services won't restart until late 2020. Two daily night trains operated by SJ, one from Stockholm and one from Gothenburg, terminate in Luleå with a connecting express bus to Haparanda waiting. If you arrive from Finland, there are seasonal overnight trains by VR from Helsinki that call in Tornio, just across the river. Otherwise your best bet is Kemi, with quite frequent connections from all parts of Finland – from there you can take the bus to Tornio and walk across to Haparanda.

By car

Arriving by car is easy since Haparanda is on the E4 with roads in good shape (and close to E8). It is a border town so there is a fair share of heavy duty traffic coming through; see E4 through Sweden.

By bus

Express coaches from Sweden are handled by Länstrafiken Norrbotten, there are daily connections from cities like Kiruna, Luleå and Umeå, while some buses come all the way from Stockholm. Resrobot finds the best public transport routes.
From Finland there are frequent bus connections to Haparanda from Tornio and Kemi, but some lines extend even to the bus station in Oulu. Beware that all buses going to Finland depart according to Finnish time, which is one hour ahead of time in Haparanda. The central organization for intercity bus traffic in Finland, Matkahuolto, provides schedule and ticket information on their website.

Ringlinjen connects most part of Haparanda and Tornio, fares are 15 kr for a single trip.

• Haparanda Archipelago National Park

  phone: +46 70 552 7636
  The beautiful park includes two large islands, Seskarö and Seskar Furö, and a number of smaller islands and skerries. There is a boat going to Sandskär Island in June . Ringed seals and grey seals can be seen in the waters of the national park.

• Church of HaparandaChurch constructed in 1963 to replace the old church of Haparanda that was burned down. Sometimes called the ugliest church in Sweden due to the copper sheet that has darkened over the years.

• Stone Age settlementsAt the northern outskirts of Haparanda.

• Hermansons Handelsgård

  address: Storgatan 74
  Hermansons trading house was built in 1832 and it is one of the best preserved buildings in Northern Sweden.

• Haparanda Railway StationThe station building was constructed in 1918.

• The old water towerLike Paris and Pisa, also Haparanda has a tower overlooking the city!

• Kukkolaforsen Turist & Konferens

  phone: +46 922 310 00
  address: Kukkolaforsen 184
  Different types of saunas and a fantastic view to the rapids. Local products from Meän Baakeri-bakery. A great restaurant and a café. In the summer time you can participate in long-handle net fishing and river rafting.

• Matkakoski Fiskecamp

  phone: +46 70 539 6392
  address: Matkakoski 138
  Net fishing, fishing from a boat. Try the different saunas and have a barbecue at the grilling area! Also camping places for caravans and campers.

• Mattila bärodling

  phone: +46 922 102 74
  address: Mattila 235
  3 km north of Haparanda. Try the local strawberries, black currants and broccoli! You can also buy these delicacies home, and even pick them yourself.

• Palogården

  phone: +46 922 601 77
  address: Vojakkala 137
  Guided nature trips, trips to the forest for mushrooms and berries. Hunting, tractor safaris, clay-pigeon shooting, go-kart track and a smoke sauna. Also a summer café and restaurant. On the premises there is a hostel in a former a gardening and agricultural school. Rooms start at 200 kr.

• Aspen Karting Klubb

  phone: +46 70 3335 5723
  address: Vojakkala 167
  An exciting go-kart track situated 9 km north of Haparanda.

• Björkagård

  phone: +46 70 658 3897
  address: Almarksvägen
  A small animal farm with a donkey, a shetland pony, mini pigs, reindeers, a goat, rabbits and cats.

• Candy World & Lekland

  address: Norrskensvägen 4
  The largest candy store in Europe! A new playground for children.

Events

• DiggilooA music event in Haparanda with top Swedish artists.

Swedish krona and euro are accepted in most stores.

• IKEA HaparandaTornio

  address: Norrskensvägen 2
  The northernmost IKEA in the world, Iit and attracts people not from northern Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia. The largest candy store in Europe among other interesting shops can be found in the IKEA operated Ikano mall next to the furniture store.

• Butiken på landetIn a beautiful country environment 35 km north from Haparanda, in the Hulkoff manor (Hulkoffgården). The name translates to "The shop on the countryside"

• Taavolagården

  address: Mattila 218
  3 km north of Haparanda. You can buy tasty strawberries, fresh black currants and other local products or have a coffee in a beautiful early 19th-century environment.

• Tornedals Hemslöjd

  address: Köpmansgatan 17
  Furniture and othe locally made wooden objects.

• Kungsfiskaren

  phone: +46 922 101 71
  address: Storgatan 88
  Very well stocked for fishing supplies.

Budget

There are several cheap restaurants scatterd in the city center, some serve only lunch. For cheap crub, head out the in-store IKEA restaurant.

• Minerva

  phone: +46 922 688 00
  address: Torget 3
  A cosy café and lunch restaurant. Lunch is served M-F 11:00-13:30.

• Pizzeria Amanda

  phone: +46 922 109 99
  address: Repslagaregatan 57
  Pizza, grilled food, kebab, tex mex and salad.

• MAX

  address: Norra Esplanaden 8
  A hamburger restaurant with all sorts of freshly made hamburgers and salads, free WiFi and view towards Tornio.

Mid-range

• Seskarö Wärdhus

  phone: +46 922 202 44
  address: Industrivägen 1
  During summer time à la carte and bistro every day until 21:00 o'clock. Buffet Sa-Su 13:00-18:00.

• Hulkoffgården

  phone: +46 922 320 15
  address: Korpikylä 197
  An ecological restaurant where they serve food produced at the farm. Also offers high standard Bed and Breakfast accommodation. Possibility to fish and hunt.

Splurge

• Kukkolaforsens Restaurang och Kafé

  address: Kukkolaforsen 184
  14 km from central Haparanda this restaurant serves mostly fish and wild game.

• Haparanda Stadshotell Restaurant

  phone: +46 922 614 90
  address: Torget 7
  À la carte every day at 16:00-22:00. Game cellar, pub, Café Gulasch Baronen, night club.

• Café Maya

  phone: +46 922 137 46
  address: Storgatan 92
  Coffee and tea products.

• Café Station

  phone: +46 922 125 57
  address: Järnvägsgatan 21
  A youth café where you can surf the Internet and play pool.

• Nya Konditoriet

  phone: +46 922 612 80
  address: Storgatan 73
  Fresh bakery products.

Budget

• Haparanda Vandrarhem

  phone: +46 922-61171
  address: Strandgatan 26
  Situated by Tornio River in Haparanda centre. 23 rooms. Book ahead of time, as the reception desk is not always open during the advertised hours (16:00-19:00).

• Harjugården

  phone: +46 922 320 94
  address: Harju 131, Karungi
  35 km north of Haparanda. Comfortable rooms for 2-4 people, cottages, saunas.

• Långforsen

  phone: +46 922 520 08
  address: Lappträsk
  25 km west of the Swedish Karungi village. Rooms and cottages for rent. Several saunas, a large hut, a scooter café and food.

• Revonsaari Camping

  phone: +46 922 600 07, +46 70 690 1406
  address: Revonsaari 409
  Tent and caravan/camper spots and a large cottage.

• Seskarö Strandby & Camping

  phone: +46 498 203 300
  address: Tromsövägen 1, Seskarö
  The camping site is open during the summer. Various cottages and camper/caravan/tent spots. A beach, mini golf track, campfire places and possibility to fish. Kiosk and grill-café.

Mid-range

• Norrskens Hotell & Camping

  phone: +46 922 123 01
  address: Mattila 233

• Sverigefinska folkhögskolan

  phone: +46 922 688 00
  address: Torget 3
  In Haparanda centre. 23 hotel standard rooms and cooking facilities. In summer time also 28 hostel rooms.

• Älvagård

  phone: +46 922 310 00
  address: Vojakkala 287
  Situated 8 km north of Haparanda in charming countryside surroundings.

• Nivagården

  phone: +46 922 320 00
  address: Korpikylä 224
  35 km north of Haparanda. A well equipped cottage for 7 people. Farm animals.

Splurge

• Haparanda Stadshotell

  phone: +46 922-61490
  address: Torget 7
  Old-time glory in Haparanda centre. 92 rooms, a restaurant, game cellar, sauna compartment. In the center of the city.

• Kukkolaforsen Turist & Konferens

  phone: +46 922 310 00
  address: Kukkolaforsen 184
  15 km north of Haparanda next to beautiful rapids. Cottages, different types of saunas and a restaurant. Also places for tents, campers and caravans.

As with most places in the Western World, Wi-Fi is readily available at hotels, as well as a variety of other places.

Turn your clock forward one hour, change your currency to euros, get your Finnish phrasebook, and cross the Torne river into Tornio.
See also E4 through Sweden.