Gultzauudden

The northern Swedish city of Luleå is a gateway to the stunning archipelago and an abundance of winter sports. However, just a brief stroll from downtown lies a beautiful stretch of shoreline parkland.

The Gültzauudden is a picturesque all-season, all-purpose park that covers much of the peninsula stretching northeast from downtown Lulea. There are a number of access points, though the most enjoyable is found by following the shoreline trail from the prominent harborside Norrbottensteatern building. The paved pathway rounds the first point and turns into a gravel trail that meanders along the Baltic foreshore.

Along the 2-mile trail that rounds the park you will pass through rich green forests, windswept shoreline areas, and some beautiful sandy beaches. During the summer months you'll find people enjoying the volleyball and disc golf facilities, sunbathing on the beaches and open grassy areas, and families making the most of the generous picnic and playground areas.

If you want the foreshore adventure to continue, stick with the trail as it continues beyond the parkland and under the Bergnäs bridge before looping around to the southern harbor and the famed icebreaker ships. This makes for a nice 4-mile loop that takes in the parklands, both harbors, and the city's architecture.