Uppsala City Guide

Uppsala — Where Swedish History Begins

Uppsala is a city layered with over a thousand years of Swedish history — a place where Viking kings were crowned, medieval archbishops wielded power rivalling the crown, Carl Linnaeus revolutionised the understanding of the natural world, and generations of students have shaped the nation's intellectual life. Just 70 kilometres north of Stockholm (40 minutes by train), it's one of Sweden's most rewarding cities and an effortless day trip — though it easily merits an overnight stay.

As Sweden's fourth-largest city (population approximately 235,000), Uppsala is dominated by its university — one of Northern Europe's oldest and most prestigious — which gives it an energetic, youthful atmosphere that belies its ancient roots. Students make up roughly a third of the population, filling the city's cafés, pubs, and parks with life.

Scandinavia's largest church and Sweden's most important ecclesiastical building. This soaring Gothic cathedral, built primarily in the 13th–15th centuries, dominates the Uppsala skyline with its twin spires reaching 118.7 metres.

Inside you'll find:

• The reliquary of Saint Erik, patron saint of Sweden
• The tomb of Gustav Vasa, the king who founded modern Sweden
• A chapel dedicated to Carl Linnaeus (buried here)
• The tomb of scientist Emanuel Swedenborg
• Stunning medieval wall paintings in the Trinity Chapel
• The cathedral treasury with medieval textiles and silver

Cost: Free. Treasury: 60 SEK. Guided tours available.

Gustav Vasa & the Birth of Modern Sweden — The king who broke from Rome, defeated Denmark, and created the Swedish state — his story begins in Uppsala. On The People.

Uppsala University

Founded in 1477, Uppsala University is the oldest in Scandinavia and among the most prestigious in the world. Its buildings are scattered throughout the city, creating a campus-city fusion that gives Uppsala much of its character.

Must-see within the university:

• Carolina Rediviva — the university library, housing over 5 million volumes. The jewel of the collection is the Codex Argenteus (Silver Bible) — a 6th-century Gothic translation of the Bible written in silver and gold ink on purple parchment. One of the most valuable books in the world. Displayed in a ground-floor exhibition (free).
• Gustavianum — the oldest university building (1620s), now a museum. Features an anatomical theatre in the dome (where 17th-century medical students watched dissections) and the Augsburg Art Cabinet.
• University Main Building (1887) — grand ceremonial hall where Nobel Prize laureates give their lectures during Nobel Week.

Linnaeus Garden & Museum (Linnéträdgården (the Linnaeus Garden))

Carl Linnaeus — the father of modern taxonomy who invented the binomial naming system for all living things — was professor of medicine and botany at Uppsala from 1741. His personal garden, restored to its 18th-century state, is one of Sweden's most treasured scientific heritage sites.

The Linnaeus Garden contains approximately 1,300 species arranged according to Linnaeus' own planting scheme. Adjacent, the Linnaeus Museum (his former residence) preserves his study, lecture room, and collections.

Cost: Garden: free (May–September). Museum: 100 SEK.

Carl Linnaeus & Swedish Botany — Linnaeus didn't just work in a garden — he sent students around the world and transformed how we understand nature. On The Land.

Gamla Uppsala — The Viking Royal Centre

Three kilometres north of the modern city lies Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala) — one of Scandinavia's most important archaeological sites. Three enormous burial mounds (dating to the 5th–6th centuries) mark what was once the political and religious centre of ancient Sweden. This is where Swedish kings were elected, sacrifices were made to Norse gods, and the Disablot (a pre-Christian sacrificial festival) was held.

Must-see:

• The Royal Mounds (Kungshögarna (the Royal Mounds)) — three great burial mounds, traditionally attributed to the legendary kings Aun, Egil, and Adils. You can walk on and around them freely.
• Gamla Uppsala Museum — excellent modern museum explaining the site's archaeological significance, with finds from excavations
• Gamla Uppsala Church — a small 12th-century stone church built on the site of the former pagan temple
• Disagården — a reconstructed Iron Age farmstead

Getting there: Bus 2 from central Uppsala (15 minutes), or an enjoyable 30-minute walk/cycle along the riverside.

Viking Age Sweden — Birka, rune stones, Norse gods, and the warrior culture that defined an era — on The People.

Uppsala Castle (Uppsala slott (Uppsala Castle))

The imposing pink fortress on the hill above the city was built by Gustav Vasa in the 1540s. It's witnessed some of Swedish history's most dramatic events, including the abdication of Queen Christina in 1654. Today it houses the Uppsala Art Museum and the Peace Museum.

The castle terrace offers excellent views over the cathedral, the city, and the Fyrisån (the Fyris River) winding through the centre.

Student Culture

Uppsala's student traditions are legendary and uniquely Swedish. The university's 13 nationer (student nations — associations based on Swedish regions) function as social clubs, each with their own building, pub, restaurant, and events programme. Some date to the 17th century.

Experiences

• Nation pubs — the cheapest drinks in Uppsala; most nations welcome international visitors (bring student ID from any university)
• Valborg (Walpurgis Night, 30 April) — Uppsala's biggest celebration. On the morning of 1 May, thousands gather below Carolina Rediviva to watch students don their white caps. Champagne flows, bonfires are lit, and the city celebrates the arrival of spring. Then: utter chaos in the student areas. Magnificent.
• Recitation of spring poems at 3pm on Valborg, from the library hill

Valborg Traditions — Bonfires, student caps, and the wildest welcome to spring in all of Sweden — on The Table.

Food & Drink

Uppsala has a surprisingly vibrant food scene for a city its size, fuelled by the university community and proximity to the agricultural Uppland countryside.

Must-Try

• Ofvandahls — one of Sweden's oldest cafés (1878), serving traditional Swedish pastries and proper fika in a beautiful interior
• Hambergs Fisk — outstanding fish restaurant in the atmospheric Fyrishov quarter
• Güntherska Hovkonditori — royal warrant bakery, famous for its semla (cream-filled cardamom bun eaten before Lent) and other Swedish classics

Budget Eating

Nation lunches are the best deal in town — most student nations serve a daily lunch for 80–100 SEK (available to visitors, not just students).

Practical Guide

Getting There

• From Stockholm: SJ or UL regional trains, every 15–30 minutes, 40 minutes from Stockholm Central. Cost: 95–155 SEK.
• From Arlanda Airport: Direct Upptåget train, 18 minutes. Extremely convenient if Uppsala is your first stop.
• By car: E4 motorway, approximately 70 km from Stockholm (1 hour).

Getting Around

Uppsala is compact and flat — perfect for walking and cycling. The centre is easily walkable in 20 minutes end to end. UL (Upplands Lokaltrafik) buses cover the wider city. Hire bikes from hotels or rental shops.

How Long to Spend

• Day trip from Stockholm: Feasible and popular — cover the cathedral, Linnaeus Garden, a fika stop, and Gamla Uppsala in a full day
• Overnight: Allows a more relaxed pace, time for a nation pub evening, and early morning exploration
• Valborg (30 April): If you're in Sweden around this date, Uppsala is THE place to be

Where to Stay

• Budget: STF Uppsala hostel (central)
• Mid-range: Best Western Hotel Svava (opposite the station), Akademihotellet
• Upmarket: Grand Hotell Hörnan, Hotel & Kök (restaurant-hotel)

Best Time to Visit

Recommended Reading

• The Linnaeus Apostles: Global Science and Adventure — the extraordinary story of Linnaeus's students who explored the world from Uppsala (affiliate link)
• Children of the Viking Age — explore the Viking heritage of Gamla Uppsala and the burial mounds through history (affiliate link)

Combining Uppsala with Other Destinations

• Stockholm — 40 minutes south by train. See our Stockholm guide.
• Sigtuna — Sweden's oldest town, 40 minutes by bus. Medieval churches and rune stones on Lake Mälaren.
• Skokloster Castle — magnificent 17th-century Baroque castle, 40 km south-east. Reachable by summer boat from Uppsala or Sigtuna.

For more Swedish cities, see our guides to Gothenburg and Malmö.