Have you been to Uppsala, a town north of Stockholm? I visited this place last weekend, and thought I’d show you what to do in Uppsala if you happen to go there. It is a charming town definitely worth going to – here’s why.
A day out in Uppsala
I decided to go to Uppsala on what happened to be the hottest day in Sweden so far. However, it is obvious that the town is perfect for any weather. This is because you can get anywhere, to any of the sites worth visiting, on foot. So even if it is raining, you won’t be stuck in the open for too long. There are plenty of coffee shops, restaurants, and various interesting places.
Additionally, Uppsala is a university town so I bet in any other circumstances I’d see many students around. It would no doubt remind me of my home city (Lodz) or Leuven in Belgium where I also studied.
Anyway, let’s visit Uppsala.
How to get to Uppsala?
I took a Pendelang train 40 from Stockhom, and was at Uppsala Central stations in 40 mins. If you have an SL travel card, don’t forget that you need to pay an additional fee for going to Uppsala.
So what can you do in a day out in Uppsala?
Visit the Museum of Linnaeus
Hands up who remembers who Carl Linnaeus was? I’m sure your biology teacher talked about him 🙂 He is the famous Swedish botanist, among other things, who introduced a way of naming organisms. He is often called the Father of Modern Taxonomy.
The museum has a beautiful garden with lots of plants of various types. There is also the house in which Carl lived with his family, so you get a glimpse into their daily life.
You also learn how Linnaeus came up with the system to classify plants and animals, and about his trips around the world that contributed to his many publications.
My favourite things were his original manuscripts – it always makes the person so much more real when I can see their handwriting. And Linnaeus’ bed! Turns out he was very short 🙂
Take a walk down the river
There is a river that passes through Uppsala, and it’s called Fyris. It’s beautifully picturesque. I know people paddle-board on it – that’s not really my thing, but the river seems perfect for it.
There are a few bridges around the town, and each of them is charming and picture-worthy.
Visit Uppsala Castle
The castle dates back to the 16th century. It’s gone through some dramatic events such a fire in the 18th century. However, it got restored, and the today’s version has the original pinkish colour it was in when it was built many centuries ago.
There is an art museum in the castle, and you can also explore the ruins and life in Uppsala and the castle in the 16th century.
It is interesting to see how different in style Swedish castles are in comparison with e.g. French ones. If I hadn’t known that this was a castle, I probably wouldn’t have guessed it
Immerse yourself in Uppsala Cathedral
The Cathedral is simply grand. Built in the 13th century, it is the tallest church in the Nordic countries.
The minute you walk into the Cathedral, you are overwhelmed by its height, and its calming effect. It’s quite unusual – to be in such a huuuuge place and yet feel very calm.
You will also notice that the ornaments are not too lavish ornaments. There was an art installation inside the church!
And the echo is unreal though! I listened to a short mid-day prayer given by a lady priest, and her voice carried on across the church with a beautiful clarity.
You can go on a guided tour – in Swedish or in English – in the Cathedral. Make sure you pre-book your spot, though.
There is a shop, and a cafe outside of the church.
Unsurprisingly, the Cathedral needs to be restored every now and then, which is why you can see some scaffolding in my pictures.
Refuel in one of the many cafes and restaurants
And after walking everyone, you will no doubt be hungry, or at least craving some coffee.
Uppsala has countless cafes and restaurants. Walking down any of the streets, I could have had a coffee in at least 3 different places.
I went for my lunch to Bryggeriet Avngkarn. The staff there was super nice, and the meal was delicious. I’m not a foodie so anything that is healthy and comes in a small portion makes me happy 🙂 And my fish dish was perfect:
The place is also by the river and one of the gorgeous bridges, so my lunch was simply lovely.
I hope I’ve given you some ideas what to do in Uppsala if you happen to be there.