Lund

Unlike most Swedish cities Lund has preserved its medieval non-regular street pattern. Even though it is very charming it also makes it rather difficult to navigate through the city. Unlike many other cities Lund also lacks major natural boundaries like rivers to navigate by. One of the few boundaries to orient by is the railway which runs in a north-south direction west of the city. The cathedral can also be used as a landmark in order to find your way through Lund.
The first major settlement in the area was a Viking-era village known as Uppåkra, 4 km south of present day Lund. This area was supposedly a cultural and religious centre with a pagan temple. Unlike other comparable sites, like Old Uppsala and Hedeby, it is not mentioned in written sources.
Around 990 Uppåkra is abandoned and Lund is established. The founding of Lund is often considered to be an important step in the founding of a unified Danish state. It soon became a Christian centre and in 1103 the Archdiocese of Lund became its own ecclesiastical province, including all of the Scandinavian countries. At the same time Lund Cathedral was built; according to local legend by "the giant Finn". Malmö was founded as a port city for the Archbishop of Lund, but came to eclipse its mother city as a commercial centre during the 15th century.
In 1658 Scania and Lund was conquered by Sweden. As a step in the "Swedification" of Scania the University of Lund was founded in 1666. Although it is the second oldest university in present day Sweden, it was the fifth Swedish university. (Universities were founded in Uppsala 1477, Tartu 1632, Åbo 1640 and in 1648 Vorpommern with the already existing University of Greifswald was incorporated into Sweden.) In an attempt to re-conquer the Scanian provinces Denmark launched the Scanian war against Sweden in 1675. In December 1676 Sweden won a decisive victory at the Battle of Lund - one of the bloodiest in Nordic history - and Scania stayed Swedish.

Tourist office

• Lund Tourist Center

  phone: +46 46-359 50 40
  address: Botulfsgatan 1A

Copenhagen Airport CPH is the largest Airport in the Nordic countries and the major point of entry to the Öresund-region. Lund is connected to Copenhagen and its airport by direct trains. Malmö Airport MMX serves 20 international flight operators and is 25 km from Lund. The airport shuttle "Flygbussarna" carry passengers from the airport to central Lund for about 100 kr.

• is 10 minutes and 50 kr by train from Malmö, and 50 minutes and 140 kr from Copenhagen and its airport. All trains (pågatåg, öresundståg) stop at Lund, including the X-2000 expresses from Gothenburg and Stockholm. There are also buses from Malmö.

Lund is between the highways E6 and E20, which continue towards Malmö in the south. In the other direction the E6 carries traffic to Karlskrona and then follows the Swedish coast north. The E6 continues to Helsingborg and then follow the Scandinavian Western coast to Gothenburg, Oslo, and across Norway. In Helsingborg it connects with the E4, which is the fastest way towards Stockholm and Svealand or Norrland.

Lund is small enough to see most of it in an afternoon's walk. You can pick up a city map at the tourist office at Stortorget square (adjacent to the Town Hall).
The local Skånetrafiken buses can get you to most areas of town. The hubs are around the train station, Botulfsplatsen, and the University Hospital (Universitetssjukhuset). Tickets are 25 kr for as far as you want to go, if you're under 19 it's 15 kr. If you are traveling as a pair or family, ask for a Duo ticket (45 kr) to save a few kroner. The Duo ticket is valid for a maximum of 5 people where max 2 of those are over 19. Two children under 7 can travel for free with an adult.
As in the rest of Skåne, the buses do not take cash, so you have to buy your ticket in advance. You can do this with an sms (if you have a Swedish sim card) or at the Pressbyrån stores, there are three by the station and one by Botulfsplatsen. The yellow, regional, busses take credit cards.
The best places to catch a cab is by the train station or by Botulfplatsen.

• Lund Cathedral

  address: Kyrkogatan 4
  Built in 1103, it is the second-largest cathedral of the Nordic countries. There's a free organ concert every Saturday morning at 10:00, and the elaborate astronomical clock (on your left after entering) puts on its show twice a day (12:00 and 15:00). This clock show is highly recommended even if you're not interested in the church, due to its nostalgic value.

• Ingvar Kamprad Design Centrum

  address: Sölvegatan 26
  Part of the Lund University LTH and home of the Industrial Design program; the building was funded by Ingvar Kamprad, founder of IKEA.

• University Hall

  address: Paradisgatan 2
  A grand classicist building inaugurated in 1882.

Museums

• The Historical Museum

  phone: +46 46 222 79 44
  address: Krafts torg 1
  Also owned by the university and was established in 1805. Has, among other things, many of the findings from Uppåkra, the nearby archaeological site of what was probably southern Sweden's biggest town during the Stone and Iron Ages.

• Lunds Konsthall

  phone: +46 46-35 52 95
  address: Mårtenstorget 3
  A modern art museum (temporary exhibitions). Free entry.

• Kulturen

  phone: +46 46-35 04 00
  address: Tegnérsplatsen 6
  An open air museum founded in 1892, encompassing two blocks in central Lund. It contains a large number of old preserved houses from the middle ages to the 1930s, and some 20 exhibitions.

• The Museum of Sketches for Public Art

  phone: +46 46 222 72 83
  address: Finngatan 2
  Owned by the university and displays sketches for various works of public art, mostly by 20th-century Swedish artists.

• Nasoteket

  phone: +46 46-38 49 05
  address: Sandgatan 2
  Perhaps one of the strangest exhibitions in Sweden, Nasoteket is a collection of cast noses from several different famous Swedes.

• Uppåkra Arkeologiska Center

  phone: +46 70-825 49 60
  address: Stora Uppåkravägen 101
  A historical museum by and about the Viking-era archaeological site Uppåkra.

Parks

• Botaniska trädgården

  phone: +46 46-222 73 20
  address: Östra Vallgatan 20
  It's very nice for walks, and there are greenhouses which house many exotic plants. Good place to take kids.

• Stadsparken

  address: Svanegatan
  On Walpurgis Night (April 30), it's the place where people gather (about 20 000 people) to light a gigantic bonfire and revel through the night.

Being a university town, Lund has good arts and entertainment for its size.

• Filmstaden

  address: Västra Mårtensgatan 12
  The main cinema which shows all the blockbusters.

• Kino

  address: Kyrkogatan 3
  Movie theater which has a good art-movie schedule.

• Lunds Judoklubb

  address: Springgatan 3
  It's free for anyone to try out Judo or come by to watch the games.

• Mejeriet

  address: Stora Södergatan 64
  An arts center and performance hall which occasionally has concerts by internationally known pop and rock performers as well as local music groups.

• Lunds Stadsteater

  address: Kiliansgatan 13
  The city's main performance hall.

• Lunds Teaterförening

  phone: +46 46-13 14 15
  Often performing, using several stages around the city.

• ClemenstorgetOn this square there are often different shops and flea markets stalls.

• Hökeriet

  phone: +46 46 35 04 00
  address: S:t Annegatan 9
  A gifts and souvenirs shop reconstructed into a traditional store from the early 1900. It is run by the organization Kulturen.

• Nova Lund

  address: Företagsvägen 10
  Is a large shopping mall.

• Saluhallen

  address: Mårtenstorget 1
  A market hall with plenty of restaurants and food stores, including a Systembolaget alcohol retail store.

• Världsbutiken Klotet

  phone: +46 46-14 11 14
  address: Stora Tomegatan 48
  A fair trade gifts and souvenirs store.

Budget

• Cyrus

  phone: +46 46-15 07 70
  address: Allhelgona kyrkogata 4
  This Persian restaurant is a little run-down, but their marinated grilled chicken pieces ("Juje kebab") are simple and delicious.

• Govindas

  phone: +46 46-12 04 13
  address: Bredgatan 28
  Hare krishna vegetarian lunch restaurant. Unusual and often tasty food.

• Lundafalafel

  phone: +46 46-32 33 16
  address: Stora Södergatan 5
  A hole in the wall.

• Mondo

  phone: +46 46-14 81 58
  address: Kyrkogatan 23
  This cafe serves great sandwiches, soups, and pie for reasonable prices. Crowded during lunch hours, although takeaway is available.

• Pizzeria Portofino

  phone: +46 46-14 92 10
  address: Sofiavägen 3
  Friendly neighborhood pizzeria with delivery.

• Viggos Restaurang & Bar

  phone: +46 46-15 91 49
  address: Bangatan 1
  Without doubt the best and biggest burgers in town. You can even supersize them. Also offer beers.

Mid-range

• Italia Il Ristorante

  phone: +46 46-14 80 80
  address: Lilla Fiskaregatan 11
  Great atmosphere, great pasta and great service. Probably the best Italian restaurant in town.

• M.E.A.T.

  phone: +46 46-12 78 65
  address: Kattesund 8
  Serves a modern US-inspired steak house cuisine. Great relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff. Usually fully booked during weekends, and during many weekdays as well, but there is a bar for drop-ins.

• New Delhi

  address: Stora Fiskaregatan 15
  Named the region's best Indian restaurant 2007 and 2008 by a local paper. Food served include a buffet.

• Spisen

  phone: +46 46-37 04 02
  address: Kiliansgatan 15
  Mid-range Swedish and Mexican.

• Stortorget

  phone: +46 46-13 92 90
  address: Stortorget 1
  Reasonably priced good food.

• Tatung

  phone: +46 46-211 15 06
  address: Bantorget 6
  Good, reasonably priced Chinese.

• V.E.S.P.A

  phone: +46 46-12 71 27
  address: Karl XI Gatan 1
  Trendy restaurant just north of the station. Pizza and pasta using fresh ingredients.

Splurge

• Grand Hotel

  address: Bantorget 1
  Serving good Swedish food in a classic atmosphere.

• Klostergatans Vin och Delikatess

  address: Klostergatan 3
  Great Swedish and French food with bread from the next door bakery, Patisseriet.

Bars

• Bishop's Arms

  phone: +46 46-287 11 00
  address: Sankt Petri Kyrkogata 7
  Expensive English pub with a good selection of British beers which are unfortunately often served ice-cold instead of the correct temperature. Good selection of whiskeys. Try the Röde Orm beer (78 kr), locally brewed in Lund.

• Gloria's

  phone: +46 46-15 19 85
  address: Sankt Petri Kyrkogata 9
  Sports bar.

• Harrys bar/restaurant

  phone: +46 46-30 70 00
  address: opposite Lund Central station
  Restaurant/Bar chain within Sweden. Quiz nights Wednesdays and Irish music night on Thursday. Open until 01:00 at weekends. One pint of Czech beer is around 70 kr.

• The John Bull Pub

  phone: +46 46-14 09 20
  address: Bantorget 2
  English pub with an impressive but overpriced selection of draft beers. Features a live dixieland jazz band every Tuesday night, and a karaoke contest on Saturdays.

• Rauhrackel

  phone: +46 46-14 37 27
  address: Stora Algatan 5
  Austrian pub which serves lovely beer and nice, big sized, portions of mostly meat. Order a "meter of beer" to get a sample of some of the beers they offer.

Cafés

• Cafe Ariman

  phone: +46 46-13 12 63
  address: Kungsgatan 2
  Where the alternative crowd hangs out. Also has a bunch of oldtimers who spend their days playing board games. The best coffee shop, also has beer and club events on weekends. It serves also soups (53 kr) and sandwiches for lunch.

• Café Landgren

  phone: +46 46-757 71 03
  address: Kyrkogatan 17
  A cozy cafe in a turn-of-the-century milieu.

• Coffee Break

  phone: +46 46-211 21 00
  address: Sankt Petri kyrkogata 3

• Graffiti Cafe

  phone: +46 46-32 82 70
  address: Stora Gråbrödersgatan 4

• Martas Café

  phone: +46 46-13 95 20
  address: Sankt Petri kyrkogata 6

• Mormors Bageri

  phone: +46 46-32 87 87
  address: Fältspatvägen 1A
  A pastry and cafe.

Budget

• Good Morning Lund

  phone: +46 46-31 36 30
  address: Förhandlingsvägen 4

Mid-range

• Hotel Concordia

  address: Stålbrogatan 1
  Good central location. Rooms are run down and way below its four star rating.

• Hotel Djingis Khan

  address: Margaretavägen 7
  A ways from the center, in a quiet residential neighborhood. Apartment rooms available for long-term stays.

• Hotel Finn

  address: Dalbyvägen 20
  Modern and fresh. A bit away from the center.

• Hotel Lundia

  address: Knut den Stores torg 2
  Just a block from the train station.

• Scandic Hotel Star

  address: Glimmervägen 5
  A bit away from the center. Scandic-Hotels standard hotel.

Splurge

• Grand Hotel

  phone: +46 46-280 61 00
  address: Bantorget 1
  The oldest hotel in town, dating to 1899. Old fashioned European style, overlooking a small park.

Lund is an extremely safe town by international standards and there is no need to avoid certain areas. Even late-night walks through the darkest and most desolate back streets are relatively safe and most local residents walk home at night without any second thought.
On weekend nights, you may encounter rowdy groups of drunk people (mostly students). However, they are seldom violent to third persons unless you engage them.
Other than rampant bicycle theft, crime is virtually non-existent.
The only violence you are likely to encounter is from night club/student nation bouncers, which are notoriously rough.

By web

• The 7-Eleven on Lilla Fiskaregatan 5 has three workplaces for Sidewalk Express, an internet-point chain. You can pay with a credit card (30kr for 2h of surfing) and use your code in other towns too.

• Public Library

  phone: +46 46-35 59 90
  address: Sankt Petri Kyrkogata 6

• Tourist Information

  phone: +46 46-35 50 00
  address: Botulfsgatan 1A on Stortorget
  has computers to use for 15 minutes.

By mail

• There's no more main post office, but most major convenience stores have post office branches inside where you can buy and send everything from postcards to bigger parcels.

• Copenhagen - The capital of Denmark.
• Malmö - The largest city in Scania.