Uppsala
Uppsala, archaic spelling Upsala, is a university city in Sweden. Uppsala is not only the capital of Uppsala County, but, with a population of 160,000 in the city and a total population of 225,000 in Uppsala Municipality, it is the country's fourth-largest city. It was once the political and religious centre of Viking-era Sweden, became seat of the Church of Sweden and is the home of the largest church in the Nordic Countries, the Uppsala Cathedral. Uppsala University was founded in 1477 as the first Nordic university.
Understand
In 1643, Uppsala adopted its first city plan and got the rectangular street grid it still has today. The city limits were set to Kungsgatan, Strandbodgatan, Kyrkogårdsgatan and Skolgatan; it didn't expand past these limits until the latter part of the 19th century. Uppsala's city centre still fairly accurately coincides with this city square; it's rather small in relation to the size of Uppsala's population. Due to its regular street patterns and its highly visible landmarks, orientation in Uppsala is rather easy.
The Uppsala area is very flat except for Uppsalaåsen — an esker which stretches across Uppland in a north-south direction. Uppsala Castle is strategically positioned at the top of the esker. Due to the flat terrain Uppsala's silhouette with the characteristic Castle and Cathedral towers can be seen from a great distance. In order to preserve this skyline, most other buildings in Uppsala are quite low.
Many famous Swedish authors have resided in Uppsala, often as students at the university. Notable examples include the playwright August Strindberg, the poets Gustaf Fröding and Karin Boye, and the Nobel Prize laureates Erik Axel Karlfeldt and Pär Lagerkvist. Most Swedish children recognize Uppsala as the city of Pelle Svanslös (Peter-No-Tail), a tailless cat whose life and adventures in Uppsala are described in a series of children’s books by author Gösta Knutsson. Cinema lovers will recognize the area surrounding St Erik's square from the movie Fanny & Alexander by Uppsala native Ingmar Bergman. Uppsala is also one of the main stops on Nils Holgersson's Journey Across Sweden. There is a map of important places related to notable Uppsala authors.
While Uppsala sometimes stands in the shade of Stockholm it maintains a sophisticated identity of its own. Compared to the Swedish capital, Uppsala is less frantic, with more of a small-town atmosphere, influenced by the student culture and academic traditions of Uppsala University.
History
In the 5th century, Old Uppsala (Gamla Uppsala), some north of today’s city centre, became the political and religious centre of Sweden. According to legend, it was founded by the pagan fertility god Freyr, from whom the first Swedish kings claimed to descend. The site housed a famous pagan temple, a royal hall, and three monumental burial mounds which can still be seen today. It maintained its position as the most important place in Sweden throughout the Viking Age. In the 11th century, Sweden was Christianized, and the temple at Uppsala was destroyed. Instead, Old Uppsala became the archbishopric of Sweden.
The city we today call Uppsala was founded as a port-city of Old Uppsala called Aros. According to legend, the Swedish king Erik Jedvardsson was killed in battle in Aros in 1160. From his corpse sprung a well of fresh water, which remains today as a pump on St Erik’s square north of the Cathedral. Although never officially canonized by the pope, the Swedes considered "Erik the Holy" their patron saint, and his relics can still be seen inside the Cathedral. Aros eventually came to eclipse its mother-city and, in 1273, overtook Old Uppsala's role as archbishopric, at the same time overtaking the name Uppsala. The same year, the construction of the Uppsala Cathedral began. The Cathedral was inaugurated more than a century and a half later, in 1435. In 1477, Uppsala University was founded, as the first university in the Nordic countries.
In 1527, the Protestant Reformation began in Sweden, and much power and wealth moved from the church in Uppsala to the king in Stockholm. Consequentially, Uppsala declined during the 16th century. During this era, Uppsala Castle was constructed, partly in order to check Uppsala clergymen who disliked the reformation. In 1567, the new castle became a scene for the "Sture Murders": during a fit of madness, the Swedish King Eric XIV had six nobles thrown into the castle dungeons and massacred. The wars of the 17th century (including the Thirty Years War) established the Swedish Empire. The city and its university experienced a revival, and Uppsala became something of a second capital of Sweden. Much of the city burnt down in 1702. This did not prevent Uppsala from rising as a scientific stronghold during the Age of Liberty (frihetstiden) in the 18th century, with world-famous scientists such as Carl von Linné, founder of taxonomic biology, and Anders Celsius, inventor of the Celsius temperature scale.
During the early 19th century, professors and students at the university were heavily influenced by romanticism. Many of Uppsala's strong student traditions can be traced to this era, including the archetype of the typical Uppsala student as a sorrowless, punsch-drinking and serenade-singing youngling in a tailcoat and a student cap. This "student uniform" can still be seen at formal occasions and gasques (student dinner parties). Throughout the 20th century Uppsala and Uppsala University grew rapidly. During the tenure of the principal Torgny T:son Segerstedt between 1955–1978, more students were admitted to the university than during its entire previous history combined! In the 20th century, the eastern half of the city experienced an extensive urban renewal. The western half was, however, spared from most of the demolition due to its proximity to the cathedral and university, and has therefore preserved more of its historical character.
Climate
Uppsala has a humid continental climate and is on the 59th latitude north, comparable to Fort Smith in Canada and Saint Petersburg in Russia. Because of its northerly position, Uppsala receives less than 6 hours of visible sunlight during the winter solstice, and more than 18 hours during the summer solstice. Due to the Gulf Stream, which brings warm water from the Caribbean to the North Sea, Uppsala and Sweden are not as cold as other regions on similar latitudes. As an example, during January, Fort Smith has a daily mean temperature of , compared to Uppsala's daily mean temperature of . Summer usually starts in the middle of May and lasts until late September. Autumn typically continues until late November, when winter arrives. Spring normally arrives around the middle of March.
Tourist office
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phone: +46 18-727 48 00Has eight staffed "InfoPoints" scattered around town. These provide basic maps and brochures and can be found at Uppsala University Hospital (Entrance 70), Godsmagasinet (Roslagsgatan 1), Fullerö Handel ( north of Uppsala), Fyrishov Stugby & Camping (Idrottsgatan 2), Gamla Uppsala Museum (Disavägen), City Library (Svartbäcksgatan 17), Uppsala Konsert & Kongress (Vaksala Torg 1) and Uppsala Art Museum (Uppsala Castle, Entrance E).
Get in
By plane
With no commercial airport of its own, Uppsala is served by the same airports as Stockholm. Indeed, the main airport, Arlanda, is closer to Uppsala than to Stockholm.- Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (ARN), south of Uppsala on the main road and railway route to Stockholm, is by far the largest aircraft hub in Sweden. To reach Uppsala the main options are trains, buses, car rental and taxis.
- By train SL commuter train or pendeltåg run every 30–60 min between 05:00 and 01:00 and take 18 min to Uppsala Central. A single ticket costs 225 kr, which includes the airport surcharge (compared to 117 kr to or from Stockholm. Attempts to exit at Arlanda with a ticket to Stockholm are surcharged). The trains have low floors and wide doors for easy access by passengers with wheelchairs or bulky luggage. The national train operator SJ also run irregular trains between Arlanda and Uppsala at rates and travel times similar to SL. All trains for Uppsala depart from Arlanda Central station ("Arlanda-C") within the airport Sky City — don't go to Arlanda South or North as these only serve express trains to Stockholm city. You must buy your ticket before boarding. There is a ticket counter and machines at the station.
- By bus UL buses 801 (daytime) and 593 (at night) run from the stations beneath terminals 2, 4 and 5 to bus terminal C at Uppsala Central Station. They run every 30 min, taking 30 min. The fare is 97 kr if bought in advance (e.g. at sj.se as PDF or SMS ticket) and around 20 kr more if bought onboard from the driver (only card payment, cash not accepted) or at the information desk in front of the exits from airport terminals 2 and 5. The night bus might be your only transport option between midnight and 05:00. Flexibus run budget buses between Arlanda's Terminal 5 and Uppsala. At 30–60 kr these are significantly cheaper than UL's buses, but with departures about once every third hour they are also significantly less frequent.
- Taxis are available in front of terminals 2, 4 and 5. They offer fixed prices to Uppsala, usually indicated by a large Fast Pris Uppsala-Arlanda or Arlanda-Uppsala sign near the back of the car. This is around 400–520 kr for 1–4 persons, so it's a good option for 3–4 persons, and avoids public transport costs within Uppsala city. You must ask for the fixed price before commencing the journey, otherwise the driver might charge per kilometre, which will be far more.
- The major car rental companies have desks in the arrivals halls. Highway E4 will take you from Arlanda to Uppsala in about 30 minutes.
By train
The national railway SJ operates regional express trains from Stockholm every half hour. This takes 30-40 minutes and costs 95 kr. These are complemented by occasional regional trains running Linköping–Norrköping–Stockholm–Uppsala–Gävle, with similar speed and costs. All trains from Norrland also call here, including the Sundsvall express and the night trains from Luleå and Narvik. From anywhere west of Stockholm or south of Linköping, it’s usually necessary to change at Stockholm Central.
Regional commuter trains (pendeltåg) also run the route Älvsjö–Stockholm–Uppsala twice an hour. A ride to or from Stockholm C costs 110 kr and take about 55 minutes, as stops are more frequent. Aside from Stockholm C the trains also stop at Arlanda Airport, Solna, Odenplan in Vasastan, Södermalm and Älvsjö in Söderort. As Uppsala and Stockholm belong to different counties ordinary local Stockholm tickets and passes are not sufficient to reach Uppsala. Commuter trains do not have a toilet on board.
A few private travel companies also serve Uppsala. Snälltåget's night trains between the northern ski resort Åre and the southern city of Malmö pass through Uppsala. The luxury first-class Blå Tåget from Gothenburg to Stockholm also continues to Uppsala.
Uppsala Central StationThe main traveling hub in Uppsala. The old station building from 1866 is now a restaurant. The new station, inaugurated in 2011, is adjacent south in a modern building. Here too the eating-places are rapidly encroaching! The regional traffic operator UL has a staffed service centre on the upper floor of the building, open M–F 07:00–19:00 and Sa 09:00–17:00. Tickets can also be bought from machines scattered around the station. Left luggage lockers are next to the toilets downstairs. Exit the station west for city centre, local buses and taxis, exit east for out-of-town taxis and buses including rail replacement services.
By bus
Traveling to Uppsala by bus is often considerably cheaper than going by train, but departures are also considerably less frequent. Flexibus runs 80-minute coaches from Stockholm's Cityterminalen at rates from 30 kr. They also run budget buses between Uppsala and Gothenburg, Borås, Jönköping, Kalmar, Linköping, Norrköping, Södertälje, Gävle, Umeå, Härjedalen and Arlanda. Ybuss carry passengers from Stockholm northwards along to coast of Norrland to Umeå, stopping at Arlanda and Uppsala on the way. While tickets to Stockholm and Arlanda are rather expensive at 110 kr, they might be a good option for travelers coming to Uppsala from northern Sweden.The local public transport company UL operates services to Västerås and Sala. Tickets are 148 kr if bought on board, 120 kr if pre-purchased and 92 kr if bought with a travel fund. See the section Get around below for details on UL tickets.
By car
The north-south highway E4 passes east of the city and stretches south to Stockholm, Norrköping, and all the way to Helsingborg in southern Sweden. In the other direction it continues north past Sundsvall and Umeå to the Finnish border at Haparanda. Road 55 carry traffic to Enköping and continues to Norrköping where it reconnects with the E4. Even though it is some 10 minutes slower it might be a preferable alternative to E4 since it is more scenic and avoids Stockholm, thereby skipping tolls and minimizing the risk for traffic stockings. In Enköping route 55 crosses the highway E18 which continues westward towards Västerås, Örebro, Karlstad and Oslo, or from Örebro towards Gothenburg as highway E20. The smaller national roads 72 and 288 carry traffic to Sala and Östhammar.Get around
Town maps are available from the tourist office "InfoPoints", scattered around town.
By foot
Most tourist sights are within the central area of Uppsala and can easily be reached on foot. A walk across the entire city centre takes no more than 20 minutes. However, to reach points of interest outside of the city centre, such as Gamla Uppsala or Linnés Hammarby, you will need some other means of transportation — or some really good walking shoes.By bike or scooter
A good way to travel in Uppsala is by bike, especially if you plan on leaving the city centre and visit Uppsala's peripheral districts or Uppsala countryside. As any visitor will notice, there are a lot of cyclists here, enough for the city to earn the nickname "Bike Town." There are paths parallel to nearly every road, and many places to store bikes outside. As the terrain surrounding Uppsala is rather flat, it is easy to bike, even for inexperienced biciclysts.The cheapest way to rent a bike is via the local bike sharing company EU-Bike. You rent one of their easily recognizable green bikes by acquiring their smartphone app, and scanning the bike's QR-code. The first 10 uses are free, while additional usage costs 5 kr per 30 minutes. In a similar manner, electrical scooters can be rented via the local companies Voi and Ozon. The scooters cost costs 1.50 kr per minute, plus a 10 kr starting fee. There are also several conventional bike rental places in Uppsala (listed in the section on Sports). A typical price for a conventional rental bike is 200 kr for the first day and around 100 kr for every additional day.
As a side note, locals have a saying that everyone who lives there has had a bike stolen at some point in their lives. While this is not entirely true (it's more a reflection on the popularity of biking than any level of crime), it's probably a good idea to lock your bike.
By bus
Uppsala boasts an excellent bus system, operated by the regional company UL, where the closest bus stop is never more than a few hundred meters away. Local buses, also called "zone 1" or "Stadstrafiken", are green and numbered 1–31 while regional buses are yellow and numbered 100 and above. Most local bus lines pass by either the central station, city hall or the main square, all within a few hundred meters of each other, making it easy to transfer between different bus lines. A map of the city-traffic network can be found here.A ticket on a green "Stadstrafiken" bus costs 22 kr when bought with a traveling fund, 28 kr if bought in advance and 35 kr if bought on-board, and is valid for all travels within 75 minutes. A 24-hour ticket costs 88 kr in advance or 95 kr if bought on-board. If you are planning to stay for long, you can also buy a 30-day travel card for 800 kr. Children aged 19 and below can buy discounted tickets of all types, and children aged 11 or below ride free in the company of an adult during weekends and holidays. Seniors and students may buy discounted 30-day travel cards. Groups of 10 people or more can buy discounted group tickets.
Tickets can be bought in advance at machines at the central station and on the main square. If you have a Swedish phone you can also buy pre-purchase tickets by SMS. Send a message to +46 704-20 22 22 with the text "V1" for a local adult's ticket and "U1" for a children's ticket. You must, however, register for payment before use. Tickets can also be bought by credit card on the bus. Cash is not accepted on board. Travel fund cards can be bought and charged in the train station or at one of UL's ~60 sales agents, marked out with yellow UL-flags. A list and map of sales agents can also be found here.
By taxi
If you would like to travel by taxi, use the four major taxi companies: Uppsala Taxi (), Taxijakt (), Taxi Kurir () and Taxi 020 (). There are also a lot of smaller companies, but they might have their own view on what you should pay and might also have less geographical knowledge. Be sure to negotiate the fare in advance of getting in the taxi if no guaranteed fare is posted.See
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phone: +46 18-54 48 11This major Uppsala landmark is stocked with large halls, paintings, and older remnants of the 16th-century castle built by the Vasa dynasty as a royal residence and a military fortification. As the castle was damaged in the 1702 city fire, the current building is smaller than it was in the 17th century, but is nevertheless built in the same style. Today it is the official residence of the governor of Uppsala county, and houses several museums. Due to its location on the top of Uppsalaåsen the Castle area offer some of the best views of Uppsala.
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phone: +46 18-50 00 08address: Entrance A2A museum housing exhibitions concerning peace, conflict and human rights. Has a permanent exhibition about the life of the former secretary-general of the UN, Dag Hammarskjöld, who grew up in the castle. While the permanent exhibition feature information in English, some temporary exhibitions only feature information in Swedish.
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phone: +46 727 24 82address: Entrance EA local art museum with contemporary Swedish and international art. Has plenty of Uppsala ceramics and temporary exhibitions.
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phone: +46 18-12 18 00address: Uppsala Castle, Drottning Christinas väg 1AOffer guided tours on the roof of Uppsala Castle. The tour takes about 90 minutes.
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phone: +46 703-90 79 89address: Kung Jans portThe 16th-century parts of Uppsala castle damaged in the 1702 fire. Among other things the ruins contain the dungeons where the 1567 "Sture murders" took place. Guided tours at 14:00 F–M are included in the entry fee.
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phone: +46 18-430 36 30In its northern tower, the Uppsala Cathedral exhibit highlights from its collection. The collections include plenty of royal regalia used in the many coronations which took place in the Cathedral. They also exhibit one of the finest collections of historic textiles in the world, including the world's only preserved medieval feast dress, used by Queen Margaret of the Kalmar Union. Another exceptional, but somewhat gruesome exhibit, is the clothing worn by three members of the Sture noble family when they were massacred by the insane King Eric XIV in Uppsala in 1567. Despite being covered with visible stab-wounds and blood stains, these are the best-preserved 16th-century male feast dresses in the world.
Mora Stenar
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phone: +46 18-16 91 00address: S:t Eriks torg 10The official regional museum of Uppsala County can be found in an old building that used to serve as water mill. Extensive permanent exhibitions regarding the pre-history and history of Uppsala and Uppsala County, covering not only political and building developments, but also people's everyday life. In addition, they always exhibit some temporary exhibition. Most but not all exhibitions feature information English.
Art and galleries
While Uppsala's largest art establishment is Uppsala Art Museum (in Uppsala Castle, listed above) there are also several other smaller art venues in the city.-
phone: +46 18-56 70 30address: Norbyvägen 26The home and studio of the 20th-century sculptor and painter Bror Hjorth is now a museum dedicated to his life and art. Especially interesting for those who like naivist paintings.
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phone: +46 18-10 54 10address: Vattugränd 2A gallery operated by Uppsala Konstnärsklubb, an association of Uppsala based artists, exhibiting works made by their members.
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phone: +46 760-95 95 90address: Svartbäcksgatan 21A small gallery which is rented by different artists who exhibit and sell their own works in person. The opening hours are irregular as they depend on the schedule of the artist using the gallery.
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phone: +46 18-14 80 80address: Kungsgatan 43A family-owned gallery selling and exhibiting Scandinavian fine art from the 19th century and onward. They are specialized in works by the Swedish 19th century artist Anders Zorn.
Gamla Uppsala
This was the political and religious centre of Viking-era Sweden, with a royal estate, the "Thing of all Swedes" (political assembly) and a renowned pagan temple. The Viking heritage can still be seen in the landscape due to the three monumental burial mounds, historically attributed to the gods Odin, Thor and Freyr. In modern times it has become a centre for Norse Neopaganism, hosting a major blót sacrifice each spring! If you get hungry there is a nearby restaurant and café called ( M–F 10:00–16:00, Sa Su 10:00–18:00) which brew its own mead. Groups of 20 or more can book Viking feasts with traditional clothing and food.
With the help of augmented reality technology, you can also see what the site would have looked like at its historical peak in 650 AD. When looking at site through your smartphone, the app Augmented History: Gamla Uppsala adds an additional layer to reality, which contains all the different structures archaeologists have discovered on the site, including the old Temple at Uppsala and the Royal hall, enabling you to see and even interact with the Viking settlement. As of 2018, the app is only available on iOS. If you don't have your own equipment, visitors to Gamla Uppsala museum can borrow iPads for up to 30 minutes without any extra charge. The iPads are available between 15:00–16:00 during weekdays and 11:00–13:30 during weekends, and are booked at the museum counter.
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phone: +46 18-16 91 80address: DisavägenThis open-air museum consists of an old preserved farm, and provides a picture of what life in Uppland's countryside was like in the 19th century. The house interiors are only accessible during the daily guided tour at 13:00, the daily children's tour at 14:00, and the open house hour between 15:00 and 16:00 daily.
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phone: +46 18-430 37 77This 12th-century church, said to be on the site of the long-destroyed pagan Uppsala temple, was the seat of the archbishop of Sweden between 1164 and 1273. It is also known as the final resting place of Anders Celsius, inventor of the Celsius thermometer.
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phone: +46 18-23 93 12Tell the history of Uppsala's Viking heritage and exhibit many of the archaeological findings discovered in Gamla Uppsala. In the summer, there are daily guided tours in English at 12:30 and 15:30.
ValsgärdeAt the bank of Fyris River, there is a small moraine hill which does not look like much to the eye. However, it covers one of the most important Viking-era archaeological site ever excavated. Between the 5th and 11th centuries AD, this site was used as a burial site. Archaeologists have discovered some 90 graves, including 15 lavish boat burials. Since the same site was used continuously for such a long time period, archaeologists use its findings to compare how the same culture developed over time. Today, there are no noticeable remnants at the site. These can be found at the University museum Gustavianum, in central Uppsala. However, you can still visit Valsgärde to appreciate its beautiful landscape and historical atmosphere.
The Linnaean heritage
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phone: +46 18-727 63 70address: Vasagatan 4A museum of Uppland's geology and biology, with dioramas of stuffed animals in their natural environment. Appropriate for families — children can discover and experience nature. It is in a beautiful park and has a nice café in the same building.
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phone: +46 18-471 28 38address: Villavägen 6-8The main garden at the university consists of the Baroque garden, the Orangery and the Tropical Greenhouse. It was planted in 1664 as a castle garden, but, in 1787, it was donated to the university.
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phone: +46 18-471 27 39address: Villavägen 9A natural history museum containing the largest fossil collection in Scandinavia. The museum is divided into a paleontological and a zoological section, housed in separate buildings on the same block. Many of the exhibited objects were collected by Linnaeus' apprentices as they traveled around the world. It also exhibits the largest collection of Chinese dinosaurs outside of China.
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phone: +46 18-471 28 38The Linnaeus family's summer residence is about southeast of Uppsala. Today, it is used as a personal museum about the family, and 18th-century biology and farming. The main building can only be accessed during guided tours which are held at 12:30 in English and 11:30, 14:30 and 15:30 in Swedish on every open day. Even if you don't speak Swedish, you can join one of the Swedish-language tours in order to see the house interior. Is part of the proposed Linnaean UNESCO World Heritage. Café Sara Lisa is in the same building as the museum gift shop and offers fika and lunch.
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phone: +46 70-516 90 95address: Carl von Linnés väg 3Another farm which was owned by Linné. While Hammarby was used for work and social relations Sävja was his refuge. Today, the main building is a personal museum with a café. Throughout the season the site houses several events such as art exhibitions and concerts. Guided tours are held Sa 14:00, or on request for companies of at least two persons.
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phone: +46 18-471 25 76address: Svartbäcksgatan 27The botanical garden was first planted by Olof Rudbeck in 1655, making it the oldest in Sweden. After a period of decline, it was restored and maintained by Carl von Linné and became a major attraction during Linnaeus' own lifetime. In the garden orangery, you can find exhibitions about Linnaeus' successors and disciples. The building in the southern corner of the garden served as the residence of the Linnaeus family between 1743 and 1778. Today, it is a personal museum dedicated to Linnaeus' professional and personal life. Is part of the proposed Linnaean UNESCO World Heritage.
Uppsala University
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phone: +46 18-471 75 71address: Akademigatan 3Gustavianum is the oldest standing structure of the university and exhibits a selection of the most interesting objects from the university collections. Of course this includes a comprehensive history of science and of Uppsala University, with items such as an original Celsius thermometer, lecture notes from 1477, and instruments used during the scientific revolution of the 19th century. The museum also contain two archaeological exhibitions with Egyptian artifacts, mummies and sarcophagus, and findings from the Viking era boat burials in Valsgärde. The two main attractions of the museum is however the old anatomical theater from the 17th century, where human bodies where dissected to educate medicinal students, and the Augsburg Art Cabinet, the world's best-preserved 17th-century curiosity cabinet. It contains some 1,000 different artifacts, and when it was built in 1632 the cabinet costed about as much as a palace or a smaller principality. The cabinet can also be viewed online for free. Guided tours in English at 13:00 every Saturday and Sunday in Sep–May and on every open day Jun–Aug (included in entrance fee). In winter time, the museum is relatively cold, especially anatomical theater which is not isolated by intention.
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phone: +46 18 471 49 62address: Biskopsgatan 3Constructed in Italian renaissance Beaux-Arts style and was completed in 1887. Here major university events and occasional public concerts take place. In the hall you will find a café, a shop and a small exhibition about the history of Uppsala University. In the main hall you can also find Uppsala University's comprehensive coin cabinet, but it is only open to the public on special occasions. The controversial aphorism "Tänka fritt är stort men tänka rätt är större" (which translates into "Thinking free is great, but thinking right is greater"), attributed to the 18th century philosophy professor Thomas Thorild, are engraved at the auditorium entrance. The phrase "think right" has been misunderstood as "think as the authorities do". Thorild was however a radical for his time; his aphorism should be read as "think reasonably".
Do
Boat-tripGo on a boat-trip on the river Fyrisån that takes you to the lake Ekoln, a part of Mälaren. Continue to the castle Skokloster or Sigtuna. The main shipping companies are:
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phone: +46 18-18 88 99address: Hamnplan Kajplats 1The ship M/S Kung Carl Gustaf was constructed in 1892.
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phone: +46 8-12 00 41 00The ship, M/S Enköping, was constructed in 1868 making her the oldest operating passenger ship in the world, according to Lloyds Register.
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phone: +46 18-13 05 00address: Stationsgatan 11A heritage railway which stretches from Uppsala Central Station and east into the Uppsala countryside.
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phone: +46 18-71 21 00address: Åkaregatan 8A kids-oriented play land with slides, trampolines, ball pools and sports arenas.
Pelle Svanslös lekplatsA Pelle Svanslös-themed children's playground. The small playground has swings, slides, and a bicycle carousel, and looks like a miniature version of Uppsala.
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phone: +46 18-35 70 13address: Sundbro 425 (Uppsala-Sundbro airport)Offer glide flying across Uppsala County. Experience Uppsala from a height of 1000 meters and try to operate the glider yourself!
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phone: +46 18-750 50 60address: Takpannegatan 21A sport and training centre (or as some would call it; playground for adults) with a multisport area, "Ninja Warrior", trampolines, an AirTrack, climbing walls, and a parkour zone.
Performing arts & cinema
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phone: +46 8-562 600 00address: Västra Ågatan 12 & 16Two neighboring cinemas, both operated by Sweden's biggest cinema group, which also called Filmstaden. Spegeln is one of few remaining single salon theaters, but with 325 seats their one salon is the largest in Uppsala. Filmstaden, with its 12 salons, is the largest cinema in Uppsala.
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phone: +46 18-15 03 46address: S:t Olofsgatan 10Started in 1911 and is Sweden’s oldest cinema still in business. They mainly focus on world cinema and independent movies. In 2018 it became the first cinema to be awarded the "Europa Cinemas Innovation Prize" at Venice film festival — probably the closest thing to "Golden Lion" that a cinema can receive.
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phone: +46 18-711 411address: StadsträdgårdenAn open-air guest stage in the city park. They are only open during summer, when they offer a busy and varied schedule, mostly of musical concerts. A bar at the premise offer hot and cold drinks, fika and food.
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phone: +46 18-727 83 40address: Trädgårdsgatan 6One of Uppsala's largest guest stages. They don't produce any shows of their own, but rather invite guest performers, many of which are international acts performing in English. The schedule include plays, musical shows, stand-up and dance performances. Every fall in late September or early October they organize Uppsala's international poetry festival Ordspråk, with plenty of poetry readings and spoken word performances in English.
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phone: +46 18-10 11 01address: Nedre Slottsgatan 6This cinema was built in 1914 and has preserved its decor and atmosphere since. It is famous as the cinema of Ingmar Bergman, who grew up in the neighborhood and saw his first movies here as a child. He also frequented it as an adult and had his own designated seat. Today it is only open during special events, such as Uppsala International Short Film Festival, Uppsala French Film Festival, and the sound-only cinema Ljudbio.
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phone: +46 18-14 62 00address: Kungsgatan 53Uppsala's main theater. Produces and presents theatre, dance performances, musical concerts and guest performances. Occasionally they feature plays in English.
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phone: +46 18-727 90 00address: Vaksala torg 1Uppsala's main concert hall was inaugurated in 2007. By then discussions of building a concert hall had been going on for a hundred years! Since then the building and its modernist design has kept on creating controversy. The concert hall has a varied calendar which includes orchestras, dance performances, modern music as well as conferences and seminars. From the top floor you get a great panoramic view of Uppsala.
Outdoor life
Beaches
While Fyris River crosses the city, there are no official bathing areas within walking distance of the city centre. In effect, this means that there are no official, regular controls of the water quality in the river. However, occasional tests have indicated that the water is fully safe to bathe in. Generally, the water quality is better north of Uppsala, before the south-flowing water has crossed the city centre. In the part of the river north of the city centre, there are also several bridges with rescue ladders which can be used for bathing.FjällnoraA recreation area with two beaches in lakes Trehörningen and Ramsen. Besides bathing, you can also fish, go kayaking or bike or hike on the trails scattered around the area. In winter, it is possible to go skiing on the trails or skating on the lakes.
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Go Adventure "Adventure course"
phone: +46 18-12 18 00address: info@goadventure.seA web of ropeways, nets and suspension bridges among the treetops.
HammarskogA recreation area some south west of central Uppsala. You can fish, bathe, or skate on lake Mälaren, or hike or ski around the local tracks. The site is also popular among ornithologists.
- The old
Hammarskog mansion
phone: +46 18-727 06 08Built in the 14th century, it has been rebuilt into a cafe. - Rowing boats can be rented at the mansion during weekends or at the carpentry (+46 18-727 03 96) during weekdays.
LyssnaängenA public bathing area in Lake Mälaren by the southern outskirts of Uppsala, some from the city centre.
StorvadA public bathing area in Fyris River, some north of the city centre. The site is handicap-accessible and offers public restrooms, and has an adjacent area where you can bathe your dog.
WikbadetA bathing area in the beautiful area of Wiks slott, equipped with a bridge, diving tower and a café.
Hiking, biking & jogging trails
As the terrain around Uppsala is very flat, none of these hikes are very difficult, and could therefore be performed by inexperienced hikers or cyclists. For information about bike rentals, see section "Get around".- Eriksleden is a 6-km hike between Uppsala Cathedral and Old Uppsala Church. During the medieval era, Saint Erik was revered as the patron saint of Sweden, and his relics was carried in procession between these two destinations every year.
- The Linnaeus Trails are eight different hikes which were created by Carl Linnaeus as biological excursions for his students. The trails measure from to one way, and are marked up by blue signposts. 7 of the hikes start at the old city entrances, in today’s city centre, while the last one starts in the village of Jumkil. The trails are part of the proposed Linnaean UNESCO World Heritage.
- The Yellow trail is a 10-km path which stretches through a continuous green belt within the urban area. The scenery include a 300-year-old pine tree forest as well as pastures. The trail starts by Studenternas sports stadium south of the city centre and leads down to the shores of Lake Mälaren by the southern suburbs of Uppsala.
- Upplandsleden is an alternative for those who desire a longer hike. It stretches through the province of Uppland, from Lake Mälaren in the south to the Dal River in the north, and passes through the southern part of Uppsala. It is marked up with orange signposts.
Natural attractions and reserves
Fiby UrskogAn 87-hectare (215-acre) natural reserve and ancient woodland, virtually untouched by humans since the 18th century. It has become a habitat for many unusual species of birds, insects and fungi. A hiking trail will take you across the woodlands and make sure that you don't get lost.
Hågadalen-NåstenA 1,700-hectare (4,200-acre) natural reserve within walking distance from the city centre. One of the main sights in the reserve is (aka Kung Björns hög), a bronze age burial mound. It is the gold-richest Bronze Age tomb in Scandinavia and contained about one third of all the Bronze Age gold objects found in Sweden! Dating from around 1000 BC, it is twice as old as the more famous Old Uppsala burial mounds. Some south of the mound you can find remnants of the Bronze Age hillfort . The natural reserve is part of the proposed Linnaean UNESCO World Heritage.
StadsskogenStadsskogen, which literally means "The Town Forest", is a 108-hectare (267-acre) forested park and natural reserve. It is filled with small paths and trails, making it a great recreational area for hiking, biking, skiing and jogging. The forest was previously used as a stone quarry and military practice field, and remains from these activities can still be seen today. One section of the forest known as "Trollskogen" (The Trolls' Woods) developed freely, untouched by human intervention, for the last 50 years.
Sports
If you want to watch sports, the main outdoor sporting arena is (Ulleråkersvägen 6, on the western shore of the river just south of the City Gardens) while the main indoor arena is Fyrishov (listed above). The home team IK Sirius play soccer and the traditional Swedish winter sport of bandy in Sweden’s top divisions. The men's team Uppsala Basket and the women's team Sallén Basket play in Sweden’s top divisions for basketball. Uppsala 86ers was one of the first American football teams in Sweden, and play in the highest division Superserien.Uppsala also has ample opportunities for doing sport.
- Cross country skiing – There are several pre-plowed tracks for skiing around Uppsala. Major tracks include:
- King Björn's track and the Hammarskog-track, which starts by "King Björn's mound" in Håga west of Uppsala centre.
- Lunsen is a natural reserve with several tracks. You can start by "Planstskolan", next to road 255 south of the city, where you can find booklets with suitable tracks.
- Tracks can also be found by Sunnerstabacken (see below by "Downhill Snowsports").
- The safest bet for snow is the rather short kap-track, south of Studenternas IP, as excess snow is brought here from the sports stadium.
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phone: +46 46 80 70address: Naturstensvägen 13Accept groups from 4 to 10 people, though a group of 8 is recommended.
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phone: +46 18-727 02 19address: Dag Hammarskjölds väg 270The largest slopes in Uppsala, with a heights of about 40 meters. The main slope has both jumps and rails.
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phone: +46 18-430 19 70address: Söderby GårdA family-owned golf club which offers one par-73 18-hole track and one par-60 9-hole track. They also offer accommodation.
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phone: +46 18-46 01 20address: Håmö GårdThe oldest golf club in Uppsala, and, with some 2,000 members, it is one of the largest in Sweden. They offer one 18-hole track, par 72, and two 9-hole tracks, par 35 and 31.
Sports equipment can be rented at:
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phone: +46 18-10 88 04address: Bergsbrunnagatan 8A sports equipment store and rental place.
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phone: +46 18-19 46 20address: Valthornsvägen 7Lends donated used equipment free of charge up to 14 days.
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phone: +46 18-727 02 19address: Dag Hammarskjölds väg 270Near by the ski slopes "Sunnerstabacken". Rent out snowsport equipment during winter and kayaking equipment during summer. They also have a café where you can warm yourself and get a bite.
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phone: +46 18-10 50 40address: Dragarbrunnsgatan 41 & 46A sports equipment store that also rents out equipment. They have two facilities on the same street: one specializing in bikes and the other in skiing equipment. They are the largest and most centrally-located rental place in Uppsala.
Annual events
Spring
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Uppsala Beer & Whisky Festival
phone: +46 18-10 00 65address: Gamla Uppsalagatan 4Held one weekend in late February. The festival is attended by some 10,000 people and more than 80 different international and local beverage companies. For those 20 years and older. Svenska bandyfinalenBandy is a team winter sport played on ice, similar to ice hockey, which is very popular in Sweden. The final of the Swedish bandy championship is held in Uppsala every year, regardless of which teams play in the final.
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Uppsala Magic and Comedy Festival
phone: +46 703-10 44 80Held during several days in late April. Is the largest of its kind in Northern Europe, with plenty of Swedish and international acts performing in Swedish and English. Some 40 performers put on some 20 shows for some 11,000 visitors. ValborgHeld on the last of April. Valborg began as a pagan spring feast but became particularly popular among Swedish students in the 19th century, thus earning a special place in the Uppsala calendar. During the day, tens of thousands of people are out on the streets and parks. Lots of champagne is consumed (or sprayed) and the whole town is like one big festival. At 10:00, students riding decorated rafts race down the Fyris River, usually crashing in the two waterfalls. At 15:00, lots of people gather below Carolina Rediviva and put on their white student caps at a signal, and the masses rejoice. At 21:00, a choir is singing an ode to spring by the castle, and as the day turns to night bonfires are lit all around the city. While Valborg proper is celebrated on April 30, this does not keep the most dedicated students from also partying on "Skvalborg" (April 28), "Kvalborg" (April 29) and "Finalborg" (May 1).
Summer
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phone: +46 76-426 03 98A two-day carnival parade and festival with concerts, dance performances, theatre, foods and crafts, held one weekend in May. The event is intended to celebrate and highlight the diversity of cultures in Uppsala. The main festival area is in Engelska parken behind the University library Carolina Rediviva.
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address: Råbyvägen 77The oldest, and one of the largest, LAN-parties in Sweden is organized in Uppsala every year during the weekend of the Feast of the Ascension. Aside from the LAN itself the event also include a retro video game fair, "nerd quizzes", music concerts and the board game festival BirdieCon.
Museinatten i UppsalaOn the first Saturday of June most Uppsala museums stay open between 20:00 and 24:00, many of them organizing special tours and events for the occasion.
Uppsala Reggae FestivalScandinavia's largest and oldest reggae festival has made Uppsala known as the “Reggae Mecca of the North”. Run two days in August, hosting both Swedish and international acts.
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phone: +46 736-16 41 16address: DomkyrkoplanA reenactment of the history of Uppsala, from its mythological foundation until today. While the play is acted in Swedish, you can get an English language plot summary to follow the story. Held from 20.30 to 22.00 during several nights in late August or early September.
Fall
KulturnattenOn the second Saturday of September, most people working in culture in Uppsala show their talents downtown to masses of people walking around. The program consists of more than 600 cultural activities ranging from musical concerts to dance shows; from food tastings to beer brewing; from fire shows to jousting; and from try out qigong to try out pole dance. While there are many similar Culture Nights organized around Sweden, Uppsala's edition is estimated to be visited by some 175,000 people, making it the largest in the country.
Uppsala PrideUppsala's largest LGBT event takes place during one weekend in September. The festival contains a busy schedule of workshops, lectures, movie screenings, and parties, and culminates in a Pride parade through Uppsala's city centre. In particular the festival focus on the conditions of newly arrived LGBT immigrants and refugees.
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Uppsala International Guitar Festival
phone: +46 700-909 399address: Vaksala torg 1Scandinavia's largest guitar event occurs during half a week in mid October. The festival includes seminars, workshops, a guitar fair, and concerts by some 300 performers. -
Uppsala International Short Film Festival
phone: +46 18-12 00 25address: Contact: Klostergatan 1. Films are showed in several different theaters around townA festival usually held during one week in the latter part of October. More than 300 short films from around the world are showed together with lectures and seminars. All films have English dialogue or English subtitles.
Winter
Allt Ljus på UppsalaDuring November Uppsala boasts neither much sunshine, nor much snowfall, making it one of the darkest periods of the year. To bright things up, Uppsala is illuminated by a number of light installations, turning the city centre into a beautiful outdoors art museum. The festival starts in early November and lasts some two weeks.
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address: S:t Larsgatan 11Every Christmas Uplands Nation arranges a free traditional Swedish julbord (Christmas buffet). It began as an dinner for exchange students who were unable get home for the holidays, but today it attracts all kinds of people. Nation card is not required — everyone is welcome. The event is alcohol- and drug-free and done on a completely volunteer basis, with the food being donated by local shops and restaurants. If you're lucky you might even get a gift from Santa!
Learn
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Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
phone: +46 18-67 10 00The second and less well-known university in Uppsala. SLU campuses are scattered around Sweden, but most of the administration and the faculties of "Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences" and "Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science" can be found in Ultuna south of Uppsala. -
phone: +46 18-471 00 00Founded in 1477 it is the oldest university in the Nordic countries, and one of the largest in Sweden. It offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in humanities and arts, social sciences, law, business, sciences, engineering, and medicine. Campuses are scattered around the western part of Uppsala. It has about 40,000 students, and some 6,000 employees.
Buy
BoländernaThe biggest district for buying "not everyday stuff" (electronics, furniture, bikes) in Uppsala. This is where you find the second biggest IKEA in Sweden, MediaMarkt, Bauhaus, Elgiganten and so on. It can park nearly 8,000 vehicles, which makes this one of the biggest concrete jungles in Sweden.
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address: Dragarbrunnsgatan 24A small fashionable mall with mostly expensive brands in the city centre.
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address: MarknadsgatanWith 9 million visitors annually, 140 shops, 25 restaurants, and a floor space of , this is the biggest mall in Uppsala.
Bookstores
Pressbyrån is a well-stocked magazine store chain with lots of international and Swedish magazines, which can be found at several locations in the city.-
phone: +46 10-744 14 00address: Stora torget 3The largest and most well-stocked book-store in Uppsala, part of Sweden's largest bookstore chain. The chain has an additional store in the mall Gränbystaden.
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phone: +46 18-13 47 00address: Drottninggatan 6A children's bookstore. While they only offer a few selected works in English it is a great place to find literature in simple Swedish.
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phone: +46 18-38 83 11address: Dragarbrunnsgatan 53A second-hand bookshop and art gallery, often hosting different cultural events.
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phone: +46 18-13 32 95address: Dragarbrunnsgatan 56 & 58Uppsala's largest second-hand bookshop, named after a novel by the Swedish author August Strindberg.
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phone: +46 18-13 43 20address: Drottninggatan 8Is Uppsala's only comic book store, and is one of the oldest and largest of its kind in Sweden. Each spring they organize the event Uppsala Comix, with workshops and presentations by international and Swedish comic book creators and publishers.
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phone: +46 18-65 33 30address: Sysslomansgatan 7An independent bookstore with helpful staff and a wide assortment of fiction and non-fiction books.
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phone: +46 18-10 05 10address: Svartbäcksgatan 19Has all kinds of books in English, with particularly well sorted shelves of fantasy and science fiction literature. In 2018 it was awarded the title "International Excellence bookstore of the year" (or in plain English "Best bookshop in the world") at the London Book Fair.
Fashion and clothing
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phone: +46 18-69 23 29address: Sysslomansgatan 8A tailor specialized in high quality shoes. Also offers furnishings, accessories and clothing.
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phone: +46 18-13 06 63address: Drottninggatan 4Men's and women's clothing. Offer products by several but not only Swedish brands.
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phone: +46 18-12 99 01address: Sankt Eriks Gränd 4A small family-owned women's fashion store. Aside from clothing they also sell furnishings, jewelry and handbags. Mostly offer French, Italian and American brands.
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phone: +46 18-13 50 50address: Fyristorg 6A family owned fashion warehouse. The beautiful building was once a hotel called "Gillet".
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phone: +46 18-490 52 00address: Stora Torget 10Once used as the town hall of Uppsala, this building has now been renovated into a fashion department store. Even though the clothes are pricey it is free to enter the building to enjoy its architecture. You can also book guided tours about the history of the building.
Flea markets, second hand and auctions
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phone: +46 18-12 12 22address: Dragarbrunnsgatan 73Founded in 1731, it is one of the oldest auction chambers in the world. Items include furniture and antiques from the 17th century and onwards, Asian objects, jewelry and fine arts from both Old Masters, and contemporary artists. Auctions are held about once every month and is divided into three categories. The most valuable goods are sold during "Important Sales" weeks in early June and early December every year. Smaller "Decorative sales" auctions are held about six times a year. "Special auctions" are organized on occasions when the chamber is entrusted some comprehensive prestigious collection.
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phone: +46 18-495 45 00address: Bolandsgatan 8AIs a nation wide children's rights charity organization. Around Sweden they have several second hand stores, staffed by volunteers selling donated goods. The profit is used to help children around the world out of poverty.
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phone: +46 76-315 48 80address: Fyrisparksvägen 3Run by a local dance association. In summer it turns into a car boot sale.
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phone: +46 70-786 55 34address: Råbyvägen 97Rent out some 200 sales booths were sellers can exhibit their own second hand goods. As Loppis Poppis sales clerks handle all the sales, the sellers themselves do not have to monitor their sales booth.
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phone: +46 737 23 71 34An old mill turned into a small mall, with a café and several handicraft studios and stores. In summer they host a large car boot sale. The season ends with a major crafts fair and autumn market in early September. A Christmas market is held in the last weekend before Advent Sunday.
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Vaksala torg
phone: +46 18-727 00 00A central traditional flea market. Sellers include professional antiques dealers, private persons and school classes. The annual "Disting" market have been held in Uppsala since pre-historical times, originally in conjunction with the blóts (sacrifices) at Uppsala temple. In modern times the market is held at Vaksala square on the first Monday and Tuesday in February.
Gifts and souvenirs
Many museums, including the Cathedral, Upplandsmuseet and The Linnaean Garden have gift shops with general Uppsala souvenirs as well as souvenirs more closely related to their exhibitions. The best place to find Uppsala University themed merchandise are the gift shops in the University Museum Gustavianum and the University Main Hall.-
phone: +46 18-32 73 87A store selling gifts, furnishings and garden accessories. They also have a café.
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address: Roslagsgatan 1A small design and craft mall inside the old train station warehouse. It consists of the craftsmen cooperative Kaleido, the café Broströms Kafé, and Stickspåret who sell clothing, accessories, furnishings and gifts by Nordic designers.
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phone: +46 18-13 11 01address: S:t Eriks gränd 6A cramped but cozy store, maybe most known for their hand-made Uppsala themed Christmas baubles.
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phone: +46 18-71 15 45address: Svartbäcksgatan 18A craft cooperative operated by some 20 Uppsala craftsmen who sell their own goods in the store.
Eat
If you are interested in something lighter, most cafés mentioned below offer dishes like sandwiches, quiche, lasagna or salad. Likewise, most pubs at least offer simple pub food like burgers, and some of them, like Bierhuis and Bryggeriet Ångkvarn, are full-fledged gastropubs. Many hotels have good restaurants of their own, including the Manhattan-themed Kitchen & Table at Clarion Hotel Gillet, the Asian-Scandinavian restaurant and rooftop bar Miss Voon at Elite Hotel Academia, and the Nordic fine dining restaurant Villa Anna in the hotel with the same name. If you plan to cook for yourself, the market hall (S:t Eriks Torg 8, M–Th 10:00–18:00; F 10:00–19:00; Sa 10:00–16:00) offers various types of expensive, quality ingredients like seafood and cheese.
Most days, at least one of the 13 Nations (see infobox under section Drink) serve simple, yet well-cooked meals. Unbeknownst to most locals, lunches are also open for non-students. If you have a nation guest card, you can also dine at the Nations. To know which nations are open any given day, check the calendar at Nationsguidien. Prices range around 50 kr for lunch and 70 kr for dinner.
Virtually all restaurants in Uppsala have at least one ovo-lacto vegetarian dish on the menu. Uppsala is also a rather vegan-friendly city. Many restaurants have some vegan dish on the menu, and even those which do not can usually serve something vegan if you ask the waiter. Especially good places for vegan food would be the vegetarian restaurant (Drottninggatan 12, +46 18-12 01 60, M–W 11:00–14:00, Th–F 11:00–14:00 & 17:00–21:00, Sa 16:00–22:00) and the vegan café (Svartbäcksgatan 21, Sa–Th 11:00–18:30, F 11:00–17:30).
Budget
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phone: +46 18-71 33 22address: Hjalmar Brantingsgatan 23Serves delicious, genuine, inexpensive, Thai food. Also offers take away. Has vegan options.
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phone: +46 18-13 30 10address: Svartbäcksgatan 11A Lebanese restaurant with their own food truck parked right outside on the pedestrian street.
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phone: +46 70-855 74 94address: S:t Persgatan 7A "hot dog bar" serving beer, champagne and hot dogs!
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address: Vaksalagatan 10A burger joint, appreciated more for its tasty burgers than for its plain furnishings. They also have a food truck parked at Råbyvägen 97, some NE of the city centre, where the seating options are even worse, but the burgers are even better! Has vegan options.
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phone: +46 18-10 35 35address: Stora Torget 1Serves big portions of tasty "junk food", such as kebab, hamburgers, salads and pizzas in a fast food milieu.
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phone: +46 18-52 96 00address: Börjegatan 11A neighborhood restaurant that serves pizzas and à la carte, and does it well.
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phone: +46 18-71 22 20address: Muningatan 7A salad bar. They offer a wide range of different ingredients and let you choose for yourself how to mix them.
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phone: +46 18-12 15 60address: Sysslomansgatan 11A night-open convenient store with a barbecue and buffet restaurant, specialized in kebab. Among students, it is a popular stop-over for a drunken night snack on the way home from nations or bars. Only take away, except for a few bar stools.
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phone: +46 18-59 15 69address: Norbyvägen 65"Yucko-chan, what do you want to be when you grow up?" the teacher asked. "I can do anything, as long as I don't have to work with fish. It smells too bad", answered the girl. Well, life does not always turn out the way you expected, and today Yukiko Willebrand operates one of Uppsala's most celebrated sushi and dumpling parlors. They also offer take away and have vegan sushi.
Mid-range
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phone: +46 18-10 09 08address: Sysslomansgatan 14An Italian restaurant with a large outdoor seating area in the summer. The restaurant is on the ground floor of Västmanland-Dala Nation, and is named after its architect, the renowned Finnish modernist designer and architect Alvar Aalto.
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phone: +46 18-13 30 34address: S:t Olofsgatan 32EA cozy restaurant that specializes French pancake-dishes, like crêpes and galettes. Occasionally, they have live music concerts.
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phone: +46 18-13 86 36address: Kungsängsgatan 23While many Asian restaurants in Sweden serve food adjusted to western tastes in overly-oriental milieus, this Chinese restaurant has taken the opposite direction, specializing in more traditional Chinese cuisine served in a rather plain setting. Has vegan options.
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phone: +46 18-10 35 20address: Sankt Olofsgatan 8Tuscan cuisine and atmosphere with an impressive assortment of high quality Italian wines.
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phone: +46 18-13 48 48address: Fyristorg 2Thai restaurant offering good food in a fun and kitschy atmosphere. (Read colorful light strands, plastic palm trees, sounds of the rain forest, and occasional strobe light thunder storms!)
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phone: +46 18-50 00 20address: Sturegatan 4 AA family-owned restaurant with good Ethiopian and Eritrean food and very friendly staff. Has a lot of vegan options.
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phone: +46 18-12 38 38address: Klostergatan 16A small British pub and restaurant, serving well-cooked Britsh and Indian pub food. They also have branches on Siktargatan 15 and Anundsgatan 25 outside of the city centre. Has vegan options.
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phone: +46 18-12 97 01address: Vaksalagatan 24Good tapas restaurant. They are rather small and don't have table reservations, so you may have to sit in the bar a few minutes while waiting for a table. If that happens, make sure that you try out some of their delicious sangria!
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phone: +46 18-15 03 33address: Fyristorg 4Greek restaurant in a beautiful environment just by the Fyris River and below the Cathedral. Their outdoor seating area, within arms-length of the river, is arguably the best in Uppsala.
Splurge
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phone: +46 18-14 10 10address: Bredgränd 460 Kvadrat, or , is perhaps not Uppsala's biggest restaurant. But it does make you question whether bigger is always better. It is not only the cosy, rustic seating area that is unusually small, but also their well-cooked Scandinavian side-dish-sized plates.
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phone: +46 18-13 09 55address: S:t Eriks Gränd 15Fancy restaurant with a long history and tasty Swedish cuisine. The building dates back to the 13th century and was once a student prison! Next door, they also have a pub called "Domcraft", specialized in beer and gin & tonics. Have several vegan options.
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phone: +46 703 123 556address: Olof Palmes Plats 2At Dryck och Mat, which literally translates into "Drinks and Food" they serve... well... drinks and food. However, out of the two, it is the drinks which take central stage, and their menus are composed to fit the beverages rather than the other way around. While the food gives an impression of fine dining the atmosphere is rather that of a relaxed hang out with your buddies.
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phone: +46 18-71 21 50address: Fyristorg 8Originally a seafood store which has developed into a family-owned restaurant. Except for desserts, they serve nothing but seafood. They also have an impressive assortment of French wines. Their store can be found in the same location, selling seafood and delicacies.
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phone: +46 18-14 59 59address: Sysslomansgatan 13Turkish cuisine in an inviting setting. It is divided into the "Bar room," with a cloud-like fabric roof and hanging lights, the "Love room," with small tables for two, and the "Glass room," with a removable glass ceiling. Named after the legendary 13th-century humorist and wise man Nasreddin Hodja.
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phone: +46 18-150 151address: S:t Eriks torg 8East meets West in this "Amasian" stakehouse, serving a crossover of American grilled stakes, and eastern Asian specialties. Their name is an homage to the kung-fu master and stuntman Jay Fu who operated a similarly themed Asian-American restaurant in the Californian deserts in the 1960s and 70s. Has vegan options.
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phone: +46 18-700 99 00address: Vaksalagatan 12An Argentinian steak house. Their class-5 entrecotes, tenderised for 14 days, are one of the most lavish meat experiences you will find in Uppsala. While their specialty is in meat dishes grilled over an open fire, they also offer tapas, fish dishes, and vegan options.
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phone: +46 18-13 13 60address: Suttungs Gränd 3Swedish and French cuisine served in a rustic and elegant setting in one of Uppsala's oldest industrial buildings.
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phone: +46 18-15 35 00address: Olof Palmes Plats 6In 2011, the new station building of Uppsala Central Station was inaugurated. The beautiful old 19th century station building was instead turned into one of Uppsala's largest restaurants. Their cuisine and atmosphere is inspired by the European continent and especially by European train stations. The restaurant is part brasserie, bar and café, inspired by Paris, London and Rome, respectively.
Drink
As in the rest of Sweden, the government-owned chain of liquor stores (Dragarbrunnsgatan 48A, M–F 09:00–19:00, Sa 09:00–15:00) is the only retail store allowed to sell alcoholic beverages that contain more than 3.5% alcohol. Additional Systembolaget stores can be found at Vaksalagatan 30 and by major shopping malls in the more peripheral districts of the city.
Uppsala has a long history of brewing, and there are four active breweries in Uppsala. Uppsala Brygghus is the largest in the region, and the one you are most likely to find in stock at Systembolaget; Jackdaw Brewery, specialized in Belgian styled beers; Tempel Brygghus, focusing on sour beer and Bryggeriet Ångkvarn, which was named "Best brewery" at Stockholm Beer and Whiskey festival 2017. Punsch is a traditional Swedish arrak-based liqueur, holding a particularly endeared place in Uppsala's student culture.
Bars and clubs in Uppsala are obliged to close no later than 03:00. Most student nations close at 01:00 unless there is a special event.
Cafés
While coffeehouse chains are not unheard of, cozy traditional independent cafés are abundant in Uppsala. Daytime in the weekends many of the student nations have cafés, which always have prices significantly below those of ordinary cafés. Both students and non-students are welcome. To know which nations are open any given day check the calendar at Nationsguidien. If you are looking for a more high-end kind of fika, you should check out the "afternoon tea" seatings held at the restaurant and hotel Villa Anna, Saturdays at 12.00 and 14.15Lindvalls kaffe is a local family owned brand of coffee. Blåbärsprinsess is a blueberry sponge cake topped with marzipan which was invented in Uppsala, and Studentska is a local pastry made from shortcrust, chocolate truffle and icing. The name means "female student" since the pastries, just like the female students, are green and innocent on the outside but black as sin on the inside!
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phone: +46 18-25 54 64address: Brantingstorget 1Somewhat "off the beaten path", this family owned neighborhood café has preserved an atmosphere of the Swedish "Folkhem"-era of the 1950s and 60s. It is the birthplace of their signature cake Blåbärsprinsess, and, according to the local newspaper UNT, their semlor (a traditional Swedish sweet rolls usually served at lent) are the best in town.
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phone: +46 18-14 52 65address: Munkgatan 3Founded in 1954, this café still preserves its 1950s aesthetics. They serve sandwiches as well as traditional Swedish cookies and cakes. In the summer they have a large outdoors seating area facing the pretty Swan's pond.
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Güntherska Hovkonditori & Schweizeri
phone: +46 18-13 07 57address: Östra Ågatan 31An elegant café and sourdough bakery, with a large outdoor seating area on the eastern bank of Fyris river. In addition to pastries, they also serve hot and cold meals, and, unlike most Swedish cafés, a wide range of alcoholic beverages. -
phone: +46 18-56 40 90A café operated by the Church of Sweden, in co-operation with a local charity organization. The building was the seat of Uppsala University's board, from its construction in the 1750s to the inauguration of the current University Hall in 1887.
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Café Linné Konstantina and Café Linné Hörnan
phone: +46 18-15 55 10address: Svartbäcksgatan 22 and 24These two cozy cafes are often used as a meeting place for various clubs or political groups. Confusingly enough, they are both commonly simply referred to as Café Linné. However, you do not need to worry about taking "the wrong one," as they are both great cafés. -
phone: +46 18-13 42 04address: Sysslomansgatan 5A traditional old cafe. Founded in 1878, this is one of the oldest operating cafés in Uppsala. It quickly became a popular place among Uppsala's students and cultural circles. It is the birthplace of the local Uppsala pastry "Studentska". They sometimes have poetry slam contests and other poetry readings, but they are mostly in Swedish.
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Kafferummet Storken
phone: +46 18-15 05 22address: Stora Torget 3A cozy café on the second floor with rather anonymous entrance towards the main square. -
phone: +46 18-13 38 13address: Sysslomansgatan 9Italian coffee bar. Excellent espresso served between spartan walls decorated with paintings by local artists. Aside from coffee they also serve Italian pastries, beers, wines, focaccia sandwiches, and delicious gelato ice cream.
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phone: +46 18-71 07 50address: Östra Ågatan 9Offer a wide choice of quiche, cakes and smaller sweets. Aside from hot drinks they also serve beers and wines. Sit down in one of the large couches in their baroque-themed interior, or have a seat in the riverside park Gotlandsparken, right on their doorstep. They always serve a lot of fresh fruit with their cakes.
Bars
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phone: +46 18-10 13 99address: S:t Olofsgatan 23A Belgian beer café in an elegant setting. Aside from 24 kinds of drafted and hundreds of kinds of bottled Belgian beers, the menu also offers traditional Belgian cuisine, such as waffles, moules frites and cheese with mustard.
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phone: +46 18-418 02 00address: Östra Ågatan 59Uppsala's only brewpub, with the brewery fully visible behind the bar. In 2017 Ångkvarn won the title as "Best brewery" and four other titles at the Stockholm Beer and Whiskey festival, the second largest beer festival in the world!
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phone: +46 18-54 84 88address: Torsgatan 15A day-time restaurant and night-time bar in a beautiful garden. Huge outdoor seating is open from April to September. On Friday and Saturday nights, there is a dance floor playing hits from the 1960s, 70s and 80s.
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phone: +46 18-14 40 10address: Stora Torget 1Opened in 1993, this "Irish" bar and restaurant is Syrian-owned and run. This place has a great selection of Irish, Belgian and Swedish beers. Live music is performed every Monday–Saturday night, with "Amazing Chris" playing on the weekdays and different bands playing on the weekends. Coats must be handed in at the cloakroom on busy nights (for example, on Saturday nights and when there is music).
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phone: +46 18-10 70 70address: Dragarbrunnsgatan 53An authentic Irish pub opened in 2007. Occasionally features live music. Good food and a nice selection of Irish, English, Belgian and Swedish beers. Multicultural-friendly staff from the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and Sweden.
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phone: +46 18-13 18 20address: Sysslomansgatan 7A daytime pizzeria which, by night, turns into one of Uppsala's most popular watering holes. It gets especially crowded around 01:00, when the surrounding nations close. It is something of a dive bar, and at 40 kr their beers are among the cheapest in non-nation Uppsala.
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phone: +46 72-577 16 66address: Drottningatan 12The lively and youthful Shotluckan (literally "The Shot Hatch") offer a large range of different shots under the motto "life is too short to sip drinks." Many shots have some adventurous twist – like being on fire.
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phone: +46 18-144 160address: Drottninggatan 1BVinbaren, which literally translates into "the wine bar", is the wine bar in Uppsala! They offer some 100 different wines complemented with charcuteries and cheeses. Suitable to experienced and inexperienced wine drinkers alike.
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phone: +46 18-14 09 20address: Åsgränd 5CBritish-themed pub with a welcoming interior and helpful staff. They regularly organize themed evenings, with events such as live music or pub quizzes.
Clubs & music
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phone: +46 18-13 50 00address: Nedre Slottsgatan 3Great if you're into shots and house music. 3 dance floors and 5 bars, with a large outdoors seating area. Occasionally they organize themed club nights. Despite a 23-year age limit on Saturdays, it mostly attracts youths. Some Fridays 17:00–22:00, they host the 1970s themed club Soul Train, attracting a more mature crowd than usual.
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phone: +46 18-10 04 44address: Flustergränd 5This garden pavilion was constructed in 1842, making it one of the oldest nightlife venues in Uppsala. Today, it is operated as a nightclub with plenty of events and concerts. On Saturdays, they have three dance floors, playing house, radio hits, and hits from the 1970s, 80s & 90s, but, on Fridays, only the house dance floor is open. Compared to other local clubs, they target (and attract) a somewhat more mature audience from ages 23 and upwards.
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phone: +46 18-512 712address: Svartbäcksgatan 11A sports bar with activities such as shuffleboard, dart, table tennis, flipper and billiards. Club nights on Fridays and Saturdays from 22:00.
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phone: +46 18-14 06 80address: Roslagsgatan 1A nice place with an active calendar of international and national touring acts, ranging from jazz to metal to comedy clubs. Jazz-sessions every Sa 15:00–17:00. Aside from drinks they also serve dinner.
Sleep
Camping
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phone: +46 18-727 49 60address: Idrottsgatan 2The only camping site within walking distance of Uppsala offer sites for RVs and trailers, plots for tents, and chalets with four beds, a small kitchen and a shower. The camping area offers boule, beach volleyball, mini-golf, football and rental canoes. The max stay duration is seven days.
Budget
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phone: +46 18-121 000address: Trädgårdsgatan 5AOffer free wi-fi, guest computers, laundry facilities, self-catering kitchen, and lighter meals. Breakfast is available for purchase for budget rooms and included in standard rooms.
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phone: +46 76-185 84 85address: Bangårdsgatan 13Hostel with 24-hour open front desk, a great breakfast buffet and free Wi-Fi. Shared kitchen and bathroom.
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phone: +46 18-444 20 10address: Kungsängstorg 6A hotel and hostel set in a 19th century rectory. Breakfast and wi-fi is included. Pets are allowed for a 100 kr fee.
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Hågadalens Hostel & Vandrarhem
phone: +46 18-40 00 50address: Vårdsätravägen 71Set in the scenic "Hågadalen-Nåsten" natural reserve. Free parking and Wi-Fi. -
phone: +46 18-68 11 00address: Storgatan 30Reliable 3-star chain, and sister hotell of the nearby Radisson Blu. The hotel includes a gym and a sauna, a restaurant and a lobby bar. Breakfast buffet and Wi-Fi is included. Pets are allowed for a 350 kr fee.
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phone: +46 766-00 25 20address: Östra Ågatan 93Selma is a barge built as a floating hostel! They have a lounge which offer hot and cold drinks and lighter meals. Breakfast is available for an extra fee. Shared WC and showers. Free wi-fi. Pets are allowed in some but not all cabins.
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phone: +46 18-32 42 20address: Sunnerstavägen 24An old manor in a scenic natural environment, which has been turned into a conference centre, hostel and bed & breakfast. Good communications to the town centre by bus, taxi or bicycle, and if you have a car of your own they offer free parking. Their reception is open 07:30–10:00 daily.
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phone: +46 18-10 00 08address: S:t Persgatan 16Free Wi-Fi. Separate ladies and gentlemen's dormitories. Well equipped kitchen without window, sofa room with windows. The reception is open 08:00–23:00 daily.
Mid-range
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phone: +46 18-15 51 90address: Övre Slottsgatan 53-star hotel in a 1930s setting. Free access to wifi, breakfast, sauna, kitchenettes & laundry facilities. Their reception is open 07.00–22.00 daily, but it is possible to check in after 22:00 if you contact them in advance.
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phone: +46 18-35 00 25address: Edith Södergrans gata 6With 620 beds, it is the largest hotel in Uppsala. Its niche is active athletes. It is near some of Uppsala's largest sports stadiums and has rooms with larger beds for parasport athletes.
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phone: +46 18-13 00 30address: Bangårdsgatan 24Comfortable four-star hotel inside a modernised historic building, attached to the Svava shopping centre. Great breakfast buffet (included in price), and rooms have a tea/coffee maker. Pets are allowed for a 100 kr fee.
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phone: +46 18-68 18 00address: Dragarbrunnsgatan 23Central 4-star hotel. Free gym, spa, breakfast and wi-fi. On their top floor you will find Top Floor, one of Uppsala's few rooftop bars, and like other Clarion Hotels they have a Manhattan themed Kitchen & Table restaurant. Pets are allowed for a 250 kr fee.
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phone: +46 18-780 99 00address: Suttungs gränd 6This former post office was considered ultramodern when constructed in the 1960s. They offer free gym, sauna, breakfast and Wi-Fi. On their 11th floor you will find the Asian restaurant and rooftop bar Miss Voon. Pets are allowed for a 200 kr fee.
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phone: +46 18-13 9380address: Bangårdsgatan 1A grand old hotel in neo-Baroque style. When it was built in 1907 it was the largest and most exclusive hotel in Uppsala. They have a lounge bar and a fine dining restaurant. Breakfast and wi-fi is included.
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phone: +46 18-495 99 00address: von Kraemers allé 26In 2014 this luxurious modernist hotel was constructed as a patient hotel, serving patients of Uppsala's world-leading cancer treatment. However, it is also open to non-patients. It is furnished in modern Scandinavian design, and the hotel restaurant offer an equally Scandinavian cuisine. Wi-fi and breakfast is included. The reception is open 24 hours daily.
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phone: +46 18-474 79 00address: Stationsgatan 4Reliable 4-star chain, central. The hotel includes a fitness area with a gym and morning yoga, 24 hour room service, a restaurant and two bars. Breakfast buffet and Wi-Fi is included. Pets are allowed for a 350 kr fee.
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phone: +46 18-495 26 00address: Dragarbrunnsgatan 323-star hotel in a central modern block. Has a gym, bar, restaurant, sauna, laundry, bikes, laundry and a mini shop. Wifi and breakfast are included. Pets are allowed.
Splurge
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phone: +46 18-580 20 00address: Odinslund 3Luxury hotel in a renovated building from 1874. Suites with whirlpool and sauna. Their fine dining hotel restaurant offer Nordic cuisine with innovative touches, and has been named the best restaurant in Uppsala by the national restaurant guide White guide. 24 hour reception. This is where the Nobel Prize winners sleep during their visit to Uppsala University.
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phone: +46 18-611 66 60address: Viks Mur 29A 15th-century castle turned into a hotel and conference centre. It is the best preserved medieval castle in Sweden and was once one of its strongest fortresses. It is in a beautiful natural environment on the shore of Lake Mälaren, with a beach and a grand castle park on site. The hotel offers a wide range of activities, such as yoga, cooking courses, guided tours of the castle, wine tastings, and ice sculpting.
Stay safe
If you venture into the forested countryside, beware of ticks. In Uppsala Municipality, there have been reported cases of both TBE and lyme disease. However, you can vaccinate against TBE, and lyme disease can be avoided by removing the tick within 12 to 24 hours. A simple precaution against ticks is to wear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers when moving through brushwood.
While there are several pharmacies in Uppsala, most of them close around 19:00–20:00, and none are open at night. The pharmacy with the best opening hours is (Kålsängsgränd 10C, +46 18-580 21 10) which is open from 08:00 to 22:00 every day.
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phone: +46 18-67 26 80address: Ultunaallén 5AAssociated with, and located on, the campus of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. They mostly treat small animals, such as cats and dogs, but they also have a horse clinic. Around Uppsala, you can also find several smaller veterinary clinics.
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phone: 114 14 (non-geographic number)address: Svartbäcksgatan 49
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phone: +46 18-611 00 00address: Sjukhusvägen
Connect
Uppsala city centre is a free public wifi-zone. The network is called "!uppsalawifi". Uppsala University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences participate in Eduroam; a free-of-charge world wide web service which allow university students and staff wireless network access on the campuses of other universities.
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phone: +46 18-727 17 00address: Svartbäcksgatan 17Offers several computers for free, using a queue system. Computes can also be used at the other public libraries Brantingsbiblioteket, Eriksbergsbiblioteket, Gottsundabiblioteket, Gränbybiblioteket, Storvretabiblioteket and Vattholmabiblioteket found in Uppsala's peripheral districts.
Cope
Religious services
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phone: +46 18-430 35 00address: Visiting address: S:t Eriks torg 7Have several other active churches around the city as well.
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phone: +46 18-13 35 43address: Slottsgränd 7
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phone: +46 18-13 05 65address: Bangårdsgatan 11Part of the protestant Equmeniakyrkan, or Uniting Church in Sweden. Provides simultaneous interpreting of mass into English.
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phone: +46 76-251 79 97address: Ulleråkersvägen 40AOrthodox church in Uppsala, celebrates mass in Swedish, English and Romanian.
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phone: +46 18-21 98 81address: Sportfältsvägen 1
Go next
- Enköping — as it turns out, "Sweden's nearest city", known for its military garrison and many parks, is only south-west of Uppsala.
- Gävle — this beautiful coastal city, known for its giant Christmas Straw Goat, is the gateway to Norrland.
- Norrtälje — with 17,000 inhabitants this is the largest city on Uppland's Baltic coast Roslagen.
- Sigtuna — was effectively Sweden's capital in the middle ages. After being deserted, it was revived in the 1910s as a nationalist project.
- Stockholm — south of Uppsala lays Sweden's capital and biggest city.
- Stockholm archipelago — thousands of islands, islets and skerries, scattered along Uppland's coast.
- Öregrund — in Roslagen has been a popular sea-side resort among Uppsala's township since the 19th century.