"Uppsala by Maline" Top 5 Page for this destination Uppsala by Maline

Uppsala Travel Guide: 412 reviews and 781 photos

The pride of Uppsala - its cathedral! - Uppsala

Just a trainride away!

Uppsala. My home for over 20 years. If you visit Stockholm, don't forget to make the detour to Uppsala, 40 minutes away by train.

It is well worth a visit, being one of the most historical places in Sweden.
The town was once called "Östra Aros" and was the religious and commercial center of the Vikings. And ever since that time, Uppsala has been central in the formation of Sweden as it is today.
Today it is dominated by the university, which has around 30.000 students and researchers. That's a lot in a town of 150.000 inhabitants...
The university is spread out, geographically, but the old university building is right in the center of town.

The silhouette of the town is dominated by the big Cathedral and the Castle. It is an expressed wish of the local politicians and city planners to keep it this way, so in the center, the buildings mustn't be higher than, say 7 storeys.

Much of down-town Uppsala was torn down in the late 60s and early 70s, and the buildings that replaced the old ones were built according to the aestetics of the present, which - sadly - means that the houses are grey, concrete and ugly. But here and there, you see a more beautiful edifice, and when you cross the river Fyrisån and walk towards the Cathedral part of town, much more of the old buildings remain.

Some 15 minutes by bus north of town are the burial sites from the Viking days known as Gamla Uppsala Högar (the Hills of Old Uppsala). Also, all around the countryside are other Viking remnants. We had a rune stone just outside my high school.

I lived in Uppsala town for over 20 years, so if you have any questions, don't hesitate to mail me. Enjoy your virtual trip!

Can you read the runes?

Remnants from the viking days can be found in and around the city. This is a rune-stone, a grave monument, although this one is found centrally in town, and not whrer it originally stood. More about rune stones and viking history in my tip section.

Fyriå river

The river Fyrisan runs right through town, dividing it into two parts. The western side of the river was traditionally the academic side, and the other was the merchants' place.

Pros and Cons

Pros:History, charm, atmosphere
Cons:Ugly central square, not great shopping possibilities
In a nutshell:Come to the cradle of present-day Sweden!

Last visit to Uppsala: Jan 2005
Intro Updated Jul 5, 2005
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Reviews (42)

Gågatan the pedestrian street Things to Do (12)

The heart of commercial downtown Uppsala is made up of the pedestrian street (called Gågatan). Gågatan is the part of... more travel advice

Upplandsmuseet Off The Beaten Path (13)

Upplandsmuseet has exhibitions on the city and its surroundings and its history. It is located on Sysslomansgatan in the... more travel advice

Student clubs/Nations Nightlife (3)

V-dala nation is one of the most popular nations to go dancing at, and has been so ever since the 60's. There are... more travel advice

The Tourist office Favorites (2)

The Tourist office is located on Fyristorg, street Sysslomansgatan in central Uppsala. From Central Square, walk down to... more travel advice

Restaurants (2)
See All For a cozy break
Shopping (2)
See All How'bout leather?
What to Pack (1)
Packing List

Travelogues (2)

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Comments (77)

angiebabe Aug 5, 2008 at 6:09 PM Report Abuse

Im picking up a rental car here so I can see old Uppsala while here - looking good so far!Thanks for your enthusiastic tips and pics.
sihi Jun 1, 2007 at 11:17 AM Report Abuse

Nice page about Uppsala, good tips!! greetz:)
SURFIN7TH Apr 6, 2006 at 11:19 AM Report Abuse

Still one of my favorite towns in Sverige.
VijithFdo Apr 6, 2006 at 10:33 AM Report Abuse

dear what really does it means uppsala. looks like a sanskrit word
nebulaflash Feb 8, 2006 at 9:58 PM Report Abuse

I vaguely remember visiting Uppsala. Loved Sweden. The people are so friendly and authentic.
iandsmith Dec 9, 2005 at 5:47 PM Report Abuse

Love your enthusiasm, backed up by useful pictures.
Sjalen Nov 10, 2005 at 6:42 AM Report Abuse

WOW! Nu har jag sett vad jag missade - det blir en tur till :)
antistar Oct 16, 2005 at 5:10 AM Report Abuse

Amazing photograph of the cathedral, and very useful tips. Thanks for the help :).
Ben-UK Sep 28, 2005 at 10:11 AM Report Abuse

Excellent page with very nice photos-- I enjoyed the virtual tour -- thanks for all the information.
balfor Sep 10, 2005 at 4:15 PM Report Abuse

Great info here. I'll have to come back and revisit when the picture problems get fixed!