Hotels in Uppsala

Uppsala: Sweden's University City on the Fyris River

Uppsala sits 71 km north of Stockholm along the Fyris River, making it an easy day trip or a worthwhile overnight stay. Founded as a major ecclesiastical centre, the city is home to Uppsala Cathedral — Scandinavia's tallest church at 118.7 metres, consecrated in 1435. Uppsala University, established in 1477, is the oldest university in the Nordic countries and shapes the city's rhythm, architecture, and café culture year-round.

Visitors divide their time between the medieval Gamla Uppsala burial mounds (dating to the 5th–6th century AD) 5 km north of the centre, the Gothic cathedral, and the Gustavianum museum with its 17th-century anatomical theatre. The Botanical Garden, founded by Carl Linnaeus in 1787, draws researchers and leisure visitors alike. Travellers arrive from Stockholm in under 40 minutes by SJ regional train from Stockholm Central Station.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: SJ and regional trains run every 15–30 minutes from Stockholm Central; single fares start around 80 SEK.
• Getting around: The compact centre is walkable; city buses connect the station to Gamla Uppsala.
• Best seasons: May–September for long daylight hours; early December for the university's Lucia celebrations on 13 December.
• Currency: Swedish krona (SEK); card payment accepted almost universally.