Uppsala

Vikings, Cathedrals and Student Life

Uppsala stands as Sweden’s third-largest city, located about 40 kilometers north of Stockholm along the Fyris River. The area is known for its historic university founded in 1477 and a well-preserved medieval old town with cobblestone streets and colorful buildings. Uppsala Cathedral dominates the skyline, housing royal tombs and offering panoramic views from its tower. The city balances academic life with cultural events, parks and local cafes. Its public transport connects residents to Stockholm efficiently, making commuting practical for students and professionals alike.

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City in Sweden

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 8.0

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	9

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4/5

English is widely spoken, especially by students, younger people, and in hospitality. Most signs, menus, and tourist information are available in English, so international visitors will have no trouble communicating.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Uppsala Summary

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Strong for university heritage and history. Visit grand cathedrals and museums, stroll botanical gardens and explore lively student cafés.

Place score

7.2

Best at:

Spotless

Walkable

Cosy towns

Historic sites

Art

Personal score

Suited for

👶 6

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

🛡️ 7

Travel Beginners

👩 7

Solo

Sweden – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Swedish Krona (SEK) £1 ≈ SEK 13.23
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Sweden is one of the most cashless countries in the world. Nearly all transactions are conducted through digital means, with credit cards and mobile payments being standard. Cash is rarely used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is optional in Sweden but appreciated. In restaurants, rounding up the bill or leaving a 5-10% tip is customary. Taxi drivers expect a small tip or rounding up the fare, while hotel staff may appreciate a small tip for services.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in Sweden in designated areas, especially during festivals and in outdoor events. However, drinking in public spaces such as streets and parks may be restricted.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned indoors in public places, including restaurants, bars, and public transport. Designated smoking areas are available in many public spaces.

Midsummer (June)	One of the most important holidays, with celebrations, festivals, and outdoor activities, expect crowded areas and increased travel.
Christmas (December)	Christmas celebrations with markets and events, expect higher prices and crowded cities.
Swedish National Day (June)	A national holiday with celebrations, parades, and festivals, particularly in Stockholm.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Bolt
Other:	Sweden is known for its beautiful landscapes, from the Northern Lights in Lapland to the archipelagos. Be prepared for cold winters, especially if you plan to visit during the winter months.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Uppsala, Sweden

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Apr

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May

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Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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Sep

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Oct

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High season:	June - Aug.
Shoulder season:	April - May, Sep.
Crowdedness:	6 (Many tourists)

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Climate details

Walpurgis Night on April 30: students gather by the river in spring costume, Uppsala's biggest celebration, with huge crowds in the city

Midsummer weekend in late June: most shops and restaurants close, and the city is very quiet

Don't miss

⛪ Visit Uppsala Cathedral, Scandinavia’s largest and most historic church
🌿 Explore the gardens and green spaces of Linnaeus Garden, Sweden’s oldest botanical garden
🚶‍♀️ Walk the medieval streets and cobblestone alleys of Uppsala’s Old Town
🪦 Discover ancient Viking burial mounds at Gamla Uppsala on the city outskirts
📚 Tour the grand Uppsala University and its renowned Carolina Rediviva Library
☕ Relax with a traditional Swedish fika at Ofvandahls Hovkonditori, Uppsala’s oldest café

You've been here?

Why travel to Uppsala?

Uppsala is perfect if you love exploring cities with a deep sense of history but also want a relaxed, walkable vibe. Marvel at the iconic Uppsala Cathedral, visit ancient Viking burial mounds in Gamla Uppsala and wander the botanical gardens inspired by Carl Linnaeus. The city’s university gives it a lively, international feel and there’s always something happening – from cozy cafés to outdoor festivals. It’s a compact city, so you can see a lot in a short time, but keep in mind that Swedish weather can be unpredictable and winters are cold and dark. While Uppsala is generally very safe, like any city, it’s wise to stay aware – especially after recent incidents in the city center.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Uppsala slott
2 Uppsala Cathedral
3 Carolina Rediviva
4 Gustavianum
5 Old Uppsala
6 Uppsala University

🎡Places for activities

1 Castle Park
2 Fyrishov

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Stadsträdgården
2 Engelska parken
3 Ekoln

🛍️Shopping

1 Gränbystaden
2 Svartbäcksgatan
3 Dragarbrunnsgatan
4 Saluhall.se
5 S:t Per Gallerian
6 Forumgallerian

🎈Events

Valborg (Walpurgis Night) Celebrations
Uppsala International Guitar Festival
Kulturnatten (Culture Night)
Uppsala International Short Film Festival
Allt Ljus på Uppsala (All Light on Uppsala)
Lucia Celebrations
Uppsala Pride
Musikens Hus Festival
Christmas Market at Gamla Uppsala
Linnaeus Day Celebrations
Walpurgis Night (Valborg)
Uppsala Reggae Festival
Linné Festival
Uppsala Music Days
Christmas Markets
Student Nations Spring Balls
Viking Festival in Gamla Uppsala
Botanical Garden Summer Concerts

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Knowledge before you go

Rent a bike; it’s the easiest way around.
Prioritize Domkyrkan and the riverside core; most central sights fit into half a day.
Take a short trip to Gamla Uppsala mounds; the museum adds essential Viking-era context.
Visit Gustavianum for the anatomical theatre and odd collections; it’s one of Sweden’s quirkiest university museums.

How to travel to Uppsala

Uppsala is just 35 minutes by direct train from Stockholm and about 20 minutes from Stockholm Arlanda Airport. Long-distance trains and buses connect Uppsala to other Swedish cities. The central train station is right in the city center, making arrivals and departures easy[6].

Access summary

From Stockholm Arlanda (ARN): Commuter train or bus, about 20–45 minutes.
From Stockholm city: Frequent trains from Central Station, roughly 40 minutes.
From Stockholm Skavsta (NYO): Airport bus to Stockholm, then train to Uppsala.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Uppsala

Uppsala has a range of hotels, cozy guesthouses and modern hostels, most within walking distance of the main attractions. For a unique stay, try a riverside hotel or a boutique inn in the Old Town. Book ahead during major festivals or university events.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Radisson Blu Hotel Uppsala

Hotell Charlotte / Stella

8.2

Hotell Centralstation

8.1

Vandrarhem Uppsala Centralstation

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How to get around Uppsala

Uppsala is very walkable – most sights are within a 30-minute stroll. Cycling is popular and safe, with well-marked bike lanes. Public buses are available for longer trips, like to Gamla Uppsala. Taxis are easy to find, but you’ll rarely need them in the city center[2][6].

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+20 %

Daily expenses in Uppsala are around 20% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably more on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to SEK) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£68	£147	£402
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£23	£53	£113
🍝 Food per day	£33	£83	£258
🚕 Transportation per day	£13	£12	£30

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£34
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£13
🍟 Fast food combo	£8.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£11.50
☕ Cappuccino	£4.30
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£7

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£3.30
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£16
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.50

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£16
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£17
🤧 Cold medication	£4.80
💇 Basic haircut	£27

Safety information overview

General safety

Uppsala is generally very safe, but as in any city, be aware of your surroundings, especially late at night or in less busy areas. Recent incidents have increased police presence in the center.

Health & Medical

Medical care is excellent, with clinics and pharmacies throughout the city. Emergency services are reliable. Bring any personal medication, as some pharmacies may close early on weekends.

Accessibility

Most attractions, public transport and city areas are accessible, but some older buildings and cobbled streets may be challenging for those with mobility issues. Buses and shops are generally wheelchair-friendly.

Tap water

Tap water is safe and of high quality. Public fountains are available in parks and near major attractions. Bring a reusable bottle to stay hydrated, especially in summer.