Uppsala, located north of Stockholm, experiences a pronounced seasonal climate with cold, snowy winters and mild, pleasant summers. The city enjoys long daylight hours in summer and short, dark days in winter. Rainfall is moderate year-round, with slightly drier springs and wetter late summers, making Uppsala a dynamic destination for all seasons.
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.
Uppsala’s climate is classified as warm-summer humid continental, marked by significant seasonal contrasts. Winters (November–March) are cold and snowy, with average highs around -2°C to 1°C and lows often dropping below -6°C. Snow cover is common, and the city sees only 1–2 hours of sunshine per day during the darkest months. Winds can be brisk, and humidity is high, making the cold feel even more intense. Despite the chill, Uppsala’s winter charm is enhanced by festive markets and a picturesque snowy landscape.
Summers (June–August) are mild and comfortable, with average highs of 20–23°C and lows around 12–14°C. The warmest month is July, but heatwaves above 30°C are rare. Summer brings the longest daylight, with up to 19 hours at the solstice and 8–10 hours of sunshine per day. Rainfall is moderate, peaking in July and August, but showers are usually brief. Spring and autumn are transitional, with rapidly changing temperatures, colourful foliage or blossoming gardens, and moderate rainfall. Annual precipitation is about 650–800 mm, and the city enjoys 1,700–1,800 hours of sunshine per year.
Uppsala’s climate supports a vibrant outdoor lifestyle in summer, cosy indoor traditions in winter, and a rich calendar of cultural and seasonal events. The city’s weather is highly variable, so visitors should pack for a range of conditions, especially if planning outdoor activities.
| Average climate data for Uppsala, Sweden | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | -1 | -0 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 22 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -5 | -5 | -2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 4 | 1 | -3 | -5 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 18 | 15 | 22 | 16 | 36 | 37 | 51 | 35 | 21 | 31 | 26 | 25 | 332 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 5 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 134 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 80 | 89 | 87 | 24 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 25 | 84 | 408 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 13 | 12 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 57 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 90 | 91 | 85 | 73 | 70 | 73 | 76 | 76 | 79 | 83 | 90 | 91 | 81 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 6 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 67 | 67 | 61 | 48 | 45 | 42 | 42 | 43 | 49 | 59 | 68 | 67 | 55 |
| Average UV index | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
The best time to visit Uppsala is from late May to early September, when temperatures are mild (16–23°C), days are long and sunny, and the city hosts many outdoor events and festivals. Spring and early autumn are also pleasant for sightseeing, with blossoming gardens or colourful foliage and fewer crowds.
The least favourable time to visit Uppsala is from November to February, when cold temperatures, frequent snow or rain, short daylight hours, and limited sunshine can make travel and outdoor activities challenging. Winter is best suited for those seeking snowy landscapes and cosy indoor experiences.
Uppsala’s annual average temperature is about 7–8°C. January and February are the coldest months (highs -2°C, lows -7°C), while July is the warmest (highs 22–23°C, lows 13–14°C).
Uppsala receives about 650–800 mm of precipitation annually. Rain falls year-round, peaking in July and August. Snow is common from November to March, with an average of 40–50 snow days per year.
Uppsala enjoys 1,700–1,800 hours of sunshine annually. The sunniest months are June and July, with up to 10 hours of sunshine per day. Winter months are much darker, with only 1–2 hours daily.
Late spring through early autumn (May–September) is best for outdoor activities, with mild temperatures, long days, and less frequent rain. Summer is busiest and most comfortable for hiking and sightseeing.
While Uppsala itself is not a major winter sports destination, nearby areas offer cross-country skiing and ice skating from December to March, when snow cover is reliable and temperatures are below freezing.
Swimming in lakes near Uppsala is only comfortable in July and August, when water temperatures reach 18–20°C. Outside these months, the water is too cold for most swimmers.
Pack layers for spring and autumn, light clothing and rain gear for summer, and insulated, windproof clothing and boots for winter. An umbrella or rain jacket is useful year-round.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (21.9 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (-1 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 10 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (12.3 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (-4.8 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 3.4 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is July (50.7 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is February (14.8 mm). Over the whole year there are 332.4 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (18.1 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is February (4.3 days). Over the whole year there are 134 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is February (89.1 mm). The months with the least snowfall are June, July, August and September (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 407.8 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (13 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are June and August (0 days). Over the whole year there are 56.6 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is February (90.9 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is May (70.1 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 81.2 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is December (13.2 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (10.3 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 11.6 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is November (67.6 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is July (41.5 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 54.8 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 18.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 6 h). Over the whole year there are 11.9 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is June (Average sunshine: 11 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 2.1 h). Over the whole year there are 6 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June and July (UV index: 5). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February and March (UV index: 1). Over the whole year the average UV index is 2.8.
