Uppsala is Sweden’s university town. The university dates from 1477, the oldest in the Nordic countries, and it still owns much of what you come to see: the Gustavianum, the Linnaeus Garden and the Botanical Garden. The cathedral, the largest in the Nordic region, and a sixteenth-century royal castle bracket a small centre you cross on foot in minutes. Stockholm is 30 to 50 minutes away by train and Arlanda airport is closer still, so Uppsala works as a day trip from the capital or as your first night in Sweden.
Give it a full day for the cathedral, Gustavianum and the castle museums, and a second for the gardens and the burial mounds at Gamla Uppsala. Season matters: SMHI’s climate normals for Uppsala give a mean of 18.2 °C in July and -2.0 °C in January, and the city has kept a temperature record since 1722, which is why the Linnaeus Garden opens only from mid-May to mid-September.
Getting oriented
The centre is compact and walkable, with bike lanes and bike rental if you want to reach the outskirts (Destination Uppsala). Three clusters cover most of a visit. The cathedral and the Gustavianum at Akademigatan 3 form the old university quarter. The castle on its rise above the centre holds the art museum and the castle history museum. North of the cathedral, the Linnaeus Garden at Svartbäcksgatan 27 is the third stop, and the Fyrishov pool complex at Idrottsgatan 2 is the one for a rainy afternoon with children.
Gamla Uppsala lies outside town: bus 2 from Vaksala torg takes 15 to 20 minutes, a bike about 20 minutes and walking about an hour. The tourist office, Destination Uppsala, is at Stadshusgatan 2 (tel. +46 18 727 00 00), with InfoPoints dotted around the city.
Highlights
Uppsala Cathedral
The Church of Sweden calls this the largest cathedral in the Nordic countries, and the twin spires reach 118.70 m. Building began in 1287. The nave is open daily 08:00 to 18:00 in 2026, with shortened mornings on 30 April and 19 June, and there are English tours monthly off-season and daily in summer. The treasury in the north tower, Skattkammaren, shows Gustav Vasa’s sword and the funeral regalia of Gustav Vasa and Johan III; it costs SEK 80 for adults and nothing under 18, and opens Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 17:00 and Sunday 12:30 to 17:00, an hour shorter from October to April. Full hours, tours and what to look for inside are on the cathedral page.
Gustavianum
The university museum next to the cathedral is the place to understand what Uppsala was for. The Anatomical Theatre under the dome and the Augsburg Art Cabinet are the two rooms people cross the city for. Admission is SEK 150 for adults, SEK 120 for seniors and students, and free up to age 19. From September to May it opens Tuesday to Friday 12:00 to 17:00 and weekends 11:00 to 17:00, closed Mondays; in June, July and August it is open daily 11:00 to 17:00.
Uppsala Castle
King Gustav Vasa began the castle in 1549; today it houses museums, a restaurant and the County Governor’s residence. Uppsala konstmuseum, the art museum, opens Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00, until 21:00 on Thursdays; the collection exhibitions are free, special exhibitions cost SEK 80 for visitors over 26, and Thursday evenings from 17:00 to 20:00 are always free. On the ground floor, Uppsala slottshistoriska covers life in the castle; its base exhibition Slottsliv is free and the doors open Tuesday to Sunday from 12:00, later on Thursdays and closed Mondays.
Linnaeus Garden
Olof Rudbeck founded this garden in 1655; Carl Linnaeus took over as director in 1741 and today’s beds follow his 1745 plan. The Linnaeus Museum, his former home, is included in the ticket. The 2026 season runs 14 May to 13 September: Thursday to Sunday in the shoulder weeks, Tuesday to Sunday from June to August, always 11:00 to 16:00 and closed on Midsummer Eve. Adults pay SEK 120, seniors and students SEK 100, children free. After 16:00 the buildings close but the garden itself is free until the gates shut at 20:00.
Botanical Garden
The university’s larger garden is a park you can walk into without a ticket, open 07:00 to 21:00 from May to September and 07:00 to 19:00 from October to April. Only the Tropical Greenhouse charges: SEK 60, free for under-18s. It is the obvious winter substitute when the Linnaeus Garden is closed.
Fyrishov
Fyrishov is a swimming and sports complex rather than a sight, but with children it earns a half day. The adventure pool opens weekdays 06:30 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 19:00, weekends 07:30 to 19:00; the 50 m pool and training pool are closed for maintenance from 1 September with no end date given. Adults pay SEK 95 on weekdays and SEK 115 at weekends and on holidays, children aged 4 to 15 SEK 75 and SEK 95, and the youngest go free.
Getting around
From Arlanda, walk to Arlanda C under SkyCity between terminals 4 and 5 and take the UL commuter train: 18 minutes to Uppsala C. Swedavia charges a station fee of SEK 157 at Arlanda C unless it is included in your ticket, so check before you buy. UL bus 801 from terminals 2 to 5 is the alternative at about 50 minutes. From Stockholm, SL commuter trains, SJ and Mälartåg all serve Uppsala in 30 to 50 minutes depending on which you pick. Drivers take the E4 north and leave at exit 186 from Stockholm or Arlanda, or exit 188 coming south from Gävle.
In town you will mostly walk. For Gamla Uppsala, Fyrishov and the airport, UL runs the buses and the local trains, and one ticket is valid across its whole traffic area, whatever the distance. A single ticket is valid for 75 minutes and costs SEK 40; a 24-hour ticket is SEK 140 and a 72-hour ticket SEK 280, with reduced fares at SEK 30, 105 and 210. These are the prices from 1 July 2026 and they cover city buses, regional buses, Mälartåg trains to Sala, Gävle and Arlanda–Märsta, and the SL shuttle between Uppsala, Knivsta and Arlanda. Two museum days and an airport run make the day ticket pay for itself.
Where to stay by area
Around Uppsala C is the practical choice for a one-night stop: you step off the Arlanda or Stockholm train, and the cathedral quarter is a short walk. Sleep near the cathedral and Gustavianum if you want the old university streets outside the door in the evening and the museums before the crowds; this is also where the treasury and the castle are closest. For families spending time at Fyrishov, look along the bus routes towards Idrottsgatan rather than paying centre prices. If your main goal is Gamla Uppsala, a base near Vaksala torg puts you at the stop for bus 2. Wherever you sleep, one UL day ticket covers the lot.
Day trips
Gamla Uppsala. The Royal Mounds were raised in the sixth century AD and you can walk among them. Gamla Uppsala museum, run by Upplandsmuseet, explains the finds: SEK 150 for adults, SEK 120 for students and seniors, free up to 19. It opens daily 11:00 to 17:00 from May to September and Wednesday to Sunday 12:00 to 16:00 from October to April. Cycle out in summer; in winter take the bus.
Linnaeus’ Hammarby. Linnaeus’ country estate is 15 km south-east of town. The 2026 season is 14 May to 20 September, with the fullest hours from 23 June to 31 August, Tuesday to Sunday 11:00 to 17:00. Pair it with the Linnaeus Garden and you have his whole working life in one day.
Stockholm. With trains every direction at 30 to 50 minutes, the capital is a day trip in its own right; our Stockholm guide covers what to do there.