The city of Uppsala makes an easy day trip from Stockholm. That reason alone was one of the big reasons I chose to visit (my top choice of day trip, Stockholm’s archipelago wasn’t an option due to when I traveled), but I found there were a handful of interesting things to do in Uppsala. The city feels small, but that works out well for travelers. We can easily visit the top sights in just one day.
About Uppsala
Uppsala is a university town and is the second largest university in Sweden (behind the University of Stockholm). It’s also the fourth largest city in Sweden, but as you walk through the city, it doesn’t feel like it.
Things to Do in Uppsala
Uppsala is a city that is light on sights, but still offers a few things to pique the interest of travelers.
Uppsala Cathedral (Uppsala Domkyrkan)
It’s never a list of things to do in Europe without a cathedral, but the cathedral in Uppsala is one of my favorites that I visited in Scandinavia. Therefore, I think it’s earned its place on this list of things to do in Uppsala.
This Gothic Church was first built in 1435, with the spires and interior decorations added in the 1800s. For many faithful, the church is important, not because of the coronations of kings that happened here but because the cathedral is home to the relics of St. Erik. However, you’ll also find the final resting places for kings and scientists (like Carl Linneaus — more on him later).
Entrance to the cathedral is free.
Silver Bible and University Library Museum
I feel like the Silver Bible is what intrigues most tourists who choose to visit Uppsala. You can tour cathedrals and university towns anywhere, but the Uppsala University Library is the only place where you can see the famous Silver Bible. In fact, I’d argue that it’s the top thing to do in Uppsala.
So what is the Silver Bible? It’s a bible written in the extinct Gothic language. The writing is in silver, hence how it got its name. It’s one of only two bibles written in the Gothic language that are still known to exist. It’s these bibles that have given us insight into the Gothic language.
Admittedly, it’s hard to actually make out the writing on the Silver Bible. The pages are stained different colors and that makes the silver difficult to spot. At least, I found it difficult from my vantage point.
Aside from the Silver Bible, the University Museum also has a handful of other famous literary treasures. It owns a first edition of Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species, scores from Mozart, a first edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and more.
A visit to the University Library Museum is quick. It’s a small area, so really you only need 15 minutes to see everything, but if you’re particularly interested in first editions and literary treasures, you could probably spend a bit more time. Honestly though, I don’t think you’d need to budget more than a half hour unless you have a really deep interest in these kinds of things.
Entrance to the University Library Museum is free.
Gustavianum
The Gustavianum is the oldest surviving building on at the University of Uppsala. Now days, it’s home to a museum and anatomical theater, which can be visited by tourists.
The museum holds Viking artifacts that were found from a burial sight near the city of Uppsala. In this site (Valsgärde), the remains of 15 boat graves have been found. You’ll also find artifacts relating to the history of the University of Uppsala as well as antiquities from Ancient Greece and Egypt.
In the anatomical theater, you’ll see where students observed human dissections.
Entrance to the Gustavianum costs 150 SEK.
Linneas Garden and Museum
Have you ever wondered how we came up with a formal system to name plants and animals? You can thank Carl Linneaus. He was a professor of medicine and botany at the University of Uppsala but it was in the gardens that he came up with the system that would define plant (and animal) life.
Entrance to the Linneas Garden and Museum is 120 SEK. After 5pm, the gardens are free.
Is Uppsala Worth Visiting?
I feel that every city is worth visiting at least once, if for no other reason than to know if you enjoyed it or not. A short visit can easily have you make a judgment call about whether or not you’d consider visiting again (which is my measure for how much I enjoyed a city). Plus, you can never really be sure about a city until you visit. Some places may surprise you.
So, I am glad I visited Uppsala, but I would caution most travelers before including it on their itineraries. If you’re passing through on your way to some other destination, stop for an hour or two to see the Cathedral and the Silver Bible. If you’re traveling in the off season and looking for a day trip, this city can be a great option to spend a half day. In either of these situations, you can easily cover the top things to do in Uppsala.
However, for those who are traveling in peak season and are just looking for a day trip from Stockholm, Uppsala is not my first choice. My first choice would be touring Stockholm’s archipelago, whether that be by scenic cruise or actually spending time on one of the islands. I think that is going to be a better use of your time.
How Long Do You Need in Uppsala?
How long you need depends on what you plan to see. If your biggest goals are to see the Cathedral and the Silver Bible, you really only need about two hours. That said, if it’s a nice day, you might enjoy wandering through the town. At most though, I think you only need a half day to cover the top things to do in Uppsala.
However, if you plan to visit all four sights on this list (the Cathedral, the Silver Bible, Gustavianum, and the Linneas Garden and Museum), you should consider blocking off the whole day.
Getting to Uppsala
Trains run frequently between Stockholm Central Station and Uppsala Central Station. That said, it’s important to pay attention to which train you select as there are some big differences.
There are many trains that will take 40 minutes to get you between the two stations. Some are designated high speed rail on SJ Railways but others are regional trains. Additionally there are commuter trains that may be a bit cheaper but will take nearly 20 minutes longer.
While I normally advise buying train tickets in advance, I’ll admit that I did not purchase advance train tickets when I visited Stockholm. I booked my train ticket to Uppsala that morning and purchased a return ticket to Stockholm while standing in the Uppsala train station. While I was able to complete the journey, it wasn’t seamless and I wasn’t able to get the return train I wanted because it sold out. Luckily trains are frequent, so I took the next (slightly longer) train back to Stockholm.
Getting Around Uppsala
While I had no problem walking around Uppsala, you could always use the bus to get around. That said, at most you’ll have a twenty minute walk between Uppsala Central Station and whichever sights you choose to visit.
Final Thoughts
Uppsala can make an interesting day trip from Stockholm and during the winter months, when cruising Stockholm’s archipelago isn’t a viable option, Uppsala could take its place. That said, I found the list of things to do in Uppsala be kind of small. Therefore, I don’t think any traveler needs to budget a lot of time for this city.
Personally, I think the time when a visit makes the most sense is on a train trip that goes through Uppsala but continues on to another part of Sweden. Stop off for an hour or two, tour the cathedral and the University Library Museum, and jump back on the train to your final destination.
Continue Your Adventure
Sweden: Many trips to Sweden include stops in the capitol city of Stockholm which has numerous great sights and museums. If you’re looking for a day trip (other than Uppsala), check out Drottningholm Slott or check out my full list of the best Stockholm day trips. Don’t forget to add some time in Gothenburg. And start your trip planning with my Sweden Travel Guide.
Scandinavia: Start planning your trip to Scandinavia with this 10 Day Itinerary, featuring stops in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Check out my Scandinavia Budget for a realistic look at travel costs and budgeting tips. Plus, here’s my top tips for traveling Scandinavia.
Denmark: No visit to Denmark would be complete without spending at least one day in Copenhagen, where you can tour several churches and have some fun at Tivoli Gardens. Plus, learn more in my Denmark Travel Guide.
Norway: While so much of Norway’s beauty is found outside its cities, add a quick stop in its capital city of Oslo. Plus, check out my Norway Travel Guide.