In Uppsala Cathedral, the Treasury takes you from a medieval festive garment and Renaissance vestments to royal burial regalia and Gustav Vasa’s sword. The collection brings together diverse historical artefacts. As the display may change, it is advisable to check the current exhibition information before your visit. The cathedral is also the burial church for members of the royal family and nobility, as well as for scholars. Services are held there daily; times may vary.
Church and University History
The Gustavianum also tells the story of Uppsala as a university city. It is the university’s oldest surviving building. Under the direction of Olof Rudbeck the Elder, an anatomical theatre was built there in 1662–1663. Since 1997, the Gustavianum has been a public museum housing the university’s cultural history collections. They are displayed in permanent and temporary exhibitions. In this way, the history of the building’s architecture meets a collection whose exhibitions explore different aspects of university culture.
Castle, Art and Garden
Uppsala Castle was begun by Gustav Vasa in the 1540s. Today, the castle is the residence of the County Governor and houses museums and other institutions. Since 2004, the public has been able to visit the original Vasa Castle and its impressive ruins; opening arrangements may vary. If you plan to visit, check the conditions in advance.
Uppsala Art Museum is located in the castle, in the centre of Uppsala. It presents modern and contemporary art across three floors. The programme also includes concerts, family activities and guided tours; it may change. A visit to the castle can therefore be combined with a look at art, so the historic rooms are not the only way to explore the city’s cultural history.
Directly west of Uppsala Castle are the Baroque Garden, the kitchen garden, the Tropical Greenhouse and the Linneanum Orangery. The garden is open year-round; individual facilities may have their own opening hours. These different features give the castle grounds a distinct focus alongside the exhibitions.
Museum and Landscape
The Upplands Museum is a cultural history museum in central Uppsala. Its exhibitions are housed in Akademikvarnen, an 18th-century building on the Fyrisån River that is designated for its cultural heritage value. The museum’s “Lilla kvarn” offers a dedicated exhibition for children. The exhibition programme may change; checking the latest information can help you plan. The children’s exhibition thus complements the museum’s cultural history perspective with a dedicated offering for younger visitors.
Stadsskogen nature reserve reveals another side of the city. It consists mainly of coniferous forest. In the north, there are rocky areas dominated by pine, while strips of swamp forest lie in the south and southwest. These differences within the reserve show that Stadsskogen is not defined by just one type of forest. For nature enthusiasts, comparing the landscape areas described here offers a distinct perspective on Uppsala.
A Memory in the Name
The name Eriksleden also carries a historical memory: it derives from the procession in which the relics of Saint Erik were once carried. The name’s history thus points to a religious tradition that differs in its own way from the city’s collections and buildings.
Local Food and Getting Around
At Uppsala Saluhall, you can buy locally produced food and selected delicacies. This adds a specific look at regional food to your travel plans, alongside architecture, art and landscape.
For practical directions: Uppsala Cathedral is about a 1-kilometre walk from Uppsala Central Station, taking approximately 15 minutes. Both the distance and walking time are approximate. The cathedral, museums, castle and Stadsskogen offer different starting points for a stay, depending on whether you are particularly interested in collections, art, history or landscape.
Discover more destinations: Uppsala, Storvreta, Björklinge, Almunge, Järlåsa, Knivsta, Håbo, Tierp.
Go to the main travel overview: Uppsala.
