Historical Uppsala

Outside the city, in Old (Gamla) Uppsala, there are ancient royal burial mounds that are popular with visitors (I did not get to see them on the rainy day of my visit) that still hold many mysteries, such as why were the mounds built? and why at Uppsala?

I stayed in the center of town (the burial mounds are just north of downtown), and strolled several square blocks of shops, cafes, and restaurants.

Uppsala Castle is a must-see. You can't miss it and Uppsala Cathedral facing each other on a beautiful hillside.

The Fyris River runs through the center of Uppsala, and provides scenic views of bridges, footpaths, and outdoor markets.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

Once you get to Uppsala, everything is accessable by foot or bicycle. Outside the train station, you will see oceans (thousands) of bicycles everywhere.

Uppsala Castle is a modest castle (in both size and decor) on a scenic hilltop in historical Uppsala, outside of Stockholm to the north.

Uppsala Castle was built by King Gustav Vasa (it seems like he built everything), who started construction in the mid-1500's. Uppsala Castle still dominates the landscape of the city, with nearby Uppsala Cathedral, the largest church in Scandanvia. Today, the castle is the Governor's residence, the Uppsala Art Museum, and the Hall of State.

The architectural style of the castle is modest compared to many. There are two round spires, and one of them was under restoration during my visit (October 2001). The grounds around Uppsala Castle are wooded hills that still had nice gold and red fall colors the day of my visit.

Outside the castle, there are ruins of the Gunilla bell, which still rings on occassion, and several cannons that once guarded and defended the castle.

Tours are available (about $6 for adults and $1 per child) for art and architectural history, Children's tours, and for the Art Museum. On the rainy day of my visit in late October, there was a special event, and no tours were available.

To get there, take the train from Stockholm's Central Station (T-Centralen) to Uppsala. This is a 40 minute train ride, and the one-way fare is 70 SEK (about $7). From the Uppsala train station, walk directly out the front of the station toward downtown (you will cross the Fyris River) and Uppsala Castle will soon appear at the top of a large hill. You will also see Uppsala Cathedral facing it.

Ceramic art is very popular in Uppsala, and small candle votives make great small gifts that easily fit in luggage. There are 2 shops in the old train station that have great selections.

Then there is Katarina's Jazz Pub, which was a great place to sit and rest after my full day of walking in Uppsala. There are regular trains to/from Stockholm, so have another drink, and catch the next one...