Travel back in time to learn about the vikings in this beautiful swedish town – Uppsala. A nice day trip option from Stockholm, follow my guide for a perfect one day in Uppsala.

Getting to Uppsala

There is a direct train from T-Centralen in Stockholm to Uppsala. The slightly confusing part about this journey is that you need a combo SL + UL ticket because it crosses out of the Stockholm public transit system and into the Uppsala one – so you need passes for both. You can buy this combo ticket in the UL app or at ticket machines at the station.

We arrived at Uppsala station at about 9:30 am and headed into the town. 

First stop – coffee!

Time to fuel up for the day. There are many cute cafes in the downtown area of Uppsala Arrenius & Company is highly ranked for their coffee – but there isn’t any seating. If you want to sit and enjoy – I’d recommend somewhere by the river like Café Årummet or Café Linné. 

Start Your Tour – Uppsala Cathedral (Uppsala Domkyrka)

This is a beautiful French-Gothic cathedral and Scandinavia’s largest church. The structure is stunning from the outside and even more stunning on the inside. You can go in for free and check out some of the key features such as Gustav Vasa’s tomb, Saint Erik’s Shrine, The Chapel of the Vasa Kings, Carl Linnaeus Memorial. Take your time to marvel at the medieval frescos and beautiful interior.

Next Stop: Carolina Rediviva & the Codex Argenteus

Just up the street from the cathedral, walk to the Carolina Rediviva, the 19th-century crown jewel of Uppsala University. Here, scholars have studied since 1477, and the star of the show is the Codex Argenteus (“Silver Bible”). Check the hours to make sure it is open – when we went, it actually wasn’t open so we didn’t get to go in and see this.

Grab some Lunch:

You have to decide if you want to eat lunch in town where there are plenty of restaurant options or in Gamla (“old”) Uppsala at the Odinsborg Café & Restaurang.

If you’re going to make your way to Gamla Uppsala, you’ll need to take the bus. You’ll need to buy tickets on the UL app and take the local bus up to Gamla Uppsala.

Odinsborg Café & Restaurang is a nice little cafe in Gamla Uppsala that could be a perfect stop for lunch.

Afternoon in Gamla Uppsala:

Spend your afternoon exploring Gamla Uppsala, which is a tiny historical town that is mostly made up of the museum, the royal mounds, and the church.

Old Uppsala Museum:

Start your afternoon at the Old Uppsala Museum, with admission costing ~$16pp. This is a well-curated and interactive museum that teaches you about the vikings and the history of the area. We did a free guided tour of the museum and learned so much – I highly recommend the guided tour if you can.

Old Uppsala Archaeological Park:

Then spend an hour wandering around the royal mounds in the archaeological park. These three massive burial mounds date to the 5th and 6th centuries and are believed to be the resting places of legendary Norse kings. There are walking trails around the mounds and you can explore the old church as well.

Back to Central Uppsala:

Take the bus back to central Uppsala. If you have time you can check out Botanical Garden or Linnaeus Garden. These gardens are ideal for a slow stroll, an afternoon snack, or just killing some time.

Head back to Stockholm:

Check the UL app for your train back to Stockholm. Make sure you leave plenty of time to get on the train on time and make your way back to Stockholm!

Any comments, ideas, or suggestions – leave a comment below!