Uppsala day trip from Stockholm: cathedral, university & Viking mounds
Stockholm: full-day small-group Viking culture tour to Uppsala
Duration: 8–9 hours
Is Uppsala worth a day trip from Stockholm?
Yes — Uppsala is Stockholm's best full-day trip. In 38 minutes by train you reach Scandinavia's tallest cathedral (with Linnaeus and Gustav Vasa's tombs), Scandinavia's oldest university (1477), and Gamla Uppsala's massive Viking Age burial mounds 3 km north. Ofvandahl's Konditori (open since 1878) is one of Sweden's best traditional cafés. Budget a full day; there is more here than most visitors expect.
Uppsala: the best full day trip from Stockholm
Uppsala punches well above its size — a city of 230,000 with Scandinavia’s tallest cathedral, the continent’s oldest university still on its original site, a castle, and, 3 km to the north, some of the most significant Viking Age burial monuments in existence. It is the kind of place where the density of historically important sites is difficult to predict from outside: visitors expecting a pleasant Swedish provincial city often find themselves overwhelmed by content.
This is the day trip you do if you have one full day to leave Stockholm.
Getting there
By train (recommended)
SJ regional trains run Stockholm Central Station to Uppsala Central approximately every 30 minutes throughout the day. The journey takes 38 minutes. Tickets cost approximately 70–110 SEK each way depending on how far in advance you book; last-minute purchase on the platform is more expensive than online booking.
The train deposits you at Uppsala Central, a 10-minute walk from the cathedral.
Note: The commuter Pendeltåg also runs Stockholm–Uppsala but takes 55 minutes and is less comfortable for this distance. The SJ regional train is the correct option.
Organised day tours
Book the full-day Viking culture tour to Uppsala Book the Uppsala and Sigtuna combined 8-hour tourGuided day tours to Uppsala typically include transport, guided walking of the key sites, and sometimes entry to Gamla Uppsala museum. The Viking culture tour specifically covers Uppsala’s pre-Christian history alongside the medieval cathedral.
Uppsala Cathedral
Uppsala Domkyrka is the largest and tallest church in Scandinavia — 118 metres from ground to the top of the spires, and begun in 1270 on the instructions of Archbishop Folke Johansson Ängel. The building took 150 years to complete and has undergone several major modifications since.
Inside, the cathedral is remarkable for several reasons:
Gustav Vasa’s tomb: The king who broke Sweden from the Danish-dominated Kalmar Union and established the Swedish Reformation is buried here, in an elaborate Renaissance monument with his two wives. If you have any interest in Scandinavian political history, standing at this tomb has a particular weight.
Carl Linnaeus’s grave: The botanist who invented the binomial nomenclature system that all scientific taxonomy still uses is buried in the cathedral floor, with a simple marble slab. The cathedral also holds a small Linnaeus display.
The Baroque ceiling: The 19th-century restoration paintings on the nave ceiling are overwhelming in scale and colour. Photographing them requires standing still and pointing the camera upward.
Saint Erik’s shrine: The relics of King Erik (Sweden’s patron saint, murdered in 1160) were kept here until the Reformation. The shrine itself — a heavily ornamented medieval reliquary — is now in the cathedral treasury.
Entry to the cathedral is free. Opening hours are typically 08:00–17:00 (later in summer, earlier in winter). The treasury has a small entry fee.
Uppsala University and the city centre
Uppsala University’s main area occupies the high ground above the city centre. Key sites:
Gustavianum: The university’s original 17th-century main building, housing a museum. The highlight is the anatomical theatre on the top floor — a circular room with tiered seating surrounding a central dissection table, preserved essentially as it was built in 1663. It is one of the oldest surviving anatomical theatres in the world and gives a visceral sense of how 17th-century medicine worked.
Carolina Rediviva: The university library, housing the Codex Argenteus (Silver Bible) — a 6th-century Gothic manuscript written in silver and gold ink on purple parchment. The manuscript is one of the primary records of the Gothic language and among the most visually extraordinary medieval books in existence. Free to view in the dedicated display case.
The university main building: The 19th-century neoclassical main building on Universitetshuset hill overlooks the city and is architecturally impressive. Open for general visiting.
The Linnaeus connection
Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778) studied at Uppsala University and later became professor of botany here. His home, now preserved as the Linnémuseet, is located near the cathedral. The Linnéträdgården (Linnaeus Garden) behind the museum was Linnaeus’s working garden, now restored to approximate its 18th-century layout with the plants Linnaeus used for teaching and research.
Both the museum and the garden are worth 45–60 minutes combined. The garden is particularly pleasant in summer when in full flower.
Gamla Uppsala: the burial mounds
Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala) is 3 km north of the city centre — reachable by bus (route 2 from Uppsala city centre, approximately 10 minutes) or by a pleasant bicycle ride along the riverside path.
The three Kungshögarna (Royal Mounds) — each approximately 9 metres high and 60 metres in diameter — date from the 5th and 6th centuries AD. Archaeological investigation has confirmed that they are burial mounds, almost certainly for Svea kings. The surrounding area has produced some of the richest archaeological finds in Sweden’s pre-Viking history.
The Gamla Uppsala Museum sits next to the mounds with excellent interpretation of the site’s history and the objects recovered from excavations. A medieval church (built over an older pagan temple site) is still in active use adjacent to the mounds.
The site is free to walk. The museum charges a small entry fee. Allow 2 hours for the round trip including time at the mounds.
Ofvandahl’s Konditori — the fika stop
Sysslomansgatan 5, Uppsala city centre.
Ofvandahl’s Hofkonditori has been operating since 1878. The interior is extraordinary: carved wood panels, marble-topped tables, tiered glass pastry cases with daily-made Swedish pastries, the accumulated patina of 150 years of café operation. The cinnamon buns are among the best in the Uppsala-Stockholm region.
Plan your visit for mid-morning (around 10:00–11:00) or mid-afternoon (14:30–15:30) — the traditional fika windows. The café fills up but rarely has an unbearable queue.
Uppsala Castle
Uppsala Castle sits on the hill above the cathedral, built by Gustav Vasa in the 16th century. The current structure is partially 18th century after a fire destroyed much of the original. Uppsala County Museum occupies part of the building. The outdoor terraces offer good views over the cathedral spires and city.
Worth a brief visit if you have time, but lower priority than the cathedral, Gustavianum, and Gamla Uppsala if time is limited.
Suggested day itinerary
08:00–08:38: Train from Stockholm Central to Uppsala.
09:00–10:30: Uppsala Cathedral (free, thorough visit). Treasury visit (optional, 60 SEK).
10:30–11:00: Fika at Ofvandahl’s Konditori.
11:00–12:30: Gustavianum museum (anatomical theatre + Carolina Rediviva Silver Bible).
12:30–13:30: Lunch in the city centre (several good options on Fyristorg and surrounding streets).
13:30–15:30: Bus to Gamla Uppsala (route 2, 10 min) — burial mounds and museum. Bus back.
15:30–16:30: Linnéträdgården and Linnémuseet (optional based on remaining time and interest).
17:00–18:00: Train from Uppsala Central to Stockholm.
Total active sightseeing time: approximately 7 hours.
Practical information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Train time | 38 minutes (SJ regional) |
| Train cost | ~70–110 SEK each way |
| Frequency | Every 30 minutes |
| Cathedral entry | Free |
| Gustavianum | ~100 SEK |
| Gamla Uppsala Museum | ~80 SEK |
| Best for | History, architecture, university culture |
| Season | Year-round |
Frequently asked questions about Uppsala day trip
How do I get from Stockholm to Uppsala by train?
SJ regional trains from Stockholm Central to Uppsala take 38 minutes, approximately every 30 minutes. Cost: 70–110 SEK each way. Book online for best prices.
How much time do I need in Uppsala?
A full day is ideal. Minimum meaningful visit: 4 hours for the cathedral and university area. Include Gamla Uppsala burial mounds by adding 2 more hours.
What are the Gamla Uppsala burial mounds?
Three massive Viking Age burial mounds from the 5th–6th century, almost certainly the graves of Svea kings. Located 3 km north of Uppsala city centre, accessible by bus. Some of the most significant pre-Christian burial monuments in Scandinavia.
What is Uppsala University famous for?
Scandinavia’s oldest university (1477), associated with Carl Linnaeus and Anders Celsius. The Gustavianum has a preserved 17th-century anatomical theatre and houses the Gothic Codex Argenteus manuscript.
What is Ofvandahl’s Konditori?
Uppsala’s oldest café (since 1878), one of Sweden’s best traditional konditori. Excellent cinnamon buns and Swedish pastries in a beautifully preserved 19th-century interior.
Frequently asked questions about Uppsala day trip from Stockholm
How do I get from Stockholm to Uppsala by train?
SJ regional trains (red trains, not commuter trains) run Stockholm Central to Uppsala Central approximately every 30 minutes, taking 38 minutes. Tickets cost approximately 70–110 SEK each way depending on booking time. Commuter trains (Pendeltåg) also run this route but take longer (about 55 minutes) and require changing at Uppsala station. The SJ regional train is the recommended option.How much time do I need in Uppsala?
A full day (08:00–20:00) is ideal. Minimum meaningful visit: 4 hours covering the cathedral and university area. To include Gamla Uppsala (3 km north, with the burial mounds), add 2 more hours. To include the Linné Museum and garden, add 1–2 hours. A rushed half-day visit misses too much.What are the Gamla Uppsala burial mounds?
The Gamla Uppsala mounds are three massive Viking Age burial mounds from approximately the 5th–6th century AD, located 3 km north of Uppsala city centre. They are among the largest pre-Christian burial monuments in Scandinavia and were almost certainly the burial sites of Svea kings. The location also has the remains of Uppsala's original cathedral (before it was moved to the current city) and a museum. The scale of the mounds is striking in person — they rise 9 metres above the surrounding flat farmland.What is Uppsala University famous for?
Uppsala University (founded 1477) is Scandinavia's oldest university. Carl Linnaeus studied and later taught here, developing the binomial nomenclature system for classifying plants and animals. Anders Celsius (Celsius temperature scale) was a professor here. The university's main building (Gustavianum) houses a museum including a 17th-century anatomical theatre — one of the oldest surviving in the world. The Carolina Rediviva university library holds the Codex Argenteus (Silver Bible), one of the most important Gothic manuscripts.What is Ofvandahl's Konditori and is it worth visiting?
Ofvandahl's Hofkonditori has been operating in Uppsala since 1878, making it one of Sweden's oldest continuously operating cafés. The interior is a time-capsule of Swedish café culture: carved wood, marble tables, tiered pastry cases. The cinnamon buns and other Swedish pastries are made daily and are among the best in the Uppsala-Stockholm region. Worth building into your Uppsala visit specifically.
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