Where to stay in Uppsala — pick the right hotel, book in 3 clicks
Uppsala is the oldest university town in the Nordic countries and Sweden's fourth-largest city, sitting just 40 minutes north of Stockholm by train. It blends a youthful, café-filled student energy with more than a thousand years of history. Here you'll find Scandinavia's tallest cathedral (118.7m), a pink hilltop castle, a university founded in 1477, and — most strikingly — Gamla Uppsala, the ancient Viking burial mounds that were once the spiritual and political heart of the Norse world. Stroll the banks of the Fyris River, take a proper Swedish fika with a warm cinnamon bun, and soak up an old town that feels both calm and alive at the same time.
Why stay in Uppsala
A legendary cathedral
Uppsala Domkyrka is the tallest Gothic cathedral in Scandinavia (118.7m). Inside lie the tombs of King Gustav Vasa and the world-famous botanist Carl Linnaeus. Entry is free.
Walk in Viking footsteps
Gamla Uppsala holds some 300 burial mounds from the pre-Viking and Viking ages, including three colossal royal mounds. It was a great center of worship for Odin, Thor and Freyr.
A living student city
Home to the oldest university in the Nordics, the city brims with cafés, bookshops, the historic student nation system, and the Valborg (Walpurgis) festival when students toss their white caps.
Birthplace of modern botany
The Linnaeus Garden (founded 1655) and the Carolina Rediviva library, home to the 1,500-year-old Silver Bible — listed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.
Pick an area first — where to stay in Uppsala
Location is the single most important thing about a hotel — choose the right area first, then pick the hotel
City Centre / FjärdingenThe oldest part of town — cobblestone streets along the Fyris River, with the cathedral, castle and university all within a 10-minute walk. Ideal for first-timers.
Coming soonLuthagenAn upscale residential area just off the centre, known for handsome architecture, cozy cafés and good restaurants with a calm, authentic feel.
Coming soonKungsängenA revitalised former industrial district east of the river — modern buildings, riverside walkways and a contemporary edge, close to the central station.
Coming soonNear Central StationBest for onward travel to and from Stockholm and Arlanda Airport. Convenient and home to several reliable chain hotels.
Coming soonRanked reviews — find your ideal stay in Uppsala
Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then explore food and sights
We're rolling out Uppsala stay reviews — meanwhile search Uppsala hotels across all 3 sites now
Local dishes to try in Uppsala
- 1🍖
Köttbullar
Classic Swedish meatballs served with creamy mashed potato, gravy and tart lingonberry jam — the national comfort dish you have to try.
📍 Main dish - 2🐟
Gravlax
Salmon cured with salt, sugar and dill, sliced thin and served with a mustard-dill sauce and crispbread — delicate and quintessentially Nordic.
📍 Cured salmon - 3🥔
Raggmunk
Crispy fried potato pancakes served with pork belly and lingonberry jam — simple, hearty Swedish home cooking.
📍 Home cooking - 4🥮
Kanelbulle
The famous cardamom-scented cinnamon bun topped with pearl sugar — the essential partner to fika. Güntherska is renowned for the best in town.
📍 Sweet treat - 5☕
Fika
More than coffee — it's the Swedish ritual of pausing for a hot drink and a pastry. A student town like Uppsala is the perfect place to experience it.
📍 Coffee culture - 6🎂
Prinsesstårta
The princess cake — sponge layered with cream and jam under a signature dome of green marzipan, found in every bakery in town.
📍 Sweet treat
- 1⛪
Uppsala Cathedral (Domkyrka)
Scandinavia's tallest Gothic cathedral, its twin spires dominating the skyline. Inside rest King Gustav Vasa and Carl Linnaeus. Free to enter.
📍 Landmark - 2🛡️
Gamla Uppsala
Around 300 ancient burial mounds 4km north of the centre, with a museum explaining the pre-Viking kings and Norse worship. Allow 2–3 hours.
📍 Viking history - 3🏰
Uppsala Castle (Slott)
A pink castle perched on a hill with the best panoramic views over the old city, housing an art museum and Swedish royal history.
📍 Castle - 4🌿
The Linnaeus Garden
Sweden's first botanical garden (1655), with around 1,000 species arranged by Linnaeus's own system. Open May–September.
📍 Botanical garden - 5📜
Carolina Rediviva
Sweden's oldest university library, home to the Silver Bible (Codex Argenteus), a 6th-century manuscript on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.
📍 Library - 6🔬
Gustavianum
The university's oldest building, famous for its 17th-century Anatomical Theatre and collections spanning the pharaohs to the Vikings.
📍 Museum - 7🌳
Stadsträdgården (City Garden)
A riverside park perfect for picnics and relaxing, with open-air cafés, flowers and summer events along the Fyris River.
📍 Park - 8🚣
Fyris River (Fyrisån)
The river winding through the heart of town — riverside walks and waterfront cafés that define Uppsala's old-town atmosphere.
📍 Scenery
Things to do in Uppsala
Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for Uppsala — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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3 Uppsala hotels our team picked for you
Selected from real reviews — one per budget tier, each with a score and instant 3-site price comparison
★ 9.4Upper-mid
★ 8.7Upper-mid
★ 8.7Valueโรงแรมแนะนำทั้งหมดในUppsala
ครบทุกระดับงบ — คัดจากคะแนนรีวิวจริง พร้อมเทียบราคา 3 เว็บ
Radisson Blu Hotel Uppsala
Upscale, by the central station, top breakfast
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🚆 Getting around Uppsala
Stockholm Arlanda Airport
Stockholm's main airport is only ~35km south. Direct trains from the airport reach Uppsala in about 18 minutes.
Train to Stockholm
Very frequent service (nearly 60 trains a day) runs to Stockholm Central in around 40 minutes — easy as a day trip in either direction.
UL city buses
The UL network covers city buses and regional trains. A single ticket works across Uppsala and all the way to Arlanda Airport.
Walking the centre
The compact centre puts the cathedral, castle, university and river all within a 10–15 minute walk of each other.
Paying & tickets
Sweden is nearly cashless — cards and contactless work everywhere. Buy UL tickets easily via the app; single fares start at a few hundred kronor.
Where to go next near Uppsala
StockholmSweden's capital on 14 islands — Gamla Stan, the Vasa ship, art-filled metro, the archipelago, and Scandinavian design.
See this city's guide →
GothenburgSweden's laid-back second city — Liseberg amusement park, old canals, fresh seafood and a serious cafe culture, all on the breezy west coast.
See this city's guide →
MalmöA guide to where to stay and what to do in Malmö, Sweden's southern coastal city, home to the Turning Torso, a Renaissance old town, multicultural neighbourhoods and the gateway to Copenhagen.
See this city's guide →Frequently asked — where to stay in Uppsala
How do I get to Uppsala from Stockholm, and how long does it take?+
Very easily — trains from Stockholm Central reach Uppsala in about 40 minutes, running roughly hourly throughout the day. From Arlanda Airport it's even closer at around 18 minutes, so it works well as a day trip or an overnight base.
Where should I stay in Uppsala?+
First-timers should aim for the City Centre / Fjärdingen, within walking distance of the cathedral, castle and river. For a calmer, stylish vibe choose Luthagen, while travellers needing easy onward connections will prefer staying near the central station or in Kungsängen.
When is the best time to visit Uppsala?+
May to September is best — mild weather, long daylight, and the Linnaeus Garden and Gamla Uppsala fully open. Visit in late April to catch Valborg (Walpurgis Night), when the whole student city celebrates and tosses its white caps.
Ready to book your Uppsala stay?
Start with the 3 hotels our team picked, or search all 3 sites — always compare before booking