Uppsala

Uppsala is a compact university city just north of Stockholm where medieval spires, royal history, and centuries of academic life sit comfortably side by side. Catching a FlixBus to Uppsala puts you right in the middle of it all with very little fuss. There are far more things to do in Uppsala than a single day can hold, so it's well worth giving yourself time to explore properly.

Historic sites

Uppsala Cathedral is the largest church in Scandinavia and the first thing that pulls your eyes upward as you arrive in the city centre. Construction began in the late 13th century and took roughly 150 years to complete, which means you're reading centuries of architectural ambition in a single façade. Inside, the tombs of King Gustav Vasa and botanist Carl Linnaeus give the space a weight that goes well beyond Sunday services.

Uppsala Castle sits on a ridge above the city and has been at the centre of Swedish political life since the 16th century. Gustav Vasa ordered its construction, and the building later witnessed the abdication of Queen Christina in 1654, one of the more dramatic moments in Swedish royal history. Today it houses the Uppsala Art Museum and the County Governor's residence, and the views from the castle hill over the cathedral and rooftops are worth the short climb alone.

Gamla Uppsala – Royal Burial Mounds & Museum lies a few kilometres north of the city centre and rewards the short Uppsala bus ride or cycle out there. Three enormous grass-covered mounds mark the burial sites of ancient Scandinavian kings, dating back to around the 5th and 6th centuries. The adjacent museum unpacks the mythology, archaeology, and ritual significance of the site in a way that makes the landscape feel genuinely alive rather than just old.

Uppsala University buildings

Uppsala University Main Building anchors the heart of the city with its grand 19th-century façade and ceremonial Aula Magna. Founded in 1477, Uppsala University is the oldest in Scandinavia, and this building, opened in 1887, reflects the ambition of an institution that has shaped Swedish intellectual life for centuries. Even if you're not attending a lecture, walking through the central hall and out onto the terrace gives a real sense of the city's academic identity.

Carolina Rediviva – University Library holds one of Sweden's most important collections of manuscripts and rare books, including the Codex Argenteus, a 6th-century Gothic Bible written in silver ink on purple parchment. The reading rooms are open to visitors, and the permanent display of the Codex alone makes a stop here worthwhile. It's a quieter experience than the main university building, but arguably a more intimate one.

Gustavianum – Uppsala University Museum occupies the university's oldest surviving building, constructed between 1622 and 1625. Its most striking feature is the anatomical theatre at the very top of the building, a circular room where public dissections were once performed for students and curious onlookers alike. The museum's collections span Egyptian antiquities, Viking-age artefacts, and the history of scientific discovery at Uppsala.

Gardens

Uppsala University Botanical Garden spreads across a generous plot near the castle and offers a calm counterpoint to the city's historic monuments. The garden is divided into themed sections covering everything from medicinal plants to tropical species housed in the Orangery greenhouse. It's a working research garden as much as a public space, which gives it a purposeful atmosphere that purely decorative gardens sometimes lack.

Linnaeus Garden & Museum is the reconstructed 18th-century garden where Carl Linnaeus, the botanist who gave the world its system for naming species, lived and worked while teaching at Uppsala University. The plants are arranged according to his own classification system, which turns a pleasant garden stroll into something closer to a living textbook. The adjacent house where Linnaeus lived has been preserved as a museum.

Museums and galleries

Upplandsmuseet – Regional Museum tells the story of Uppsala and the surrounding Uppland region from prehistoric times to the present day, with collections covering folk art, archaeology, and everyday life across the centuries. It's housed in a former mill building beside the Fyris River, and the setting adds to the appeal. Entry is free, which makes it an easy addition to any day in the city.

Bror Hjorth Museum is a studio museum housed in the former home and workplace of Swedish artist Bror Hjorth (1894–1968), located next to the Botanical Garden. The rooms are filled with his paintings, sculptures, and sketches, giving you the rare experience of seeing an artist's output in the exact space where it was created. A small gallery wing hosts temporary exhibitions by other artists, keeping the programme fresh throughout the year.

Uppsala rewards slow travel. Take the bus to Uppsala, spend a couple of days working through its layers of history and culture, and let FlixBus handle the logistics so you can focus on the city itself.

Looking for bus tickets from or to Uppsala?

Look no further, we’ve got all the details you need to plan your bus trip from or to Uppsala! There are 3 bus stops in Uppsala.You can catch the FlixBus at Uppsala (Stationsgatan), Uppsala Business Park Södra, Uppsala Gränby, Circle K Truckdiesel. Departing from or traveling to Uppsala can cost as little as 4,98 €. You have various options to organize your bus trip as Uppsala is connected to 54 destinations with FlixBus. When you travel with FlixBus you're guaranteed a comfortable seat and complimentary access to our Wi-Fi throughout your journey. Stay connected and entertained while we take you to your destination!