Uppsala countryside

The Uppsala countryside is the part of Uppsala municipality, Uppsala kommun, outside metropolitan Uppsala itself. Some 60,000 people live in Uppsala's suburbs and surrounding villages.

Settlements

North and west

• Bälinge
• Björklinge
• Storvreta
• Vattholma
• Örbyhus
• Skyttorp
• Vänge

East

• Gunsta
• Sunnersta
• Sävja
• Almunge
• Knutby
• Skoby

Understand

The plain around Uppsala is among Sweden's most fertile farmlands. Today, most villages are effectively suburbs of Uppsala.

Get in

• UL, Uppsala County's transport company, operates bus lines to most settlements. Upptåget is a local train, which calls at Uppsala, Storvreta, Vattholma, and Skyttorp.

Get around

• Lennakatten is a heritage railway.

Uppsala is famous for its good bicycle infrastructure, and most suburbs are within a few kilometres. The whole municipality is flat, and most roads are paved. An ambitious cyclist can reach the outer settlements within one or two hours.

While the UL buses are reliable, driving is usually the most practical way to get around the countryside (see driving in Sweden).

See

The building which contains the remaining fragments of the Stones of Mora

The Uppsala countryside is dotted by runestones and other archaeological sites from the Viking Age. Most are small, and not always easy to find.

• 1 Bennebol. One of the many industrial heritages in Uppsala's countryside. 
• 2 Järsta gård (Brogården, Uppsala countryside). In the Madicken films, this house was a stand-in for Junibacken. See also Astrid Lindgren tourism. 
• 3 Linnaeus's Hammarby. May & Sep F-Su 11-17, Jun-Aug Tu-Su 11-17. A botanical garden, once run by Carl von Linné, founder of taxonomic biology. Today it is used as a museum for 18th century biology and farming. Guided tours in English at 12.30. 80 kr.  
• 4 Linnaeus's Sävja, Carl von Linnés väg 3 (Next to Sävja church), ☏ +46 70-5169095. Another farm which was owned by Linné. While Hammarby was used for work and social relations Sävja was his refuge. Today the main building is a personal museum with a summer open café. 
• 5 Stones of Mora (Mora Stenar), Östunavägen (Knivsta). The place where Swedish kings were elected from the 13th to the 15th centuries, comparable to the more known Scottish "Stone of Scone". The stones can be seen in a small building located along Östunavägen. If you use a GPS to find the location, make sure that you don't confuse it with the nearby rest area with the same name on the parallel road E4.  
• 6 Ulva Kvarn. Canoe up Fyrisån 7 km to Ulva Kvarn where you find a café and some small handicraft shops. Canoes can be rented at the Fyrishov camping. 
• 7 Modelljärnvägens hus (House of Model Railways) (Söderby). A model railway museum. 

• 8 Valsgärde (3 km (1.9 mi) north of Gamla Uppsala. Follow "Vattholmavägen" north, then take a left at the "Valsgärde" road sign.). At the bank of Fyris River, there is a small moraine hill which does not look like much to the eye. However, it covers one of the most important Viking-era archaeological sites ever excavated. Between the 5th and 11th centuries AD, this site was used as a burial site. Archaeologists have discovered some 90 graves, including 15 lavish boat burials. Since the same site was used continuously for such a long time period, archaeologists use its findings to compare how the same culture developed over time. Today, there are no noticeable remnants at the site. These can be found at the University museum Gustavianum, in central Uppsala. However, you can still visit Valsgärde to appreciate its beautiful landscape and historical atmosphere. (updated Sep 2018)

• 9 Predikstolen. A Bronze Age fortress.  
• 10 Tensta church (Uppsala countryside). A church built around AD 1300, remarkable for its mural paintings. Among other things, they tell the life story of Saint Bridget (Heliga Birgitta).  

Do

Around Uppsala there are several public recreational areas. 1 Fjällnora (follow road 282 17 kilometers eastward, then take a right towards "Fjällbo" and follow this road for another 3 kilometers) is a recreation area with two beaches in lakes Trehörningen and Ramsen. Beside bathing one can also fish, go kajaking or bike or hike on the nearby trails. In winter it is possible to go skiing in the trails or skating on the lakes. For 600 kr one can try the "Adventure course ", a web of ropeways, nets and suspension bridges among the treetops. Other public bathing areas are 2 Lyssnaängen in Lake Mälaren 10 kilometers south of Uppsala and 3 Storvad in Fyris River north of Old Uppsala.

• 4 Söderby Golf. 
• 5 Upsala Golfklubb. 
• The Linnaeus Trails (Linnéstigarna/Herbationes Upsalienses). Eight different hikes which were created by Carl Linnaeus as biological excursions for his students. They are a great way to experience the nature surrounding Uppsala. The trails measure from 6 (3.6 miles) to 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) one way, and are marked up by blue signposts. Seven of the hikes starts at the old city entrances, in today's city center, while the last one starts in the village of Jumkil. Four of the trails include treasure hunts. In order to join the treasure hunt you need a GPS and a folder, both of which can be collected at Biotopia (Vasagatan 4 in Uppsala). (updated Apr 2017)
• 6 Uppsala Aviation Society (Uppsala flygklubb), Sundbro 425 (Uppsala-Sundbro airport), ☏ +46 18-35 70 13, ufk.segel@gmail.com. Offers glider flying across Uppsala County. Experience Uppsala from a height of 1000 meters and try to operate the glider yourself! 1850 kr for a pre-booked 1000m flight. 700 kr for a 500m flight. (updated Apr 2017)
• 7 Borgardalsbadet. (updated May 2021)
• 8 Fjällnorabadet. (updated May 2021)
• 9 Hosjöbadet. (updated May 2021)
• 10 Fjällnora naturistbad (follow road 282 17 km (11 mi) eastward, then take a right towards "Fjällbo" and follow this road for another 3 km (1.9 mi)). A recreation area with two beaches in lakes Trehörningen and Ramsen. Besides bathing, you can also fish, go kayaking or bike or hike on the trails scattered around the area. In winter, it is possible to go skiing on the trails or skating on the lakes. (updated May 2021)
• 11 Hammarskogsbadet (take bus 108 and get off at the bus stop "Hammarskogs herrgård"). A recreation area some 10 km (6.2 mi) south west of central Uppsala. You can fish, bathe, or skate on lake Mälaren, or hike or ski around the local tracks. The site is also popular among ornithologists. (updated May 2021)
  • Go Adventure "Adventure course", info@goadventure.se, ☏ +46 18-12 18 00. Open for pre-booked groups of at least 5 people Sunday to Friday and for single visitors on Saturdays May to September at 12:30. A web of ropeways, nets and suspension bridges among the treetops. 400 kr (single ticket) 600 kr (per person in pre-booked group). 
  • The old 12 Hammarskog mansion, ☏ +46 18-727 06 08. Sa Su 10:00-16:00. Built in the 14th century, it has been rebuilt into a cafe.  
  • Rowing boats can be rented at the mansion during weekends or at the carpentry (+46 18-727 03 96) during weekdays.
• 13 Lafsenbadet. (updated May 2021)
• 14 Lyssnaängsbadet (take bus 11 towards Gottsunda. Get off at the station "Lyssnavägen"). A public bathing area in Lake Mälaren by the southern outskirts of Uppsala, some 10 km (6.2 mi) from the city centre. (updated May 2021)
• 15 Måviksbadet. (updated May 2021)
• 16 Näsuddsbadet. (updated May 2021)
• 17 Nya Vårdsätrabadet. (updated May 2021)
• 18 Sandviksbadet. (updated May 2021)
• 19 Siggeforasjön. (updated May 2021)
• 20 Skyttorpsbadet. (updated May 2021)
• 21 Storvadsbadet (500 m north of Old Uppsala). A public bathing area in Fyris River, some 6 km (3.7 mi) north of the city centre. The site is handicap-accessible and offers public restrooms, and has an adjacent area where you can bathe your dog. (updated May 2021)
• 22 Storvretabadet. (updated May 2021)
• 23 Sunnerstabadet. (updated May 2021)
• 24 Södersjöbadet. (updated May 2021)
• 25 Testenbadet. (updated May 2021)
• 26 Ulvabadet. (updated May 2021)
• 27 Vårdsätrabadet. (updated May 2021)
• 28 Wikbadet (by Wiks slott, 20 km (12 mi) SW of Uppsala; 30 minutes from Uppsala by bus 108). A bathing area in the beautiful area of Wiks slott, equipped with a bridge, diving tower and a café. (updated May 2021)

Buy

• 1 Thun's. A discount store. 

Eat

• 1 Salsta slott. 
• 2 Skarholmen. 
• 3 Länna Bruk. 
• 4 Hammarskog. 

Drink

While the countryside hotels have occasional nightlife events, the action is in Uppsala itself.

Sleep

• 1 Wiks slott. 
• 2 Eurest Viktoria. 
• 3 Gamla Gränome. 
• 4 Odalgården, ☏ +46 18 666600, info@odalgarden.se. (updated Apr 2017)
• 5 Fyrväpplingen Fiskecamp, Fyrväpplingen 12 (Knutby), ☏ +46 5404-7139, info@fyrvapplingen.se. Check-in: 14.00, check-out: 12.00. A camping area located near four different lakes, with a lot of opportunities for fishing, swimming and foraging. A service house on the site offers WC, showers and facilities for dish-washing. If you sleep in the cabins you are required to bring your own bedclothes or sleeping bag. In 2018 it was named one of the best campsites in Europe by the Guardian. A camping lot is 100 kr, cabins range from 600 to 2000 kr for the first night and an 400 to 1500 kr for additional nights. (updated Apr 2018)

Stay safe

While crime is less of an issue in the countryside, weather can get harsh on the plains, with occasional blizzards in winter. Beware of animal collisions; both livestock and wildlife.

Go next

• Uppsala itself.
• Uppsala County:
  • Enköping with Skokloster Palace.
  • Tierp and Älvkarleby are part of Roslagen; the Baltic Sea coast.
  • Knivsta, with history back to the Viking Age.
• Stockholm County, with Sigtuna municipality
• Uppland history tour, describing the cradle of Sweden, from Vendel to Stockholm