Uppsala countryside Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

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.

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

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

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

• 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.

• 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).

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

• 59.95688318.3655171 Bennebol. One of the many industrial heritages in Uppsala's countryside. 
• 60.03833317.6647222 Järsta gård (Brogården, Uppsala countryside). In the Madicken films, this house was a stand-in for Junibacken. See also Astrid Lindgren tourism. 
• 59.81743817.7760323 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.  
• 59.8197117.7014624 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. 
• 59.79777817.7808335 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.  
• 59.91348817.5741776 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. 
• 60.04702618.0357357 Modelljärnvägens hus (House of Model Railways) (Söderby). A model railway museum. 

• 59.92611117.6263898 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)

• 59.80944417.5991679 Predikstolen. A Bronze Age fortress.  
• 60.040617.671710 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).  

Around Uppsala there are several public recreational areas. 59.83456717.9178251 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 ^{[formerly dead link]} ", a web of ropeways, nets and suspension bridges among the treetops. Other public bathing areas are 59.78331417.6326972 Lyssnaängen in Lake Mälaren 10 kilometers south of Uppsala and 59.90473217.6252683 Storvad in Fyris River north of Old Uppsala.

• 59.81146117.4953344 Söderby Golf. 
• 59.84153417.4955525 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)
• 59.9217.5352786 Uppsala Aviation Society (Uppsala flygklubb), Sundbro 425 (Uppsala-Sundbro airport), ☏ +46 18-35 70 13, [email protected]. 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)
• 59.86201617.9441137 Borgardalsbadet. (updated May 2021)
• 59.8323217.911428 Fjällnorabadet. (updated May 2021)
• 59.92018218.3124229 Hosjöbadet. (updated May 2021)
• 59.83039317.91353410 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)
• 59.76373117.5759711 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", [email protected], ☏ +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 59.769417.561812 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.
• 60.02428317.8157613 Lafsenbadet. (updated May 2021)
• 59.78322217.63445414 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)
• 60.01671818.33458115 Måviksbadet. (updated May 2021)
• 59.88030117.86600516 Näsuddsbadet. (updated May 2021)
• 59.79061117.61494417 Nya Vårdsätrabadet. (updated May 2021)
• 60.02752117.57255118 Sandviksbadet. (updated May 2021)
• 59.97927117.15470119 Siggeforasjön. (updated May 2021)
• 60.07775217.75252920 Skyttorpsbadet. (updated May 2021)
• 59.90494317.62532721 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)
• 59.96106817.68838422 Storvretabadet. (updated May 2021)
• 59.78697317.6509623 Sunnerstabadet. (updated May 2021)
• 59.84826218.1192224 Södersjöbadet. (updated May 2021)
• 59.93977518.07190625 Testenbadet. (updated May 2021)
• 59.91396617.5791326 Ulvabadet. (updated May 2021)
• 59.79224417.61373527 Vårdsätrabadet. (updated May 2021)
• 59.7356417.46051528 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)

• 59.92091818.1170181 Thun's. A discount store. 

• 60.04536717.7397871 ^{[formerly dead link]} Salsta slott. 
• 59.78257217.6262652 ^{[formerly dead link]} Skarholmen. 
• 59.87260517.9626493 Länna Bruk. 
• 59.76937317.5618824 Hammarskog. 

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

• 59.73618917.4617391 Wiks slott. 
• 59.84598917.7147352 Eurest Viktoria. 
• 59.99125617.9625023 Gamla Gränome. 
• 59.83785617.8771164 Odalgården, ☏ +46 18 666600, [email protected]. (updated Apr 2017)
• 59.979818.40295 Fyrväpplingen Fiskecamp, Fyrväpplingen 12 (Knutby), ☏ +46 5404-7139, [email protected]. 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)

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.

• 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