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PRESENTED BY DESTINATION UPPSALA

Six outdoor activities to enjoy in Uppsala this summer

Finally! Summer is here and it’s time to enjoy Sweden’s great outdoors. After all the restrictions so far this year, you're now free to enjoy travel within Sweden so long as you don't have coronavirus symptoms and follow other health and safety rules.

Published: 22 June 2020 10:42 CEST
Updated: 17 March 2021 11:37 CET
Six outdoor activities to enjoy in Uppsala this summer
Photos: Destination Uppsala/Getty

The historic cultural gem of Uppsala has plenty that’s open to visitors – and is little more than 30 minutes from Stockholm by train or an hour by car. Sweden’s fourth-biggest city, Uppsala has something for everyone in summer – urban explorers, culture vultures, families, history buffs and those looking for something more adventurous.

With a wide choice of bars, cafes and restaurants as well, why not make a weekend of it?

1. Stroll through glorious gardens – and ‘meet’ a legend

Now the sun is here, why not follow in the flower king’s footsteps? That’s the catchier nickname for botanist Carl Linnaeus, otherwise known as the ‘father of modern taxonomy’ for his classification of plants, animals and minerals. Uppsala’s beautiful green oases are the legacy of 50 years as his home and research base.

Get a guided tour of the Linnaeus Garden from the great man himself, played by an actor in the finest 18th century attire. Look out for the huts on poles once occupied by his beloved monkeys!

Photo: Linnaeus Garden/Destination Uppsala

The city’s Botanical Garden – at a different location but still within walking distance from the city centre – is home to more than 8,000 plant varieties. The Baroque garden and park is filled with brightly coloured flowers, alpine plants, trees and shrubs. 

Something for everyone: find out more about Sweden’s cultural gem with these essential guides

2. Be charmed by Swedish castles

Like many mid-1500s Swedish castles, Uppsala Castle’s past is full of conflicts and bloody episodes – some of them major events in national history. But don’t let this imposing landmark’s less than lovely history stop you from being charmed by it today.

Photo: Uppsala Castle/Destination Uppsala

The brightly-coloured façade, faithful to its 1740 reconstruction following a devastating fire in 1702, can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. So, it’s easy to work out where to head for a picnic in its gardens, a guided walk on the castle roof or a visit to one of its three museums. 

A short distance to the north lies Salsta Castle, built in 1670 and boasting a Baroque exterior. Venture inside to find out why it’s known as a castle of All Times due to its varied interiors reflecting different periods.

3. Entertain the kids – on the trail of No-Tail

Kids within a whisker of sending you mad? Don’t worry. Uppsala is home to an unusual cat long known as one of Sweden’s best-loved children’s characters. 

Set out on the trail of Peter-No-Tail (Pelle Svanslös to Swedes) and his friends and foes from the classic books and animated film. Take a walk around key locations as you learn more about characters to cherish (like Molly Cream-Nose) or avoid (like Mean Mike).

Photo: Destination Uppsala

You’ll find a portal to this magical world through the playground in Carolinaparken. Just don’t blame us if the kids refuse to leave. Nearby, you’ll find Sweden’s only crossing for cats – and eagle-eyed children may glimpse Peter’s home on Åsgränd through a basement window.

Find out more about the unforgettable sights and experiences Uppsala has to offer

4. Take a time machine to meet a Viking

Walk along the fabled Royal Mounds dating back to the 6th Century at Gamla Uppsala, one of Scandinavia’s most important archaeological sites. Legend has it that the three most impressive contain pre-Viking kings. The area is steeped in centuries-old myths, including claims from one 17th century professor that it was the site of the lost city of Atlantis. 

Photo: Gamla Uppsala/Destination Uppsala

Exhibits at Gamla Uppsala Museum include finds from archaeological digs and tales of Viking victims, pagan gods and Iron Age conflicts. During summer, it offers daily guided tours in English.

Download Augmented Reality apps to transform your mobile or tablet into a time machine – then explore areas close to Uppsala Cathedral in the Middle Ages or perhaps run into a Viking as you wander the streets.

Get top tips for the best trips outside Uppsala city centre

5. Get active (but not wet) with Stand-Up Paddle Boarding

Discover the natural beauty of the landscape along the winding Fyris river, while also getting a workout. Starting at one of two locations just outside the city, you’ll paddle at your own pace for 4.5 kilometers or 8 kilometers (about two or three hours).

Photo: Getty Images

Book with Aktivt Uteliv and you’ll be met in central Uppsala or at your hotel by adventure guides and taken to your starting point. Never been on a Stand Up Paddle Board before? It’s easier than it might look and you’ll be given full instructions. If you can swim, you’re in! You’ll also have time to enjoy a Swedish fika, as well as the magnificent views.

6. Hit the Swedish heritage trail

Home to the country’s first university, Uppsala and its surroundings offer a wealth of heritage delights. Browse your way through artisan offerings and antiques at the handicraft village of Ulva Kvarn, just 7km north of Uppsala.

Built around a mill house dating back to the 1300s, Ulva Kvarn is also home to a silversmith and Sweden’s finest master glassblower. You can enjoy a picnic or go fishing – but will you be bold enough for a cooling dip at Fyrisåns beach?

If you want cultural heritage and the chance to kick back for a few hours, try the Lennakatten Heritage Railway. 

Photo: Lennakatten Heritage Railway/Destination Uppsala

You’ll be transported back to the early 1900s as you travel by steam locomotive, old-fashioned railcar or vintage bus on one of Sweden’s most stunning rail routes. Heritage that’s a hit with all ages!

Want to discover something new in Sweden? Find out more about the incredible variety of attractions and activities you can do in Uppsala this summmer.

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WEATHER

Why are temperatures of 25C considered a heatwave in Sweden?

In other parts of the world, 25C (77F) is an average summer’s day, so why do Swedes feel the heat more, and what can be done to mitigate the effect of heatwaves in the future?

Published: 26 June 2024 15:07 CEST
Why are temperatures of 25C considered a heatwave in Sweden?

Sweden’s meteorological institute SMHI has issued heatwave warnings for this week, bringing with it a fire risk as temperatures are expected to hit 25-30 degrees Celsius across much of the country.

For readers from a lot of other countries, this might not feel like a big deal, but in Sweden, it’s warm.

There is no standard international definition of a heatwave, with each country deciding how to define it.

In Sweden, the national meteorological institute SMHI defines “high temperatures” as a maximum of 26C three days in a row and “very high temperatures” as a maximum of 30C three days in a row.

If temperatures hit 30C for five days in a row, or reach 33C for three days in a row, this qualifies as “very high temperatures”.

“Extreme heat is a new problem in Sweden,” Martina Söderström, from engineering consultancy company Sweco, told The Local. “It’s only really become an issue in the last ten years, with 2018 a bit of a wake-up call, with very high temperatures and a long heatwave.”

Summer 2018 saw a record number of wildfires ravage the country, Sweden’s hottest July in over 250 years, and the warmest summer since records began across most of southern and central Sweden.

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Not only are Swedes in general more used to cold temperatures, but the country’s infrastructure is built with cold temperatures in mind.

“It’s how we’ve built our buildings and our society. Buildings aren’t designed to protect people from heat and sunlight, rather they are designed to be insulated,” Söderström said.

Swedish buildings are also unlikely to feature ceiling fans or air conditioning, which, coupled with the fact that many of them are well-insulated, means that it can be difficult to cool them down once they’re already hot.

‘Natural solutions are an important piece of the puzzle’

Sweco recently investigated how a number of different European cities, including Stockholm, could build heatwave resilience as climate change looks likely to increase their frequency. In Stockholm, the number of heatwave days per year is expected to increase by 150 percent by 2100, with similar figures for the other Scandinavian capitals Copenhagen (160 percent) and Oslo (140 percent).

“The increase in temperature is greater here [in the Nordic countries] and we have probably come the least far in planning for it. We’ve been more focused on protecting ourselves from the cold,” Söderström said. “If you look at Rotterdam and Brussels, for example, they’re further ahead both in measuring the heat and maybe also have a clearer plan of the measures they’re going to take to mitigate it.”

Sweden also has a lot of sunlight during the summer – Stockholm gets over 18.5 hours of sunshine around midsummer, Malmö in the south gets 17.5 hours, while in the far north of the country the sun doesn’t set for months. This means that temperatures often stay high during the night, providing fewer opportunities for people to recuperate from the heat and putting more stress on vulnerable individuals.

Cities are not designed with heat in mind, either, meaning that they often lack shade or trees, which contribute towards keeping temperatures low.

“Natural solutions are an important piece of the puzzle,” Söderström said.

“It’s important to get green and blue infrastructure into city planning. Trees are great, as they give shade and also they release water vapour into the air which has a cooling effect, and bodies of water can have the same cooling effect – when it’s cooler than the surrounding air, it helps to cool it down. So water, green solutions, proximity to parks and shade, all of those things are important to have in a city environment.”

People in cities are also more affected by heatwaves, Söderström added, as hard surfaces like asphalt, concrete and metal roofs absorb heat, further warming the air as this heat is emitted.

“It’s important to think about this when planning areas. Think about getting plants and water into urban areas, but also the materials being used.”

Sweden can learn a lot from hotter countries

Sweden has “a lot to learn” from countries which are used to warmer temperatures already, she added, saying that there’s no need to “reinvent the wheel”.

“Things like how to plan buildings and cities, lighter materials, how to place buildings to allow the wind to move through them, building covered verandas, providing shade, for example.”

Although children, the elderly and people with underlying health conditions are more susceptible to high temperatures, they are by no means the only groups to feel the consequences of prolonged heatwaves.

“These types of temperatures put stress on all aspects of society,” Söderström said. “It’s not just individuals who are particularly sensitive to heat, but it has consequences for the entire population. It affects agriculture, forestry and our ability to secure a steady supply of water.”

“We need to start thinking about how to protect society [against heatwaves] and plan ahead. Measure, get an idea of where risk areas are or how they come about, and make a long-term plan for them,” she added.

“It’s time to act now. This is going to continue for at least another eighty years and if we act now, we can adapt so our society and our cities are more resilient in the future.”

Do you come from somewhere with a warmer climate than Sweden? How do you find the heat here? Does it affect you more or less than it did back home? Let us know in the comments below.

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