Free things to do in Uppsala

25 places in Uppsala with free entry or no charge, based on guide listings and map data.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

SeeGarden
Linnéträdgården & Linnémuseet
The Linnaean Garden and the Linnaeus Museum
The botanical garden was first planted by Olof Rudbeck in 1655, making it the oldest in Sweden. After a period of decline, it was restored and maintained by Carl von Linné and became a major attraction during Linnaeus' own lifetime. In the garden orangery, you can find exhibitions about Linnaeus' successors and disciples. The building in the southern corner of the garden served as the residence of the Linnaeus family between 1743 and 1778. It is a museum dedicated to Linnaeus' professional and personal life. Is part of the proposed Linnaean UNESCO World Heritage.
The museum is open 11:00–17:00, daily Jun–Aug and Tue–Sun May & Sep. The gates to the garden close at 20:0080 kr which includes the museum (with audio guide) and the garden. Free entry to the garden after 17:00. Guided tours are included in the entry fee and are held in English at 11:30 and 14:30 every open day. The ticket can also be used at Linnaeus' Hammarby
SeeCathedral
Uppsala Cathedral
Domkyrkan
Gothic cathedral, which took a century and a half (1272 - 1435) to build, in the is one of the focal points of Uppsala and it dominates the city skyline. It is simultaneously the largest church in the Nordic countries, the burial site of many Swedish royals, and the seat of the Church of Sweden. Here you can see relics of Eric the Holy and Saint Bridget, and in the far end of the cathedral you will find "Vasakoret" – the royal crypt of Gustav I Vasa, "father of the Swedish nation". The walls of the crypt are covered in national romantic frescoes depicting Vasa's reign and his war for Swedish independence. Other notable burials include the 17th-century polymath Olaus Rudbeck, the 18th-century botanist Carl Linnaeus, the 18th-century mystic Emanuel Swedenborg and the theologian, archbishop and Nobel peace prize laureate Nathan Söderblom. It shouldn't be missed, but given its towering size, how could you? Free English language guided tours are held at 12:30 on the first Saturday of every month and daily late Jun–late Aug, M–Sa 10:00 and 15:00, and Su 15:00.
08:00–18:00 daily. Mass celebrated at Mon–Sat 12:45 and Sun 11:00; all welcomeFree · Heritage listed · Wheelchair accessible · Built 1435
SeeHistory museum
Uppsala Castle
Uppsala Slott
This major Uppsala landmark is stocked with large halls, paintings, and older remnants of the 16th-century castle built by the Vasa dynasty as a royal residence and a military fortification. As the castle was damaged in the 1702 city fire, the current building is smaller than it was in the 17th century, but is nevertheless built in the same style. It is the official residence of the governor of Uppsala county, and houses several museums. Due to its location on the top of Uppsalaåsen the Castle area offer some of the best views of Uppsala.
Closed · opens noon tomorrowFree entry · Limited wheelchair access
SeeBotanical garden
Botaniska trädgården
The Botanical Garden
The main garden at the university consists of the Baroque garden, the Orangery and the Tropical Greenhouse. It was planted in 1664 as a castle garden, but, in 1787, it was donated to the university.
Park: Daily May–Oct 07:00–21:00, Nov–Apr 07:00–19:00. Orangery: Tue–Fri 09:00–15:00. Tropical Green House: Sep–May Tue–Fri 09:00–15:00, Sat Sun 12:00–15:00, Jun–Aug Tue, Wed, Fri 09:00–15:00, Thu 09:00–18:00, Sat Sun 11:00–16:00Free, except for Tropical Greenhouse, which is 60 kr
SeeArt museum
Bror Hjorths Hus
Bror Hjorth's House
The home and studio of the 20th-century sculptor and painter Bror Hjorth is now a museum dedicated to his life and art. Especially interesting for those who like nativist paintings.
Thu–Sun 12:00 –16:00. Late Jun– late Aug: Tue–Sun 12:00 –16:00Free · Wi-Fi · Wheelchair accessible · Built 1943
SeeBooks museum
Carolina Rediviva
The University library; and an enormous one at that, with over 5 million volumes. The upper floors are accessible via an elevator and will provide you with a great view of Uppsala. The library has a gift shop and a museum department which exhibits prized examples, including original prints of milestone scientific achievements, such as Newton's Principia, Darwin's Origin of Species, and Linnaeus' Systema Naturae; the fantastic 16th century map Carta Marina; and the famed 6th century Silver Bible (Codex argenteus) – the best-preserved text written in the extinct Gothic language, named a UNESCO Memory of the World in 2011.
Sep–May: Library Mon–Fri 08:30–19:00, Sat Sun 12:00–16:00, Museum: Mon–Fri 10:00–17:00, Sat Sun 12:00–16:00. Jun–Aug Library and Museum Mon–Fri 10:00–16:00, Sat Sun 12:00–16:00Free · Free entry · Built 1841
SeeHistoric site
Upplandsmuseet
The Uppland Museum
The official regional museum of Uppsala County can be found in an old building that used to serve as water mill. Extensive permanent exhibitions regarding the pre-history and history of Uppsala and Uppsala County, covering not only political and building developments, but also people's everyday life. In addition, they always exhibit some temporary exhibition. Most exhibitions feature information in English.
Tue–Sun 12:00 –17:00150/120SEK · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible
SeeMuseum
Disagården
This open-air museum consists of an old preserved farm, and provides a picture of what life in Uppland's countryside was like in the 19th century. The house interiors are only accessible during the daily guided tour at 13:00, the daily children's tour at 14:00, and the open house hour between 15:00 and 16:00 daily.
Jun–Aug: daily 10:00–17:00Free · Free entry
See
Mora Stenar
Stones of Mora
The place where Swedish kings were elected from the 13th to the 15th centuries, comparable to the more famous Scottish Stone of Scone. The stones can be seen in a small inconspicuous hut by the road side.
24 hours dailyFree
See
Linnés Hammarby
The Linnaeus family's summer residence is about 9 km southeast of Uppsala. It is a museum about the family, and 18th-century biology and farming. The main building can only be accessed during guided tours which are held at 12:30 in English and 11:30, 14:30 and 15:30 in Swedish on every open day. Even if you don't speak Swedish, you can join one of the Swedish-language tours in order to see the house interior. Is part of the proposed Linnaean UNESCO World Heritage. Café Sara Lisa is in the same building as the museum gift shop and offers fika and lunch.
May & Sep: Fri–Sun 11:00–17:00, Jun–Aug: Tue–Sun 11:00–17:0080 kr during opening hours. The ticket can also be used at the Linnaean Garden and the Linnaeus Museum. Free entry to the garden after 17:00
SeeMuseum
Biotopia
A museum of Uppland's geology and biology, with dioramas of stuffed animals in their natural environment. Appropriate for families — children can discover and experience nature. It is in a beautiful park and has a nice café in the same building.
Tue Thu Fri 09:00–17:00; Wed 09:00–21:00, Sat Sun 11:00–17:00Free · Free entry
See
Gamla Uppsala kyrka
Old Uppsala church
This 12th-century church, said to be on the site of the long-destroyed pagan Uppsala temple, was the seat of the archbishop of Sweden between 1164 and 1273. It is also known as the final resting place of Anders Celsius, inventor of the Celsius thermometer.
Sep–May 09:00–16:00 daily, Jun–Aug 09:17:00 dailyFree
SeeMuseum
Medicinhistoriska museet
The Museum of Medicinal History
A museum concerning health and sickness in body and mind throughout history. In the 19th and 20th centuries the area was used a psychiatric hospital called Ulleråker, and many of objects used at Ulleråker are exhibited at the museum.
Tue Thu 13:00 –17:00Free
SeeArt museum
Uppsala Konstmuseum
Uppsala Art Museum
A local art museum with contemporary Swedish and international art. Has plenty of Uppsala ceramics and temporary exhibitions.
Fri–Wed 12:00–16:00, Thu 12:00–20:00Free
See
Universitetshuset
The University Hall
Constructed in Italian renaissance Beaux-Arts style and was completed in 1887. Here major university events and occasional public concerts take place. In the hall you will find a café, a shop and a small exhibition about the history of Uppsala University. In the main hall you can also find Uppsala University's comprehensive coin cabinet, but it is only open to the public on special occasions. The controversial aphorism "Tänka fritt är stort men tänka rätt är större" (which translates into "Thinking free is great, but thinking right is greater"), attributed to the 18th century philosophy professor Thomas Thorild, are engraved at the auditorium entrance. The phrase "think right" has been misunderstood as "think as the authorities do". Thorild was however a radical for his time; his aphorism should be read as "think reasonably".
Mon–Fri 08.00–16.00Free
SeeMuseum
Fredens Hus
House of Peace
A museum housing exhibitions concerning peace, conflict and human rights. Has a permanent exhibition about the life of the former secretary-general of the UN, Dag Hammarskjöld, who grew up in the castle. While the permanent exhibition feature information in English, some temporary exhibitions only feature information in Swedish.
Wed–Fri 15:00–18:00, Sat Sun 12:00–16:00Free · Free entry
See
Helga Trefaldighets kyrka
Church of Holy Trinity
King Erik "the Holy" was killed in battle in or by the church in 1160. The current church building was erected in the latter part of the 13th century, making it older than Uppsala Cathedral. The interior is decorated by Sweden's most famous medieval church painter, Albertus Pictor. Architecture buffs can compare its Roman architecture to the Gothic style of the cathedral.
09:00–17:00 daily. Mass Sun 11:00. Night open with fika and music Fri every odd week 18:00–00:00Free
Do
Pelle Svanslös lekplats
A Pelle Svanslös-themed children's playground. The small playground has swings, slides, and a bicycle carousel, and looks like a miniature version of Uppsala.
24 hours dailyFree
Do Not mapped
Museinatten i Uppsala
Museum Night
On the first Saturday of June most Uppsala museums stay open between 20:00 and 24:00, many of them organising special tours and events for the occasion.
JunSeveral museums reduce their entry fees during the event, some allowing free entry
BuySecond-hand shop
Fritidsbanken
Lends donated used equipment free of charge up to 14 days.
Tue–Thu 16:00–20:00Wheelchair accessible
SeeHistory museum
Uppsala universitets myntkabinett
The Uppsala University Coin Cabinet (Uppsala universitets myntkabinett) is one of Sweden's most important public coin and medal collections. It is housed in the main building of Uppsala University.
Free entry
SeeMuseum
Pumphuset
Museum för kommunal teknik
"only at special events or after registration"Free entry
DoPark
Årike Fyris
Kungsängsleden
Free entry
SeeArt gallery
Kulturpunkten
Free entry · Wheelchair accessible
SeeArt gallery
Gallery Studio 8
Free entry

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Uppsala (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps. Some descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).