Fun things to do in Uppsala

Everything in English organizes a few selected events where the main language is English. They were the people behind "Dinosaur Day" at the
Museom of Evolution. They also help out expats from English speaking countries.

Check out the link below for their events.

Although Uppsala isn't the first place you think of when it comes to spas, if you're there and you feel like indulging yourself with a wellness treatment or a massage, this is the place to go.

I had a facial deep cleaning and a 30-minute massage. The therapist who treated me explained the process step by step and always made sure that I was comfortable or asked if I needed anything. Plus for a great mask made of black clay! After I was done I felt like new.

The decor and the music makes you feel relaxed as you step in as their staff makes sure you feel taken care of. I truly believe this spa can live up to even the most demanding customer's expectations.

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Lennakatten is how people in Uppsala call the steam train line that goes between Uppsala and Faringe. This steam train ride takes about 1h05 including a stop in Marielund to fill up water.

The train goes during the summer and with a day ticket you can get off at any given station, explore the area and then get on a later train either forward or back.

The train I rode today had 3 cars, 1 with windows but without windshields so I could take some nice pictures without the reflection on the windows, but my clothes got some of the debris coming from the locomotive, as it's powered with coal and water (not too bad), so take this into consideration.

The trains are bike friendly and pram friendly.

Check the link below for information on prices (which vary depending on where you get on and where you get off the train), timetables and other information.

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I was invited to a wedding at Linnéträdgården but between mingling and the ceremony, I saw a little bit of the garden.

Linnéträdgården is a replica of what Carl von Linné's garden looked like in the 18th century. In the main building I saw some information about the works done by Linné and other botanists such as Olof Rudbeck Sr and Jr and the history of the garden. There's also pictures, some of Linnés writings and some guidebooks that you can borrow to make the visit more educational.

In the premises, there's a small house where Linné used to live, and today is a museum run by the the Swedish Linnaeus Society.

Who was Carl von Linné? He was a professor in botany and medicine at Uppsala University between 1741 and 1778, and he's known as the father of modern taxomony.

Practical information: as of the link below, the entrance fees are 60 SEK for an adult and free for children up to 16 years of age. The garden is open between May and September, Tuesdays to Sundays between 11am and 5pm, but some parts are open until 8pm.

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Uppsala has a lovely big park in the centre of town - next to the canal - and the day I arrived they were gearing up for a big concert evening - I had nowhere to stay but had found a place out at Gimo which I wanted to drive to while it was still daylight so I didnt stay for the festival in the park.

July and August are the peak summer months and all sorts of entertainment and festivals are put on during these months to look out for.

Contact the tourist offices for upcoming info or google lookup whats on for the place or region in question.

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About an hour north of Uppsala is Gavle and its lovely Gamla Gefle (old town) of wooden houses - the only part of Gavle to survive a 19th century fire.

You will find it on the other side of the canal from the main city centre - and makes up several streets of area. The youth hostel, which is also in an old wooden building, pretty much is at the far border of Gamla Gefle from the canal.

I had a lovely hour or two walking these small streets twice! taking lovely photos - especially when it started raining while the sun was still shining! and then a rainbow appeared at the end of one of the Gamla Gefle streets!

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Lovely seaside 'summer town' as the manager of my hostel at Gimo called it and had recommended it as a visit on my way up to Gavle to see the old town there.

And with the sun out, blue sky and sun shining it was lovely. A small seaside town full of quaint and characteristic wooden houses and cottages with a rocky shore and crashing waves on one side and a quiet harbour and marina on the other.

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Kungsängsgatan is a pedestrian street where most of the shops are as well as places to eat. Some places have entrances to that street: Forum gallerian, S:t Per gallerian, the library. In the middle of that street you'll find Stora Torget. Walk towards the river and you'll find the SF movie theaters and a little farther, the Cathedral and the Uppsala Castle.

When the weather permits there's street sellers selling souvenirs, t-shirts, fresh fruit and roasted almonds.