As winter loses its grip, plans are made to see exciting places.
Swedish winters can be grim and depressive for sure, especially when there’s no stable snow to do winter sports. But I would argue that in May to September few places in the world are comparable to Scandinavia. The air is fresh and not too hot (unless you deliberately go to a sauna), lakes are peaceful and refreshing and days are long, almost eternal.
Since I started this substack, I’ve got questions from readers about travelling advise. Even if the internet is full of it, there still seems to be a longing for advise from people who accually knows the place and with whom you have some shared interests.
So here’s my first comprehensive list of what to see in a particular place in Sweden. I’ve chosen my town of birth Uppsala, as it’s the natural place to start. Not least since it’s very accessible from Stockholm or from Arlanda airport, which is strategically placed 30ish kilometers north of Stockholm and 30ish kilometers south of Uppsala.
As I will do with all travel advise of this kind, it’s placed behind paywall from the start. So if you want to access it, you’ll have to be a paying subscriber. The montly subscription won’t cost you much more than a cup of coffee in one of the nice cafés in Uppsala. So upgrade now and don’t miss the ride!
Anyway, first something about the place you’ll visit. Uppsala is one of Sweden's oldest cities and has a rich history that dates back to the Viking Age and before. It was an important religious center during the Middle Ages and is still the seat of the archbishop of Sweden. The city was also the birthplace of many notable figures.
During the 20th century, Uppsala grew rapidly and became a major center of education and research, thanks in part to the presence of Uppsala University, one of Europe's oldest universities. Today, Uppsala is a vibrant city with a strong cultural scene and a rich history that is celebrated and preserved through its many museums and landmarks.
If you have seen and trusted the TV series Vikings, I have a surprise for you. Uppsala is not in the mountains, but on a flat plain land that could carry enough surplus to house a petty king and a temple back in the pagan days.
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