Student blogs

Within the rigorous demands of being a master’s student at Karolinska Institutet, it’s essential to carve out moments for enjoyment and exploration – as Yagmur’s weekend trip from Stockholm to Helsinki. With this in mind, my friends and I embarked on a day trip to Uppsala, one of Sweden’s oldest and most famous cities nestled in the north.

It is only about an hour from Stockholm by train but feels like a different world. Uppsala has a rich history, a lively culture, and a great academic atmosphere. It is the perfect place for a day trip with friends. That’s what we did last weekend, and we had a blast. In this blog post, I will share our adventure and why we loved Uppsala as master’s students at KI.

“Surprise, surprise”

We started our trip to Uppsala on a cold Sunday morning with a blue sky and fresh air. We went to Stockholm City Central and bought our train tickets from Presbyrån’s self-service machine. With everything in order, our adventure commenced in the late morning.

However, our plans encountered a hiccup as we encountered unexpected line failures, necessitating two train changes at Upplands Väsby and Arlanda Airport. We were not happy about this at first, but we did not give up. We got off the train at the last stop and tried to have fun.

“Surprise, surprise,” said someone else on the train, but we did not complain. We decided to look around Upplands Väsby, a quiet town. We had our morning coffee, and then we continued our trip. We did not let the small problem stop us.

Tip – there are different means of transportation and ticket options to travel to Uppsala.

Exploring Uppsala

We reached Uppsala after a long and eventful train ride. We were hungry but also eager to see the city. We found a nice place to eat near the train station, where we satisfied our hunger and refreshed ourselves. Then we were ready to explore the city and its attractions.

The Uppsala Cathedral

First, we visited the Uppsala Cathedral, which is one of the oldest and most impressive buildings in Sweden, it felt like stepping into a history book. It is the tallest church in the Nordics with a splendid example of Gothic architecture that reflects centuries of Swedish history. It is also where many Swedish monarchs and saints are buried.

Gustavianum

Next, we went to the Gustavianum, the oldest standing building of Uppsala University and a historic building that is now the Uppsala University Museum. It houses magnificent historical collections. The museum features an impressive collection of historical artefacts and exhibits that display Uppsala’s rich past, from ancient times to modern days.

What astonished me was seeing Ethiopian books and scriptures from the 15th century, written in “Geez”, the oldest Ethiopian language. It made me curious about how they got there and what they meant. It made us feel like we were travelling back in time.

Uppsala Castle and the Botanical Garden

We also stopped by the Uppsala Castle, which serves as the official residence of the governor of Uppsala County and houses two museums. It proudly sits on atop a hill and has a wonderful view of the city. It is a very old and majestic building, where many significant events occurred in Swedish history. There was also an art exhibition that day, showing how different artists depict life in Sweden. It was very fascinating and captivating to see.

After admiring the castle and having a delightful fika there, we wanted to go to the botanical garden. But when we got there, we found out it was closed for the day. It was unfortunate, but it gave us a good reason to go back to visit Uppsala, especially in the summer to take advantage of the Botanical Garden. Then, we just sat on a bench outside the garden and enjoyed the scenery.

Finally, we walked around the city enjoying the sound of the river that runs through Uppsala. The cafes were full of cheerful and cosy students and people, which made us feel like we were part of the city, even if only for a day.

Closing thoughts

Moreover, I’m filled with gratitude for the opportunity to explore this historic city with my friends. Our adventure was filled with unforgettable moments and valuable insights. Uppsala’s rich history, lively culture, and welcoming atmosphere left a lasting impression on us as master’s students at Karolinska Institutet. I encourage future travellers to add Uppsala to their travel plan, as it offers a blend of historic landmarks, vibrant cultural experiences, and serene landscapes waiting to be discovered.

We look forward to returning to Uppsala soon!