Experience in Uppsala, Sweden by Josefine

What is it like to live in Uppsala? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

The city center is small and there are certain areas where students live. There are no distances really and everyone bikes everywhere, all year around. It's an old city so the city center is filled with beautiful, old buildings and history. Shopping is okay, but Stockholm is not far away. During semesters there are a lot of life everywhere, especially in spring and late summer. Winter can be cold and wet and dark; but also very cozy with candles, warm scarfs and hot tea. I love it here, I would definitely recommend it.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Uppsala?

Uppsala is a city for students. 40 000 inhabitants out of 200 000 are students coming from all over. Meaning there are a lot of different people liking different things. So whether you're into music, sports or politics I'm sure you can find an association doing exactly that. We have the nations, 13 of them, where you can eat, drink and party really cheap and almost everyday of the week. You can also sing, draw, play sports, study, live, meet people or even work. You don't even have to do anything if that's what you're into. It's beautiful.

How much does it cost to live in Uppsala?

Sweden is not the cheapest country but since Uppsala is very adapted to students it's quite okay anyway. A burger at one of the nations cost approximately 6€ and a beer around 3€. A room, depending on where you live of course, is between 350€ and 500€.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Uppsala? Is there any advice you can give?

Yes, it is hard to find accommodation in Uppsala. There are several pages you can find at the university webpage where you can apply for accommodation.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Most people cook at home. I think it's more expensive to eat out in Sweden than in other countries. But when eating out there's a lot of alternatives, even good ones for vegans or vegetarians. At the nations they serve mostly burgers. The typical Swedish dishes are usually some kind of meat, potatoes and sauce. Meatballs, smashed potatoes and brown sauce are a really good example. I like fish, or shrimps on a bread with sour cream, cheese, lettuce, egg and a good roe sauce.

What places would you recommend visiting in Uppsala?

The church, mostly because it's old and big and beautiful. Hågadalen, it's a big nature area where you can hike, have picnics and get lost in the forest. Old Uppsala, there's a nice place where you can swim in the river, a cozy, little café and a burial place from the vikings.

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Is it good to eat out in Uppsala? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

It is good to eat out in Uppsala but as I said it can be quite expensive if it's not the nations. So, my favorite spots are the nations. The pubs serve mostly burgers but sometimes they also have restaurants with more alternatives. I like Kalmars restaurant or Smaka, they serve vegetarian and vegan food. And Västgöta nation has soups for lunch which are really good. Upplands makes the best french fries and V-dalas burgersare to die for. But since it's all made by students for students, people come and go and quality varies. Prices are always cheap though.

Is the nightlife good in Uppsala? Where is good to go?

In Uppsala you can party almost everyday of the week if you're up for it. Again, the nations. If you can't find a club with your theme, start one!

What advice would you give future students heading to Uppsala?

Have fun!