Things to do in Uppsala in summer: Linnaeus Garden
Summer in Uppsala: the Linnaeus Garden and Uppsala Cathedral, linked through the story of Carl Linnaeus.
Summer is the time to get to know Uppsala through its gardens. The Linnaeus Garden brings together the botanist's working world and former home, while the cathedral adds a personal connection: Linnaeus is buried there. Add the Botanical Garden for more outdoor time, or give his country home at Hammarby a separate outing. Here are four places to build your visit around.
1. The Linnaeus Garden and Museum
Behind a wooden fence on Svartbäcksgatan, you'll find a garden and the former home of Carl Linnaeus. The house is now the Linnaeus Museum, so this is more than a stop to look at flowers. Take a guided tour if you'd like help connecting the plants with the person who worked here.
Good to know
- Find the entrance at Svartbäcksgatan 27b in central Uppsala.
- This is a seasonal attraction. Check the garden’s own visitor page for the current opening dates, weekdays and Midsummer exceptions.
- Admission is charged, with free entry for under-18s; check current ticket details through Uppsala University.
- Regular guided tours are included in admission. English tours are offered on opening days; check the time and reserve a tour ticket ahead. Museum access on the tour is included when possible.
2. Uppsala Cathedral
Follow the Linnaeus story into the cathedral, where his family grave lies just inside the left inner door. A nearby chapel holds a monument raised by his pupils and friends. It's a thoughtful companion to the garden: first you see the setting of his work, then how he was remembered.
Good to know
- Ordinary cathedral entry is free.
- Check the cathedral calendar before sightseeing: services and concerts can limit access, and some holidays have shorter opening hours.
- English guide leaflets are sold at the cathedral, if you’d like to explore independently.
3. The Botanical Garden
For a broader garden visit, head to the Botanical Garden just west of Uppsala Castle. The Baroque Garden, Linneanum Orangery and Tropical Greenhouse give you several different settings in one outing. Summer brings successive flowers, with the annual beds and kitchen garden especially worth looking for in high and late summer.
Good to know
- The outdoor garden has free admission; the Tropical Greenhouse charges admission, with under-18s admitted free.
- The park and indoor collections keep different hours. Check the greenhouse and orangery separately rather than assuming they stay open as late as the grounds.
- Café Victoria operates seasonally with outdoor seating only; check opening hours and weather-related changes before relying on it for lunch.
4. Linnaeus’ Hammarby
Hammarby takes the story out into the countryside. Visit Linnaeus' house, then explore the surrounding cultural reserve, where fields, grazing paddocks, a cabbage field and a hop garden recreate an eighteenth-century farming landscape. This is the stop to give more time to, rather than squeezing it between central sights.
Good to know
- Check the seasonal calendar before travelling: opening days change between early summer, high summer and September.
- The manor can only be visited on a guided tour. Ordinary tours are included in admission, and you can book online in advance.
- Adults pay admission; under-18s enter free. Check the English tour schedule when booking.
- The surrounding cultural reserve is open year-round, independently of the house’s seasonal opening.
Quick tips
- Plan the Linnaeus Garden around its opening day and tour first, then fit the cathedral around its service calendar.
- Keep Hammarby as a separate countryside outing, leaving time for the house tour and reserve.
- Want company? Check upcoming events in Uppsala on Socroo below and find someone to go with.
Upcoming events
- MAGNUS CARLSSON - ÄNGLARNAS TID Uppsala Missionskyrka
- MAGNUS CARLSSON - ÄNGLARNAS TID Uppsala Missionskyrka, S:t Olofsgatan 40