Explore Viking History in Uppsala

So, where will your journey to the Viking Age begin? The natural starting point for a tour in the footsteps of the Vikings is Gamla Uppsala. Just north of what we today consider the city of Uppsala lies the area where it all once began. With its characteristic burial mounds, Gamla Uppsala is regarded as one of Sweden’s most important historic sites. This is where the Asa-temple was located, and where sacrifices were made to their gods.The three large graves are called the King’s Mounds and were once attributed to the gods Odin, Thor and Freyr. For a long time, the myth lived that the mounds in Uppsala contained the remains of ancient pagan gods.

As early as the Iron Age, a well-developed society thrived around the Uppsala mounds. Uppland’s largest village during the Middle Ages was already a significant religious, economic, and political center as early as the 4th and 6th centuries AD. It’s hard not to imagine what might have taken place here as you wander along the winding paths.

At Gustavianum, you’ll find artifacts from the burial grounds at Valsgärde. Here, archaeologists have unearthed remarkable finds from the Vendel Period – an exciting era that laid the foundation for the Viking Age. The exhibition showcases helmets, weapons, ornate bridles, jewelry, and glassware that once belonged to powerful chieftains of the time. It offers a fascinating new perspective on the transition from the Vendel Period to the Viking Age, highlighting the strong cultural ties connecting societies from the 6th to the 11th centuries.

Just outside the entrance to Gustavianum, in University Park, several runestones with Viking-era inscriptions are also on display – giving you the chance to see them up close.

Viking food was simple and mostly consisted of meat, fish, bread, and porridge. The Vikings also consumed dairy products such as cheese and butter, as well as fruits and vegetables when available. Mead, a fermented honey drink, was a popular alcoholic beverage among the Vikings. In Uppsala you can try it yourself! If you visit Gamla Uppsala, make sure to stop by Restaurant Odinsborg, located with a view over the mounds, for a sip.