2.5 miles north of Uppsala is Salsta Castle, an impressive baroque castle from 1679. For a long time, only ghosts and ghouls populated the halls at Salsta, but the castle has received a boost recently and woke up from its slumber. Nowadays, visitors can go on guided tours, experience concerts, see art exhibitions and stay one night in the eastern castle pavilion.

The Cosy Salsta Slottscafé is open in the summer and when the autumn darkness falls, hair-raising ghost walks are organised that delve into tales with supernatural elements. Ahead of Christmas, we warmly recommend Salsta Castle’s traditional Christmas market, which focuses on handicrafts. The castle is a highlight along the 8 km long Salstaleden which stretches from Vattholma station to Skyttorps station.

If you instead set the GPS to 2 miles southwest of Uppsala, you will reach a castle with even older ancestry. When Wik’s castle was built in the 15th century, it had the function of a medieval fortress. In fact, it was one of Mälardalen’s strongest fortresses and is today Central Sweden’s best-preserved late medieval castle.

Wik’s castle, which also houses a folk high school, is run by the Uppsala Region and has become a popular destination for day trips. The main attractions are lunch at Wik’s castle café, the bathing area and walks in Wikparken. The latter is a lush nature park with several cosy paths that take you through deciduous forests, pastures and past apple groves. If you go there with children in tow, you’ll enjoy the Tiptoe Tour, the Cow Builders’ Land and the annual Christmas Market.

Welcome to Uppsala’s most common postcard motif, along with the cathedral. Uppsala Castle’s elevated position means that you can almost always catch a glimpse of the pink facade on the horizon wherever you are in the city. But the castle is more than a beautiful surface. Its content are also exciting.

For example, it houses two interesting museums: Uppsala Art Museum and Vasaborgen. When you have finished looking at the art and learned that Gustav Vasa started building the castle in 1549, you have earned a cup of coffee and something edible. Appropriately, the old vaults under the Art Museum house the Museum Bar & Café.

Guided tours in all their glory, dare to try something different – book a rooftop tour! Yes, you heard right, now you have the chance to walk on the roof of a legendary castle for the first time. Uppsala’s best view is included in the price.

On the Skokostler Peninsula on the banks of Lake Mälaren, right on the border with Stockholm County, there is another castle gem to be captivated by. Skokloster’s castle was completed in 1676 and is considered the largest private palace ever built in Sweden. Not bad, but it does not end there. The magnificent architecture, intact interiors and collections also make it one of Europe’s foremost baroque castles.

So, what’s in it for visitors? Discover the museum, go on guided tours, unfurl your picnic blanket in the castle park or have coffee in the Castle Café.

Let’s leave the castles for a while and instead focus on the Uppsala area’s many fine mansions. Along road 255 south towards Knivsta, Krusenberg Mansion has been located since the 17th century with a view of Ekoln’s water. The estate consists of the main building, the wings, the gardener’s residence and the stone magazine. Today, the mansion houses an elegant 4-star hotel with a spa and restaurant. On Saturdays, Afternoon Tea is served in beautiful porcelain and floral cups. An widely popular feature – make sure to book a table in advance!

Interested in a piece of Swedish industrial history? Gimo has a mill history that dates back to 1615. Among other things, it was home to the famous Walloon forges, which can still be visited. Another remnant from the time as an industrial centre is Gimo Mansion – Sweden’s first Gustavian mansion. Today, the estate, beautifully situated by Lake Gimosjön, is a finer hotel for spa and conference experiences. If you’re just passing through during the day, we recommend that you book a table at the restaurant, challenge the dizziness in the high-altitude course, take a round of disc golf or explore the beautiful surroundings. Only the full splendour of the mansion itself is worth the trip!

Lövstabruk – in the footsteps of the Walloon mills

We continue in the footsteps of the Walloon mills to Lövstabruk, which once could boast the stamp of Sweden’s largest ironworks. Mansion, park, orangery, mill street, church with the famous Cahman organ, studios, mill archives, art exhibitions, guided tours, Christmas markets, café and Barnens Bruk make it easy to fill a day with fun activities at Lövstabruk.

Örbyhus – was Erik XIV poisoned?

Few places in Uppland have been a more important scene for historical events than Örbyhus, 5 miles north of Uppsala. National history was written in 1577 when the deposed king Erik XIV (Gustav Vasa’s son) died here. The question is: was he poisoned? Those who are curious can during the summer season be given guided tours of Erik XIV’s prison, the castle park and the carriage museum. In Örbyhus’ beautiful orangery, summer concerts with chamber music are arranged.

Österbybruk – a living idyll

Finished with Gimo Herrgård? Take the opportunity to also check out Österbybruk, a short drive west. Welcome to another cosy Walloon farm in Uppland with the world’s only fully preserved Walloon forge. What can you do on site? Discover, for example, Aspbo nature reserve, Dannemora church, the homestead, the orangery garden and the manor.