Activities & Trips
At UISS we believe that when learning a language, it is equally important to learn about the culture, the history and the society in which the language is embedded. In the UISS program we offer a lot of extra-curricular activities during the week in order to acquaint our students with Swedish customs and traditions, the Swedish culture and society. Excursions to various parts of the country on Fridays are also an integral part of the program and allow students to experience the diversity of cultures, traditions and landscapes within Sweden. Last but not least, we arrange optional longer trips to Finland and Lapland for a reasonable extra fee. They’re a lot of fun, so be sure to go on at least one of them!
Check out our preliminary activity schedule.
Social Evenings
Musical Evenings
Potluck Dinner
Kräftskiva
Movie Nights
Lectures
- Swedish culture and language
- the Sami, the indigenous people of Sweden
- Swedish popular music
Evening Activities
Several activities on week nights and Midsummer give you an opportunity to familiarize yourself with Sweden, the Swedes and the Swedish culture. It is also a chance to get to know your fellow students and have a lot of fun. These activities are included in the full program fee.
Midsummer
Social Evenings
Every 3 weeks we organise a social evening, a fun evening during which students get a chance to get to know each other. We will team up, play games and walk around Uppsala for you to get to know the city and each other.
Musical Evenings
Potluck Dinner
A fun dinner where all students cook a dish from their home country to create an international buffet. We eat together and sing traditional snaps songs before we toast. It’s a great way to get to know people’s different culture & cuisine. Doesn’t get more international than this, does it?
Kräftskiva
Crayfish parties are generally held during August. The tradition began because the crayfish harvest in Sweden was, for most of the 20th century, legally limited to the late summer. It’s a typical Swedish celebration where we eat together and sing Swedish snaps songs.
Movie Nights
On a film night we show two Swedish films, one with Swedish subtitles and one with English subtitles. Just sit back and enjoy.
Lectures
On the various lecture nights, we invite speakers who are experts on various subjects:
- Swedish culture and language
- the Sami, the indigenous people of Sweden
- Swedish popular music
Field Trips
On Fridays, UISS arranges fieldtrips to various places, usually in or close to the Stockholm-Uppsala area. It’s a great way to explore the country and do some sightseeing. These activities are included in the full program fee.
ABBA The Museum
Dalarna
Famous painter Carl Larsson lived and worked at the turn of the 19th century. His wife Karin was an artist as well. They created one of the most modern homes of their time. www.clg.se
Drottningholm Palace
Drottningholm Palace is on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. It is the most well-preserved royal castle built in the 1600s in Sweden and at the same time is representative of all European architecture for the period. The combination of the exotic Chinese Pavilion pleasure palace, the palace theatre and the magnificent palace gardens make a visit to Drottningholm a unique experience. Influenced by French prototype, the palace was built by architect Nicodemus Tessin the Elder by commission of Queen Hedvig Eleonora. A number of royal personages have since then left their mark on the palace. The Palace is Their Majesties the King and Queen’s permanent home residence. The rooms in the southern wing of the palace are reserved for this purpose. The rest of the palace and grounds are open to the public year round. http://www.kungahuset.se
Falu Copper Mine
Gamla Stan
The old town of Stockholm dates back to the 13th century and consists of medieval alleyways, cobbled streets and beautiful architecture. The area has the biggest range of restaurants, tourist shops, studios and museums, situated along beautiful narrow streets. www.gamla-stan-stockholm.se
Gårdsjö Älgpark
Be prepared for a truly unique experience! You get on the wagon, drawn by a historic tractor straight out into a dense, Swedish forest and meet the moose in their natural surroundings. The guide, Leif (”Leffe”) Lindh, has a close relationship with all of the animals in the park. He is the first and only person in the world who has swum with these stately animals in their natural environment. www.gardsjoalgpark.se
Millesgården
An oasis just 10 minutes from downtown Stockholm. Millesgården is a museum with antique collection, sculpture garden, art gallery and restaurant. www.millesgarden.se
Sala Silver Mine
The Silver Mine in Sala was during a long period of time Sweden’s biggest producer of silver and periodically one of Europe’s most important producer. The precious metal has been very important for Sweden throughout many years, why the state contributed with donations and subsidies for the mining. The mighty king Gustav Vasa, regent in the beginning of the 16th century, called the mine the State Treasury. www.salasilvergruva.se
Sigtuna
Sigtuna is a picturesque little town founded in 980 AD and the first town in Sweden. Much of the original town plan remains today. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigtuna
Skokloster
Stadshuset
Vasa ship
Vasa was a warship that sank after sailing less than a nautical mile into her maiden voyage in 1628. She was salvaged largely intact in 1961 and is now one of Sweden’s most popular tourist attractions. www.vasamuseet.se
Field Trips
On Fridays, UISS arranges fieldtrips to various places, usually in or close to the Stockholm-Uppsala area. It’s a great way to explore the country and do some sightseeing. These activities are included in the full program fee.
ABBA The Museum
ABBA The Museum is more than an ordinary museum. Naturally, the members’ costumes, gold records, original items, memorabilia, and much, much more are here. But at this museum you are an important part of the experience! We simply want you to experience the feeling of being the 5th ABBA member. To find out what you would look like in their legendary stage costumes, to sing at the Polar Studio, to experience exciting hologram illusions, and to enter the stage together with the band. Your material will be recorded on your personal ID number on your ticket. www.abbathemuseum.com
Dalarna
Famous painter Carl Larsson lived and worked at the turn of the 19th century. His wife Karin was an artist as well. They created one of the most modern homes of their time. www.clg.se
Drottningholm Palace
Drottningholm Palace is on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. It is the most well-preserved royal castle built in the 1600s in Sweden and at the same time is representative of all European architecture for the period. The combination of the exotic Chinese Pavilion pleasure palace, the palace theatre and the magnificent palace gardens make a visit to Drottningholm a unique experience. Influenced by French prototype, the palace was built by architect Nicodemus Tessin the Elder by commission of Queen Hedvig Eleonora. A number of royal personages have since then left their mark on the palace. The Palace is Their Majesties the King and Queen’s permanent home residence. The rooms in the southern wing of the palace are reserved for this purpose. The rest of the palace and grounds are open to the public year round. http://www.kungahuset.se
Falu Copper Mine
Falu Gruva was world famous for its copper and is now a World Heritage Site. The income from the mine made up a big part of Sweden’s economical base. At times the mine made up for nearly two thirds of the world production of copper. www.falugruva.se
Gamla Stan
Gårdsjö Älgpark
Millesgården
An oasis just 10 minutes from downtown Stockholm. Millesgården is a museum with antique collection, sculpture garden, art gallery and restaurant. www.millesgarden.se
Sala Silver Mine
The Silver Mine in Sala was during a long period of time Sweden’s biggest producer of silver and periodically one of Europe’s most important producer. The precious metal has been very important for Sweden throughout many years, why the state contributed with donations and subsidies for the mining. The mighty king Gustav Vasa, regent in the beginning of the 16th century, called the mine the State Treasury. www.salasilvergruva.se
Sigtuna
Skokloster
Stadshuset
Vasa ship
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We would love to welcome you in Uppsala for an unforgettable experience.
Evening Activities
Several activities on week nights and Midsummer give you an opportunity to familiarize yourself with Sweden, the Swedes and the Swedish culture. It is also a chance to get to know your fellow students and have a lot of fun. These activities are included in the full program fee.
Midsummer