Staff members Felica and Erland taking a well needed swim after dancing around the maypole

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!

Staff members Felica and Erland taking a well needed swim after dancing around the maypole
Get to know other people from all over the world!
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.
Come and be a part of the UISS Musical Evening! Where studens, teachers and staff all sing together
Musical Evenings
Students and staff sing and/or play an instrument, we’ll sing some ABBA songs and other Swedish pop songs together. It’s a great way to discover each other’s and even your own talents.
Come and be a part of the UISS Musical Evening! Where studens, teachers and staff all sing together
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?
Come and taste some crayfish at the UISS crayfish party
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.
Improvised performances are both fun to watch and extremely useful for learning
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.
Improvised performances are both fun to watch and extremely useful for learning
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

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.

 
Students playing the traditional Swedish game "Kubb" on Midsummer's Eve
Midsummer
Midsummer takes place in June and is a celebration of the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. It is one of the most celebrated holidays in Sweden. Here you can observe the Swedes in their traditional attire, listen to traditional songs and participate in (or watch) the dancing around the maypole. There will also be games and a lake you can swim in.
Get to know other people from all over the world!
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.

Come and be a part of the UISS Musical Evening! Where studens, teachers and staff all sing together
Musical Evenings
Students and staff sing and/or play an instrument, we’ll sing some ABBA songs and other Swedish pop songs together. It’s a great way to discover each other’s and even your own talents.
Come and be a part of the UISS Musical Evening! Where studens, teachers and staff all sing together
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?

Come and taste some crayfish at the UISS crayfish party
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.

Improvised performances are both fun to watch and extremely useful for learning
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.

Improvised performances are both fun to watch and extremely useful for learning
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
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
Friday Trip to Falun and Dalarna calls for a stop by the Dala Horse
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

Friday Trip to Falun and Dalarna calls for a stop by the Dala Horse
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
Friday Trip to Falun and Dalarna calls for a stop by the Dala Horse
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

Tag along to Gårdsjö Älgpark, and hang out with the moose in their natural habitat
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

Friday Trip to Falun and Dalarna calls for a stop by the Dala Horse
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

Tag along to Gårdsjö Älgpark, and hang out with the moose in their natural habitat
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

Friday Trip to Falun and Dalarna calls for a stop by the Dala Horse
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

Tag along to Gårdsjö Älgpark, and hang out with the moose in their natural habitat
Skokloster
The castle of Skokloster is the largest private castle ever built in Sweden and even compared to other castles in Europe it is a unique place to visit. It is a vivid reminder of Sweden’s Age of Greatness, the 17th century. www.skoklostersslott.se
Friday Trip to Falun and Dalarna calls for a stop by the Dala Horse
Stadshuset
The city hall in Stockholm is one of Sweden’s foremost buildings in the national romantic spirit and hosts amongst others the annual banquet for the Nobel prize winners. www.stockholm.se/stadshuset
Tag along to Gårdsjö Älgpark, and hang out with the moose in their natural habitat
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

Friday Trip to Falun and Dalarna calls for a stop by the Dala Horse
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

Friday Trip to Falun and Dalarna calls for a stop by the Dala Horse
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

Friday Trip to Falun and Dalarna calls for a stop by the Dala Horse
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
Tag along to Gårdsjö Älgpark, and hang out with the moose in their natural habitat
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
Friday Trip to Falun and Dalarna calls for a stop by the Dala Horse
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

Tag along to Gårdsjö Älgpark, and hang out with the moose in their natural habitat
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

Friday Trip to Falun and Dalarna calls for a stop by the Dala Horse
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
Tag along to Gårdsjö Älgpark, and hang out with the moose in their natural habitat
Skokloster
The castle of Skokloster is the largest private castle ever built in Sweden and even compared to other castles in Europe it is a unique place to visit. It is a vivid reminder of Sweden’s Age of Greatness, the 17th century. www.skoklostersslott.se
Friday Trip to Falun and Dalarna calls for a stop by the Dala Horse
Stadshuset
The city hall in Stockholm is one of Sweden’s foremost buildings in the national romantic spirit and hosts amongst others the annual banquet for the Nobel prize winners. www.stockholm.se/stadshuset
Tag along to Gårdsjö Älgpark, and hang out with the moose in their natural habitat
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

 

 

 

 

 

   Lapland Trip 〉

 

 

 

 

 

   Finland Trip 〉

 

 

Because of a cancellation we do have one spot left on this amazing trip. May 8, 2024

Travel dates
Cost Availability
Lapland
July 5-12
9 200 SEK
Finland
July 18-22
3 900 SEK

= more than 5 places available
= less than 5 places available
= waiting list

Apply Now for Summer 2024!

We would love to welcome you in Uppsala for an unforgettable experience.