In the southern region of Sweden, northeast of Malmö, there is a special secret waiting to be explored. In Lund, you are sure to be blown away by the wonders it has to offer. For students hoping to explore with a budget, here is our take on the seven best things to do In Lund, Learn the 7 Best Things To Do In Lund, Sweden On Student Budget.
Facts About The City of Lund
Lund is a typical but small Swedish city in Skåne County, the southernmost region of Sweden.
Being the second oldest town in Sweden, the charming city is most popular for its prestigious university, Lund University. It is also believed to have been founded late in the 10th century and is always found teeming with bits and pieces of history dating back to the medieval ages.
Lund was once the revered seat of an archbishopric that held unparalleled authority over all of the Nordic countries. These countries include Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland. The city is famously admired for being a green city. Although it may not be as famous as Stockholm or Gothenburg, it is a fantastic place with high-spirited student life and the perfect balance of everything.
Related: Four Charming Towns in Southern Sweden
Lund Cathedral
As we stated above, there is always something spectacular to marvel over in Lund, and its historic Cathedral is its main attraction. Locally referred to as the Lunds Domkyrka, the Cathedral began construction around 1080 AD. This makes it one of the oldest churches in Sweden.
The church’s unique exterior has remained untouched since it was last renovated by architect Helgo Zettervall at the end of the 1800s. Check out the magnificently sculpted pillars and the altar from 1123. Upstairs, you will find an incredible astronomical 1380 clock. This clock functions with two automaton knights marking the hours and the astronomical dial made to mark the direction of the sunset and the phases of the moon.
Finally, in the choir, there are 14th-century stalls dimly-lit because of the narrow Romanesque windows. See where the magnificent gilded Gothic altarpiece dates to 1382 as you proceed to the altar. There are no entrance fees or additional costs to enter the Cathedral unless you intend to buy some brochures or a guided tour—a budget-friendly way to travel into the past.
Related: Apple Art in Southern Sweden
Continue to read 7 Best Things To Do In Lund, Sweden On Student Budget
Lund’s Open-Air Museum, Kulturen
Yet another history-defining accessory of Lund, the town’s open-air museum is believed to be the second oldest in Sweden after Stockholm’s Skansen. Opened in 1892, Kulturen offers a great number of preserved rural buildings from the past two centuries, as well as indoor displays of history and crafts. Here, you will find gardens and cottages open to the public all through the year, providing a curious persuasive essay writer an excellent way to learn about the town’s medieval history.
In all, there are around 30 exhibition rooms in this wonderful museum. These rooms allow you to immerse yourself in the daily life on the Lund Peninsula in eras long gone. The larger buildings are galleries for the museum’s collection of more than two million artefacts, including Scanian jewellery, silver, and porcelain.
Lund University
Founded in the early 13th century, Lund University is one of Sweden’s oldest and ranks among the world’s top 100 universities. While exploring, you can spend some time walking the university grounds and extensive gardens. You will marvel at the gigantic library, the architecture, the museum, and lots more.
Related: Top Scandinavian Universities for Foreigners
Stadsparken
Lund’s city park, Stadsparken, is a superb place to relax and have all the fun with friends, family, and even alone. There is an excellent skate park, a climbing rock, and an indoor swimming pool. Stadsparken also offers you an outdoor gym, a 10-kilometre hiking trail, and a parkour course for the more adventurous thrill-seeking visitors.
For visitors who opt for relaxation, Stadsparken also has sprawling lush lawns to do so, with paths surrounded by ancient hardwood trees. The park also has a formal garden that boasts of over 7000 perennials. This certainly proves just how green and eco-friendly the town truly is.
Botanical Garden
Since 1690, Lund University has painstakingly managed this botanical garden. Many swear that the best time to visit the Botanical Garden is from May to July, when the gardens are most flamboyant with colourful flowers. The garden, which is located in central Lund, is always open to the public daily without charge.
Sitting on an impressive 8 hectares, it boasts of over 7000 species of plants, of which 200 are found in the greenhouses representing nine different climate zones. The Botanical Gardens and Stadsparken each have their own café for coffee breaks.
Museum of Public Sketches
With this museum, Lund offers yet another one-of-a-kind experience. The museum allows you to see preliminary sketches and artistic creations by more than a thousand artists from various countries. Outside, you can browse the sculpture park with 20 works by popular Swedish artists like Elli Hemberg and Arne Jones. This quickly translates into an art-lover’s dream.
Drotten Church Ruins
Before the Reformation in the 15th century, this 51-meter, 11th-century church in the center of Lund was the seat of the archbishopric before it was torn down during the Reformation. It was not until the 70s and 80s that the site was rediscovered and excavated. The remnants were then cleverly put on display in an underground museum exhibition.
You do not need to pay a dime to see this stunning glimpse of the past as entrance is free. There are also information boards that explain the significance of the ruins. Several artefacts were also discovered in ruins and are also available in the exhibition.
Because there are many more fun things to do in Lund, the city uses a bike-sharing system, which has 250 bikes over 17 stations. Not only do you get to explore the breathtaking green scenery, but you also get to move through the city with ease and child-like wonder.
7 Best Things To Do In Lund, Sweden On Student Budget, written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by Karl Murphy. Karl is a professional journalist from Des Moines, Iowa. After obtaining his Master’s degree, he’s launched his career and over its course, Karl was contributing to the popular publications for men. He’s passionate about eSports, so now he develops his blog csgo-bettingsites.com.