15 Best Things to do in Lund (Sweden) – Swedishnomad.com

Here’s a list of the 15 best things to do in Lund (Sweden), along with famous landmarks, museums, and other points of interest.

Lund is one of the largest cities in Sweden, located in the province of Skåne in the southern part of the country. It’s a historic city that is highly associated with education, and it’s home to one of the finest universities in Europe. 

Furthermore, there are several parts of Lund where you can stroll around and see well-preserved buildings from various eras. Summer is the most popular time of the year to visit Lund, but there is always something interesting to do in Lund.

Lund Cathedral (Lunds domkyrka)

Lund Cathedral is one of the city’s highlights and is known as the most impressive example of Romanesque architecture in Scandinavia. It was constructed in the 12^th century and is inspired by the architecture of northern Italy.

The cathedral is richly decorated and features many fascinating stone sculptures as well as other art pieces dating to the various centuries of the cathedral’s existence.

There is also an astronomical clock found here that shouldn’t be missed. Lund’s Cathedral is a popular venue for concerts and features six organs, one of which is considered Sweden’s biggest.

Museum of Cultural History and Open-Air Museum

Lund’s Museum of Cultural History, also often known as Kulturen, is one of the cultural highlights of the city and offers both an indoor as well as an outdoor section.

Visiting this site is like entering a time capsule as everything here resembles the period between the middle ages and the early 20^th century.

Many interesting exhibits are at home at the Kulturen including collections on folk art, medieval history as well as modern design. The museum is found right in the center of Lund and also features beautiful gardens that are very inviting.   

Skrylle Nature Reserve

Around 15 km east of Lund is the fantastic Skrylle Nature Reserve which is one of the main recreational attractions of the region. Many residents come here to enjoy virtually untouched nature and make use of the area’s many hiking and cycling trails.

The parking area features a restaurant and a small history museum and allows easy access to some of the numerous trails. And the further you get away from the parking area the more serene and peaceful the reserve becomes.

Don’t miss some of the great lookout spots and gardens that can be found here. There are also playgrounds available that make a stay here enjoyable for visitors of all ages.

Museum of Artistic Process and Public Art

The Skissernas Museum is dedicated to public art and the artistic process. Unlike other art museums, the focus does not lie on finished artworks but rather on sketches, models, and the preparatory work that is needed to create art.

This unique museum offers a variety of pencil drawings, plaster sculptures, and paintings of modern and contemporary artists from all over the world.

Of course, there are also many Swedish artists represented here such as Isaac Grünewald or Gerhard Nordström. Interestingly, the museum is also home to a large collection of images and clips of public art dating from the modern days to the 1930s.    

Botanical Garden

Lund offers nature-lovers beautiful botanical gardens with a rich history dating to 1690 when the local university first established it. Over the years the gardens have developed into a first-class institution.

Today, Lund’s Botanical Garden is home to around 7000 species of plants growing on 20 acres of ground right in the middle of Lund.

The purpose of the botanical gardens is not just to entertain visitors with their natural beauty but also to educate local students about botany, gardening, and ecology. The site was declared a historical landmark in 1974 and has since then enjoyed special protection.

All Saints Church

All Saints Church in Lund was opened in 1891 and can be found a few hundred meters north of the city center. Lunds Allhelgonakyrka, as the church is called in Swedish, is built in a Gothic revival style of architecture.

This church is known for its uncut cement altar and the beautiful decorative paintings of Svante Thulin. The tower of the All Saints Church features a bell foundry consisting of three bells designed by M & O Ohlsson and was inaugurated in 1966.

Visiting the church can be combined with the North Cemetery (Norra kyrkogården) which is only a few meters away from the church.

Lundagård Park

Lundagård is Lund’s most prominent park and can be found between the main building of the local university and the Lund Cathedral. This park was originally the site of Lund’s fortress but today only a gate is remaining and the rest of the area is a great greenery space.

The park also features the Kungshuset, a former residence of the Danish king which nowadays is used by the university. The Lundagård Park is also home to the Lund University Historical Museum.

The Rune Stone Hill

Runestones can be found all over Scandinavia and they remind us about the heritage of the Vikings who used to lived here. The city of Lund features a small park adjacent to the university that is home to many of these ancient stones.

They were collected from the surrounding countryside to celebrate the 200^th anniversary of the university. The site is called the Rune Stone Hill because of a little mound where the stones are placed around.

Lund University Main Building

The main building of the Lund University is surprisingly beautiful and shouldn’t be missed when coming to this lovely Swedish city. It was constructed in the 19^th century by the famous architect Helgo Zettervall and is characterized by the architect’s obsession with classical antiquity.

There are many columns, sphinxes and copings found here. The building is situated at the northern end of Lundagård Park and can easily be reached by bike or on foot from the central parts of Lund. 

Vattenhallen Science Center

Vattenhallen Science Center is run by the local Lund University and offers a very interactive way to learn about science. It is mostly dedicated to educating local youths but it can also be an interesting place to visit for tourists.

Most of the staff here is made up of university students eager to teach children about their subjects. Coming here is ideal if you are traveling with children as your kids will love learning in this engaging science center.

The Historical Museum

The Lunds Universitets Historiska Museet, as the museum is known in Swedish, is located right next to the Lundagård Park and offers a fantastic archaeological collection of around 10 million exhibits.

All the major epochs of human development such as the Stone Age or the Iron Age are represented here making the museum a fantastic place to learn about the early history of mankind.

There is also a “Kuriosakabinettet” which is dedicated to displaying weird and surprising artifacts and shouldn’t be missed. The museum also has a section dedicated to zoology, presenting local fauna dating to the ice age. Due to the sheer volume of exhibits, the Historical Museum is a great place to spend a rainy day.

Saluhallen (Market Hall)

Saluhallen is Lund’s best address for food lovers as there is a sheer endless number of first-class eateries found here. Of course, you can also buy fresh produce here and cook your own meal if you desire.

The food on offer here ranges from typical Swedish food to international cuisine. What almost all the shops and restaurants have in common is that they offer hand-made food of a fantastic quality that is guaranteed to satisfy even the most demanding gourmet.

Rinnebäck Gorge

The Rinnebäck Gorge (called Rinnebäcksravinen in Swedish) is found on the western edge of Lund and is a beautiful natural area that is great for nature-lovers and everyone in search of some serenity and relaxation.

The area offers a unique chance to experience untouched nature just a few hundred meters away from the city center. Needless to say, the Rinnebäcksravinen is very popular amongst locals and it’s a very popular spot for cycling and hiking.

Museum of Life

The Museum of Life is dedicated to the human body and aims at educating its visitors about anatomy and all bodily functions. Entrance to the museum is free.

This museum is one of the best places to visit in Lund with kids to spark a kid’s interest in Biology. The Museum of Life is very modern and engaging. It offers many quizzes and games to stimulate the minds of young visitors.

St. Peter’s Priory (Klosterkyrkan)

The St. Peter’s Priory was one of Denmark’s first monastic houses. It was established in the 12^th century when Lund and its surroundings were not yet part of Sweden.

It was built for Benedictine nuns and was dedicated to Saint Mary and Saint Peter. The priory’s main church is built in a beautiful Gothic style of architecture.

Apart from the church, there used to be a dormitory, a refectory, and a wing for lay sisters here but today only the St. Peter’s Priory Church remains. The priory is located a few hundred meters west of the pedestrian center and can easily be reached on foot.

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