Lund – a city with heart and mind

Lund is a city of knowledge and culture. At the start of term, 45,000 students from Sweden and all over the world bring the historically rich city to life. Lund University has been educating academics since it was founded in 1666 and, as one of the 100 best universities in the world, is a sought-after place to study. In addition to the academic level, the lively atmosphere and the wide array of leisure activities are attractive opportunities for students.

Lund's most colourful work of art is probably the botanical garden, Botaniska Trädgården, which the university established in the 17th century as a research park, and which is home to over 7,000 species. To this day, the garden is a place for research, but equally for relaxation – and the best way to enjoy this is to take a picnic break at Café Botan.

Sweden's third largest city, Malmö, is just a 12-minute train ride from Lund. The harbour city of Helsingborg is also only a 30-minute train ride from Lund and well worth a visit.

Youthful atmosphere with a fascinating history

Lund has aged in beauty. This is evidenced by the medieval town centre, the houses with colourful facades and the winding cobblestone streets that create a warm, friendly feeling for visitors. At almost one thousand years old, Lund is one of Sweden's oldest cities. It has been shaped by the mighty 12th-century cathedral and the world-famous university founded during the 17th century. Lund is considered a city of history, culture, science and innovation.

Lund owes many traditions and a diverse cultural scene to its students. The city is a breeding ground for successful musicians, actors and journalists. Humour is also part of life for the young academics. Lund's residents and visitors share a laugh at the annual comedy festival, the great spontaneous party during Valborg on 30 April and the Lund student choir singing on 1 May.

Creative shops with unique items and exciting museums line the streets of Lund. As the most visited attraction in Skåne and the oldest cathedral in Scandinavia, the enormous Lund Cathedral is a stone superlative. The astronomical clock from 1425 is also extraordinary: it shows the signs of the zodiac and the phases of the moon over Lund. In summer there are free guided tours of the cathedral.

The open-air museum Kulturen, in the centre of Lund, is a hands-on experience of cultural history. In old houses you stroll through life in Lund and its rural surroundings from the Middle Ages to the 1930s. Around 20 exhibitions also showcase regional folk art and modern design from Skåne. Whether Midsummer or Advent, Kulturen offers a varied programme for many occasions.

Accessible nature on the doorstep

The perfect combination of city life and outdoor adventure await you in Lund. It is also surrounded by enchanting beech forests and bright rape seed fields that invite you to go hiking and cycling.

Lund and its surroundings have numerous cycling routes, so there is always the great option of exploring Lund by bike. There are stores and accommodations where you can rent a bicycle.

Discover the long-distance hiking trail Skåneleden. From Lund, you can travel by bus to Genarp and set off on a 12-kilometre section of the trail. During your hike, you can climb Romeleklint, the second highest point on the ridge at 175 metres. The famous botanist Carl Linnaeus once stood here and marvelled at the many spires. At the end of the hike, you can take the bus back to Lund from Veberöd.

Food for the head and the soul

Cosy cafés from bistros to hip coffee bars and a hidden oasis for raw food fans make Lund the ideal place for lunch or a Swedish ‘fika’. From one café to the next, you can simply walk or do as the locals do and take the bike.

Love Coffee & Winebar offers a great wine list with wines from small wineries. The wine list changes constantly, depending on the mood, season and theme of the evening.

At the popular Mannz Bageri you can buy handmade fika pastries to go, and at Patisseriet you can not only enjoy a delicious coffee and something sweet, but also tasty salads.

Saluhallen Lund – a market hall on Mårtenstorget – has been catering to gourmets since 1909, with speciality shops for takeaway delicacies and restaurants for tasty treats, from snacks to dinners.

Outside the city, farm shops amid golden rape seed fields with homemade specialties await cyclists and hikers.

Unsurprisingly, researchers and inventors have flourished and achieved great things amidst this inspiring atmosphere. Lund is both charming and smart.