Lund.
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Overview

Lund is a university city in Scania, the southern part of Sweden. Lund is one of the oldest cities in Sweden and has also played an important part in Danish history. It has a population of about 94,000 people (2020), and is only a few minutes away from the larger city, Malmö and under an hour away from Copenhagen. The Lund University is the second oldest and one of the largest in all of Sweden. The city also has many high-tech companies. This tradition of world class research and high tech infrastructure certainly played a role in the decision to put the European Spallation Source (ESS) into Lund. The ESS will be the strongest neutron spallation source in the world when it opens in stages between 2023 and 2025.

Understand

Unlike most Swedish cities Lund has preserved its medieval non-regular street pattern. Even though it is very charming it also makes it rather difficult to navigate through the city. Unlike many other cities Lund also lacks major natural boundaries like rivers to navigate by. One of the few boundaries to orient by is the railway which runs in a north-south direction west of the city. The cathedral can also be used as a landmark in order to find your way through Lund.

The first major settlement in the area was a Viking-era village known as Uppåkra, 4 km south of present day Lund. This area was supposedly a cultural and religious centre with a pagan temple. Unlike other comparable sites, like Old Uppsala and Hedeby, it is not mentioned in written sources.

Around 990 Uppåkra was abandoned and Lund was established. The founding of Lund is often considered to be an important step in the founding of a unified Danish state (much of what is now southern Sweden, was once Danish). It soon became a Christian centre and in 1103 the Archdiocese of Lund became its own ecclesiastical province, including all of the Scandinavian countries. At the same time Lund Cathedral was built; according to local legend by "the giant Finn". Malmö was founded as a port city for the Archbishop of Lund, but came to eclipse its mother city as a commercial centre during the 15th century.

In 1658 Scania and Lund were conquered by Sweden. As a step in the "Swedification" of Scania the University of Lund was founded in 1666. Although it is the second oldest university in present day Sweden, it was the fifth Swedish university. (Universities were founded in Uppsala 1477, Tartu 1632, Åbo 1640 and in 1648 Vorpommern with the already existing University of Greifswald was incorporated into Sweden.) In an attempt to re-conquer the Scanian provinces Denmark launched the Scanian war against Sweden in 1675. In December 1676 Sweden won a decisive victory at the Battle of Lund - one of the bloodiest in Nordic history - and Scania stayed Swedish.

Get in

By plane Copenhagen Airport is the largest Airport in the Nordic countries and the major point of entry to the Öresund-region. Lund is connected to Copenhagen and its airport by direct trains (Øresundtåg). Malmö Airport serves 20 international flight operators and is 25 km from Lund. The airport shuttle "Flygbussarna" carry passengers from the airport to central Lund for about 100 kr.

By train is 15 minutes and 50 kr by train from Malmö, and 50 minutes and 140 kr from Copenhagen and its airport. All trains (pågatåg, öresundståg) stop at Lund, including the X-2000 expresses from Gothenburg and Stockholm. There are also yellow regional buses from Malmö.

By motorcar Lund is between the highways E6 and E22, which continue towards Malmö in the south. In the other direction the E22 carries traffic to Karlskrona and then follows the Swedish coast north. The E6 continues to Helsingborg and then follow the Scandinavian Western coast to Gothenburg, Oslo, and across Norway. In Helsingborg it connects with the E4, which is the fastest way towards Stockholm and Svealand or Norrland.

Get around

Lund is small enough to see most of it in an afternoon's walk.

Over 120 years after the first proposal, Lund finally opened its first light rail line in 2020. It goes from the main train station to the European Spallation Source science complex.

By bus The local Skånetrafiken buses can get you to most areas of town. The hubs are around the train station, Botulfsplatsen, and the University Hospital (Universitetssjukhuset).

As in the rest of Skåne, the buses do not take cash, so you have to tap your bank card on the reader, or buy your ticket in advance. You can do this with an SMS (if you have a Swedish SIM card) or at the Pressbyrån stores, there are three by the station and one by Botulfsplatsen. The yellow regional buses take credit cards.

Take note of the colour of the buses: Green buses are city buses that travel inside the city of Lund, while yellow buses are regional buses that travel to neighbouring localities.

By taxi The best places to catch a cab is by the train station or by Botulfplatsen.

See

The Lund City Wall is mostly dismantled, but the old town's hexagonal perimeter is a nice walk through the city's history.

Lund Cathedral. Built in 1103, it is the second-largest cathedral of the Nordic countries. There's a free organ concert every Saturday morning at 10:00, and the elaborate astronomical clock (on your left after entering) puts on its show twice a day (12:00 and 15:00). This clock show is highly recommended even if you're not interested in the church, due to its nostalgic value.

Ingvar Kamprad Design Centrum. Part of the Lund University LTH and home of the Industrial Design program; the building was funded by Ingvar Kamprad, founder of IKEA.

University Hall. A grand classicist building inaugurated in 1882.

The Historical Museum. Also owned by the university and was established in 1805. Has, among other things, many of the findings from Uppåkra, the nearby archaeological site of what was probably southern Sweden's biggest town during the Stone and Iron Ages.

Lunds Konsthall. A modern art museum (temporary exhibitions).

Kulturen. An open air museum founded in 1892, encompassing two blocks in central Lund. It contains a large number of old preserved houses from the middle ages to the 1930s, and some 20 exhibitions.

Skissernas Museum – Museum of Artistic Process and Public Art. Owned by the university and displays sketches for various works of public art, mostly by 20th-century Swedish artists.

Nasoteket. Perhaps one of the strangest exhibitions in Sweden, Nasoteket is a collection of cast noses from several different famous Swedes.

Uppåkra Arkeologiska Center. A historical museum by and about the Viking-era archaeological site Uppåkra.

Botaniska trädgården. It's very nice for walks, and there are greenhouses which house many exotic plants. Good place to take kids.

Stadsparken. On Walpurgis Night (April 30), it's the place where people gather (about 20 000 people) to light a gigantic bonfire and revel through the night.

Do

Being a university town, Lund has good arts and entertainment for its size.

Filmstaden. The main cinema which shows all the blockbusters.

Kino. Movie theater which has a good art-movie schedule.

Lunds Judoklubb. It's free for anyone to try out Judo or come by to watch the games.

Mejeriet. An arts centre and performance hall which occasionally has concerts by internationally known pop and rock performers as well as local music groups.

Lunds Stadsteater. The city's main performance hall.

Lunds Teaterförening. Often performing, using several stages around the city.

Buy

Clemenstorget. On this square there are often different shops and flea markets stalls.

Hökeriet. A gifts and souvenirs shop reconstructed into a traditional store from the early 1900. It is run by the organization Kulturen.

Saluhallen. A market hall with plenty of restaurants and food stores, including a Systembolaget alcohol retail store.

Världsbutiken Klotet. A fair trade gifts and souvenirs store.

Lund has two branches of the Swedish "Willy's" supermarket chain:

Willy's Norra Fäladen. Willy's Norra Fäladen

Willy's Hemma Stortorget. Willy's Hemma Stortorget

Eat

Bellini Pizzeria. A nice little pizzeria on Getingevägen near the campus of Lund University.

Chop Chop Express. A fast-food restaurant serving various kinds of Asian food such as sushi, wok and poke bowls. You order and pay for your food from a checkout machine at the entry and then pick it up from the counter. Remember to return your tray to the trolley when finished.

Cyrus. This Persian restaurant is a little run-down, but their marinated grilled chicken pieces ("Juje kebab") are simple and delicious.

Eatery. A lunch restaurant located in an office building. Three varying dishes available each weekday: you can choose a meat, fish, or vegetarian option. Salad, water and coffee is included. A varying dessert on Tuesdays and Swedish pancakes on Thursdays.

Govindas. Hare Krishna vegetarian lunch restaurant. Unusual and often tasty food.

Mondo. This cafe serves great sandwiches, soups, and pie for reasonable prices. Crowded during lunch hours, although takeaway is available.

Pizzeria Portofino. Friendly neighborhood pizzeria with delivery.

Sibylla. Lund also has a branch of the well-known Sibylla fast-food chain. Hamburgers, kebabs and some Swedish home meals available. Located near the Lund University Central Hospital and the Ideon Science Park.

Viggos Restaurang & Bar. Without doubt the best and biggest burgers in town. You can even supersize them. Also offer beers.

Inferno. A trendy restaurant and bar located near the city centre. Tasty food and various beers on tap. Popular among students.

Italia Il Ristorante. Great atmosphere, great pasta and great service. Probably the best Italian restaurant in town.

M.E.A.T.. Serves a modern US-inspired steak house cuisine. Great relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff. Usually fully booked during weekends, and during many weekdays as well, but there is a bar for drop-ins.

New Delhi Tandoor. Named the region's best Indian restaurant 2007 and 2008 by a local paper. Food served include a buffet.

Stortorget. Reasonably priced good food.

Tatung. Good, reasonably priced Chinese.

V.E.S.P.A. Trendy restaurant just north of the station. Pizza and pasta using fresh ingredients.

Grand Hotel. Serving good Swedish food in a classic atmosphere.

Klostergatans Vin och Delikatess. Great Swedish and French food with bread from the next door bakery, Patisseriet.

Ved. A trendy restaurant in central Lund with very spacious premises. The menu focuses on two options - one is to order two or three of the various tasty and rather small dishes on the diverse main menu, the other is pizza. Several Swedish beers and ciders on tap and an extensive wine list. When ordering a combination of dishes from the main menu, expect to pay upwards of 300 kr.

Drink

Bishop's Arms. Expensive English pub with a good selection of British beers which are unfortunately often served ice-cold instead of the correct temperature. Good selection of whiskeys. Try the Röde Orm beer (78 kr), locally brewed in Lund.

The John Bull Pub. English pub with an impressive but overpriced selection of draft beers. Features a live dixieland jazz band every Tuesday night, and a karaoke contest on Saturdays.

Rauhrackel. Austria pub which serves lovely beer and nice, big sized, portions of mostly meat. Order a "meter of beer" to get a sample of some of the beers they offer.

Cafe Ariman. Where the alternative crowd hangs out. Also has a bunch of oldtimers who spend their days playing board games. The best coffee shop, also has beer and club events on weekends. It serves also soups (53 kr) and sandwiches for lunch.

Sleep

Hotel Concordia. Good central location. Rooms are run down and way below its four star rating.

Hotel Djingis Khan. A ways from the center, in a quiet residential neighborhood. Apartment rooms available for long-term stays.

Elite Hotel Ideon Lund. A large, modern and comfortable hotel with 178 rooms, next to the Ideon Science Park so it's a good choice for business trips.

Hotel Finn. Modern and fresh. A bit away from the centre.

Hotel Lundia. Just a block from the train station.

Motel L Lund. A stylish hotel in Lund. Don't let the name "Motel L" fool you, this is a full-fledged hotel. There is a breakfast restaurant and a skyline bar at the top floor. Located right next to the Ideon Science Park so it's a good choice for business trips.

Scandic Hotel Star. A bit away from the centre. Scandic-Hotels standard hotel.

Grand Hotel. The oldest hotel in town, dating to 1899. Old-fashioned European style, overlooking a small park.