Football camps in Uppsala make the most of something southern Europe cannot offer: endless summer light. In June and July the sun sets late in the evening and twilight lasts for hours, so coaches can schedule sessions whenever they like without worrying about floodlights or heat. Uppsala, Sweden’s fourth-largest city, lies about 70 kilometres north of Stockholm and only around 20 minutes by train from Stockholm Arlanda Airport.
The city is famous for its university, founded in 1477, its cathedral, the largest in Scandinavia, and its student life. It is also a sporting city with modern facilities and a club, IK Sirius, that has played in the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s top division.
Five Reasons Clubs Choose Uppsala
1. Quick access: Arlanda is one of the Nordic region’s main airports, and trains to Uppsala run frequently.
2. Ideal summer climate: temperatures usually range from 18 to 25 degrees.
3. Quality facilities: Swedish municipalities invest heavily in artificial pitches and sports halls.
4. Safe, bike-friendly city: short distances and calm streets suit youth groups.
5. Stockholm nearby: an easy day trip for culture and stadium visits.
Getting Around
From Arlanda, trains reach Uppsala Central in about 20 minutes, and coaches are available for groups with heavy equipment. Within the city, buses are frequent and cycling is common. Many sports complexes are within cycling distance of the centre, so bike rental can replace daily coach transfers.
Pitches and Venues for Football Camps in Uppsala
Swedish towns have many full-size artificial pitches, often with floodlights and heated surfaces for winter use. Natural grass is also available at some clubs. Larger sports parks include indoor halls, gyms and meeting rooms. Book early for June, when local tournaments and school sports days fill the calendar.
If you are comparing destinations across Europe, read our football training camps in Europe guide for a structured way to evaluate options.
Using the Light Evenings
The long days change how a camp can be organised. Instead of a morning and afternoon session, many coaches use a late-morning session and an evening session around 18:00 or 19:00, when temperatures are pleasant and the light is soft. This leaves the middle of the day for rest, meals and activities. However, bright nights can disturb sleep, so make sure accommodation has blackout curtains or provide eye masks for players.
Sample Training Week for Football Camps in Uppsala
- Monday: arrival, short activation and team meeting.
- Tuesday: possession and positional play, evening small-sided games.
- Wednesday: pressing and defensive organisation, evening set pieces.
- Thursday: recovery, lake swim and team activity.
- Friday: transitions and finishing, evening friendly match.
- Saturday: light session, trip to Stockholm and departure.
Cross-Training Ideas
Sweden’s sporting culture embraces variety. Many athletes cross-train with running, swimming and strength work. If you want ideas for track sessions to improve speed, our guide to the athletics camp in Nyköping, Sweden describes how athletes use Swedish facilities for sprint and endurance training. A single speed session on a running track can be a fun variation for footballers.
Friendlies and Swedish Opponents at Football Camps in Uppsala
Sweden has a vast grassroots football system, with youth leagues for almost every age group and clubs in every district. Through a local contact, visiting teams can usually find opponents in Uppsala itself or in nearby towns such as Enköping, Knivsta and Märsta. Swedish youth sides are typically well organised, fit and fair, and the emphasis on enjoyment and equal playing time at younger ages makes friendlies relaxed and positive.
Agree the format in advance. Swedish youth football uses smaller formats for younger age groups, such as seven-a-side or nine-a-side, so confirm pitch size and team numbers. Many host clubs appreciate a shared fika afterwards, the Swedish coffee-and-bun break, which is a lovely way for players and coaches to meet. If several of your age groups travel, ask whether the host can arrange games for each one on the same evening, turning the day into a mini-festival.
Lakes near the city, such as Fjällnora, are perfect for a team swim and barbecue after a match day, giving players a taste of the Swedish summer lifestyle.
Food and Accommodation
Uppsala has hotels, hostels and student accommodation that is sometimes available to groups in summer. Swedish breakfasts are substantial, with bread, cheese, eggs, porridge, yoghurt and fruit. Lunch is often the main hot meal, served in restaurants as a dagens lunch with salad and bread included at a fixed price. Dinner can be simple, and supermarkets make snacks easy to buy.
Excursions and Culture
The cathedral, Uppsala Castle and the botanical gardens linked to the botanist Carl Linnaeus are all in or near the centre. Gamla Uppsala, just north of the city, has large royal burial mounds from the Iron Age and a small museum. The Fyris river runs through the centre and is lovely for evening walks. Stockholm, around 40 minutes away by train, offers the old town, the Vasa Museum and modern stadiums such as Strawberry Arena.
Costs and Budget Tips
Sweden can be expensive for restaurants, but fixed-price lunches and supermarket shopping help a lot. Student accommodation and hostels lower costs further. Card payments are nearly universal, and many places are cashless. Book trains and flights early for the best prices. Midsummer weekend, usually around 20 to 26 June, is a major holiday in Sweden, when many shops and some sports venues close and people head to the countryside; check opening hours if your camp overlaps it, and consider joining a local celebration with maypole dancing for a unique cultural experience.
Player Development on Tour
A camp in a new country challenges players to adapt to different routines, food and opponents. That challenge is part of the learning. Our article on why football camps are key for player development explains how concentrated training, new experiences and team bonding accelerate progress.
Final Thoughts on Football Camps in Uppsala
Long light evenings, excellent pitches, a safe historic city and quick connections from Arlanda make football camps in Uppsala a strong choice for summer training in Scandinavia.