A student’s guide to Linköping

Discover Linköping through Swedish traditions, exciting events, and unique activities! From festive Christmas markets to Midsummer celebrations and thrilling sports, this guide has everything you need to make the most of your time in our city. Let the adventure begin!

Winter

When the weather gets colder and winter arrives in Linköping, there are plenty of cozy experiences. In the run-up to Christmas, you should take the opportunity to experience wonderful Christmas markets in historic settings or in central Linköping. As the time approaches, you can check out the selection of Christmas markets here. Would you rather feel the warmth at a Christmas concert or a classic Lucia procession? See what’s on in our event calendar.

If we’re lucky enough to have snow, there are also many winter activities to enjoy! Why not test your skills on the ski slopes, on the ice, or on a sledding hill? Find out more about where you can go skiing, ice skating, and sledging here.

Spring

That time in early Spring when you still don’t know whether you’ll be greeted by sunshine or a blizzard when you step outside can feel a bit gloomy. Start Spring off on the right foot on Shrove Tuesday or “Fettisdagen”, the day when you treat yourself to one or more Semla! A semla is a small, wheat flour bun, flavoured with cardamom and filled with almond paste and whipped cream. You can find semlor at several of Linköpings cafés.

A sign that Spring has arrived in Linköping is the large Walpurgis Night celebration on April 30th, in Swedish called Valborg. Thousands of students gather in Linköping’s Trädgårdsförening (Garden Society) to celebrate the arrival of Spring together with community and music. For a more traditional Walpurgis Night celebration, you can head to Borggården where there’s a classic graduation cap ceremony and singing. There is also several bonfires around the city. As the time approaches, you can see the range of Walpurgis Night celebrations here. (in swedish)

Spring is also the perfect time to get out into nature! In Linköping, you’ll find many great options for everything from cycling and boat trips to hiking and guided tours. Are you familiar with Sweden’s “allemansrätt” (right of public access)? The right of public access means that you can freely stay in most natural areas, even in privately owned forests and land, as long as you take responsibility and show consideration for animals, nature, landowners, and fellow humans. Explore more of Linköpings nature experiences here.

Summer

Summer really kicks off with Midsummer! Friends and family gather to celebrate the year’s longest day with food, dancing around a Midsummer pole, and perhaps a game or two of kubb. As the time approaches, you can see the range of Midsummer celebrations in Linköping and the surrounding area here. (in swedish)

On really hot days, there are two things that are hard to beat: swimming and ice cream! Check out our list of Linköping’s popular ice cream parlors here or dive into Linköping’s extensive swimming map, where we also provide tips on buses that take you farther than your bike. (in swedish)

Student life may be filled with parties, but you can also find them outside of campus! During late summer, you can enjoy Linköping City Festival and Bonfire Festival! Linköping City Festival fills the entire center of Linköping with activities and music for several days. Most activities at the city festival are free of charge. Bonfire Festival is taking place in early September at Stångebrofältet. As a student, you get a student discount on tickets! Previous artists we’ve seen at the festival include Macklemore, Martin Garrix, Veronica Maggio, Bolaget, Zara Larsson, and Hooja.

Autumn

Something that concludes Summer and start Autumn is the classic Swedish crayfish-party season that kicks off at the beginning of August and usually runs well into September. The “kräftskiva” is an annual seafood fest with lots of side dishes, drinks and joyous songs – a summertime celebration dear to Swedes of all ages. Find out more about swedish traditions on Visit Sweden’s site.

Craving a mushroom-based meal? Embark on a forest adventure and search for the season’s prized mushrooms. Autumn is the ideal time to discover nature’s golden treasure! You can try asking a Swede about their favourite mushroom spots, but that is a closely guarded secret to many. So be sure to ask nicely.

Even in lovely Linköping, a little spookiness is always in order. Halloween brings a host of spooky fun for all ages to enjoy throughout the city. As the big day approaches, check here for a complete list of Halloween events.

Tourist information

You are welcome to contact us at Visit Linköping & Co or one of our infopoints if you have any questions about visiting Linköping.

Phone: +46 (0)13 – 190 00 70 (Telephone hours Mon-Fri 10-12)
E-mail: info@visitlinkoping.se

For personal service and maps, you are welcome to visit any of Linköping’s InfoPoints. See InfoPoints here.