Alunda is a small locality of around 2.600 inhabitants in the province of Uppland. It is today a part of Östhammar Municipality and Uppsala County. It is right between the towns of Uppsala and Östhammar, surrounded by the countryside and with the old 13th-century church overlooking the fields.
A Short History of Alunda
The locality has its origins in the old Alunda Parish. The parish dates back as far as the Middle Ages, being mentioned in written sources as early as 1291. The current locality has grown next to the old church village, resulting in the church being located a bit outside of the current center. The church itself dates back to the 13th century.
The center has developed along the road Marmavägen, once the main road in the area before road 288 was completed. It was first in the 1950s that the first commercial and residential buildings were completed along the road, but Alunda has since expanded a lot. From less than 300 inhabitants in 1950, the population was around 1500 in 1980 and then 2500 in 2015. During this time the locality has also incorporated the nearby village of Foghammar.
Things to Do and See
The church and its runestones might be the most prominent building in Alunda, but there is more to explore. Who has ever heard about footgolf?
Alunda Church
The church from the 13th century is the most historical building still standing in Alunda. The area is famous for the many historical remains that have been found here, but for visitors, it is the church that is the most telling of the past. Its appearance has changed many times during the centuries, especially due to fires. The last reconstruction was done in the 1930s.
Right next to the church there are also two runestones.
Miniature Railway Museum
A short distance south of Alunda, in the village of Söderby, is Modelljärnvägens Hus. This is a miniature railway museum that is housed in a barn. The exhibit includes both fantasy networks, but also replicas of real locations, both from today and the past.
Read more at Modelljärnvägens Hus (Swedish) >>
Olandsbygden Golf Club
Olandsbygden Golf Club is a 9-hole golf course located directly north of Alunda’s center. At its center is a homestead from the 19th century. The area is also converted to ski tracks once there is snow during the winter.
Alunda Football Golf
Football golf, or just footgolf, is a combination of football and golf. Right next to the golf course at Olandsbygdens Golf Club is an 18-hole footgolf course.
How to Get to Alunda
- Flights: The closest airport is Stockholm-Arlanda Airport, 65 kilometers away, with both domestic and international flights.
- Car: Alunda is along road 288 between Uppsala and Östhammar.
- Bus: Local and regional buses from UL connect Alunda with the surrounding region.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 102 kilometers (1h 25min)
- Gothenburg – 487 kilometers (5h 39min)
- Malmö – 715 kilometers (7h 14min)
- Linköping – 298 kilometers (3h 13min)
- Kiruna – 1180 kilometers (13h 24min)
Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden
