Dating in Uppsala: Best Free Sites & Apps for English Speakers

Student nations, history and a young crowd

Uppsala University, founded in 1477, is the oldest university in the Nordic countries, and the city still revolves around it. The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences also has its main campus here, at Ultuna. Large numbers of students, many of them international, give Uppsala a young, lively feel that you would not expect from a city of its size, and English is spoken easily in cafés, shops and student venues.

What makes Uppsala unique for dating is its student nations. These traditional student societies, each historically linked to a region of Sweden, run their own pubs, clubs, restaurants, sports teams and formal dinners. For students, they are the core of the city’s social life, and for an international student, joining one is the fastest way to meet Swedes. Most nation activities require a nation membership, which students can take out at the start of term.

Using dating sites and apps in Uppsala

Online, Uppsala combines its own singles with the huge Stockholm market down the line, since the two cities are linked by frequent trains and many people commute between them. A slightly wider search radius therefore gives you many more profiles.

The sites in our Sweden ranking suit different stages of life:

• Match: our top-rated site for serious dating, mostly for ages 25 to 49. Profile, browsing and likes are free; messaging is paid. Interface in Swedish.
• Mötesplatsen: a Swedish site for singles aged around 30 to 55, ideal if you are settled in Uppsala and want to meet locals. Free registration, profile and browsing; full messaging and extra features are paid.
• Ourtime: for singles over 50, free to browse and send likes, with paid messaging and a Swedish interface.

Students mostly use Tinder, Bumble and Hinge. They are in English and free to chat with matches, with Hinge limiting daily likes. Since many students leave in summer, expect the apps to be busiest during term time.

Where to meet people offline

The nations are the obvious place to start: their pubs are inexpensive and relaxed, and their club nights are among the busiest in the city. Formal dinners, known as gasques, come with songs, speeches and long tables where you can easily end up next to someone new.

The Fyris river, Fyrisån, runs through the centre and its banks fill with people in warm weather. The city’s biggest celebration is Valborg, Walpurgis Night on 30 April, when students gather in parks along the river and a light-hearted raft race takes place on Fyrisån. It is one of the most social days of the year.

For calmer settings, the area around Uppsala Cathedral and the university’s main building is lovely for a walk, and the Linnaeus Garden and the Botanical Garden are good places for a daytime date. Outside the student world, Meetup groups, sports clubs and language cafés at the city library help newcomers who work in Uppsala, for example in the life-science sector, build a circle of friends.

Good habits for dating in Uppsala

• Fika first. Coffee and a pastry in one of the many cafés is the standard first meeting.
• Join a nation if you are a student: it gives you a ready-made social life and plenty in common with the people you meet.
• Split the cost. Paying for yourself is normal and expected on early dates.
• Use Stockholm. A date in the capital is a short trip, and so is bringing a Stockholm match to Uppsala.
• Stay careful online: meet in public places, tell a friend and never send money to someone you have not met.

Which site fits you in Uppsala?

Uppsala is a historic university city with a young crowd, many of them international students and researchers. The sites in our Swedish ranking are in Swedish.

Student on a budget

Bumble offers free matching and free chat, in English. Free tip: Tinder is a second free option with free swiping and chat with matches.

Expat who doesn’t speak Swedish yet

Hinge works in English, with a daily like limit and free chat. Free tip: write your profile in English and add a line in Swedish if you are learning.

New in town, 25-49, open to something serious

Match is our best-rated Swedish site for serious dating, in Swedish. Free tip: profile, browsing and likes are free; you pay only for messaging.

Busy professional, 30+

Mötesplatsen is aimed at Swedish singles aged 30-55. It is in Swedish. Free tip: sign up and browse members for free, then decide whether full messaging is worth paying for.

Dating in Uppsala: FAQ

What are the student nations in Uppsala?

They are traditional student societies with their own pubs, clubs, dinners and sports. They are the centre of student social life and a very good way to meet people, including other singles.

Is Tinder popular in Uppsala?

Yes, especially among students. Tinder, Bumble and Hinge are in English and let you chat with matches for free.

Which dating site is free in Uppsala?

Match, Ourtime and Mötesplatsen are free to join and browse, with paid messaging. For free conversations, use Tinder, Bumble or Hinge.

Can I date people in Stockholm from Uppsala?

Yes. The two cities are close and well connected by train, so many people in Uppsala match with singles in Stockholm and the other way round.