Sweden, a country that is glorified with her breathtaking archipelagos, modern design, and the history of Viking, has another deeper treasure, its ancient university towns. Uppsala and Lund are not only the cities with universities, but life breathing organisms where the hiss of history echoes off all cobblestones, where youthful innovation is in the air, where centuries old academic traditions influence the very beat of life. These two towns being iconic, are a mandatory pilgrimage to all the travelers who want to gain an insight into the intellectual and cultural core of Sweden. And to those intending to do this journey outside the country, the knowledge of how to go through the procedure of securing a Sweden travel visa is the initial move to a journey that can be remembered.

This guide will take you on a tour of the magical beauty of both Uppsala and Lund, as well as offer essential information to the traveler, especially those who have applied to visit Sweden on a visa.

Uppsala: The Academic Throne of the King.

Uppsala is a city to the north of Stockholm in which the fibres of religion, of royalty and of the university are closely interwoven. Being the fourth-largest city of Sweden, it succeeds in simultaneously being both grand and small, and one can feel the history there.

Academic and Religious History: Walk through:

The cathedral of Uppsala is the crown jewel and it is the largest cathedral in Scandinavia. It is not only a temple of worship; it is the national church of Sweden and the last tomb of numerous kings, scientists and saints, among which is the famous botanist, Carl Linnaeus. Its high spires constantly remind the skyline, and it is an ever present reminder of the deep history of the city.

The oldest higher education centre of the Nordic region is Uppsala University, which was established in 1477 and is just a short walk away. The Gustavianum building and its iconic cupola can be considered a monument of this long history. Previously the principal building of the university, it now contains some interesting museums, such as the anatomical theatre where it was formerly used to perform the public dissections. Carolina Rediviva, the university library, is a cathedral of bibliophilia, which holds some of the most important treasures such as the magnificent Silver Bible which is a Gothic manuscript of the 6th century.

The Pulse of Student Life:

In addition to the historic centre, Uppsala is full of youthfulness. The epicentre of social life is the student nations - distinctive student societies that are several centuries old. They arrange formal balls and pub-nights as well as academic dinners, which provide a smooth way of students (and visiting scholars) integrating. To go local, you should go with the flock of students who ride around the city- the most popular form of transportation- or have a fika (the Swedish version of a coffee break) at one of the numerous small cafes that line the river Fyrisan.

Lund: A Medieval jewel in the Southern country side.

Lund is located in the southern province of Scania, only a short ride by train in Copenhagen, Denmark. The history that dates back to more than a thousand years makes it seem like a page in a medieval storybook, but it is also among the global leaders in the state-of-the-art science and technology.

Where the Children of Antiquity and the Children of the Age meet:

The Lund cathedral is the most impressive Romanesque cathedral of the heart of Lund constructed in the 12 th century. And in the horologium, a great astronomical clock, one should not lose the spectacle of a mechanical play, twice a day, in which the figures of the Three Wise Men, walking past the Virgin Mary, to the music of a medieval hymn, appear. It is a very spellbinding ritual that has been winning over tourists over the centuries.

Lund University that was established in 1666 is one of the most renowned European research universities. The difference between the old city and the modern and wide university campus is astonishing. Research in other areas such as particle physics is performed at Lund on a world-scale, due to its location close to the MAX IV Laboratory and ESS (European Spallation Source). Such a combination of rich history and intense innovativeness makes Lund a particularly vibrant place.

The beauty of pavement and grass-plots:

Lund is the city that should be explored with the help of feet. Get lost in the maze of cobblestone streets, with its beautifully maintained wooden houses. A great place to have a relaxing walk is the Botanical garden of the university. Students in Lund, just as in Uppsala, live an active and vibrant student life that consists of nations and a rich and active social program that makes the city active throughout the year.

Travel visa Planning Your Journey: The Essential Sweden Travel Visa.

To the citizens of Oman and most of the other countries not part of the European Union and the Schengen Area, it is necessary to have a Sweden travel visa in order to travel to Sweden. This is officially referred to as a Schengen Visa and permits temporary stay of up to 90 days in any of the 26 Schengen member states including Sweden within a 180 days duration.

The main procedures involved in the process of your Sweden Visa:

Know Your Location of Visa: you are an Oman citizen, you would apply to the Sweden visa from Oman at the Swedish embassy or a visa application center (such as VFS Global) in Muscat. It is important to apply at the embassy of where you are spending most of the nights- in this case, it is the Swedish embassy.

Collect Necessary Documents: It is the most important part of the process. You will typically need:

An application form of the Schengen visa signed and completed.

The valid passport that contains at least two empty pages and is not older than 10 years and has a minimum of three months to your planned departure out of the Schengen Area.

Photographs of passport size, which comply with Schengen.

The medical travel insurance with minimum coverage of EUR30,000, and being valid in the whole of the Schengen Area.

Evidence of accommodation (hotel reservations of your stay in Uppsala and Lund).

Indication of adequate finances to meet your accommodation expenses (bank statements).

An elaborated flight schedule starting and ending.

A cover letter about the reason why you are visiting (tourism) and your schedule.

Visa Interview: You will be required to schedule an appointment where you will have to present your application physically, give biometric information (fingerprints and a picture) and possibly question you why you have come to visit.

Tips to make the job application smooth:

Apply Timely: You should apply at least four weeks before your intended date of departure and at most not than six months.

Be Precise and Truthful: Be sure that all information is accurate and the same in your application and other supporting documents.

Prepare an Itinerary: You will need to create a day-by-day plan of how much time you are going to spend in Uppsala and Lund, or any other Swedish or Schengen countries. This makes your trip well planned and your visit not fruitless.

conclusion

There is no need to choose between Uppsala and Lund; on the contrary, it is a beneficial experience to spend time in both as it gives a full picture of the academic history in Sweden. Uppsala and its kingly/religious seriousness is symbolic of the old north. Lund, with its mediaeval atmosphere and intellectual skill, is the representative of the south which was innovative and heterogeneous. They both constitute the intellectual bookends of the country. The key to the gateway to a trip of time, tradition, and knowledge, the key which will make you appreciate the unique appeal of the great university towns in Sweden greatly and forever when you manage to pass the Sweden visa process with success.