The Upplandsmuseet is the county museum of Uppland, occupying the old Akademikvarnen — the university's tall yellow water mill on the bank of the Fyris River. The location alone is worth the visit: from the upper floors you look straight out over the rapids and the cathedral.
The permanent exhibitions cover the human story of the region from the Iron Age to the present, with strong sections on rural life, the rune-stone culture of medieval Uppland, and the daily routines of student Uppsala over the centuries. Temporary shows are usually the museum's strongest work and frequently dig into local social history.
Entry is free. The museum is centrally located on Fyristorg, a minute from the cathedral, and a stop on most walking routes through the old town.