How to evaluate $\int\limits^1_0 \sqrt{1+\frac{1}{x}}\, \text{d}x$ I need to calculate the length of a curve $y=2\sqrt{x}$ from $x=0$ to $x=1$.

So I started by taking $\int\limits^1_0 \sqrt{1+\frac{1}{x}}\, \text{d}x$, and then doing substitution: $\left[u = 1+\frac{1}{x}, \text{d}u = \frac{-1}{x^2}\text{d}x \Rightarrow -\text{d}u = \frac{1}{x^2}\text{d}x \right]^1_0 = -\int\limits^1_0 \sqrt{u} \,\text{d}u$ but this obviously will not lead to the correct answer, since $\frac{1}{x^2}$ isn't in the original formula. 

Wolfram Alpha is doing a lot of steps for this integration, but I don't think that many steps are needed.

How would I start with this integration?
Here's something you might try. Note that the length of that arc will be the same as the length of the same arc, reflected over the line $y=x$. That is, the arc $y=x^2/4$, from $x=0$ to $x=2$.
Notice that the integrand is a differential binomial, and then you may apply "Integration of differential binomial" (P. L. Chebyshev) and you're immediately done. See here.