Gamla Stan
★ 4.7🇸🇪 StockholmSuggested visit 2-3 hoursBest season June to August for the long summer days, or December for the Christmas market
Historic siteMedieval old townCity walk
The birthplace of Stockholm, where cobbled lanes and 17th-century gabled houses form one of the best-preserved medieval old towns in the Nordics.
Overview
Sitting on an island where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic, Gamla Stan has been the heart of the city since the 13th century. The Royal Palace, the cathedral and the Nobel Prize Museum cluster here, and Mårten Trotzigs Gränd narrows to just 90 cm. Cafés, craft shops and vaulted cellar restaurants fill the lanes, all walkable in an afternoon.
History
Founded in the 13th century, it grew into an important Hanseatic trading post. In 1523 Gustav Vasa led Sweden out of the Kalmar Union from here, making the old town a symbol of the nation's founding.
Highlights
- •Changing of the guard at the Royal Palace
- •Stockholm Cathedral
- •Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, the narrowest alley
- •Colourful gabled houses on Stortorget
Practical tips
- •The old town is best explored on foot — wear comfortable shoes
- •Stortorget gets crowded at midday; early morning is quieter
Practical information
- Best time
- June-August
- Tickets
- Free to walk the streets; the Royal Palace is about SEK 160
- Opening hours
- Streets open all day; Royal Palace 10:00-16:00
- Local food
- Swedish meatballs, cinnamon buns, pickled herring
- Getting around
- Metro to Gamla stan station, or a 15-minute walk from the central station.
- Visa
- A Schengen visa is required; apply about one month in advance.
Traveller reviews
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