10 Top Things To Do in Stockholm's Old Town - Travel Bliss Now (2024)

It’s hard to pick the top things to do in Stockholm’s Old Town. In my view, the whole place is a top thing to do.

I fell for this irresistible place immediately when I visited at the start of my small ship luxury cruise of the Baltic Sea.

If you find yourself in Stockholm, you absolutely have to spend some time in Old Town, known in Swedish as Gamla Stan.

Visiting Stockholm’s Old Town might be the closest thing you’ll get to walking through a story book, set in the Middle Ages. The narrow cobblestone streets are lined with colourful old buildings, and the scent of cinnamon and cardamom buns wafts through the air.

In this post, you’ll find 10 things to do to pass the time in bliss in Old Town Stockholm.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
About Old Town Stockholm
Things To Do in Stockholm’s Old Town:
1. Wander the ancient cobblestone streets
2. Take a guided walking tour
3. Relax in Stortorget: The Main Square
4. Visit Storkyrkan: Stockholm Cathedral
5. Go posh at the Royal Palace
6. Visit Sweden’s Parliament
7. Walk the narrowest street – Mårten Trotzigs gränd
8. Gain some luck at the smallest monument – The Iron Boy
9. Admire Riddarholmen Church
10. Try some fika at Chokladkoppen
Other Interesting Things To Do in Stockholm

About Old Town Stockholm

Stockholm’s Old Town is known as Gamla Stan in Swedish, short for the ‘town between the bridges,’ which is fitting, since the district sits on three islands.

This is where Stockholm was founded in 1252, and it’s considered one of the best preserved medieval city centres in Europe. It’s hard to believe that this charming area was a slum up until the 1970s when restoration began.

You could easily spend a day strolling through the warren of streets, with frequent breaks for pastries, of course.

And by the way, it is entirely possible to visit Stockholm on a budget.

Here are the top things to do in Stockholm Old Town:

1. Wander the cobblestone streets

My top choice on what to do in Gamla Stan is to just wander.

Västerlånggatan and Österlånggatan are the district’s main streets. Prästgatan is another popular street, so called because priests lived there, as did the city’s executioner.

You should also take a turn down the smaller streets and let yourself get lost and utterly charmed by the atmosphere.

If you’re visiting in peak season, you’ll find that the streets are quiet in the morning before 10 a.m. and in the evening, after dinner.

2. Take a walking tour

You’ll learn a lot of quirky history about Gamla Stan and find all the nooks and crannies on a fun walking tour.

They’ll explain stuff like the meaning of the mysterious metallic house signs and why the King of Sweden doesn’t wear a crown. Because inquiring minds have to know.

Book the Stockholm Old Town Walking Tour here.

3. Relax in Stortorget: The Main Square

Stortorget is the oldest square in Stockholm, and probably one of the most photographed spots in Sweden.

On the walking tour, I learned that it was also the site of one of city’s darkest moments in 1520, known as the Stockholm Bloodbath.

At the time, Sweden was under Danish control, and the new King executed 92 members of Swedish nobility who attended his coronation party. On the red house in the centre of the photo above, you can see 92 grey stones in memory of those who lost their lives that day.

On a brighter note, the square is also where you’ll find the Nobel Museum and the Nobel Library. Entrance to the Museum is free of charge on Tuesday evenings.

4. Visit Storkyrkan: Stockholm Cathedral

The Great Cathedral of Stockholm towers over the Old Town. This is where the Swedish Royals get married and crowned.

Built in 1279, it houses historical paintings and sculptures under its Gothic-style vaulted ceiling. Classical music concerts are often held here.

You can see what’s on and check the visiting hours here.

5. Go posh at the Royal Palace

Beside the Cathedral, you’ll find the Royal Palace, one of the largest palaces in Europe with over 600 rooms. The Palace was built over 60 years during the eighteenth century, after the original burnt down.

Visitors can see the reception rooms, the silver throne, five museums and the Armory, which contains royal costumes and armour, as well as coronation carriages from the Royal Stable.

The Palace is the official residence of the King of Sweden, although the royal family doesn’t live here. On the walking tour, the guide told us that the family represents regular Swedish society, dishing with stories about how the King married an interpreter and made her Queen, while a Princess married her personal trainer.

Sweden’s Royal Family actually lives at the Drottningholm Palace, built in grand Baroque style in 1662, and well worth a visit, also.

Sweden’s Parliament , the Riksdag, takes up the island of Helgeandsholmen.

The parliamentary library dates back to 1851 and is one of the few in the world that is open to the public. You can find information on visiting here.

7. Walk the narrowest street – Mårten Trotzigs gränd

Mårten Trotzig’s alley is only 90 centimetres wide at its narrowest point and is a popular spot for tourists.

Mårten Trotzig was a wealthy merchant who thought a street should be named after him. This is what they gave him.

It’s said that if you pass through keeping both hands on the walls, you’ll have the same fortune as Mårten Trotzig.

8. Gain some luck at the smallest monument – The Iron Boy

If you like the narrowest street, you may also enjoy the smallest public monument in Stockholm.

The sculpture, called Järnpojke or Iron Boy, stands 15 centimtres high. It’s located behind the Finnish Church near the Stockholm Palace.

The sculpture is said to bring good luck to anyone who caresses the boy’s head or offers small gifts to him. People seeking some luck often knit him hats and scarves, so Iron Boy sports a new look almost every day.

9. Admire Riddarholmen Church

Riddarholmen Church, which also sits on a separate island, is Stockholm’s only remaining medieval abbey, built in the late 1200s.

It is the last resting place of the Swedish monarchs and aristocracy.

It’s open for visitors between May and September. You can check the visiting hours here.

10. Try somefika at Chokladkoppen

After seeing the biggest palace and the smallest street, you should take a break and have fika.

The Swedes do fika, with coffee and a sweet, almost any time of the day. A great place for it is Chokladkoppen. Aside from having a delicious sounding name, this café at idyllic Stortorget Square has great pastries to enjoy as a sweet ending to a day visiting enchanting Gamla Stan.

Learn more about Sweden’s food traditions on this delicious Nordic food tour. Yes, there will be cinnamon buns and chocolate!

Other Interesting Things To Do In and Out of Old Town Stockholm:

If you have a longer trip in Stockholm than I did and have more time to visit, there are lots of interesting things to do and see throughout Stockholm.

Here are a few things you might want to add to your itinerary:

• The Stockholm Public Library is a Swedish architectural icon you don’t want to miss!
• The Nobel Museum
• The Vasa Museum to see the world’s best preserved 17th century ship
• ABBA, The Museum, a fun interactive museum dedicated to the pop group
• The Theatre of Death
• Medeltidsmuseet, The Museum of Medieval Stockholm
• Riddarhuset, the House of Nobility
• Storkyrkobadet, a tiny old-fashioned bath house
• Skyview, the world’s largest spherical building
• See Stockholm from the water on a 2-hour boat tour
• And of course, don’t miss the art in the Stockholm subway

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