The districts of Stockholm: Exploring Gamla Stan
Stockholm’s old town is a must-visit part of the city. Around 3000 people live in this part of the city, with its medieval alleyways, cobbled streets and many sights. Officially Gamla Stan consists of the islands of Stadsholmen, Riddarholmen, Helgeandsholmen and Strömsborg but often only Stadsholmen is considered when the district in mentioned.
Gamla Stan has been the heart of Stockholm for centuries, in fact the town dates back to the 13th-century. The historic district is filled with top tourist attractions as well as hidden gems. Here are some of our favourite sights and attractions in Gamla Stan.
Swedish royalty in Stockholm
Gamla Stan is the home of several royal sites including the Royal Palace, which is one of Europe’s largest palaces. This vibrant landmark was built in the 18th-century, is the official residence of the King of Sweden, and large parts of the palace are open to the public throughout the year. The Royal Palace in Stockholm also houses 3 separate museums:
- The Treasury (Skattkammaren), which holds the Regalia of the kingdom such as crowns and swords,
- The Three Crowns Museum (Tre Kronor), which is dedicated to the original Tre Kronor Palace that burned down in 1697, and
- Gustav III’s Museum of Antiquities, one of the oldest museums in Europe which displays Gustav III’s collection of sculptures (only open in summer).
A ticket to the palace will also give you access to the three museums. Right next to the palace sits the Royal Armoury, which displays ceremonial equipment, weapons and costumes from Sweden's royal history. A visit to this separate museum is like taking a journey through the ages.
Skeppsbron: an historical quay
Skeppsbron is the street that runs down the east side of Stadsholmen and is often used to portray Stockholm in photos. The Royal Palace is without a doubt the most prominent building on the quay, but many of the other colourful buildings are also highly photogenic. While the quay is a major traffic route in the city, it is also a pleasant places for a stroll that features many terraces and cafes.
Skeppsbron is also the departure point for RED Sightseeing’s Royal Bridges and Canal Tour, and the first stop of their Hop-on Hop-off boat. Both show you Stockholm as a city of islands should be seen, from the water. The Hop-on Hop-off boat offers easy transportation to other waterside locations in the city, while the Royal Bridges and Canal Tour takes you on a cruise around Skeppsholmen and Djurgården.
Churches of Gamla Stan
As small as Stockholm’s old town may be it features 4 different churches. One sits on Riddarholmen and the three others on Stadsholmen. The Royal Chapel is part of the Royal Palace and is open to the public in summer and when there are organ and classical music concerts.
The Riddarholmen Church, which sits on the similarly named island, is the city's sole remaining medieval abbey. It houses the remains of most Swedish monarchs, from Gustav II Adolf (d. 1632) to Gustaf V (d. 1950) as well as earlier kings like Magnus Ladulås and Karl Knutson Bonde (d. 1470). When open during the summer months or for concerts, the church offers a glimpse into Swedish history and royalty.
Throughout the Middle Ages there were many German merchants and craftsmen living in Stockholm. In 1558, King Gustav permitted them to hold separate services, which let to the construction of the third church in Gamla Stan: the Saint Gertrude German Church. The churches carillon can be heard throughout the old town four times a day, at 8 in the morning, noon, 4 in the afternoon and 8 at night.
The final church in Gamla Stan is Storkyrkan, the Stockholm Cathedral. It is oldest church in the city, and was consecrated in 1306 to Saint Nicholas. The inside of the church remains much as it was in the Middle Ages, though the outside has a Baroque look due to changes made in the 18th-century. Storkyrkan stands at the very centre of the district, between the Royal Palace and Stortorget.
Gamla Stan’s central square
Stortorget is the oldest square in Stockholm, the earliest mentions of it that have been found date back to 1420. It is one of the busiest places in all of Stockholm with tens of thousands of tourists visiting the square every year. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, it is the site of a Christmas market offering traditionally made crafts and food.
The north side of the square is made up by the neo-classical building that was once the Stockholm Stock Exchange but today is home to the Nobel Prize Museum. The museum features the ideas and work of Nobel Prize Laureates such as Marie Curie, Nelson Mandela and Albert Einstein. Through its exhibitions the museum aims to promote courage, creativity and perseverance.
Small and winding roads
The medieval alleyways and streets of Gamla Stan are a bit different from more modern roads. Many of them are narrow and cobbled, which is part of what gives the district its unique charm. One of the notable streets in Gamla Stan is Västerlånggatan, which is filled with tourist shops, restaurants and cafés but still maintains its medieval atmosphere.
An alley in Gamla Stan you may want to find is Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, which is officially the narrowest street in Stockholm. The alley has 37 steps which connect Västerlånggatan with Prästgatan. At its narrowest point the alley is only 90 centimetres wide!
Gamla Stan tours
If you want to know even more about Gamla Stan than we highly recommend taking a tour of the district. Several different tours are available, including the Stockholm Ghost Walk. This 90 minute tour of the dark streets and alleyways is filled with history and mystery.
If you prefer to explore the district at your own pace, the RED Sightseeing app has a free walking tour you can take at any time. And of course, the RED Sightseeing bus can take you to Gamla Stan from many different spots in the city, with a stop on Skeppsbron and one on Munkbron (the west side of Stadsholmen).
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