10 Best Things to Do in Stockholm Old Town

The Royal Palace of Stockholm is one of the largest in Europe, with over 600 rooms and five museums. Much of it is open to the public, including the striking Royal Chapel, which is some 400 years older than the rest of this 18th-century Baroque masterpiece. Notable among the museums are the Tre Kronor, which details the palace’s medieval history, and the glittering crown jewels in the Treasury.

While the Royal Family primarily resides in Drottningholm Palace, the palace in Gamla stan is where they perform their official and ceremonial duties. The daily Changing of the Guard is not to be missed: a blue-uniformed spectacle with Swedish and English commentary for the viewer’s benefit.

No trip to Old Town is complete without a walk through Stortorget. The city’s historic square dates back to the Middle Ages and was once the scene of an infamous bloodbath in which a Danish conqueror beheaded 82 Swedish dignitaries. Today the bustling square, lined with narrow Dutch-style townhouses with colourful facades, serves as a resting place for tourists exploring the city.

On the square, you’ll find the Nobel Prize Museum and a cluster of cafes and restaurants. Grillska Huset is a charming spot for your fika (the cherished Swedish coffee break) offering a case full of heavenly patisserie.

The Nobel Prize Museum is a small museum in Stortorget that celebrates the legacies of Nobel Prize Laureates in literature, science and peace. The permanent exhibition explores the history of the awards and delves into big questions about the nature of creativity, while rotating exhibitions highlight the work of selected Laureates.

Academic types will get the most out of this museum, and visitors can expect to do a lot of reading. Don’t miss the museum’s bookstore, which stocks books that have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature as well as biographies on Nobel Laureates.

Storkyrkan, also known as the Royal Cathedral or the Great Church, has been an important fixture in Swedish religious history since the 13th century. Rebuilt several times in different styles, the cathedral now has a peach-painted Baroque exterior and a Gothic interior with wooden arches and red-brick columns. While somewhat humble compared to the more grandiose Gothic cathedrals, Storkyrkan has served as the venue for royal weddings and coronations.

The cathedral houses several important pieces of art, the highlight being a large wood-carved sculpture of Saint George slaying a dragon. Vädersolstavlan is also worth admiring – this 16th-century painting is one of the earliest depictions of Stockholm.

From mid-September through June when the Riksdag is in session, the Swedish Parliament welcomes visitors to observe the country’s political process in the Riksdaghuset. The imposing Neoclassical building stands proudly on the small island of Helgeandsholmen. Take a seat in the glass-walled Public Gallery to witness debates and public hearings – in Swedish, of course.

If you want to understand what goes on here, the Riksdaghuset offers free hour-long tours in English on Saturdays and Sundays. Guides give insight into the workings of the Swedish government and its political culture, known for prioritizing social welfare, inclusiveness and consensus. Along the way, you’ll see a selection of the 4000 works of art that live in Parliament’s halls.

Book an Old Town walking tour to learn the lay of the land while imbuing it with valuable historical context. Established in the 13th century, the medieval streets of Gamla stan are brimming with stories. From the massacre at Stortorget Square to the founding of the city itself, guides take visitors to the best-known and undiscovered-treasure neighbourhood spots, sharing facts and legends along the way.

Admire a 16th-century royal palace, squeeze through the city’s tiniest alleyway, and discover one of the world’s oldest continuously operating restaurants. Various organizations in the city offer group and private tours of Old Town, some being entirely donation-based so you pay what you wish.

Beneath the gilded halls of the Royal Palace lies a host of treasures in the Royal Armoury. This dazzling collection of royal weapons, costumes, carriages, and ceremonial tools just might be the most captivating attraction in Gamla stan, and it’s free.

The Armoury’s exhibits give insight into both Sweden’s military history and the history of its monarchs. Among the artefacts are Queen Kristina’s golden coronation carriage and Gustav II Adolf’s blood-stained shirt from the Battle of Lützen. The guided tours come highly recommended here, with passionate and knowledgeable staff who can share the incredible stories behind the items on display.

Västerlånggatan is one of the busiest and loveliest streets in Gamla stan. What began as a humble path outside the city’s western wall is now a crowded thoroughfare packed with souvenir shops and restaurants. This narrow street and those that branch off of it are a great place to soak up Old Town’s atmosphere and shop for clothes or traditional Swedish crafts.

While many of the longstanding local businesses are gone and the cafes here are overpriced, Västerlånggatan still warrants a visit for its architecture, which reveals the layers of history in its many styles. Medieval gables stand shoulder to shoulder with Art Deco facades. A forged iron sign hangs facing an early 20th-century coat shop glowing with cursive neon.

Saint Gertrude, German Church (Tyska Kyrkan), with its striking Baroque architecture, reflects the history of the German community in Stockholm. Donated in the 16th century by Swedish King Johan III to the city’s German merchants, the church is dedicated to Saint Gertrude, patron saint of travellers. Four times daily, carillon bells ring out over Old Town from its brick and copper bell tower.

Inside, the church feels spacious and bright, with its white vaulted ceilings and large windows. The richly decorated interior includes a magnificent altarpiece standing 10 metres tall and the King’s Gallery, an elevated golden gallery used by generations of royal families.

Gamla stan’s Wooden Horse Museum is dedicated to the iconic Swedish Dala horse. Truth be told, it’s more shop than museum, but it does offer information on the history of this craft and Swedish folk art. Made by hand for over 150 years, these stout toy horses are traditionally carved from pine wood and painted bright red with colourful detailing.

The museum has a delightful collection of these folk-art treasures, from antiques to contemporary interpretations. It’s free to enter, so visit to learn about Swedish craftsmanship and, if you like, leave with a Dala of your own.