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Gamla Stan

Medieval old town on its own island

Stockholm's historic heart on its own island – the Royal Palace, Stortorget (the oldest square), Storkyrkan cathedral and a maze of narrow, cobbled lanes.

Cobbled square in Gamla Stan with colourful historicist facades, pollarded trees and flower displays.

Stockholm's historic heart

Gamla Stan is Stockholm's old town, sitting on its own island between Norrmalm and Södermalm. Founded around 1252, it's one of Europe's best-preserved medieval town centres – a maze of narrow, cobbled lanes, colourful gabled houses and small squares, with the Royal Palace towering above it all.

Palace, squares and lanes

The big names sit close together here: the Royal Palace, the cathedral Storkyrkan, the oldest square Stortorget with the Nobel Prize Museum, and – on the neighbouring island – Riddarholmen Church. Seek out the narrowest lane in the city (Mårten Trotzigs gränd) and lose yourself in the tangle of the old town.

The narrow stepped lane Mårten Trotzigs gränd, with cobblestones and historic house walls

Charm with crowds

As lovely as Gamla Stan is, its main artery Västerlånggatan gets busy with visitors – it's most atmospheric early in the morning or in the evening. It's a charming place to stay, but a lively one; for a quieter base, Norrmalm or Södermalm next door are good alternatives.

Around Gamla Stan

The Royal Palace seen from across the Strömmen – the entire east facade of the palace, with its staircase, mirrored in the water.

Royal Palace

The Royal Palace (Kungliga slottet) in Gamla Stan is the official residence of the King – a Baroque building with over 600 rooms, treasury, Tre Kronor Museum and Changing of the Guard.

The pink-and-white west facade of Storkyrkan (Stockholm Cathedral) with its round window and outdoor staircase.

Stockholm Cathedral

Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan), the city's oldest church: brick Gothic in Gamla Stan with the Saint George sculpture and the Vädersolstavlan.

Facade of the Nobel Prize Museum on Stortorget in Gamla Stan, with the striking orange Baroque former Stock Exchange building.

Stortorget

Stockholm's oldest square, in the heart of Gamla Stan, lined with colourful gabled houses and the Nobel Prize Museum – scene of the 1520 Stockholm Bloodbath.

Exterior of Riddarholmen Church on Riddarholmen, with its distinctive neo-Gothic cast-iron spire and Baroque side chapels.

Riddarholmen Church

Medieval monastery church on the quiet island of Riddarholmen, burial place of nearly all Swedish monarchs and a cast-iron spire that marks the city skyline.

Hologram stage inside ABBA The Museum on Djurgården, where the four ABBA members appear as projections.

ABBA Museum

ABBA The Museum on Djurgården celebrates Sweden's most famous pop band: original costumes and stage recreations alongside a karaoke booth, hologram stage and mixing station.

Bergrummet

The Bergrummet (Stockholm Toy Museum) holds Scandinavia's largest toy collection inside a former naval bunker under Skeppsholmen – around 40,000 objects from tin toys to comics.

Side entrance of Finska kyrkan (the Finnish Church) in Gamla Stan, with orange render and a sign reading 'Finska kyrkan – Blomsterzon-gallerij'.

Finska kyrkan

Finska kyrkan (the Finnish Church, officially Fredriks kyrka) is a quiet Baroque church in Gamla Stan, facing the Royal Palace – with the tiny Järnpojken in its courtyard.

18th-century wooden houses on Fjällgatan high above the water

Fjällgatan

A cobbled lane high above the water on Södermalm, lined with wooden houses from the 18th century – with sweeping views over Gamla Stan, the harbour and Djurgården.

Fotografiska in the former customs house right on the Stadsgården waterfront

Fotografiska

Fotografiska on Södermalm shows rotating world-class exhibitions of contemporary photography in a former customs house on the water – open late, until 23:00.

View from the water of the chain carousel and roller coaster at Gröna Lund amusement park on Djurgården.

Gröna Lund

Gröna Lund, known to locals as "Grönan", is Sweden's oldest amusement park (since 1883) on Djurgården – 30 rides, seven roller coasters and summer concerts.

The entrance of the Judiska museet in Gamla Stan

Jewish Museum

Judiska museet in Gamla Stan tells Sweden's Jewish history inside the city's oldest surviving synagogue – with the permanent exhibition The Jews & Sweden.

The Junibacken children's museum on Djurgården seen from the water, with the neo-Gothic Nordiska museet building behind it.

Junibacken

Storybook house on Djurgården built around Astrid Lindgren's characters, with the overhead story train Sagotåget and Pippi Longstocking's walk-in Villa Villekulla.

The Katarinahissen lift tower at Slussen with its walkway

Katarinahissen

A steel lift from Slussen up to a hilltop walkway over Södermalm, with panoramic views over Gamla Stan, the harbour and the water. Ride and view are free.

Liljevalchs konsthall

Municipal art gallery on Djurgården, in the 1916 Bergsten building plus the glass-bottle Liljevalchs+ wing. Changing exhibitions and the Vårsalongen since 1921.

The Norrbro at twilight — beneath its arches, the lit windows of the Medeltidsmuseet

Medeltidsmuseet

Medeltidsmuseet, Stockholm's medieval history museum beneath the Norrbro on Helgeandsholmen, is currently open only as a seasonal pop-up in Gamla Stan.

Moderna Museet on Skeppsholmen with Alexander Calder's red sculptures

Moderna Museet

Sweden's museum of modern and contemporary art on Skeppsholmen – Picasso, Dalí, Matisse and Nordic modernism, free admission to the permanent collection.

The Nationalmuseum seen from the water, with its imposing round-arched façade of red sandstone on the Blasieholmen peninsula.

Nationalmuseum

Sweden's largest art museum on the Blasieholmen quay opposite the Royal Palace. Old Masters from Rembrandt to Renoir, Swedish painting, and design and crafts.

Facade of the Nobel Prize Museum on Stortorget in Gamla Stan, with the striking orange baroque former Stock Exchange building.

Nobel Prize Museum

The Nobel Prize Museum on Stortorget in Gamla Stan celebrates Alfred Nobel and the Nobel laureates since 1901, with films, an overhead gallery and Café Satir.

The Djurgården ferry 11 passes in front of the Nordiska museet on Djurgården, its distinctive tower visible in the background.

Nordiska Museet

Palace-like museum on Djurgården covering 500 years of Swedish cultural history, with folk costumes, home life and the country's largest Sami collection.

Facade of Riddarhuset (House of Nobility) with the equestrian statue on the forecourt and Swedish flags.

Riddarhuset

Baroque palace from 1660 on Riddarhustorget with a pink facade and a hall lined with around 2,300 noble coats of arms. Open weekdays for a short midday window only.

Baroque courtyard of the Stockholm City Museum (Stadsmuseet) with an orange banner and outdoor seating.

Stadsmuseet

The Stadsmuseet (Stockholm City Museum), in a 1685 Baroque building at Slussen on Södermalm, tells the city's history through a collection of over 300,000 objects.

View from the tower of the German Church across the rooftops of Gamla Stan towards Djurgården, with Gröna Lund and the surrounding waters.

German Church

The German Church of St Gertrude in Gamla Stan has housed the oldest German congregation abroad since 1571; its 96-metre tower is the tallest building on the old town island.

The Vasa Museum on Djurgården seen from the water, with the warship Vasa's distinctive red masts rising above the roof.

Vasa

The Vasa Museum on Djurgården houses the only nearly intact 17th-century ship afloat – a warship that sank in 1628 and was raised in 1961.

Exterior facade of the Vikingaliv Viking Museum on Djurgården, with a rune stone sculpture in front of the entrance.

The Viking Museum

The Viking Museum (opened as Vikingaliv) on Djurgården tells the story of the Viking Age through archaeological finds. The centrepiece is the Ragnfrid saga ride through a village in the year 963.