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Offered languages
- German
- English
- Italian
- French
- Spanish
Stockholm hides its secrets among stone and mist—and we know exactly where to find them. Its medieval alleyways and cobblestone squares have witnessed royal massacres, conspiracies, and historical twists that seem straight out of a novel. This tour takes you straight to the heart of it all.
For 2.5 hours, you'll explore Gamla Stan like you never would on your own. You'll start by the statue of Birger Jarl, the man who founded this city in the 13th century, and from there, you'll be constantly discovering.
Viking runes hidden in a wall that thousands of tourists pass by without noticing. The square where one of the most brutal massacres in Scandinavian history took place, and the incredible story of how a simple French soldier ended up founding the royal dynasty that rules Sweden to this day.
The tour ends in Kornhamnstorg, the bohemian area of Gamla Stan famous for its bars and terraces. There, we'll give you recommendations and tips for your trip if you need them.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
I will be with a blue umbrella on the BIRGER JARLS TORG square, next to the statue of Birger Jarl. Exactly in front of the Riddarholmskyrkan
We will conclude the tour at Kornhamnstorg Square, right in the heart of Gamla Stan's bohemian district—famous for its bars and terraces—where the guide will be happy to offer recommendations for your trip.
Itinerary
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1Riddarholmen
Riddarholmen is a small, historic island in central Stockholm, just west of Gamla Stan (the Old Town). It's known for the Riddarholmen Church (Riddarholmskyrkan), the traditional burial place of Swedish monarchs, and for its beautifully preserved medieval and Renaissance-era buildings, many of which now house government offices and the Swedish Court of Appeal. The island offers quiet, cobblestoned streets and one of the best waterfront views of Lake Mälaren and City Hall — a peaceful contrast to the more touristy bustle of Gamla Stan right next door.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Riddarhuset
Riddarhuset (the House of Nobility) is a striking 17th-century Baroque palace in central Stockholm, built as the assembly hall for the Swedish nobility. Its façade and grand hall are lined with thousands of coats of arms representing noble families, and it remains one of the city's finest examples of Baroque architecture, located right near Riddarholmen and Gamla Stan.
10 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
3Parliament House
The Swedish Parliament House is home to the Riksdag, Sweden's national legislature, and sits on Helgeandsholmen, a small island between Gamla Stan and Norrmalm. Completed in 1905, it combines Neoclassical and Art Nouveau elements, and its debate chamber and impressive interior, making it a popular stop for those interested in Swedish democracy and history.
10 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
4Royal Palace
The Royal Palace of Stockholm (Stockholms slott) is the official residence of the Swedish monarch, located on Gamla Stan's northern tip. Built in Italian Baroque style and completed in the mid-18th century, it houses over 600 rooms, including the Royal Apartments, Treasury, and Royal Armoury, and features the daily Changing of the Guard ceremony, a major draw for visitors exploring the Old Town.
10 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
5Jarnpojken
"The Iron Boy" is Sweden's smallest public statue, tucked away outside Finska kyrkan (the Finnish Church) in Gamla Stan. This tiny bronze figure of a boy sitting with his knees hugged to his chest was created by sculptor Liss Eriksson, and local tradition holds that rubbing his head or leaving him a small gift (like a coin or candy) brings good luck — making it a beloved, quirky detail for visitors wandering the Old Town's narrow lanes.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6Stortorget
Gamla Stan's oldest square and historic heart, lined with colorful gabled merchant houses that now house the Nobel Prize Museum in the old Stock Exchange Building. It's also the site of the 1520 Stockholm Bloodbath, where Danish king Christian II had dozens of Swedish nobles executed, giving the square a striking layer of dark history beneath its picture-postcard charm.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7Esglesia Alemanya
Tyska kyrkan (the German Church, officially St. Gertrude's Church) is a striking Baroque-spired church in Gamla Stan, built for Stockholm's historic German merchant community. Inside, it features an ornate royal gallery and a beautifully decorated interior, and its distinctive copper-green spire remains one of the most recognizable silhouettes on the Old Town skyline.
5 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
8Köpmantorget
Köpmantorget (Merchant's Square) is a small, charming square in Gamla Stan, best known for its striking statue of Saint George and the Dragon (Sankt Göran och draken), a copy of the original found inside Storkyrkan. Framed by colorful old merchant buildings, it's one of the Old Town's most photogenic corners and a popular quick stop for visitors weaving through the narrow medieval streets.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
9Marten Trotzigs grand
Mårten Trotzigs Gränd is Stockholm's narrowest public street, tucked into Gamla Stan and just under a meter wide at its tightest point. Named after a 16th-century German-Dutch merchant, this steep, stepped alley is a favorite photo spot for visitors and a fun, quirky detail that captures the tight, winding character of the Old Town.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
10Evert Taube Statue In Jarntorget Square
Evert Taube is honored with a bronze statue in Järntorget, a small square in Gamla Stan that takes its name from the city's historic iron trade. Taube (1890–1976) was one of Sweden's most beloved troubadours, poets, and songwriters, celebrated for ballads blending Swedish and South American influences from his years at sea. The statue, created by sculptor Willy Gordon, depicts him mid-song with his guitar, and it's a popular spot where visitors and locals alike stop to appreciate his lasting cultural legacy.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
11Kornhamnstorg
Kornhamnstorg is a lively square on Gamla Stan's southern edge, opening right onto the waterfront with views across to Slussen and Södermalm. Historically a grain trading site (hence "Korn," meaning grain), it marks the point where the Old Town's narrow medieval lanes open back up into the modern city — a fitting, breezy final stop to close out the tour.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Comfortable footwear is recommended
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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