Photo: Øyvind Holmstad (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Wander through Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s oldest neighborhood, where cobblestone streets and golden-hued buildings tell stories of the past. Discover the top attractions in Gamla Stan, from historic sites like Stortorget and the Nobel Prize Museum to the gothic splendor of Storkyrkan and the grandeur of the Royal Palace with its daily Changing of the Guard ceremony.
Gamla Stan is one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval city centers and remains one of Stockholm’s most visited districts. Whether you’re exploring royal history, Gothic churches, waterfront promenades, or charming cafés, the Old Town offers a concentrated journey through Sweden’s past.
Gamla Stan is more than a picturesque Old Town — it is the very cradle of Stockholm itself. Founded in the 13th century under Birger Jarl, the settlement was strategically positioned to control trade between Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea.
Here, at Stortorget, the dramatic Stockholm Bloodbath unfolded in 1520 — an event that ignited rebellion and ultimately led to Sweden’s independence under Gustav Vasa.
Photo: Public domain
Photo: Holger.Ellgaard (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Photo: Øyvind Holmstad (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Photo: Albertyanks Albert Jankowski (Public Domain)
Photo: Holger.Ellgaard (CC BY-SA 3.0)
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Photo: Nicolas Torquet (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Photo: Gerda Arendt (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Photo: Julian Herzog (CC BY 4.0)
Photo: Manfred Werner (Tsui) (cc-by-sa4.0)
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Photo: Alexander Mahmoud
Photo: Magnus Johansson (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Photo: Livrustkammaren (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Photo: Jssfrk. CC0 1.0 UniversalFrom royal castles to hands-on science centers — discover museums and attractions that suit your interests.
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