Stockholm Old Town guided walk

Meet your knowledgeable guide near Stockholm's Royal Palace. Admire the Italian-Baroque exterior of the Palace and hear about the Swedish monarchs who lived here down the centuries.

Set off on your tour around the cobbled streets and squares of Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s captivating Old Town. As you walk, your guide will tell you intriguing facts about the district and Birger Jarls, the statesman who reputedly founded the city in the 1200s.

Stop in Stortorget, Stockholm’s oldest square. Admire the outside of the Nobel Museum and rows of 17th- and 18th-century townhouses lining the square, and learn how it was once the scene of one the darkest episodes in Sweden’s history. It was here, in what’s known as the Bloodbath of 1520, that 82 Swedish dignitaries were beheaded on the orders of the Danish king Kristian II.

Next, follow your guide to Stockholm’s statue of St George and the Dragon. Gaze at the intricate detail of the statue and hear how, according to legend, the dragon was slain by George in Stockholm itself.

Afterward, delve deeper into Gamla Stan as your guide points out other monuments and fine examples of its North German-style architecture. Your route takes you down quiet lanes and into hidden courtyards rarely seen by tourists, so you get a local’s insight into this quaint neighborhood.

After just over an hour’s exploring, your tour concludes where it began near the Royal Palace.