Stockholm walking tour & city guide

Gamla Stan

Gamla Stan, the old town, has narrow cobbled lanes, colorful houses around the Stortorget square and the Royal Palace, where the changing of the guard takes place daily. Mårten Trotzigs gränd is the narrowest alley in the city.

Museums and islands

On the island of Djurgården, the Vasa Museum displays a 17th-century warship that sank on its maiden voyage and was raised almost intact. Skansen is an open-air museum, and the ABBA Museum is nearby. Boats explore the archipelago of thousands of islands.

A day in Stockholm

Start in Gamla Stan, the old town, with its narrow lanes, the Royal Palace and the colorful houses on Stortorget square. Watch the changing of the guard at the palace, then walk across to Djurgården island to visit the Vasa Museum, home to a 17th-century warship that sank on its maiden voyage and was raised almost intact. Next door, Skansen is an open-air museum of traditional Swedish houses.

In the afternoon, walk along the waterfront of Strandvägen and up to the Fotografiska museum, or explore Södermalm, with its vintage shops and the Monteliusvägen path, which offers one of the best views of the city.

Good to know

Stockholm is built on 14 islands, and ferries are part of the public transport system. The metro is called 'the world's longest art gallery', with stations decorated by artists.

Summer brings long light evenings and trips to the archipelago of thousands of islands. In winter, the city is dark but cozy, with Christmas markets and fika in candlelit cafés. Sweden is almost cashless; cards are accepted everywhere.