Old Town of Stockholm

The Old town (Gamla Stan)
the "town between the bridges".
How about go shopping in small alleys more than 700 years old, just next to the royal palace. At Gamla Stan (the Old town) in Stockholm it’s possible. The Old Town consists mainly of the island Stadsholmen, but also covers the small islands of Riddarholmen and Helgeandsholmen.

At Gamla Stan you can find handicraft shops, antique stores, cosy cafés and restaurants. If you are looking for Swedish design, crystal, or glass, you will find it here to.

The town dates back to the 13th century, and consists of medieval alleyways, cobbled streets, and archaic architecture. Most of the original inhabitants of the town were of German descent and the contemporary north German architecture evidently had a strong influence in the Old Town's construction.



Stortorget is the name of the large square in the centre of Old town, which is surrounded by old merchant's houses including the Stockholm Stock Exchange Building. The square was the site of the Stockholm Bloodbath, on November 7, 1520, where the King Christian II, of Denmark, massacred 82 Swedish noblemen. The following revolt and civil war led to the dissolution of the Kalmar Union (a union consisted of Sweden, Norway and Denmark) and the subsequent election of King Gustav Vasa of Sweden in 1523.

As well as being home to the Stockholm Cathedral, the Nobel Museum, and the Riddarholm church (Riddarholmskyrkan), Old town also boasts Kungliga slottet, Sweden's baroque Royal Palace.