Gamla Stan

Gamla Stan, Stockholm's medieval center, spans three small islands connected by bridges. As you walk the narrow cobblestone streets, you'll pass the 600-room Royal Palace, stop at cafes in the historic Stortorget square, and perhaps dine at Den Gyldene Freden, Sweden's oldest restaurant operating since 1722. The district's 17th-century merchant houses, painted in warm yellows and oranges, line the winding alleys that lead to medieval churches and intimate squares.

Exploring Stortorget Square

Stortorget, the main square of Gamla Stan, sits at the center of Stockholm's old town, with distinctive red, orange and yellow merchant houses from the 17th and 18th centuries. The square was the site of the 1520 Stockholm Bloodbath and now serves as a central meeting point. The Nobel Prize Museum occupies the former Stock Exchange building, where you'll find interactive exhibits and personal artifacts from more than 900 Nobel Laureates. From late November to December, local vendors fill the square with a Christmas market selling Swedish crafts and traditional foods.

Inside the Royal Palace

The Royal Palace occupies the northern edge of Gamla Stan, containing over 600 rooms across 11 floors. The state apartments remain active for official ceremonies, and you can visit three museums within the palace complex. Watch the Royal Guards perform their daily changing ceremony at 12:15 PM - in summer months, a military band accompanies the ceremony. Visit the Treasury to see the crown jewels, and learn about the medieval castle that burned down in 1697 at the Tre Kronor Museum.

Medieval Streets and Hidden Alleys

Walk through Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, Stockholm's narrowest alley at just 90 centimeters wide, climbing 36 steep steps between the main shopping streets. The two primary streets, Västerlånggatan and Österlånggatan, run parallel through the district. Small shops selling Swedish crafts and design line these streets, while quiet courtyards and medieval buildings fill the spaces between them.

Churches and Historical Buildings

Storkyrkan, dating from 1279, stands next to the Royal Palace. Inside the cathedral, you'll find the wooden statue of Saint George and the Dragon from 1489. The German Church rises above the district with its 96-meter copper spire, marking the historical presence of German merchants. The House of Nobility and the Riddarhuset display ornate 17th-century architecture with detailed stone carvings and copper roofs.

Swedish Food Traditions

Take a fika break - the Swedish tradition of coffee and pastries - at one of the many cafes in Gamla Stan. Local bakeries make fresh kanelbullar (cinnamon buns) and cardamom buns daily. Den Gyldene Freden, operating since 1722, serves traditional Swedish dishes in its medieval cellar rooms, where you can dine surrounded by centuries-old stone walls.