This Baltic Sea coastal town has medieval churches and a 12th-century castle. Local restaurants serve fresh seafood, while the surrounding lakes and forests draw visitors year-round.
Norrtälje sits 75 kilometers northeast of Stockholm, where wooden buildings from the 1700s line medieval street patterns. You can watch mechanics start up century-old engines at the Pythagoras Museum, walk along the Norrtäljeån river's art installations, or take a boat to explore the surrounding 13,000 archipelago islands.
Getting to Norrtälje
Regular buses connect Norrtälje to Stockholm, with routes 639 running from central Stockholm and 647 from Arlanda Airport. The European route E18 makes the town easily accessible by car, with the journey taking about an hour from Stockholm's center.
The Old Town Streets
Red and yellow wooden houses from the 1700s stand along the narrow cobblestone streets of central Norrtälje. At Stora Torget square and along Tullportsgatan, you'll find the Town Hall and rows of independent shops and cafés. The Norrtäljeån river flows through the center, where local artists set up outdoor exhibitions from June to August.
Inside Pythagoras Workshop Museum
The Pythagoras Mechanical Workshop Museum contains a complete hot bulb engine factory with its original equipment. During guided tours, mechanics demonstrate the working machinery, and you'll notice the lingering scent of iron and oil throughout the building. The tools and equipment remain exactly where the last workers placed them.
Sailing the Archipelago
From Norrtälje harbor, daily summer boats take you to islands like Lidö and Arholma. The municipality includes 13,000 islands, from tiny rocky outcrops to larger islands with summer houses and small communities. The converted steamer Norrtälje, now a restaurant at the harbor, gives you views of arriving and departing boats while you eat.
Parks and Viewpoints
Climb to Södra Bergen's peak for views across the red rooftops and out to the archipelago waters. Walking trails lead from here back to the town center. Along the Norrtäljeån river, you'll find several parks including Societetsparken, where fishing is permitted during spring and summer. The Kärleksudden peninsula has shoreline paths with water views.
Summer in Norrtälje
From June to August, summer cottage owners from Stockholm move in, increasing the local population. Waterfront restaurants set up outdoor seating, boats fill the harbor, and shops and cafés stay open longer. The weekly market at Stora Torget expands, and temporary art exhibitions appear along the riverbank.
