Visit the famous old town of Stockholm, the Gamla Stan
Stockholm City in Sweden has lots of things to offer to people, locals and tourists alike. If you plan to go to Stockholm on a holiday but do not know what to do, there are several things that you can enjoy in Stockholm. There are beautiful tourist spots, historical sites, picturesque scenery, and exciting sports activities that you can enjoy in this amazing city of Sweden.
Visit the famous old town of Stockholm, the Gamla Stan. Gamla Stan is an old town, dated back in the 13th century, and everything around is contemporary. The architecture and the streets all have classical designs. Presently, about 3000 people are living in this part of the city. This is a very ideal place to visit if you prefer to enjoy old-fashioned designs than some bright and complicated modern sights and structures.
Gamla Stan is also where historical events in Stockholm took place including the well-known Stockholm Bloodbath. The site in Gamla Stan is called Stotorget. Other architecture and buildings found in this old town are the Noble Museum, the Royal Palace, and Stockholm Cathedral where the statue of St. George and Dragon was erected. All have modern designs especially the Royal Palace which was designed baroque style.
Gamla Stan is also where historical events in Stockholm
Gamla Stan Tourists Attractions
Landmarks
If you plan to visit Gamla Stan, you can visit studious, squares, museums and so on. The most visited spots in this old town are the following: The Royal Castle, Cornelis Vreeswijkmuseet and the Noblemuseet. The Noblemuseet is one of the most visited museums in Gamla Stan. If you enjoy fantastic exhibitions, this is the place to be. The museum is full of amazing books, objects relating to Nelson Mandela, Wintson Churchill and Alfred Nobel.
Vreeswijkmuseet was constructed to honor Cornelis Vreeswijik. The institution includes presentations relating to Cornelis’ life, including magazines, objects and his guitar among others. It’s a must to visit this place. The Royal Castle is an amazing building that attracts more than fifty thousand tourists every year. The royal guards protect the palace 24-hours a day since the year 1523. This is a must visit place.
Sights
Gamla Stan is loaded with fascinating museums and historical sights. The Royal Palace is the most famous tourist attraction. The Royal Palace was constructed in the early 18th-century at the spot of the former castle. Neighboring is one of the oldest structures in this town, the Great Church known as Storkyrkan, Stockholm’s cathedral, originally built in 13th century.
Neighboring is Stortorget- Stortorget is the heart of this old town. Several travellers relax here at the central square while admiring the flamboyant patrician houses.
Stortorget is the heart of this old town
German Church
For many years, this location was ruled by German vendors, and there is nowhere where this is more evident than at the German Church (Tyska Kyrkan), where tourists are welcomed with German writings.
German Slope (Tyska Brinken) connects the Tyska Kyrkan with Västerlånggatan, a regularly jam-packed shopping street with lots of souvenir shops. Currently it’s one of the major streets in this old town but in the middle-ages, it was a shore way just outside the city wall.
Opposite Västerlånggatan is Prästgatan, which ran inside the city walls. The cobblestoned backstreet with colored structures is one of the most incredible streets in the town. In the walls of one of the buildings, at the corner of Kårkbrinken, one can observe a rune stone, which is said to be around 1,000 years old.
Mårten Trotzigs Grand
Moving towards the east, you will find Prästgatan. Prästgatan passes the sharpest and most narrow street in Gamla Stan town: Mårten-Trotzigs-Grand. The street is named after a German vendor and is only 90cm-wide. After climbing the steps you end-up at Iron Square, also known as Järntorget.
Prästgatan passes the sharpest and most narrow street in Gamla Stan
More Squares
There are many more amazing squares in this town, and each sqaure has its own attraction. Some of the more fascinating squares include the small wedge-shaped Brända Tomten, which is bounded by attractive houses. The neighboring Köpmantorget has a huge figure of the dragon and St. George, a bronze replica of the well-known wooden-statue in the cathedral.
Some of Gamla Stan’s most astounding structures and buildings boarder Riddarhustorget, an unusually car-heavy square near Riddarolmen. Here are two amazing 17th-century buildings, the red-brick Riddarhuset and the white Bonde Castle, believed by many to be the most beautiful houses in Stockholm.
Helgeandsholmen and Riddarholmen
Several bridges link Stadsholmen with the isle of Heldgeandsholmen and Riddarholmen. In the 17th-century the nobility began to construct outstanding castles on the tiny isle west of Stadsholmen, which resulted to the name Riddarholmen Knight’s Islet. Presently very few individuals live here, probably less than 100 and there is not much activity here. What’s more, there aren’t even any shops.
On the other hand, there’re plenty of historic sites including several palaces and the Riddarholmen Church, home to mausoleums of Swedish Kings, Birger Jarl’s Tower.
Only 25 SEK and Gamla Stan is yours.
Hotels and Restaurants in Gamla Stan
If you plan to spend more than one day in this old town, you have several options to choose an amazing hotel. They include Lady Hamilton Hotel, First Hotel Reisen, and Lord Nelson Hotel among others. The Lady Hamilton is among the most popular hotels in Gamla Stan, thanks to its closeness to the Royal Castle
The prices are affordable. You have several facilities in these hotels, like 24-hours room service, parking area and so on.
If you are visiting Gamla Stan and you get tired and hungry, get in any of the amazing restaurants and coffees shops you find on the Vasterlanggatan Street. If you would like to taste Swedish foods and drink their delicious coffees, you should visit this street.
Final Words
Dating from the 1300’s and packed with must see sights, authentic restaurants, attractions and cafes, Gamla Stan is a living breathing museum in its own way. There is no better way to instantly explore Stockholm and get to grips with the city’s culture than to visit this old town. Plenty of gifts and souvenirs are available in this town, and tourists will find themselves transported back to old times as they stroll through a puzzling web of small winding streets. The Nobel Museum, the Royal Palace and Stockholm Cathedral are all located here and should be top on any sightseeing itinerary.
