Gamla Stan – Old Town

Old Town is Stockholm’s original city centre and consists of Stadsholmen island and the islets of Riddarholmen, Helgeandsholmen and Strömsborg. Old Town is basically at the crossroads of past and present. Amon its historical buildings you will find unique boutiques and innovative restaurants.
The Old Town dates from the 13th century but most buildings are from the 1600s and 1700s. It is a glorious labyrinth of charming, cobbled streets, alleyways, faded mustard and rust-coloured townhouses and meeting squares. The narrow, winding cobblestone streets, with their buildings in different colours, give Gamla Stan its unique character. The area is referred to as a living museum.

Stortorget is the main square, and all the big attractions lead off it, including the baroque style Royal Palace (Kungliga Slottet) and The Royal Chapel (Storkyrkan) around the corner, where Crown Princess Victoria married Daniel Westling in June 2010.
Some 3,000 people live in the Old Town and it is packed with cafés, restaurants, tourist shops, studios, galleries and museums, including the Nobel Prize Museum and the Post Museum.

It is hard to believe that the Old Town was once considered a slum when it is now a sought-after address.

My tours always start from The Obelisk and continue through the hidden backstreets of this medieval town which has many unknown secrets.