Tour Details
Duration
3 hours
Product Type
Tour
Venues
- Royal Palace exterior
- Parliament exterior
- Opera House
Photos & Highlights
- Orientation of the city center of Stockholm including insights from residents on the Swedish identity
- Led by a local expert
Select a date
Tour Description
On this Gamla stan walking tour, we will walk from the palaces of power to the places for the people, covering a wide swath of Old Town Stockholm. Spending time in Gamla stan (Old Town), we walk by the Riksdagen (Swedish Parliament), the home of the Royal Family, and the Kungliga Operan (Royal Opera). Along the way, we’ll learn some of the history behind Sweden’s capital city and explore what makes Stockholm and its residents tick.
Gamla stan Walking Tour
Our time together on this orientation walk will mostly be spent on the main island district that forms Stockholm’s historical city center: Gamla stan, or Old Town. As we cross Gamla Stan, we'll develop a picture of how the city came to be and of life in Stockholm today. With cobblestone streets underfoot and waters of the archipelago rushing by, Stockholm’s atmosphere is thoroughly charming. This is a city deeply attuned to the natural environment that surrounds its urban geography.
From certain vantage points in Gamla stan, we'll also have amazing views across the water. The skyline, when viewed from the west side of the Old Town, is dominated by the City Hall. The municipal building is located in another island district, but luckily, the open water gives us a clear panorama of its red brick tower. We'll make sure to discuss this notable structure and take advantage of the wide-angle view to admire its distinctive architecture.
Note, we tour the interior of the City Hall on our historical Stockholm History Tour.
Old Town Stockholm
While on our walk together, we’ll find ourselves at the exteriors of the grandest buildings of the capital, such as the Opera House, Parliament, and the Royal Palace. (Want to go inside the home of the royals? Our Stockholm Royal Palace Tour is the walk for that.) These stops will help us weave the story of Stockholm, touching on the sociopolitical factors that have shaped this region for centuries. Depending on the day and the inclinations of the group, our route may spend more time discussing major sites, lingering over a fika on cold days, or winding through the labyrinthine alleys of Gamla stan.
As our walk draws to a close, an image of Stockholm will have begun to emerge: that of a historical city, rooted in its relationship with nature, but thriving and alive today.
FAQ
What happens if the weather is bad?
Our walks run rain or shine. That said, our experts will always make an effort to accommodate the needs of the group. On bad weather days, we may take an extra break inside or spend extra time in an interior venue.
Does this tour visit any of the interiors of the sites?
Due to the amount of time for the itinerary, this walking tour will focus only on the exteriors of the various stops along the way.
Our walks run rain or shine. That said, our experts will always make an effort to accommodate the needs of the group. On bad weather days, we may take an extra break inside or spend extra time in an interior venue.
Does this tour visit any of the interiors of the sites?
Due to the amount of time for the itinerary, this walking tour will focus only on the exteriors of the various stops along the way.
Where You'll Start
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135 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Anna was a fantastic tour host. We walked Gamla Stan for three hours and the time just seemed to fly by. Could not have asked for it to have gone any better. Learned a lot about the city and Sweden. Highly satisfied
Alan
Reviewed on:
Jun 12, 2018
It wasn't possible to go inside the City Hall, or the Palace- but honestly, those didn't end up feeling like major losses. We still saw all around the exterior of City Hall and heard all about the building, it's history, and what it's used for- so missing the interior wasn't a big loss. In addition, at the palace, the basement exhibit was still open, where there are medieval carriages that are incredible to behold- Plus- the basement is older than the rest of the building, since it had burned down and been rebuilt- whereas most of the basement was basically the same.
Anyway- Overall, the tour was amazing. The docent is clearly passionate about everything she talks about. You can ask her all kinds of questions and she not only has answers to all of them, but has obviously thought about all these things and even done her research. My only complaint is that we couldn't have had her for the whole day and longer! She even obliged us when we asked for a quick coffee stop and to warm up a bit- She continued to talk while we were "fika"-ing, and the tour proceeded on. I feel that I have a great handle on the country's past, and it's present advantages and challenges.
Julia
Reviewed on:
Jan 31, 2018
Did not enjoy the beginning of the tour, with the visit to the green subway (the newer subway ).I don't think my clients would want that kind of information.
Barbara
Reviewed on:
Jan 29, 2018
