Gamla Stan (Old Town)

Gamla Stan (Old Town) on the island of Stadsholmen is the historical heart of Stockholm and one of the best-preserved medieval city centers in Europe. The narrow, cobblestone streets, the ochre and rust-colored facades from the 17th and 18th centuries, and the tiny squares create an atmosphere that has changed little over the centuries.

★★★ Stortorget — The Stockholm Bloodbath

The central Stortorget is the oldest square in Stockholm and one of the most photogenic squares in Scandinavia — the colorful gabled houses from the 17th and 18th centuries in red, yellow, and orange are the city's postcard motif. But behind the colorful facade lies a bloody history: On November 8, 1520, the Danish king Christian II had over 80 Swedish nobles, bishops, and mayors publicly executed here — the "Stockholm Bloodbath" (Stockholms blodbad). For three days, heads rolled, and the bodies were burned on Södermalm. The massacre was so brutal that it sparked the uprising that led to the end of Danish rule and the coronation of Gustav Vasa. Legend has it that the 82 white stones in the facade of the red house on the square (Stortorget 20) symbolize the victims — historically disputed, but a nice story.

★★★ Kungliga Slottet — Royal Palace

The Royal Palace (Kungliga Slottet) with 608 rooms is one of the largest palaces in Europe — and still the official residence of the Swedish royal family (who actually live in Drottningholm Palace outside the city). The baroque building was constructed between 1697 and 1754 on the ruins of the medieval Tre Kronor castle (which burned down in 1697). Five museums are housed in the palace: the State Apartments, the Treasury (Skattkammaren, with the crown jewels), the Tre Kronor Museum (history of the medieval castle), the Gustav III's Museum of Antiquities (one of the oldest sculpture collections in Europe), and the Royal Armory (Livrustkammaren, with Gustav Vasa's armor and Charles XII's death horse).

The absolute highlight is the Changing of the Guard (Högvakten): Daily at 12:15 pm (Sundays 1:15 pm), the guard marches with a music corps through Gamla Stan to the palace — with fanfares, uniforms, and military precision. In summer, the ceremony lasts 40 minutes and is an impressive spectacle. Best secure a spot on Slottsbacken (the slope in front of the palace) from 11:45 am.

★★ Nobelmuseum

In the former stock exchange building on Stortorget, the Nobel Museum tells the story of Alfred Nobel, the Nobel Prize, and the over 900 laureates. The exhibition is interactive and surprisingly exciting: You can see the original medals, discover the stories of the laureates, and learn why dynamite inventor Nobel established the Peace Prize. Curious detail: In the café ceiling on the ground floor, the chairs are signed by Nobel laureates, who are asked after the banquet to sign the underside of their chair. It's worth looking up!

130 SEK (11 €), under 18 free. Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00 (June–Aug daily, Tue until 20:00).

★★ Storkyrkan (Cathedral)

Stockholm's oldest church (13th century) houses two world-class artworks: The sculpture of Saint George and the Dragon (1489, by Bernt Notke) — a dramatic, over 3-meter-high masterpiece made of oak with real elk antlers as dragon horns — and the oldest known painting of Stockholm, the Vädersolstavlan (1535), depicting a mysterious atmospheric phenomenon (parhelia) over the city. This is where the Swedish royal children marry: Crown Princess Victoria was married in Storkyrkan in 2010.

★ Mårten Trotzigs gränd

The narrowest alley in Stockholm — only 90 cm wide at its narrowest point, with 36 steps. Named after the German merchant Mårten Trotzig, who lived here in the 16th century. A popular photo motif — best in the early morning when the alley is empty and the light falls from above.

In the cellar venues of Gamla Stan, restaurants and bars are hidden, and the boutiques along Västerlånggatan offer Swedish design and craftsmanship. But beware: Västerlånggatan is the most touristy street — the parallel streets Prästgatan and Österlånggatan are much more charming and quieter.