About this experience
Let's take a walk through the off-the-beaten-path corners of Stockholm and the sights of the Old Town. We will wander around the Island of the Holy Spirit, visit the burial place of Swedish monarchs, stroll through the narrowest alleyway, and check if another small symbol of the city has been tied a new cap. I will show you Stockholm 'for its own', introduce you to its history and most famous inhabitants.
What to Expect
The Old Town, Gamla Stan, is the very heart of Stockholm. Do you want to wander through narrow alleyways that attract thousands of tourists every year and peek into equally appealing off-the-beaten-path corners of the Old Town? Then welcome to my personalized tour!
Where did the name Old Town come from? It's not just one island (as many think) - it unites four different islands, and I will introduce you to each of them. We will discuss the founding of the city and try to understand why the islands of Stockholm are growing in size each year as the water recedes. We will visit the island where 17 Swedish monarchs are buried.
I will tell you about the fate of Charles XII - the staunch rival of Peter the Great, and we will visit his burial place. During the tour, we will talk about the Swedish monarchy and the role of parliament in the fate of royal power. We will wander around the Island of the Holy Spirit, and I will tell you what archaeologists discovered during excavations beneath the Parliament building. We will look at the tiny island in Lake Mälaren, at the mention of which the capital's residents nostalgically sigh and indulge in memories of youth.
You will see the narrowest 90-centimeter alleyway in Stockholm and the smallest sculpture of a boy that caring citizens always rush to dress according to the weather. Secrets preserved for centuries will be revealed - the location of a secret room, preserved from the Dominican monastery in the Old Town, and the unique cell of Franciscan monks on the Knight's Island.
All this and much more you will discover on our historical journey through the Old Town!
