Sweden

Stockholm Old Town

Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s historic Old Town, is the city’s original core, situated on Stadsholmen Island along with the small islets of Riddarholmen, Helgeandsholmen, and Strömsborg. Though it was founded in the 13th century, most of the area’s iconic buildings date from the 1600s and 1700s.

Old Town today

This neighborhood is a picturesque maze of cobbled streets, narrow lanes, and old townhouses painted in soft mustard and rust tones, dotted with charming squares. At its heart lies Stortorget, the main square from which key sites branch out, including the Baroque-style Royal Palace (Kungliga Slottet) and the Royal Chapel (Storkyrkan), notable for hosting Crown Princess Victoria’s wedding to Daniel Westling in June 2010. With a population of around 3,000, Gamla Stan is lively with cafés, restaurants, shops, studios, galleries, and museums, such as the Nobel Prize Museum and the Post Museum. This now sought-after area was once considered a slum, making it a unique blend of medieval allure and contemporary vibrancy. Here is Google Maps to guide you.