This lively and informative walking tour is perfect for those wanting to explore the highlights of Stockholm's city centre.
On your private tour, you will:
- Enjoy the personalised attention of a private tour guide;
- Visit inside City Hall (tickets included), designed by architect Ragnar Östberg. The building is one of the city's most famous landmarks and one of the country’s leading examples of national romanticism in architecture;
- Explore the pretty Gamla Stan area, Stockholm's historic old town and home to the Swedish Royal Palace;
- Pass by Riddarholmen Church, the final resting place of Swedish kings and Stockholm's only preserved medieval monastery;
- Admire what is said to be Stockholm's most beautiful building: the Riddarhuset, or "House of Nobility." Please note: due to time constraints, this is visited externally only, but your guide will happily help you purchase tickets for after the tour if it is of interest;
- See the famous Stock Exchange Building and the Swedish Parliament;
- Stop at a cafe that claims to have the best hot chocolate in Northern Europe (even Jamie Oliver has tried it!).
Stroll the quaint and beautiful cobbled streets of Gamla Stan – dating back to the 13th century, and admire the stunning architecture of royal Stockholm on this fun and fascinating introductory welcome tour of the Swedish capital’s highlights.
Your private guide will help you navigate the city as you explore the historic buildings of the old town – including a visit inside City Hall, one of the best examples of national romanticism in Sweden. Astonishingly, nearly eight million bricks were used in its construction, and it remains home to Stockholm’s Municipal Council.
During the opening months, venture into the medieval Riddarholmen church – the resting place of the kings and queens of Sweden since the burial of King Magnus Ladulås in 1290 – and learn about its rich history and stunning architecture. Inside, make sure you look out for the many colourful wall plates displaying the coats of arms of the knight's Seraphim, and the imposing marble sarcophagus of Gustav II Adolf, Sweden’s mightiest monarch, who died in 1632.
A short walk on is Stockholm Cathedral, which was built in 1279, and it has been a Lutheran church since 1527. Storkyrkan houses the absolutely stunning 15th-century gilded St. George and the Dragon sculpture and one of the earliest landscape depictions of Stockholm - the 16th-century Vädersoltavlan painting by Urban Målare.
You will then proceed on to the impressive Royal Palace, which is the official residence of the Swedish monarchy, and next door is the impressive Parliament House. Here your expert city guide will shed some more light on the beautiful architecture of this building as well as the Swedish system of consensus-building government. To end the tour of the city’s highlights, stop by the shop with the best hot chocolate in Scandinavia with your guide. Be sure to use this time to get their insider recommendations on restaurants, coffee shops, nightlife, and must-do excursions.
Please note that Riddarholmen Church is only open during the summer months.