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Stockholm · History

Crowns, blood and power: Swedish history in Gamla stan

This route starts on the island of Riddarholmen, crosses Gamla stan and climbs into Norrmalm following the thread of Swedish power: the buried kings, the nobility, the 1520 massacre that made Gustav Vasa king, the castle that burned, the Parliament and the crime that shook the country in 1986.

  • 6 stops
  • 2.1 km
  • 1 h 45 min
  • Free
Start with GPS Read about this stop 1
Old hand-coloured engraving showing scenes from the executions of the Stockholm Bloodbath

The route

Stop by stop

  1. 1 Riddarholmskyrkan, the church of kingsA 13th-century Franciscan friary church that became the burial place of Sweden's kings.
  2. 2 Riddarhuset and the statue of Gustav VasaThe palace where Sweden's nobility met and, in front of it, the king who broke with Denmark.
  3. 3 Stortorget and the Stockholm Bloodbath of 1520Stockholm's prettiest square was the scene of its darkest chapter.
  4. 4 Royal Palace: from the ashes of Tre KronorThe medieval castle burned in 1697, and one of Europe's largest palaces rose on its ruins.
  5. 5 Riksdagshuset, a parliament on an islandA granite parliament built in the shadow of the palace, on an islet that hid the medieval city.
  6. 6 Sveavägen: where Olof Palme was murderedA plaque in the pavement marks the night in 1986 when Sweden's prime minister was shot.

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Start with GPS

Guide mode

Walk it with GPS.

Open guide mode on your phone: you’ll see your position and the distance to each stop, and we’ll let you know when you arrive. Then read or listen.

Start with GPS

  1. Turn on your location

  2. Walk to the spot

  3. Check the photo and listen

What you’ll discover

Crowns, blood and power: Swedish history in Gamla stan

The Stockholm Bloodbath

What happened on Stortorget in November 1520, told in the words of an eyewitness.

Kings and palaces

From the Three Crowns castle to the royal burial church of Riddarholmen and the House of Nobility.

Modern Sweden

The Parliament of 1905 and the Sveavägen plaque, a case still without a culprit.

Keep exploring

More routes in Stockholm

Back to Stockholm
Mysteries & legendsWhite ladies, runes and executioners: dark Stockholm MixedStockholm highlights: from City Hall to the Mariaberget viewpoint

Itineraries

How many days do you have in Stockholm?

We’ve planned it day by day for you: which routes to walk and in what order, what else to see and where to eat.

1

Stockholm in 1 day

All three routes in one full day: the highlights, the history and the legends at dusk.

See the itinerary 2

Stockholm in 2 days

A gentler pace: the three routes over two days, plus extra sights and where to eat.

See the itinerary 3

Stockholm in 3 days

The city in depth: one route a day, extra museums and neighbourhoods, and a day for good food.

See the itinerary