Markim-Orkesta day trip: Viking runestones & churches

Five hours through Swedish history: Vikings, runestones, churches and a horse farm

A private day trip from Stockholm to Markim-Orkesta, a UNESCO World Heritage candidate area in the Swedish countryside, with a local guide who speaks English or Swedish. You travel by vehicle through Bronze Age, Viking and medieval sites, see runestones and church frescoes, visit the likely birthplace of King Vasa, and stop at a working horse farm before a lunch break.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Swedish history and countryside

• Hotel pick-up in Stockholm
• Visit Viking assembly place by lakeside
• Visit Vallentuna 12th century church
• Travel to Markim-Orkesta UNESCO candidate site
• Visit Lindholmens ruin, King Vasa birthplace
• Visit local Viking gravefield and church
• Visit Icelandic horse farm and meet horses
• Visit runestones connected to Viking woman Inga
• Lunch stop
• Return to hotel

The experience

Markim-Orkesta sits about an hour from Stockholm and holds two church parishes layered with Sweden's past. The tour starts with hotel pickup and moves through the countryside to a Viking assembly place by a lakeside, then to Vallentuna church, a 12th-century building that holds two Viking Age runestones. From there the day opens into the heart of Markim-Orkesta itself: you see Lindholmens ruin, the likely birthplace of King Vasa, who reformed Sweden from Catholicism to Lutheranism; visit a Christian Viking graveyard where burial rituals tell the story of how Christianization changed the culture; and stand in a medieval church with six runestones on its land, hearing about Ulv, a wealthy Viking who plundered England three times and whose story is carved into stone.

The guide walks you through the frescoes and Romanesque architecture of the churches, explaining how medieval Swedes lived their religious lives on what was once farmland. You also visit runestones connected to Inga in Snåttsta, a wealthy Viking woman who raised stones around her farm to mark her ownership. A stop at a working Icelandic horse farm with 40 horses and a traditional red barn breaks up the history with a chance to greet the owners and see modern farm life. The tour ends with a lunch stop at the farm restaurant, where you can eat before the drive back to Stockholm.

The vehicle changes based on group size: a car for two or three people, a minivan for a larger group, or a bus if you're at the maximum of twelve. Your guide is a local who knows the sites and speaks English or Swedish. All transportation, the guide's time and vehicle are included. Lunch is on your own at the farm restaurant.

What’s included

• Private transportation with hotel pickup and drop-off.
• a local guide fluent in English or Swedish.
• an air-conditioned vehicle.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Youth (10 to 15 years) · Child (under 10)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Swedish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Sweden History Tours

Is this one for you?The tour moves at a steady pace across multiple sites with vehicle travel between stops, so you're not hiking long distances, though you'll walk through churches and around outdoor ruins and graveyards. Groups stay under twelve people, which keeps the experience intimate and the vehicle manageable for the narrow countryside roads.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Swedish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 15 years); Child (under 10).

What is the Viking assembly place we visit at the start of the tour?

The tour begins at a Viking assembly place by a lakeside, where your guide explains the Viking age and the role these gathering sites played in Norse society and decision-making.

What runestones will I see on this tour?

You'll see two Viking Age runestones at Vallentuna church, six runestones on the land of a medieval church in Markim-Orkesta, and runestones connected to Inga in Snåttsta, a wealthy Viking woman who raised them to mark her farm ownership.

Who was King Vasa and why does his birthplace matter?

King Vasa reformed Sweden from Catholicism to Lutheranism and reshaped the Swedish state. Lindholmens ruin is believed to be his birthplace, and the guide explains his life and controversial rule as part of how Sweden developed into the modern nation it is today.

How long does the tour take and what's included in the price?

The tour runs five hours and includes private transportation from your hotel, a local guide who speaks English or Swedish, an air-conditioned vehicle sized for your group, and all taxes and fees. Lunch at the farm restaurant is separate.

Can I visit the horse farm and meet the owners?

Yes, the tour includes a stop at a working Icelandic horse farm with 40 horses and a traditional red barn, where you can greet the horses and meet the owners if they're there.