Stockholm Old Town & Viking Museum: Small Group Walking Tour

Walk Stockholm from its founding in 1252 through a Viking Museum on an island

You walk through Stockholm's Old Town and past its most important buildings (the Royal Palace, Parliament, House of Nobility) hearing the city's history from its founding in 1252 through modern times. Then you take a short ferry to Djurgården and enter the Viking Museum with your guide, who shows you the main exhibits before you explore on your own. The ferry and museum entry are included. The walk requires moderate fitness.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Stockholm Parliament House10m
2. Stockholm Royal Palace10m
3. Stockholm Old Town20m

Stockholm Old Town and Viking Museum Tour

• Start at Gamla Stan Metro station
• View lake Mälaren and City Hall from Riddarholmen
• See Birger Jarl statue outside Riddarholmen Church
• Visit House of Nobility and Gustav Vasa statue
• Learn about Gustav II Adolf near Riddarhuset
• Discuss Swedish parliament history
• Stop at Lejonbacken by Royal Palace
• See the smallest statue in Sweden
• Visit Nobel Prize Museum at Stortorget
• Hear about Carl XIV Johan and Sweden's peace
• Take ferry Djurgårdsfärjan to Djurgården
• Enter and explore The Viking Museum

The experience

You step out of Gamla Stan Metro station and the tour begins underground, in front of the Pressbyrån kiosk, where your guide starts talking about the ice age and the first settlements on Stockholm's islands. Then you're walking toward Riddarholmen, where the lake Mälaren opens up in front of you and the City Hall rises across the water: that view is the first thing that hits you. The guide points to a statue outside Riddarholm Church and tells you it's Birger Jarl, the presumed founder of Stockholm, and that 1252 is the year the city's name first appeared in a written document. You're standing in the exact spot where that history started, which makes it feel less like a fact and more like something you can almost touch.

From there you move through the Old Town itself, stopping outside the House of Nobility to hear about Gustav Vasa: the man who marched into Stockholm in 1523 and made Sweden a sovereign state. The guide talks about the Bloodbath of Stockholm, about Gustav II Adolf and the Vasa ship, about how the Baltic became almost an inland sea. You pass the Parliament building, the Royal Palace, and Stortorget, where the Nobel Prize Museum sits. Each stop is a layer of Swedish history, from the warrior kings to the age of enlightenment, from the industrial revolution to 200 years of peace. It's a lot to hold, but the guide weaves it together so it doesn't feel like a list. It feels like a story that's been building for eight centuries.

Then you walk to Skeppsbron and board the ferry Djurgårdsfärjan for a 10-minute crossing to Djurgården. The Viking Museum is waiting on the other side. It's not a typical museum. It's a collaboration between performing arts professionals and Sweden's most respected historical scientists, so it mixes thrilling experiences with real historical facts. Your guide introduces you to the space and shows you some of the highlights, then you're free to stay as long as you want. If you have time after, Djurgården has the Abba Museum, the Vasa Museum, the amusement park Gröna Lund, and Skansen, all within walking distance, though they're not part of this tour.

What’s included

• Guide-led walking tour through Stockholm Old Town, Riddarholmen, House of Nobility, Parliament building, and Royal Palace.
• ferry crossing to Djurgården on Djurgårdsfärjan.
• entrance to the Viking Museum with guide introduction.
• small group format.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (21 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (16 to 20 years) · Child (7 to 15 years) · Infant (under 7): free

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

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

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Stockholm DriveAndGuide

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want Stockholm's main historical landmarks and the Viking Museum in one morning without arranging transport or tickets separately: the small group size and fixed itinerary mean you move at a steady pace and don't have to navigate between stops yourself.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (16 to 20 years); Child (7 to 15 years); Infant (under 7): free.

What's included in the price?

Ferry fare to Djurgården and entrance to the Viking Museum are included. The guided portion ends after your guide introduces you to the museum. You can stay longer on your own.

Do I need to book the museum separately?

No, Viking Museum entry is included in the tour. Your guide will introduce you to the space, then you're welcome to explore independently afterward.

Can I visit other museums on Djurgården after the tour?

Yes. The Abba Museum, Vasa Museum, Skansen, and Gröna Lund amusement park are all on Djurgården, but they are not included in this tour and would require separate tickets.

Where does the tour start?

At Gamla Stan Metro station, inside the station near the Pressbyrån kiosk.

Is the ferry included?

Yes, the ferry trip to Djurgården is included in the tour.

What level of fitness is needed?

Moderate physical fitness is recommended. The tour involves walking through the Old Town and multiple stops before the ferry crossing.

Can I stay longer at the Viking Museum?

Yes. The guided introduction is included, but you're welcome to stay and explore the museum on your own after the guide finishes.