Viking Tour Stockholm Sigtuna Uppsala: Runestones Churches

Nine hours through runestones, assembly grounds, a 12th-century church, and the burial mounds where Viking kings were laid to rest

A full-day guided Viking tour of Stockholm county visits runestones and Viking settlement displays near Stockholm, an old assembly place by Vallentuna lake, a medieval parish church, and the burial mounds and cathedral at Old Uppsala, with a knowledgeable guide, Swedish fika at a farm, and hotel pickup included. The tour runs 9 hours and covers sites with no entrance fees. Travelers should be able to stand and walk short distances.

Step-by-step itinerary

Viking heritage tour in Stockholm region

• Visit two famous runestones
• Explore Arkils Tingstad assembly place
• Tour Vallentuna church history
• Enjoy Swedish fika at Granby farm
• Visit Sigtuna ruins and free time
• See burial mounds of Old Uppsala
• Guided tour of Uppsala cathedral
• Scenic van tour between stops

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Stockholm hotel and a 30-minute drive to two runestones and a Viking settlement display, where the guide explains runic script and places the settlement in the context of Viking life. From there it's a 5-minute drive to Arkils Tingstad, an old assembly place on the shore of Vallentuna lake where Vikings gathered for meetings and court: the guide walks through how their legal system worked. A 7-minute drive leads to Vallentuna church, a late 12th-century parish church where you'll learn how the region shifted from pagan worship to Christianity and trace the history of the Swedish church.

After 15 minutes by van, you reach Granby farm for fika, a traditional Swedish coffee break with pastry. While there, you'll see the ruins of an old Viking settlement and the largest runic script in the world. Then it's on to Sigtuna, Sweden's first capital, where you have an hour to grab lunch and walk around on your own before the guide takes you through the ruins of Saint Olof church, named after the Viking Olof Haraldsson who became a saint. The final stop is Old Uppsala, where you see the burial mounds of ancient Viking kings and the old church that served as the spiritual center for both pagan and Christian periods. At Uppsala Cathedral (Sweden's main cathedral and the seat of the archbishop) the guide leads a tour inside the building and gives a brief city overview from the bus before the drive back to Stockholm, arriving around 6 to 6:30 p.m.

The van holds a maximum of 17 passengers and is equipped with an audio system so everyone can hear the guide clearly. The driver is authorized by the Stockholm Tourist Board and has over 10 years of experience leading Viking heritage tours.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Stockholm.
• a knowledgeable guide with over 10 years of experience.
• transport in a comfortable van with audio system for all passengers.
• fika (Swedish coffee break with pastry) at Granby farm.
• access to all Viking sites, churches and burial mounds with no entrance fees.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and Friday

GroupUp to 17

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by UrbanTurism OU

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want a guided tour covering multiple Viking sites across Stockholm county, Uppsala, and Sigtuna in one day. The guide provides transportation and historical context at each stop, so you don't need your own car.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly are runestones and why do they matter to Viking history?

Runestones are carved rocks inscribed with runic script, the writing system Vikings used. The tour visits two of them near Stockholm and explains the messages they tell and the general context of runic writing in Viking settlement and culture.

What is fika and when do we have it on this tour?

Fika is a traditional Swedish coffee break served with pastry. On this tour it happens at Granby farm, where you'll also see the ruins of a Viking settlement and view the largest runic script in the world.

How much free time is there in Sigtuna?

You have about an hour in Sigtuna to grab lunch and explore on your own before the guide meets the group to show you the ruins of Saint Olof church and share the history of Sweden's first capital.

Do I need to pay entrance fees at any of the sites?

No, none of the places visited on this tour require entrance fees. The cost covers the guide, transport, fika, and access to all the Viking sites and churches.

What is Old Uppsala and why was it important to Vikings?

Old Uppsala was the spiritual center for Vikings during both the pagan and Christian periods. The tour shows the burial mounds where ancient Viking kings were laid to rest and the old church that replaced the pagan temple at the same sacred site.

How long is the drive back to Stockholm at the end of the day?

The return drive from Uppsala Cathedral to your first drop-off in Stockholm normally takes about 1 hour, with arrival around 6 to 6:30 p.m.