Stockholm to Sigtuna & Uppsala: Viking Ruins, Fika & Cathedrals

Summary

Viking runestones, lakeside walks & fika in Sweden’s oldest towns

You’ll travel from Stockholm into Sweden’s Viking heartland with a local guide, tracing ancient runestones at Jarlabanke’s Bridge and walking lakeside at Vallentuna. Enjoy homemade fika at Granby farm before exploring Sigtuna’s cobbled lanes and Uppsala Cathedral’s soaring halls. It’s a day full of quiet moments, good stories, and living history.

What’s the experience like?

We rolled out of Stockholm just after breakfast, the city still shaking off its sleep. Our guide, Erik, had this way of pointing out things through the minibus window — not just facts, but small stories about Täby Church and how locals still get married there. We didn’t stop but caught a glimpse of the old stone walls through the trees. The air smelled faintly of pine and something sweet — maybe from someone’s thermos? I was half-awake until we pulled up at Jarlabanke’s Bridge. The stones there are rough under your hand, cold even in summer. Erik read out the runes for us (well, tried — he joked about his pronunciation), and suddenly the whole idea of Vikings felt less like a movie and more like real people who left their mark right here.

We wandered around Arkils tingstad next — it’s this grassy clearing with stones set in a square where people used to argue over land or laws a thousand years ago. It was quiet except for birds and someone’s laugh drifting over from the lake. Lake Vallentuna looked almost too calm to be real; I tried skipping a stone but it just plopped straight down (not my skill). At Granby farm we got invited in for fika by Anna, whose family runs the place. She poured coffee into mismatched mugs and handed around cinnamon buns that tasted homemade — probably because they were. The Granby rune stone is huge up close; you can trace your fingers along the grooves if you want. Anna said her grandfather used to tell stories about Vikings hiding gold nearby — she winked, so who knows?

Sigtuna felt like stepping into an old photo album: crooked wooden houses, tiny shops selling honey or postcards with faded edges. We had some free time to wander (I bought licorice I’m still not sure I like), then drove on toward Uppsala. The cathedral rises up out of nowhere — red brick against grey sky — and inside it smells like candle wax and old wood. Erik pointed out Gustav Vasa’s tomb but honestly I was more interested in the light coming through those stained glass windows. There’s something about sitting quietly in a place that old that makes you think about all the people who’ve passed through before you.

The last stop was Old Uppsala with its grassy burial mounds — three big humps under open sky where kings are supposed to rest. Wind tugged at my jacket while Erik explained how archaeologists found weapons and jewelry here; I tried to picture what life must have sounded like back then. On the way back to Stockholm I watched fields roll by outside the window, thinking about cinnamon buns and runestones and how history sometimes feels closer than you expect.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Viking sites and historic towns

• Drive by Täby Church
• View Jarlabanke's Viking Bridge
• Visit Arkils Tingstad Viking parliament
• Walk to Lake Vallentuna banks
• Explore Granby Viking house foundations
• Enjoy Swedish fika at Hökeriet shop
• Tour historic Sigtuna town
• Visit Uppsala Cathedral
• See Royal Mounds at Old Uppsala

Top questions

How long does the Stockholm to Sigtuna & Uppsala day trip take?

The tour is a full-day trip from Stockholm, including travel time between sites.

Is hotel pickup included for this Viking history tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included within central Stockholm.

What is fika during this tour?

Fika is a Swedish coffee break with pastries; on most tours it takes place at Granby farm served by locals.

Are entrance fees or meals included?

The tour includes fika (on most departures) but does not specify additional meals or entry fees beyond guided stops.

Is this tour suitable for children?

The tour is not recommended for children under 8 years old.

Do we visit both Sigtuna and Uppsala Cathedral?

Yes, both Sigtuna town and Uppsala Cathedral are visited during this day trip.

Will we see actual Viking runestones?

Yes, several sites feature authentic Viking Age runestones including Granby Stone and Jarlabanke's Bridge.

Is there free time to explore on our own?

You’ll have some free time in Sigtuna to explore independently.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off within central Stockholm, transport by air-conditioned minibus with your professional guide sharing stories along the way, stops at historic Viking sites like Jarlabanke's Bridge and Arkils tingstad, time at Lake Vallentuna's shore, homemade fika served at Granby farm (on most tours), plus unhurried visits to Sigtuna's old streets and Uppsala Cathedral before returning in the evening.