Stockholm Old Town: Top Outdoor Activities in Gamla Stan
Stockholm’s Old Town, which is very much also called Gamla Stan, is a super attractive spot overflowing with history and really interesting stuff to explore. It’s like stepping straight into a history book, but very much in a good way. Think slender, almost narrow cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and a kind of atmosphere that’s just soaked in stories from centuries past. Obviously, it’s the kind of place just perfect for getting happily lost as you wander around.
It’s also the outdoor activities that bring Gamla Stan to life, so too they offer many great ways to really get to know this ancient part of Stockholm. You get everything from tours on foot that talk about the big important historical stuff, to simply wandering wherever your feet decide to take you – which is almost always fun, by the way. Then there’s soaking up the atmosphere while you sit outside at one of the many cool cafes. Anyway, ready to see what Gamla Stan has in store outside? So, let’s have a good look at what fun can be had when the weather is good.
Walking Tour of Gamla Stan
Going on a walking tour really is a brilliant idea, especially if this is like your first trip to Gamla Stan and also Stockholm in general. It’s just that having a super knowledgeable guide leading you through the twisting streets of the city is incredibly valuable. Apparently, they’re amazing at pointing out the history behind absolutely every important spot and basically give a super deep sense of what happened way back then. These tours really often highlight all the cool landmarks like the Royal Palace, Stockholm Cathedral and obviously Stortorget – which, as you very probably know, is that main square that you see in just about every picture.
These guides also have a real talent for just bringing history right back to life; it’s almost like they’re really skilled storytellers that share great stories regarding kings, queens, and of course old local legends. Some tours will also go further by focusing on slightly particular things like Viking history in the town or checking out spooky stuff. It’s like having a particularly fun outdoor class on everything Swedish!
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Visiting Stortorget Square
Stortorget Square, that’s like the center of everything happening in Gamla Stan, so too it’s one of those spots that just invites you to simply pause and really take everything in. Historically, that main square wasn’t just a pretty place; really terrible stuff happened there, too. Most famously, so the Stockholm Bloodbath that happened back in 1520. These days, luckily, things are really quite peaceful. It’s also super colorful buildings that ring the area that definitely make it very picturesque and very popular with those taking Instagram shots.
Stopping by here really does give you the opportunity to just watch locals and people who are visiting just stroll by. You might just settle down in a cafe, get some pastries or maybe something else, then really simply soak up everything going on around you. It tends to be really packed around Christmas time; so it’s just amazing when it gets all set up as a super cute Christmas market. It is arguably one of those must-see things; there’s just no question!
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Exploring the Royal Palace Exterior
The Royal Palace is seriously magnificent; that it has more than six hundred rooms makes it one of the biggest palaces of all over in Europe! You might be excited by seeing all the fancy architecture while walking the grounds – this really gives one a feel for how grand life can be inside a royal home.
So, one experience you must simply not miss is definitely seeing the Changing of the Guard ceremony. Very usually that happens sometime around midday. That parade with every single person wearing full dress uniform might be quite impressive to view. Obviously, you might simply spend some time strolling through all outer courtyards to view many sculptures and amazing views all around you, so it’s something very easy for everyone to enjoy.
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Wander Along Västerlånggatan and Österlånggatan Streets
Västerlånggatan and Österlånggatan that really two central streets, it’s almost like the veins and arteries going around through the heart of Gamla Stan, so they are overflowing with stores of every type. Here’s what’s probably going to happen; it’s likely you’ll find little things such as local crafts and cool souvenirs. Even when you’re just looking around, and also maybe aren’t that serious when it comes to buying, this really does feel fun.
Actually, I would go to state the atmosphere by itself might make it worth some time to stroll down such very famous streets – everything can very easily be going on at once here. There is almost certainly no other experience like casually passing different tourists just happily window shopping or just stopping here to check a street performance to grab just some delicious street food, this place can become simply unforgettable. So too they will be ideal for absorbing that general hustle around within the old area plus getting what local craftsmen have on the market. Shopping or no shopping – such walks are worth an afternoon that has great memories associated alongside with this one!
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Enjoying Waterfront Views at Skeppsbron
If one wants a great area towards appreciating views by Gamla Stan then you are almost certain that you should just walk around towards Skeppsbron. Skeppsbron which is in fact quite known as this quayside right close where all waters meet that beautiful island location – you just have got spectacular water aspects from it!
Standing here actually lets guests drink a scenic setting facing where lakes touch oceans around city bounds – you can potentially catch incredible boats or perhaps vessels slowly travelling nearby too; that happens frequently. It tends to be amazing to do that trip sometime right about either morning or also afternoons especially considering just some amazing hues occur then during sunrise moments or whilst late sun reflects everywhere off still liquid; so it provides all you great camera opportunities! Should maybe simply wind-down away by heavy historical locations but yet nonetheless be within the city heart then one cannot not stop alongside peaceful scenic scenes to that Skeppsbron viewpoint.
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