• Riddarholmen Historical Marker - Explore the early history of Stockholm and Sweden, from the ice age to the first settlements on the islands. Chapter one of this journey begins here! (The tour starts at Gamla Stan Metro station, underground, in front of the Pressbyrån kiosk.) Stroll around and visit the accessible parts of the palace.
• Riddarholm Church (Riddarholmskyrkan) - The narrative continues… Outside Riddarholmen Church, meet the presumed founder of Stockholm, Birger Jarl, or at least his statue. The year 1252 marks the first recorded mention of “Stockholm” in a preserved document. Birger Jarl signed this document…
• Riddarhuset - Pause outside Riddarhuset, the House of Nobility, and admire the statue of Gustav Vasa, “the father of Sweden.” Chapter two of Stockholm and Sweden’s history begins here. Since Gustav Vasa marched into Stockholm in 1523, Sweden has remained a sovereign state, never occupied by foreign powers. Following the “Stockholm Bloodbath,” where his father and between 80 to 100 other noblemen were killed, Gustav led an uprising against the southern neighbor who had seized control of Sweden. He also transitioned Sweden’s religion from Catholicism to Lutheran Protestantism.
• Vasabron - Proceed to the other side of Riddarhuset to discuss the descendants of Gustav Vasa. His grandson, Gustav II Adolf, was the “greatest” of the warrior kings. During his reign, the Baltic Sea nearly became an inland sea, surrounded by Swedish territories.
• Parliament Building (Riksdagshuset) - The predecessor of the parliament (riksdagen) was the “Riksdag of the Estates” (Ståndsriksdagen), where Nobility, Clergy, Burghers, and Peasants met separately for discussions before meeting the King in the palace. Until its dissolution in 1866, this institution was the highest authority in Sweden next to the King. In 1866, a two-chamber parliament was introduced, though without equal voting rights for all citizens. The first elections with general suffrage were held in 1921, following a long political struggle led by liberals and socialists.
• Royal Palace - The next stop is “Lejonbacken” on the north side of the Royal Palace. Here begins Chapter 3 of Sweden’s story. Peter the Great of Russia ended Sweden’s aspirations of being a great power in Northern Europe. Karl XII, the last of the warrior kings, is still pointing east (as the statue indicates), where he and his army, the Caroleans, initially achieved great victories but were ultimately defeated by Peter the Great at Poltava in 1709.

The age of enlightenment, with its growing interest in arts and science, influenced Sweden. Gustav III, an enlightened despot with a keen interest in theatre, made several contributions in these fields.

• Stockholm Old Town - Below the statue of Carl XIV Johan, continue the story of Sweden. This king, the first of the Bernadottes, was brought to Sweden from France in the early 19th century to reclaim what was lost to the Russians. Instead, he focused on diplomacy, building infrastructure, and developing education! In 2014, Sweden celebrated 200 years of peace. The industrial revolution, natural resources, and significant Swedish inventions laid the foundation for a welfare state, with several entrepreneurs advancing development in the 20th and 21st centuries.
• Stortorget - The tour concludes here! The Nobel Prize Museum is located at Stortorget. The Swedish Royal Academies select the winners of the most prestigious prizes in various important fields of science and art.

The tour ends near the Royal Palace, perfectly timed to witness the changing of the guards. The changing of the guards and the parade are popular tourist attractions. During the summer months, the parade marches or rides with the Music Corps up to the Outer Courtyard of the palace.

• Only visiting free admission sites

This outdoor tour, which starts at Gamla Stan Metro station, connects the history of Stockholm with modern Sweden. Sweden is the home of the mobile phone, our Royal Academies designate the winners of the world’s most prestigious prices in sciences and literature and Swedish companies furnish (IKEA) and dresses (HM) the world.

We will tell you the story, from the ice age to the Nobel Price, IKEA and Spotify. We will introduce you to the founding of Stockholm, the warrior kings of the 17th and 18th century, the inventors and industrialists of the 19th and 20th century and to the modern IT entrepreneurs of today.

We will start our walk at Riddarholmen with a beautiful view of the lake Mlaren and the City Hall, a famous landmark of Stockholm and the place for the Noble Prices banquette. We will pass the House of Nobility, the Parliament building and the Royal Palace and end at Stortorget in Old Town in perfect timing to see the Changing of the Guards at the Royal Palace!!

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.