Sensational Sigtuna: A Guide to Sweden’s Oldest Town

A visit to Sigtuna is truly like stepping back in time. On this walking tour of Sweden’s oldest town, you’ll trace the evolution of Swedish culture from Viking-age traditions to Christian conversion through this charming lakeside settlement’s remarkably preserved history.

The tour starts in front of the ruins of a Dominican monastery, Församlingsgården Munken. You’ll stroll down Stora Gatan, Sweden’s oldest street with its original Viking-era layout, where you’ll see modern wooden shops beside medieval structures.

I’ll point out ancient rune stones with messages from a thousand years ago, and Sweden’s smallest town hall. Along the way, I’ll share insights about the transition from Norse paganism to Christianity, and how archaeological discoveries continue to reveal new details about this remarkable historical site.

As you make your way to the labyrinthine Stone Circle in the beach-side park where the tour ends, you’ll have a chance to:

• Discover how this planned royal town – founded in the 970s by King Erik the Victorious – served as the birthplace of coinage, Christianity, and organized urban life in Sweden
• Explore St Olof Church ruins, and discover why its unusual architecture suggests it was originally planned as a cathedral
• See Rune Stone nf 56, an authentic memorial marking from the Viking era, and learn how to interpret their inscriptions and symbols
• Visit Mariakyrkan (Maria Church), which dates back to 1247 and is the oldest brick building in Mälardalen Valley
• Marvel at Sigtuna’s Town Hall, built in 1744, and learn about its charming hidden key system for overnight guests who’ve enjoyed too much beer in local taverns
• Stop at Sigtuna Museum, the site where archaeologists uncovered Sweden’s first mint, established by King Olof Skötkonung to demonstrate his Christian royal authority
• Browse locally-made candies at Augusta Janssons Karamellfabrik, a traditional sweet shop, and pass historic houses like Lundströmska Gården, still preserved as they were in the early 1900s

By the end of this 75-minute walk through compact Sigtuna, you’ll have had the perfect introduction to Swedish history in the place where the nation began to take shape over a thousand years ago.