The western section of Gamla Stan is a small islet decorated with aristocratic 17th-century palaces and one of the city’s oldest churches.
Riddarholmen is the architecturally impressive western section of Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s charming old town. Gaze up at magnificent buildings while wandering the quiet cobblestone streets of Riddarholmen. See the graves of Swedish monarchs and marvel at the views of Riddarfjärden, one of the many scenic bays of Lake Mälaren.
At the heart of the islet is Riddarholmen Church, a royal church built in the 1500s on the site of a medieval abbey. It was the final resting place of all Swedish monarchs from the death of Gustav II Adolph in 1632 to that of Gustav V in 1950. The church is open to visitors from May to September. Walk between the tombs, spot the coats of arms of the knights of the Royal Order of the Seraphim and attend a classical music concert.
Elegant palaces line the streets that surround the church. To the north is Birger Jarls Square, where a statue of 13th-century statesman Birger Jarl stands on a pedestal. The fortress-like Wrangel Palace occupies the west side of the square and was once the residence of the royal family. Another noble landmark here is the salmon-colored Stenbock Palace, constructed in the 1640s for the then president of the Svea Court of Appeal.
Stroll to Evert Taubes Terass, an open terrace and viewpoint on the islet’s western waterfront. From here there are impressive views of Riddarfjärden, Stockholm City Hall and the shoreline of Södermalm island. Arrive in the evening and watch the sun drift down behind Västerbron bridge. Book a table for dinner on the Mälardrottningen Yacht Hotel and Restaurant, a boat built in 1924 for New York millionaire C.K.G. Billings.
Riddarholmen is easy to reach by taking the metro to Gamla Stan station. There’s direct pedestrian access from Norrmalm via Norra Järnvägsbron bridge. Continue your discovery of Stockholm’s historic quarter on the main island of Gamla Stan. Grand monuments, such as the Royal Palace, Storkyrkan and The House of Nobility, sit alongside boutiques, galleries, pavement cafés and restaurants.
