Gamla Stan: Stockholm's Old Town

Christmas Market on Stortorget, in Gamla Stan.

On our first day in Stockholm Jim and I walked all around Gamla Stan (the Old Town). Most of Gamla Stan is on Stadsholmen, one of the many islands that makes up the city. Its cobbled streets and medieval buildings date back to the 13th century. As we crossed one of the bridges to enter the Old Town the sun was setting (before 3 pm). We stopped on the old bridge to enjoy the spectacular sunset. What a treat. In Maastricht we don’t see sunsets like this. 

In Gamla Stan there is a small, beautiful Christmas Market on Stortorget, Stockholm’s oldest square. The stalls were selling handcrafted items, many of them from Sweden. Glögg was for sale at the Christmas Market, of course. Swedish glögg is sweeter than glühwein (and it tastes more fruity). This glögg had raisins and almonds in it.  A perfect drink on this very cold Stockholm day.

Glögg stand on Stortorget

The Nobel Museum

Stockholm’s Nobel Museum is at one end of Stortorget. Alfred Nobel was a Swedish engineer who invented dynamite. He made a fortune manufacturing his invention. Nobel donated the bulk of his money to establish five Nobel Prizes, which are announced each year on December 10th (the anniversary of his death). Each recipient, called a laureate, is given a gold medal, a diploma, and an award of money. 

Gamla Stan was lovely after dark. We explored the Old Town's narrow streets, stopping in a shop now and then to warm up. Many of the shops and restaurants place candle lanterns outside their doors, enticing customers to come in out of the cold. 

Before leaving Gamla Stan we drank coffee and ate lussekatter at a cozy little coffee shop on Jantorget, one of the Old Town's squares. The coffee was served in a glass! Swedish cool.

Coffee and lussekatte (a saffron bun)