• Riddarholmen Historical Marker - The tour begins at Gamla Stan Metro station, underground, in front of the Pressbyrån kiosk. Here, the early history of Stockholm and Sweden is discussed, from the ice age to the first settlements on the islands. From Riddarholmen (The Knights Island), there is a stunning view of Lake Mälaren and the City Hall, a renowned Stockholm landmark.
• Riddarholm Church (Riddarholmskyrkan) - The narrative continues… Outside Riddarholmen Church, visitors will encounter the presumed founder of Stockholm, Birger Jarl, or at least a statue of him. The year 1252 marks the first recorded mention of “Stockholm” in a preserved written document. Birger Jarl signed this document.
• Riddarhuset - The tour pauses outside Riddarhuset, the House of Nobility, to admire the statue of Gustav Vasa, “the father of Sweden.” Since Gustav Vasa marched into Stockholm in 1523, Sweden has remained a sovereign state, never occupied by foreign powers. After his father and between 80 to 100 other noblemen were killed in “The bloodbath of Stockholm,” Gustav organized an uprising against the southern neighbor who had seized control of Sweden. He also transitioned Sweden’s religion from Catholicism to Lutheran Protestantism.
• Vasabron - The tour then proceeds 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. It was under Gustav II Adolf’s rule that the Vasa ship was constructed!
• 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 parliament with two chambers was introduced, but equal voting rights for all citizens were not yet established. 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. 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 depicted pointing east (i.e., the statue is pointing), 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.

• Jarnpojken - The smallest and most charming statue in Sweden!
• Stortorget - The Nobel Prize Museum is located at Stortorget. The Swedish Royal Academies select the winners of the most prestigious prizes in many important fields of science and art.
• Stockholm Old Town - Below the statue of Carl XIV Johan, the story of Sweden continues. 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 continuing development into the 20th and 21st centuries.
• Skeppsbron 26 - From Skeppsbron, the ferry “Djurgårdsfärjan” will take visitors to Djurgården.
• The Viking Museum - Entrance to The Viking Museum is included. The guide will introduce the museum and showcase some attractions. This small-scale museum offers a unique blend of thrilling experiences and historical facts. It is the result of collaboration between performing arts professionals and Sweden’s most respected historical scientists.
  This marks the end of the guided tour, but visitors are welcome to stay in the museum after the tour concludes.
  (If time permits, consider spending the afternoon on Djurgården island, visiting the Abba Museum (“walk in, dance out”), the Vasa Museum, the amusement park Gröna Lund, or Skansen. All these attractions are located on the beautiful island of Djurgården (but are not included in this tour)).

• Boat trip to Djurgården
• Entrance to The Viking Museum

If you visit Stockholm, want to learn some history and have a special interest in Vikings, this is the tour for you! This tour, which starts at “Gamla stan” Metro station tells you the story of Stockholm and Sweden from the Viking age to modern times. We will start our tour at Riddarholmen with a beautiful view of the lake Mälaren and the City Hall. We will pass the House of Nobility, the Parliament building, the Royal Palace and Stortorget in Old town.

Then we will take the ferry “Djurgårdsfärjan”, a 10-minute trip, to Djurgården, where The Viking Museum is situated. This small-scale museum is not a common museum but offers a unique combination of thrilling experiences and historical facts. The museum is a result of a cooperation between professionals in performing arts and Sweden’s most respected historical scientists.

After the trip you can continue with some of the other museums or activities on Djurgården like the Abba museum, the Vasa museum or the open-air museum Skansen.

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