Magical photo spots in Old Town, Stockholm

Old town, or Gamla Stan is probably the most iconic area in Stockholm. It is the historic center of the Swedish capital and you’ll usually find many tourists wandering around the narrow streets, admiring the medieval façades and exploring the shops. Old Town has so much to offer in terms of tourist sightings, great restaurants and beautiful views. There is beauty worth exploring around every corner. For your visit, I encourage you to bring your fully charged camera as well as comfortable shoes for the cobblestone streets.

Brända tomten

Brända tomten, or the burnt lot is probably the most beautiful square in all of Old Town. The colorful façades leading up to it are clad with ivy and the square itself sits in the shade of a magnificent chestnut tree. This is a great spot for an ice cream break in the summer. If you’re lucky, you’ll also be entertained by storytellers, who tend to gather here.

If you’re interested in a great dining option here, visit the restaurant Under Kastanjen, which offers home-made Swedish classics.

Munkbrohamnen

Most people turn left when leaving the ticketing area of the Gamla Stan metro station, but if you turn right instead you’re in for a little treat. Once outside, you will be facing beautiful waterfront views of Kungsholmen and the hills of Södermalm.

This is probably one of the best photo spots in the city. It is in one of the quieter areas of Old Town, and offers scenic views of the water and beautiful buildings.

Mårten Trotzigs Gränd

This alley is known to be the most narrow street in Stockholm and something you shouldn’t miss when in town. It is named after Mårten Trotzig, a merchant and burgher living in Stockholm between 1559-1617 but has few other connections to him.

Unfortunately, the façades have had to put up with a lot of graffiti over the years, which is not ideal, but does make for an interesting photo.

Stortorget

This is the oldest square of the city and it’s been a historical point of interest since medieval times. Today, Stortorget remains one of the main squares of Old Town. The square is surrounded by restaurants, cafes as well as the Nobel Prize and prizewinners museum, situated inside The Old Stock Exchange Building. It has also been home to the local Christmas Market (Stortorgets Julmarknad) since 1837. The iconic architecture and colourful houses makes this a good photo spot even on a gloomy day.

The well to my left is from 1778. It used to be the point from which you would measure the road distance between Stockholm and other Swedish cities. The well stopped working in 1854 and has now transitioned into a fountain for decoration purposes.

Skeppsbrokajen

On the eastern side of Old Town you’ll find Skeppsbrokajen, or Ship’s Bridge Quay. From here, you’ll have beautiful views of Skeppsholmen, Kastellholmen, Norrmalm and Södermalm. You can also take the boat to Gröna Lund amusement park, as well as other points of interest around Stockholm.

Skeppsbrokajen is especially popular during summer. It is quite the hub for our public boat transit system and there are many good restaurants here as well. Two of my favorite places are Mister French (seafood) and Miss Behave Bar (burgers). Both restaurants serve great food and are blessed with large outdoor patios overlooking the water and skyline.

Find the hidden streets

The most popular areas of Gamla Stan are definitely the Royal Castle, Stortorget and Stora Nygatan (the main shopping street). There are, however many other beautiful areas and streets in Old Town. Therefore, I encourage you to wear more comfortable shoes than I did and venture beyond the shopping streets and tourists sights. You will discover a quieter side of Old Town. This is also how you’ll find the unique crowd-free photo spots and hidden gems around town.

What are your favorite photo spots in your city? Let me know in the comments!