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Walk around Stockholm

Start at Sweden House in Hamngatan. Go through Kungsträdgården towards the waterfront. This park has long been one of the most popular meeting-places in Stockholm.

In the Middle Ages, Kungsgrädgården was a Royal Kitchen Garden. Later its character changed and it became a Pleasure Garden for the Royal Family.

Turn right onto Strömgatan and walk along the waterfront. At Gustav Adolfs Torg is the Opera House where the Royal Opera Company gives opera and ballet performances.

Opposite the Opera House is the Crown Prince's Palace which now houses the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Gustav Adolfs Torg is named after the statue of King Gustavus II Adolphos (1594-1632).

Cross the Norrbro bridge to the Royal Palace. At Strömparterren to your left is the entrance to the Museum of Medieval Stockholm, built in 1986. When, some 10 years ago, an underground garage was to be built for the Riksdag (parliament), numerous archaeological relics were discovered. Instead of a garage, a museum was built to keep the finds in and show the early history of Stockholm.

To the right is one of the Riksdags' two buildings.

Continue to the Palace. Turn off to the left, onto the gravel walk of the Palace quay (Slottskajen).

Straight in front of you, you can see the beautiful facade of the Grand Hotel and all the steamboats that ply the Stockholm archipelago.

Turn at the corner of the Palace and walk up the hill (Slottsbacken). The Royal Palace comprises no fewer than 608 rooms. After the old "Three Crowns" Castle burnt down, the present one was built in the 18th century. Nowadays, the Stockholm Palace is the King's workplace, while Drottningholm Palace is the permanent home of the Royal Family.

Straight ahead lies the Cathedral, the oldest church in Stockholm. It was first mentioned in 1279, but is probably older than that. Inside the Cathedral is the famous sculpture of St.George and the Dragon which is regarded as one of the foremost medieval wooden sculptures in northern Europe. Follow Källargränd to idyllic Stortorget. In the summer, this square is full of life with bustling outdoor cafés. In winter an old-fashioned Christmas market is held. It was here that the Danish King Christian II was responsible for the "Stockholm Bloodbath" in 1520. According to legend, the number of tiles on one of the house facades is supposed to be the same as the number of people beheaded in the course of the bloodbath.

The large building on the square is the Stock Exchange, which also houses the Swedish Academy.

The Old Town/Gamla Stan. Photo: A Tondini

Gamla Stan, the Old Town, began to take shape in the 13th century and was Stockholm's focal point right up to the end of the 19th century. Situated halfway between the Baltic and Lake Mälaren, Gamla Stan be-came a natural trading centre. Here, too, most of the government offices were located.

Today, the buildings of Gamla Stan are listed cultural monuments and homes here are greatly prized.

Follow Köpmangatan to your left.

From Köpmantorget, with its copy of the St George and the Dragon statue, go right down on Österlånggatan. In the 17th and 18th centuries, this was the street of restaurants par excellence. Den Gyldene Freden - the favourite eating-place of Sweden's national poet Bellman - has existed here since the 1720s. Today, Österlånggatan contains many handicraft workshops and galleries. From Järntorget, turn into Västerlånggatan with its flourishing shops. At number 81, look to the right toward Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, which in some places is only 90 cm wide.

Continue along Västerlånggatan and turn left into Storkyrkobrinken. Straight ahead of you is Riddarhuset ("House of the Nobility"), one of Stockholm's most beautiful buildings, in Dutch Baroque style. Here, the nobility convened. Nowadays, more than 2,000 coats of arms are stored here.

Cross the bridge to Riddarholm Church, the Royal Burial Place and one of the oldest buildings in Stockholm.

Photo: T Buckman

From the waterfront, on the other side of the water, you can see the City Hall with its famous Blue and Golden Halls where the Nobel Prize dinner is held each year.

Re-trace your footsteps, and after Riddarhuset follow Myntgatan to Mynttorget, then go left across the bridge and past both the Riksdag buildings.

On the other side of the Riksbron bridge, to your left is Rosenbad - the Cabinet Office. Here, in the 18th century, there were public baths where one could bathe in rose oil. To return to Norrmalm, follow Drottninggatan up to Sergels Torg. Here is Kulturhuset (the Stockholm Cultural Centre), to which Stadsteatern with its six stages moved in 1990. Kulturhuset also contains a library and a number of exhibition rooms.

Now you are once more back on Hamngatan, where your walk began.