Gamla Stan Stockholm

Gamla Stan is where Stockholm began in the thirteenth century, on a small island between the lake and the sea. Its narrow cobbled lanes open onto Stortorget, the old square lined with tall gabled houses in red, orange and yellow, where the Nobel Prize Museum now stands.

Visit the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Swedish monarch and one of the largest palaces in Europe, and watch the changing of the guard in the outer courtyard. Look for Mårten Trotzigs gränd, the narrowest lane in the city, and stop for coffee and a cinnamon bun.

Gamla Stan is best explored on foot with a guide in the morning, before the cruise-ship crowds arrive. Wear comfortable shoes for the cobbles.