Tour Details
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
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- City Hall
- Riddarholmen
Photos & Highlights
- Insider experience of the stunning interior and history of the City Hall through both politics and peace
- Led by a local historian
Select a date
Tour Description
Walk through Scandinavian history in the cultural capital of Sweden. This Stockholm History Tour of City Hall and the island of Riddarholmen takes us through Swedish political history and centuries of warfare and peaceful prosperity. We'll learn about Sweden's military past, from the story of the atrocious Stockholm Bloodbath to the Swedes’ role in World War 2.Â
Stockholm History Tour
The walk begins with a visit to the venerable wings and decorative halls of the City Hall. We'll start in the present, preparing to take a trip back in time through Sweden’s history of war and peace. Not only that, but we'll learn to read parts of Stockholm’s cityscape as a document of this history.
Stockholm City Hall
The City Hall is one of Stockholm's most visited landmarks—and for good reason. The famed Blue Hall (nothing about it is literally blue, but we can explain that) is the location of the annual Nobel Banquet following the awards ceremony. Although the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded separately in Oslo, we'll consider the Nobel Foundation as an organization and its global impact during our time here. Its mandate of rewarding significant contributions to society in arts, sciences, and political activism is, in a way, deeply symbolic of Scandinavian sociopolitical ideals. We'll ponder the fascinating contrast between this kind of earnest civic engagement and the reality of striking and maintaining peace.Â
Glory, Grandeur and the Meaning of Neutrality
Conceptually, our walk will continue to focus on the last century of Sweden’s history during our visit to City Hall. Our scope of questions will also look at recent events: how was Sweden the only neutral country in Scandinavia in World War 2? Was Sweden indeed neutral?
The Knights' Islet
Leaving the City Hall, we'll make our way to the island of Riddarholmen to dig further into that past. From here, we'll be able to look out across the water at the warm red brick of the City Hall where we have so recently stood. (Our pro tip: the striking sharp edges of City Hall's crowned tower are at their most picturesque from this distance.) Arriving on Riddarholmen, our walk will consider the development of this small island into a governmental district. Today, it is home to an array of aristocratic structures dating back several hundred years. So, we shouldn't be surprised that this tiny spit of land, known as the Knights' Islet, has a compelling history of its own. We'll find out how the island earned its name, what historical function it served in medieval Stockholm, and whose 17th-century private palaces still stand here.
Along the way out of Riddarholmen through the rest of Gamla Stan, we’ll also see the central physical places of power in the Swedish capital city, like the Parliament Building and gardens, as well as the northern facade of the Royal Palace. (If you'd like to take a Stockholm Royal Palace Tour that includes its interior, we do that, too.) As we walk, we'll consider how Sweden's political values are expressed in these buildings. How do Swedish values of the past transfer to modern Sweden? The history of the monarchy and the modern social state in Sweden has played an important role in their military endeavors, then and now. Together, we'll unpack what this has meant for the residents of this capital city.Â
Ready to learn more? Our Swedish Socialism Tour dives deeper into ideas about the modern social state.
Take Aways
A history of war in Sweden is also a history of Scandinavia and Northern Europe, of geopolitics and economic interests, of power and prosperity. Our time at the City Hall and out exploring lesser-known historical landmarks will help us to understand the major forces that have been at work in Sweden for centuries.
We end our time together by turning back towards the city center and filling in the rest of the story of Sweden as a Scandinavian geopolitical power. We will finish within easy reach of the center of Stockholm, primed to view our host city with a new level of understanding.
Where You'll Start
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19 Reviews
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Anna was truly wonderful and went out of her way to help me understand Swedish politics, history, daily life. Not only was she extremely knowledgable but we connected on a personal level. I loved learning about the life of a Swedish family and we may live in different parts of the world, but we have so much in common! Thank you, Anna!
Suzanne
Nov 22, 2024
My travel group included my husband and our three adult children. Our son had selected this tour as he is a history buff and is also interested in the social structure of the Scandinavian countries. The tour was amazing! Bjorn showed us the beautiful City Hall as well as numerous other sites. His knowledge of Stockholm and Sweden's history is impressive. Most importantly, however, Bjorn had told us that we could ask any questions we had. Among the five of us, we peppered Bjorn with all types of questions about Sweden's history, political climate, social structure, and economics. This may have been the most fascinating tour I have ever done. But the highest recommendation would be my husband's response. He generally doesn't even like tours at all. However, he choose this tour with Bjorn as his favorite activity on our two-week trip. Thank you, Bjorn!
Jodine
Sep 23, 2024
Karin was phenomenal and I would be happy to recommend her to anyone looking to have a wonderfully patient and engaging guide! Anyone lucky enough to get her will have a terrific time.
Kerry
Aug 25, 2024
