Stockholm Old Town: getting to Gamla Stan from Hotel Bema

You can reach Stockholm city centre on foot or use public transport to get around Stockholm and reach Gamla Stan.

For public transport, Gamla Stan station is served by the red or green metro line. If you’re planning to use buses near the sights, buses 2, 57 and 76 serve Slottsbacken, close to Storkyrkan and the Royal Palace. For a wider overview of connections and fares, see this guide to Stockholm public transport.

Once you arrive at Gamla Stan station, the Royal Palace says to allow a five-minute walk through the Old Town. From Kungsträdgården station, the walk to the palace over Strömbron takes ten minutes. These station-to-palace directions can help you choose where to begin your visit.

Stortorget is a useful place to start exploring Gamla Stan, with Storkyrkan nearby and the Royal Palace within the same compact historic district.

From the square, continue through the surrounding lanes toward Storkyrkan or the palace. Storkyrkan sits close to Stortorget, between the Royal Palace and the Nobel Museum, so you can combine the square and cathedral without treating them as separate trips.

If you’re sketching out a broader day in the city, this one-day Stockholm itinerary offers another way to plan stops near your base.

The Royal Palace and Storkyrkan give you two nearby ways to add history and architecture to a Gamla Stan walk.

The Royal Palace

The Royal Palace’s visiting address is Slottsbacken 1 in Gamla Stan. Tickets are sold online and at the entrances during regular opening hours. The entrance ticket includes the Royal Apartments, Treasury and Museum Three Crowns; it does not include the Royal Armoury.

The Royal Apartments may be completely or partly closed during official receptions of the King. The palace also lists buses to Slottsbacken or Riddarhustorget, followed by a five-minute walk via Storkyrkobrinken.

Storkyrkan

Storkyrkan, Stockholm Cathedral, has stood at the centre of Sweden’s religious and political life since the 1300s. Its visitor entrance is at Trångsund 1, close to Stortorget and between the Royal Palace and the Nobel Museum.

Admission is SEK 120 for adults and SEK 90 for seniors; visitors up to 18 enter free. An adult audio guide is included. The cathedral prohibits large bags, suitcases and backpacks inside.

Check opening details and access arrangements before setting out, since the cathedral and palace can have changes or restrictions that affect a visit.

Storkyrkan may close for funerals or other unforeseen events. Its entrance is adapted on the southeast side; you can ring the bell or call 08-723 30 16 for assistance. Most of the interior is accessible to wheelchair users, and accessible toilets are available with help from a custodian.

The Royal Apartments may be partly or fully closed during official receptions of the King. For both sights, check the official site before you go. For a simple sequence, begin at Stortorget, continue to Storkyrkan, then walk toward the palace; if you prefer the palace first, Gamla Stan station is a five-minute walk away.

For more city-planning ideas, see Hotel Bema as a base for Stockholm.

How do you get to Gamla Stan by metro?

Gamla Stan station is served by the red and green metro lines. From there, the Royal Palace is a five-minute walk through the Old Town.

How much does it cost to visit Storkyrkan?

Storkyrkan lists admission at SEK 120 for adults and SEK 90 for seniors, with free entry for visitors up to 18. An adult audio guide is included.

Can you visit Storkyrkan with a wheelchair?

Most of the interior is accessible to wheelchair users, and accessible toilets are available with assistance from a custodian. The adapted entrance is on the church’s southeast side.

Does a Royal Palace ticket include the Royal Armoury?

No. The ticket includes the Royal Apartments, Treasury and Museum Three Crowns, but not the Royal Armoury.