Together with my best friend, who has been working at a travel agency, we visited Sigtuna, the birthplace of Sweden. Sigtuna is about an hour and a half by train and bus, which makes it perfect for a Day Trip.
This town, which has existed for over 1,000 years, was once a gathering place for people from all over the world. The area holds the the most runestones, stones with a runic inscription, in the world.
You can feel its grand history in the atmosphere, where the old castles, ruins and lake made me feel like being part of the drama Outlander.
The town offers sightseeing spots that can be explored in about half a day! Shops, Restaurants, Cafes and Hotels all contribute to the unique charm of Sigtuna.
Town：Sigtuna
Address：Stora gatan 33, Sigtuna
Staying time：About 4 hours off-season (all day if in-season)
※ We visited in the off-season so most of the stores were closed, so be sure to check the website before you go!
A video I made for Instagram ↓
More information↓
Main Street, Stora Gatan！
Location：Destination Sigtuna AB (Visitor Center)
Already in the atmosphere of the Vikings! Of course I took a photo since I love dragons.
Location：Tant Bruns Kaffestuga HB (Cafe)
That old lady is staring right at us! It’s almost a bit scary.
I saw it on Google Maps and it looked like a cute, vintage-cafe that looked like it would serve delicious tea, so I wanted to go. But unfortunately it was closed this time.
Location：Augusta Janssons Karamellfabrik
As you can see in the photo above, this adorable candy shop is irresistible for anyone with a sweet tooth!
The candies are displayed with an old-fashioned charm! They make great as souvenirs. Just a word of advice! My friend bought some chocolate and it started melting while we were eating outside. So, I recommend buying sweets right before you head home instead.
Location：Sigtuna Bokkiosk（Mini Library）
The inside of the Phone Booth was made into a Mini Llibrary, based on the idea of Alfons Ambrosi, who previously worked at the Sigtuna Library.
Take a walk and enjoy the town!
Location：St. Olof Church Ruins
Sweden’s oldest city, Sigtuna, was also the first Christian city. The Saint Olof Church was built in the early Middle Ages.
Location：Sigtuna Town Hall
It’s said to be possibly the smallest Town Hall in all of Europe. It was designed in the 1740s by the mayor at the time, and built using materials recycled from the old town hall and gathered by local residents. Today, its beautiful Baroque-style interior is popular and the building is now used as a wedding venue. In what used to be the guardroom, there are exhibits sharing stories about this place and the people of Sigtuna.
Location：Bahrmans bod（Home goods store）
A cute General Store! There are lots of cute things, from tableware to decorations. I forgot to take pictures inside the store, but it’s a recommended shopping spot.
Finally time for Lunch! I decided on Restaurant after looking at the menus from among the several Restaurants that were open.
Location：Café The Coin（The name on the sign is Café Myntet）
Ordering is done digitally, so you choose a menu item on the screen and click to order! The weather was getting nicer, so I also ordered a beer.
First up is Viking Mutaka, Looking like a Man who’s enjoying Beer and the Sun!
Next up are my best friends enjoying some Beer and taking Photos!
We waited about 30 minutes for our food while enjoying a beer. What finally arrived was my favorite—Plankstek (Beef steak on a Plank)!
I just realized something though – according to the menu, it was supposed to come with Swedish Entrecôte, Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Cocktail Tomatoes, Crispy Bacon, Asparagus, Red Wine Sauce and Béarnaise sauce. But… the Crispy Bacon was missing.
Seasoning: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ( I chose Entrecôte but the meat was too hard )
Price: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ( The price is too high for the quality of the food )
Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ( We ate outside, but the interior was like a normal restaurant )
Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ( Restaurant staff were nice to teach us how to order and had lovely smiles )
After filling up, we resumed our walk and headed towards Lake Mälaren Sigtuna Strandpromenad. I forgot to take a photo, but there was a Stone Circle here, just like in the TV drama Outlander, and I danced with my best friend, feeling like a witch. We didn’t travel back in time though!
Location：Mariakyrkan （St. Mary’s Church）
This Church was built in the mid-13th century. It is the oldest building still in use in Sigtuna and the walls, columns and roof are almost the same as they were at the time. During the Reformation around 1530, the monastery was closed and the monks were expelled from Sigtuna and it became a parish church. The two baptismal fonts are the oldest and best preserved in the church and there are also two medieval altarpieces.
Location：Balders Bröd Köpmangården (Cafe)
Before heading back to Stockholm, we went for a Fika (coffee time in Swedish)!
I forgot to take pictures again, but there were lots of buns, cakes and gelato.
My best friend chose the carrot cake, and I chose the Napoleon! (It’s a kind of Mille-feuille cake)
I mistakenly told the staff at the shop it was Neapolitan, but they understood because I was pointing at the cake.
This is a short trip report to Sigtuna, I hope you enjoyed it! I hope to go during the in-season and update you again!
This is how we make our Nordic Life Colorful! Enjoy your day!