‘Gamla Stan’ (Old Town) is Stockholm’s medieval city centre, where Stockholm was founded in the year of 1252 by Birger Jarl. It is the historical heart of Stockholm and consists of the three islands Stadsholmen’, Riddarholmen and Helgeandsholmen. Helgeandsholmen
When people mention ‘Gamla Stan’, they usually think of Stadsholmen, the largest of the three. Until the 19th century it was simply called ‘Staden’ (City). Later it became known as the ‘Staden mellan broarna’ (City between the bridges). Since 1980 it has been called Gamla Stan.

Although ‘Gam la Stan’ dates from the 13th century, most of its buildings are from the 17- and 1800s. It is a labyrinth of narrow winding cobblestone streets, alleyways, beautifully pastel coloured town houses and squares with a German influenced architecture.

Some of the main (shopping) streets can be very overcrowded by tourists, but once you enter the side streets it feels like you are walking back in time.

Pictures:
Main picture - Prästgatan (Priest’s Street) ran just inside the former defense wall; it is considered being one of the most beautiful streets of ‘Gamla Stan’.
PiP 1: Brända Tomten, one of the most scenic squares with a triangular shape surrounded by picturesque houses and a chestnut tree in the middle.
PiP 2: Kindstugatan, one of the quiet side streets
PiP 3: Stortorget, the main square of Gamla Stan