Stortorget square in Gamla Stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Stortorget, meaning “the Big Square,” lies at the very centre of Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s medieval old town, on the island of Stadsholmen. It is the oldest public square in the city and one of its most photographed spots. The easiest way to reach it is the metro to Gamla Stan station, served by the red and green lines, from which it is a short walk through the narrow lanes; several bus lines also stop nearby, and from the central districts it is an easy stroll across the bridges. The square itself is an open public space, free to visit at any time of day.

History and What Makes Stortorget Famous

The square has been the focal point of Stockholm’s commercial and civic life since the Middle Ages, and it is best known for the row of tall, narrow merchant houses lining its sides, their façades painted in warm shades of red, ochre, and gold. It was also the scene of one of the darkest episodes in Swedish history, the Stockholm Bloodbath of 1520, when the Danish king Christian II had around 80 to 90 Swedish nobles and citizens executed here. According to local legend, one white stone set into the façade of a house on the square marks a cannonball from those events. In winter the square hosts a charming traditional Christmas market.

What to See Nearby

Stortorget is the perfect starting point for exploring Gamla Stan. On the square itself stands the handsome former Stock Exchange building, which today houses the Nobel Prize Museum and the Swedish Academy, while the decorative well at the centre adds to the postcard scene. Just a couple of minutes away are Storkyrkan (Stockholm Cathedral) and the Royal Palace, and the surrounding maze of cobbled lanes hides cafés, craft shops, and Stockholm’s narrowest alley, Mårten Trotzigs gränd. Allow time to simply wander, as the old town is best appreciated on foot.