Storkyrkan / Stockholm Cathedral, Sweden

Storkyrkan, officially the Church of St Nicholas and known simply as Stockholm Cathedral, stands in Gamla Stan right beside the Royal Palace. It is reached by the metro to Gamla Stan station, a few minutes’ walk away, and is easy to combine with a visit to the palace and Stortorget, which are practically next door. As an active place of worship it can be entered free of charge during services, while sightseeing visits are subject to an admission charge.

History and What Makes Storkyrkan Famous

Dating back to the 13th century, Storkyrkan is the oldest church in central Stockholm. Behind its later Baroque exterior lies a soaring brick Gothic hall, and the cathedral has served as the setting for royal weddings and coronations over the centuries, including the 2010 wedding of Crown Princess Victoria. Its greatest treasure is the dramatic late-medieval wooden sculpture of St George and the Dragon, carved by Bernt Notke and unveiled in 1489 to commemorate a Swedish victory. The cathedral also holds the Vädersolstavlan, a painting whose original dates from 1535 and which contains the oldest known depiction of Stockholm.

Visiting Information

Admission for sightseeing is around 120 SEK for adults, with free or reduced entry for children and young people, and the cathedral is included in the Go City Stockholm Pass. Opening hours can be affected by services, concerts, and ceremonies, so it is worth checking ahead if you are visiting at a specific time. A visit usually takes around 30 to 45 minutes, enough to take in the St George sculpture, the royal pews, the silver altar, and the impressive organ. Photography is generally permitted for personal use.