The Viking Age lasted from the 8th to the 11th century, and was well over in 1252, when Sweden's capital Stockholm was allegedly founded.

Still, the islands that make up Stockholm were populated during the Viking Age, though more often victims to sea raiders than raiding themselves.

As the Viking Age and Norse mythology have been romanticised in modern times, too many streets, restaurants and venues have borrowed their names from the Vikings or Norse mythology, but nothing more. This tour only includes waypoints with visible connection to the Viking Age.

Understand

See also: Ice age traces, Vikings and the Old Norse

Due to post-glacial rebound, lake Mälaren used to be a bay of the Baltic Sea in the Middle Ages during the Viking Age. Among the few towns were Birka and Sigtuna. On the islands which came to make up Stockholm, were farms and fishing villages.

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Prepare

The Uppland history tour is a showcase of the cradle of the Swedish nation.

Destinations

• 1 Aifur, Västerlånggatan 68. A Viking-themed restaurant; slightly anachronistic, as the cellar vaults were built centuries after the last Vikings. 
• 2 6e Tunnan (Sjätte tunnan), Stora Nygatan 43. Medieval bar and restaurant with occasional live music. 
• 1 Uppland Runestone 53, Kåkbrinken 1. As books and stone masonry became common in the 13th century, remnants of the Old Norse are mainly runestones, this one was made around AD 1100, and got accidental fame, as it ended up in a wall of a 17th century building. The laconic inscription says Thorsteinn and Freygunnr had this stone [raised] in memory of [...] their son. There is no evidence that these people had travelled far; the few runestones that mention overseas travellers (Vikings) are much more famous. The cannon was set up in the 17th century to protect the building from wagons.  
• 2 Tre Kronor Castle. Lake Mälaren remained a navigable bay of the Baltic Sea throughout the Viking Age. At its shores are some of the oldest Swedish cities; Birka, Västerås, Uppsala, and Sigtuna. In 1187, pirates from Karelia (Vikings, by a loose definition of the word) entered through the strait to Sweden's capital Sigtuna and sacked it. To prevent new attacks, the Swedes had a castle erected where Stockholm Palace is now. The castle, known as Tre Kronor (Three Crowns) was the centerpiece of Stockholm until it burnt down in 1697, later to be replaced by the Royal Palace. 
• 3 National Museum of Fine Arts (Nationalmuseum), Södra Blasieholmshamnen. Sweden's national museum for European art and interior design opened in 1866,. When the museum was built, the Vikings and the Old Norse were romanticized as Scandinavian ancestors, and many works in the museum, as well as sculptures outside, depict Old Norse legends.  
• 4 The Knife Wrestlers (Bältesspännarna). An 1869 statue depicting a Viking-age duel. Duels were prevalent enough to be outlawed from the 11th century, or formalized as trial by combat. The legendary "belt wrestling" format, in which combattants were belted to each other and wielding a knife each (naked, according to the depiction) is described in 19th century literature of folklore, but not by solid evidence. 
• 5 Army Museum, Riddargatan 13. Displays the history of war. While the regular exhibition's timeline begins in the 16th century, the temporary exhibition Crossroads depicts Sweden's relationship with Ukraine, which began in the Viking Age. 
• 6 Swedish History Museum (Historiska Museet), Narvavägen 13-17. The history of Sweden from the Ice Age (10,000 BC) to present day, with emphasis on the Middle Ages (11th to 16th centuries). The exhibition on the Viking Age was expanded in 2021. In the Gold Room, you'll find gold treasures from the Bronze Age to the 16th century.  
• 7 Djurgårdsbron. This bridge was built in 1897, at the height of romantic nationalism. The statues on the top are Thor, Heimdall, Freja and Frigg.  
• 8 The Viking Museum, Djurgårdsvägen 48. A Viking museum opened in 2017. The main attraction is Ragnfrids saga, an 11-minute ride through dioramas depicting a Viking adventure. The ride is a bit scary; children should be at least 7 years old, and accompanied by an adult. There is also an exhibition with replicas of Viking objects. Good for visitors who want a short introduction to the Vikings, and are not bothered by the cover charge or the absence of genuine artifacts.  
• 9 Vrak – Museum of Wrecks. Virtual reality and other modern technologies present the shipwrecks of the Baltic Sea, of which many remain on the seafloor. This museum puts the Viking Age in a context of both younger and older maritime history.  
• 10 Skansen, Main entrance from Djurgårdsvägen. Founded in 1891, Skansen is the world's oldest open-air museum, containing a zoological garden specializing in Nordic fauna, such as moose, reindeer, bear, wolf, lynx and wolverine. It features over 150 historic buildings from previous centuries, relocated from all parts of Sweden. Museum guides in historic costumes demonstrate domestic crafts, such as weaving, spinning, and glass blowing. While most buildings and activities depict the 18th century, it calls back to even older times. The site also has several runestones.  
• 11 Walmundsö. An archaeological site of a Viking Age farm. Very little to see; just a few stones and burial mounds are visible.  

Go next

• Birka
• Uppsala
• Stockholm history tour for the second millennium AD