Sigtuna Things to Do

Not really belonging to Sigtuna but to nearby Håbo, still only 30 minutres away, this is one of Europe's finest Baroque castles from mid 17th century and with an amazing collection of paintings and well-kept furniture for you to see during guided tours. If you happen to be in Stockholm, there are guided boat trips to the castle from Stockholm City Hall in summer and from Uppsala too. Otherwise, you can get there by bus from Sigtuna and Bålsta. There is also a pretty medieval church with viking runestones as well as a great little motor museum in the castle grounds. You can read a lot more about it all on my Bålsta page.

The 750-year-old church is Sigtuna's oldest building still in use and the oldest brick building in the region. It began life as a dominican monastery which lasted until the 16th century when the cloisters were torn down. Outside it, you will find a herb garden and the ruins of St Olof's chuch as well as a rune stone.

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This stone is called Ingvarsstenen and you find it in Varpsund. It tells about a viking raid which started 1036 and almost nobody came back from that trip. Five sons are happy because of their father Gunnlev and this Gunnlev died together with Ingvar, but it doesnt say how, where or when. That will be the mystery of this story of the stone.

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This is a wonderful and beautiful castle in Uppland. You are only allowed to go around in the castle on guided tours and the environmental around the castle is beautiful. if you are very close to this castle you must make a visit. it shows many nice things and weapons from older times. They have a café here and you can eat there. They have many special events too, so it can be a good idea to check out their website.

The plaque says "Arlanda airport is situated in the municipality of Sigtuna between Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, and the university town of Uppsala. The municipality has 30000 habitants, rapidly expanding industries, and a great number of educational institutions. Communications are excellent. The E4 motor way and the main railway line run through Märsta, the modern, industrialized centre of the municipality. The small town of Sigtuna is eight kilometers west of Märsta. It is more than a thousand years old and is the oldest Swedish town still in existence. It is beautifully situated on Lake Mälar, and with its picturesque church ruins, its tiny 18th century town hall, it is one of the most popular attractions in the vicinity of Stockholm."

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Sigtuna is the oldest town in Sweden, founded at the beginning of the 11th century. The town itself has old low-timbered buildings on narrow streets.

The draw here are the many church ruins from the 12th century and the over 150 runes scattered throughout the town an dsurrounding area.

It's a great walking tour for old and young as it is easy to get around and there is no hurry!

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Mariakyrkan is the oldest building still in use in Sigtuna and the first and oldest church made of bricks in the Mälardalen region. It was built by the Dominicans (the religious order, not the people from my beloved Dominican Rep. ;)) in the 13th century, and later on a monastery was added, but during the 1530's it was destroyed and only the church remained, which then became the church of the parish of Sigtuna.

Practical info: open daily between 9am and 4pm during Jan-Apr and Sept-Dec, daily 9am-8pm during the summer. Dress and behave appropriately.

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This church bell's tower is from the early 18th century and it's located on Klockbacken, which got its name from the tower.

On this hill you'll find some benches where you can sit down with some light drink and food and enjoy the view of Sigtuna and the water from there.