Riksdag Parliament Building and Norrbro Bridge in Stockholm, Sweden.

©Grisha Bruev/Shutterstock

Riksdagshuset

Gamla Stan


Technically situated on Helgeandsholmen, the little island in the middle of Norrström, rather than on Gamla Stan, the Swedish Parliament building is an unexpected pleasure to visit. The building consists of two parts: the older front section (facing downstream) dates from the early 20th century, but the other more-modern part contains the current debating chamber. Tours of the building offer a compelling glimpse into the Swedish system of consensus-building government.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Gamla Stan attractions

1. Medeltidsmuseet

0.07 MILES

Tucked beneath the bridge that links Gamla Stan and Norrmalm, this child-friendly museum was established when construction workers preparing to build a…

2. Museum Tre Kronor

0.1 MILES

In the basement Museum Tre Kronor, you can see the foundations of 13th-century defensive walls and items rescued from the medieval castle during the 1697…

3. Kungliga Slottet

0.12 MILES

A massive structure with more than 600 rooms on 11 levels, Kungliga Slottet (the Royal Palace) dominates the north end of Gamla Stan. The official…

4. Medelhavsmuseet

0.12 MILES

Housed in an elegant Italianate building, Medelhavsmuseet lures history buffs with its Egyptian, Greek, Cypriot, Roman and Etruscan treasures. A large…

6. Storkyrkan

0.15 MILES

The one-time venue for royal weddings and coronations, Storkyrkan is both Stockholm’s oldest building (consecrated in 1306) and its cathedral. Behind a…

7. Riddarhuset

0.15 MILES

The House of Nobility once hosted some of the most influential and powerful people in Sweden's history. Built in the 17th century, this magnificent and…

8. Konstakademien

0.15 MILES

The Royal Academy of Fine Arts has a beautiful gallery space and puts on several exhibitions a year, well worth investigating if you're interested in…