Discover Sigtuna: History, Lake Mälaren and Special Trails

Sigtuna combines a historic town centre with nature experiences on Lake Mälaren. The historic centre is home to well-preserved wooden houses from the late 18th and 19th centuries. There are also churches, ruins, a museum, trails through the countryside and opportunities for active days by the water. If you are looking for accommodation for a varied trip, Sigtuna allows you to combine culture, exercise and family time.

Churches, Ruins and an Unusual Town Hall

Mariakyrkan is the oldest building in Sigtuna still in use. It was originally the church of the Dominican monastery and is considered the earliest monumental building in Sweden constructed of brick. The church is open daily throughout the year for sightseeing and personal prayer. At the same time, it is a place where pilgrims can seek quiet and peace.

The historic remains also tell the story of the town’s long development. The ruin of S:t Olof preserves the remains of an early Romanesque church from the late 11th century. The ruin of S:t Per dates back to a church built in the 12th century that was intended to serve as a cathedral. At S:t Lars, the remains of the tower of a church built of grey stone in the early 12th century have been preserved. Sigtuna Town Hall dates from the 18th century and is considered Sweden’s smallest town hall.

Museum and Historic Houses

The Sigtuna Museum offers a broad view across time: the Sigtunahistorier exhibition explores life from the Stone Age to the present day, while the collections are based on archaeological finds dating from the 9th century onwards. This permanent exhibition continues in one of the rooms at Drakegården. Drakegården itself is a 300-year-old house associated with people who lived and worked in Sigtuna. The interior of Borgmästargården has been preserved as it was when the last owner, Mayor Gustaf Dahl, died in 1992.

The tourist information centre is also located in the Sigtuna Museum. There you can get up-to-date tourist information as well as tips on sights and activities. A souvenir shop and toilets are also available. The garden at Drakegården is open to all visitors year-round.

Trails, Water and Outdoor Discoveries

For longer excursions, the 11-mile-long, easy-to-walk Ingegerdsleden leads from Storkyrkan in Stockholm via Mariakyrkan in Sigtuna to the cathedral in Uppsala. Shorter discoveries are possible with the rune-stone search, which leads to 10 runestones. The 2.5-kilometre-long Askarestigen runs through pastureland and complements the cultural and historical attractions with an experience of the landscape.

The Munkholmen nature reserve is located immediately next to Sigtuna. At the unmanned Kayakomat, you can rent kayaks and SUP boards; the equipment can be unlocked at any time, around the clock. Munkholmsbadet is a child-friendly swimming area with a wooden jetty, benches, ladders and a large lawn. Depending on your plans for the day, you can therefore choose between historic sightseeing, a trail through the countryside or time by the water.

Traditions Throughout the Year

At the S:t Lars church ruin, the Ruinen blommar project includes an annual event with a spring festival. Meadows were created beside the ruin using a specially composed seed mix of locally occurring species. Sigtuna’s traditional Christmas market takes place on the four Sundays before Christmas and includes market stalls and traditional foods. The historic market day has its roots in an agricultural gathering held in 1912 and has been a local tradition for more than 50 years.

Choose Accommodation Based on Your Travel Interests

When searching for a holiday apartment in Sigtuna, you can use your preferred travel rhythm as a guide. Those particularly interested in churches, ruins and museum history can plan cultural discoveries around Mariakyrkan, S:t Olof, S:t Per, S:t Lars and the Sigtuna Museum. For days outdoors, the Ingegerdsleden, Askarestigen, Munkholmen or Munkholmsbadet swimming area offer different focal points. Families can switch between historic impressions, a child-friendly break by the water and active activities. You can find more local pages under Arlanda and Märsta.

For the main travel overview: Sigtuna.