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The Old Town, or Gamla Stan, the medieval district, is undoubtedly one of the most charming neighborhoods in Stockholm, with its cobbled streets, colorful facades, and timeless atmosphere. However, behind this attractive postcard image, the Old Town also teems with tourist traps: mass-produced souvenirs, soulless gadgets, and trinkets made in China.
To find the real gems, you often have to venture beyond the heavily trafficked main street (Västerlånggatan) and explore the smaller lanes and hidden streets.
To help you sort through it all and discover the true soul of this historic neighborhood, we take you on a tour of 10 iconic shops. Some of these have been around for several generations, while others are more recent, but each one embodies, a Swedish tradition – whether in craftsmanship, design, gastronomy, or unique know-how – and is well worth a visit for those who want to have a more sincere experience, far from the clichés.
1. Hilda Hilda
Located at Österlånggatan 21, away from the tourist crowds, this small shop, founded in 1995, specializes in eco-friendly and 100% Swedish-made textiles and home decor items. It offers a wide range of products such as bags, cushions, kitchen textiles, table runners, towels, and fabrics, all made from organic cotton and linen, using a jacquard weaving method unique to the brand and manufactured in Sweden.
The weaving method was developed by Lott Hildebrand. All the fabrics are made with a single thread, most often white, and a multicolored weft. This clever method allows for greater flexibility and responsiveness in production, as it is easier to change the colored threads in the weft than the thousands of threads in the warp. Lott Hildebrand, who designs all the patterns, uses her left hand even though she is right-handed. This gives the patterns their distinctive character. A selection of these patterns can also be found in the HildaHilda collection, which includes trays, trivets, and coasters. These are also made in Sweden and meet all environmental standards
The fabrics are made in a certified weaving factory in Ekelunds, located in Västergötland, a region in the southwest of Sweden that has a rich textile tradition dating back several centuries. This tradition is deeply rooted in the cultural and economic history of the region, and cities like Borås are now globally renowned for creating artistic textiles as well as for its school of textile design. It is, therefore, an excellent and original idea for a typically Swedish gift to take home.
2. Runstenen
Located in the central square of Gamla Stan, Stortorget, next to the Nobel Museum and the cathedral, this is the exception that proves the rule of hidden shops, is a must-see during your stay in Stockholm. This shop, with its misleading name (runstenen meaning "rune stone"), specializes in the creation of Dalecarlian horses (Dalahästar in Swedish). The shop is also a museum dedicated to the history of this small horse, which you can find in many of the shops in Gamla Stan, although they are not always made with the same care as in this flagship store.
Visit wooden horse museum´s website
Inside, you will discover an impressive collection of Dalecarlian horses, iconic symbols of Sweden, as well as other Nordic handcrafted items.
The museum displays several dozen of ancient horses, some very old, allowing a better understanding of this tradition as well as the reasons for its rise in the 1930s when it was presented at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York (photos of this event are displayed inside the museum). This is undoubtedly the place in Stockholm where you can be sure that the horses are made in accordance with the traditional method (sculpting and painting), and it boasts the largest variety of Dalecarlian horses.
Follow one of our classic guided tours to learn about the history of this symbol of Sweden.
3. Polkagris kokeri
Located at Stora Nygatan 14, this shop specializes in the traditional making of polkagrisar (peppermint candies), offering an authentic and sensory experience. These small, traditionally red-and-white striped candy sticks are emblematic of the Swedish town of Gränna, located in Småland, and were invented by a woman, Amalia Eriksson, who kept her recipe secret until 1923.
Visit Polkagris kokeri's website
The shop also offers candy-making workshops where you can learn the process of creating polkagrisar, a popular activity for groups, birthdays, or corporate events. These sessions include a live demonstration and the opportunity to leave with your own sweet creations.
The candies are made from a mixture of sugar, water, vinegar, and peppermint oil. The dough is heated to about 150°C, then poured onto a cold surface to cool. One part of the dough is colored red, while the other remains white. The two doughs are then stretched, twisted, and shaped by hand to create the characteristic stripes. You can find all the information to participate in a workshop on their website.
To understand the Swedes’ special relationship with candy, join our sweets tour
4. Kerstin Adolphson
Located on the main street of Gamla Stan, the most touristy area, the Kerstin Adolphson brand is a family-run business founded in 1973. It has 3 shops around Västerlånggatan 44, including a second-hand store. The brand is also well known abroad and has a store on Boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris, where the first imported Swedish clogs were presented.
Visit Kerstin Adolphson's website
Specialized in the sale of traditional Swedish clothing, it offers a range of products from knitted socks to wool sweaters and wooden clogs. This place is perfect for those who wish to discover or acquire iconic pieces of authentic Scandinavian style.
Kerstin Adolphson has been known for three generations for the quality of her materials and her minimalist aesthetic, which is true to the spirit of Swedish design. The products may seem a little expensive, but they stand the test of time.
5. Gudrun Sjödén
Located at Stora Nygatan 33 in the Old Town, the brand also has other boutiques in the city and is now a well-known brand even abroad. Gudrun Sjödén is an inspiring Swedish designer. She grew up in a farming family near Norrtälje, Sweden. From a young age, she turned to drawing and at 17 joined a renowned art school in Stockholm, Konstfack. It was there that she discovered her passion for textile craftsmanship – a skill that continues to influence all of her creations today.
She started her career in a traditional fashion company, where the clothes followed classic models. But at the end of the 1960s, a period of great creative freedom opened up, with the arrival of pop fashion, colorful prints, and short skirts.
In 1974, Gudrun decided to found her own clothing brand: Gudrun Sjödén. Her first collection was called "Active Leisure in Natural Materials." It marked the beginning of a great adventure: for the first time, she could freely express her vision through clothes that were both colorful, comfortable, and environmentally friendly – values that remain at the heart of the brand today.
6. Tyger och tidlösa Ting
Located at Köpmangatan 1, close to the famous Saint George slaying the dragon, this shop specializes in classic and nostalgic items such as Christmas decorations, music boxes, Hummel figurines, and various souvenirs.
Visit Tyger och tidlösa ting's website
The shop is renowned for its charming, old-fashioned atmosphere and its selection of traditional and timeless items, perfect for vintage decor enthusiasts and those looking for authentic Swedish objects.
7. Studio Barbara Bunke
Located at 10 Köpmangatan, in the former space of a historic stationery shop in Stockholm (Ljunggrens Pappershandel), which Barbara Bunke transformed into Studio Barbara Bunke in 2001, it is a true haven for lovers of fine paper, calligraphy, and bookbinding craftsmanship.
Barbara Bunke is a Swedish artist, designer, and bookbinder born in Ethiopia. The daughter of a Swedish Air Force captain and an Armenian pianist, she grew up in Höganäs, Sweden. After studying art history at Lund and at the School of Industrial Arts in Gothenburg, she moved to Stockholm in 1979. She worked in advertising, graphic design, and illustration before fully dedicating herself to paper craftsmanship and bookbinding.
Barbara Bunke's work is diversified: she uses pencil, acrylic, oil, watercolor, embroidery, and collage. Her creations are often inspired by the materials themselves, the colors, and her mood. She has exhibited her works in galleries in Sweden and abroad, particularly in Japan.
8. Charlotte Nicolin
The Charlotte Nicolin shop, located at Köpmangatan 3, is a charming workshop boutique in the heart of Gamla Stan, Stockholm's historic district. It is run by Swedish artist Charlotte Nicolin, known for her pencil illustrations of animals, printed on a variety of interior decor products. With a deep interest in nature from an early age (having grown up in the Stockholm archipelago), she spent much of her childhood drawing the surrounding nature…
Visit Charlotte Nicolin's website
siter le site de Charlotte Nicolin This love for nature left a deep impression on her, and today she combines her passion for nature and drawing to highlight the importance of preserving this precious heritage. After several years working as an artist in Paris, Charlotte Nicolin began creating postcards and lithographs of her animal drawings. As demand grew, she expanded her production to include home decor items and gifts, turning her art into a thriving business.
Take a little stroll through the shop, and if you happen to meet Charlotte, don’t hesitate to compliment her—she speaks French!
To better understand Swedish design, join our architecture and design tour
9. Trafik Nostalgiska Förlaget
Located at Österlånggatan 20, this nostalgic shop is a Swedish publishing house prominent in books, calendars, DVDs, and collectibles dedicated to the history of transportation, technology, and urban life through the ages. Their goal is to satisfy a longing for the past by allowing enthusiasts to publish their work on subjects such as railways, trams, buses, vintage cars, shipping, old maps, and the history of Stockholm.
It’s the kind of shop you rarely find, one that typically catches the eye of enthusiasts, but also draws in children who are fascinated by the richly filled display window.
10. Affären
Located at Stora Nygatan 21, Affären in Gamla Stan is a charming lighting shop in Stockholm’s historic district. For over 30 years, the boutique has been offering a unique selection of lamps and original lighting solutions, combining Scandinavian design with an artisanal touch.
The shop is run by Helen Högberg and Therese Nyman, both passionate about lighting and interior design. They strive to offer their customers a shopping experience that is both enjoyable and inspiring. The team is generally very well trained and answers questions with great detail and professionalism. p>La boutique est gérée par Helen Högberg et Therese Nyman, toutes deux passionnées par l’éclairage et la décoration intérieure. Elles s’efforcent d’offrir à leurs clients une expérience d’achat à la fois agréable et inspirante. L’équipe est en général très bien formée et répond aux questions avec beaucoup de détails et de professionnalisme.
In addition to sales, they also offer lighting consultation services in the Stockholm area to help customers find the perfect lighting for their homes. During Advent, they also offer for sale the famous branched candleholders and Christmas stars.
The Swedes’ special relationship with lighting is part of our architecture and design tour.
