Sigtuna was founded around 980 AD and is considered Sweden's oldest existing town. The main street (Stora Gatan) follows its original medieval line; the three medieval church ruins, the 11th-century rune stones, and the 13th-century Dominican monastery are all within a 10-minute walk of each other. The town is small (scale of a village), flat at lake level, and adjacent to Arlanda Airport - the natural first or last night of a Stockholm trip.
Getting There
SL Pendeltag from Stockholm Central to Märsta: approximately 40 minutes (J40/J41 line). At Märsta, Bus 570 or 571 to Sigtuna: 20 minutes. Total journey approximately 60 minutes.
Alternatively: Direct bus 583 from the Uppsala Bus Terminal or various Stockholm points.
The proximity to Arlanda Airport (Stockholm's main international hub) is the key practical feature: Sigtuna is 10 minutes from Arlanda by taxi. This makes it the ideal base for flying in the day before the marathon (Arlanda arrival, Sigtuna evening, then down to Stockholm race morning) or flying out the day after (marathon Sunday, then Sigtuna for the night, Arlanda departure Monday morning).
Airport Express Bus (Flygbussarna) from Arlanda to Sigtuna bus terminal: approximately 15 minutes.
Sigtuna Town
The town is built on a small peninsula in Lake Mälaren - the large lake that runs west from Stockholm into the Swedish heartland. The Stora Gatan (Main Street) is the oldest continuously used street in Sweden; the medieval property boundaries are still visible in the plot widths.
The three medieval church ruins in the town park:
- S:t Per (12th-13th century): the most complete ruin, with the tower walls standing to 15 metres
- S:t Lars (12th century): lower walls remaining, the interior grassed
- S:t Olof (12th century): the oldest of the three, fragments remaining
All three are freely accessible in the town park, which runs along the ridge above the lake.
Mariakyrkan (Church of St Mary, 13th century Dominican monastery church): the one medieval church in Sigtuna still in use. The painted vault from the 15th century is the interior highlight. Adjacent to the monastery building (now a hotel and conference centre).
Rune stones: Sigtuna has 14 rune stones in situ, scattered along the main street and in the churchyard. The 11th-century inscriptions are in Old Swedish runic script. The tourist office has a map.
The Town Hall on Stora Gatan (18th century): the smallest town hall in Sweden, a little red building that has become the obligatory photograph.
Lake Mälaren
The lake is immediately south of the town at the end of every cross-street. The flat path along the lake shore east of the town gives views across the water to other lake islands. June in Sigtuna: the long evening light on Mälaren is the characteristic Swedish summer experience.
Where to Stay
Sigtunastiftelsen (the conference and retreat house in the former monastery buildings): the atmospheric choice, simple rooms in a historic setting, good Swedish breakfast. Stora Bryggan Hotel on the harbour: the clapboard waterfront hotel, small and well-positioned. Stads Hotellet on Stora Gatan: the classic town hotel, central.
Where to Eat
Tant Bruns Kaffestuga on Stora Gatan: the tea room in a 19th-century building, smörgåsar (open sandwiches) and Swedish baking. Ordensallskapet in Sigtunastiftelsen: good Swedish home cooking for dinner. For the evening: the hotel restaurants are the main options; Sigtuna's dining economy is small.
Practical Notes
- Sigtuna is 43 km northwest of Stockholm, 10 km from Arlanda Airport.
- Post-marathon timing: ideal for the Sunday night (marathon day) before an early Monday flight from Arlanda.
- June in Sigtuna: 17-21°C, long daylight. The lake is swimmable from mid-June.
- The town shuts early - arrive with dinner plans confirmed.