Viking History, Runes & Countryside 9h Tour to Sigtuna & Uppsala
Description
Uncover the secrets of Sweden's Viking heritage, while exploring ancient places and Viking runestones, on this full day tour out of Stockholm. Travel trough the beautiful Swedish countryside to historically important places joined by a expert Viking guide. Learn about the complexity of the Viking Age while you experience a Viking parliament, cross a Viking runestone bridge and decipher inscriptions on 1000 years old runestones. Stroll the cozy town Sigtuna, Sweden's oldest town, and immense yourself in Viking culture at the once pagan Old Uppsala. History enthusiasts, and Viking interested, will delight at this educational tour enriching your knowledge about the Vikings, while experiencing Sweden outside Stockholm. • Full day Viking history tour surrounded by beautiful Swedish nature. • Uncover Sweden's fascinating Viking past at several carefully selected places. • See Viking gravefields, ancient runestones and a Viking parliament. • Visit Sigtuna, Uppsala City and Old Uppsala mounds
Tour Options
Itinerary
See Viking runestones and hear their messages. They tell us about the family who lived by the site. Learn about Estrid, a Viking woman that might have travelled to Jerusalem. Learn about Viking burial customs, Old Norse language and the excavations at the site.
See and walk upon a reconstructed Viking causeway bridge. Learn about the braggy Viking lord who built it about a thousand years ago. Get an understanding for how power was divided in the Viking society and what different social groups lives looked like.
Visit one of the best preserved Viking assembly sites (thing site) in the world, Arkils Tingstad. Here you will see a preserved structure that makes it easy for you to visualise what happened at the site. Learn about Viking law and social customs, go down to the lakeside and learn about Vikings ships and exploration.
Experience the Viking king Olof's fall from glory and troý to reclaim his lost kingdom. You'll experience one of the best preserved church ruins in Sigtuna, dating to 1120 AD while hearing the story of the king who gave his name to this ruin.
A walking tour of the this cozy wooden town even Swedes visit for vacation and if time allows, some time on your own in Sweden's oldest town. You will also have your lunch here.
A visit to the unique site of Old Uppsala. Here you will experience the largest burial hills in Sweden. These mounds are about 10 meters high and more than 50 meters wide in diameter. Learn about the historical importance of the place, this was an early royal center of a kingdom that preceded the Swedish kingdom.
A shorter visit in the cathedral and one of two stops in Uppsala city's historic district. Learn about the history of the university that was founded in 1477. Experience the medieval archeological history of the city as your guide takes you through the district. Stop at important historic buildings from dating from the 17th to 19th century. Take a look inside the cathedral on your own if you wish.
This stop at the castle courtyard will give beautiful photos of the city from the highest point in Uppsala. The guide gives you a highlight of the Uppsala castle fascinating and bloody history.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We offer hotel pick up at all central hotels, ports and other accommodations within 3 km from Stockholm central station (please write in your hotel when you book or email it afterwards if it dosn't work or comment it afterwards, and you can use Google Maps to check your distance from Stockholm central station). If you're staying in the Old town (where it is not possible to get in by car) or another location we may ask you to walk a few 100 meters/few minutes to another location where we pick you up. If you are outside the pick up zone we will give you directions to a meeting place that is easy to get to with public transit depending on the other hotel. If you are unsure if you're in or out please email us after booking. Pick up normally starts at 30-60 minutes before depature. Please note that this is flexible depending on different factors like the number of reservations, time of year and traffic conditions. We will be in touch one day in advance of a public tour with your final starting time, if you want to know beforehand or want that we arrange a fixed time for you please contact us by email. If your tour departs from a cruise pier: If your ship arrives at S165 and S167 STADSGÅRDEN: Please walk a few hundred meters away from your ship while following the BLUE/GREEN lines. Go past the fences and guards, and your guide will wait there, with a sign saying "Viking Tours" on an A4-paper. NOTE: If you enter any other harbor number in STADSGÅRDEN than S165 or S167 please go outside the fences and guards and the guide will meet you there on the time of the tour. We recommend that you are available on cell phones to avoid issues during pick-up. If your ship arrives at F638 FRIHAMNEN: Upon debarking the ship, please go through the terminal building. Once you go past the sliding doors (everyone else that departs the ship will walk out this way), the guide will meet you just outside the sliding doors. The guide will be holding an A4-paper saying "Viking Tours". NOTE: If you enter any other harbor number in FRIHAMNEN than F638 please go outside the fences and guards and the guide will meet you there on the time of the tour. If your ship arrives at V523 VÄRTAHAMNEN: Walk from your ship towards the tourist buses, which is less than 10 meters from the ship hull. The guide will wait for you at the tourist bus area, near the buses, with an A4-paper, which says "Viking Tours." The guide will then direct you to the tour vehicle. NOTE: If you enter any other harbor number in VÄRTAHAMNEN than V523 please go outside the fences and guards and the guide will meet you there on the time of the tour. If your ship arrives at NYNÄSHAMN: NO PICK UP INCLUDED HERE. That is due to it being 50 km away from Stockholm central station. We recommend you to contact us and decide on a meeting place in Central Stockholm. We will give directions on how to go there either by train or by taking one of the cruise buses going from the harbor into Stockholm.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The duration of transfers are approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
- The drop-offs commence after the tour duration (you pay for a 8-hour tour and pick-up and drop-off).
- Hotel guests will get a pick up time 1-2 days before the tour date.
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund. THE MINIMUM NUMBER IS 3 PERSONS. We hold the right to cancel a tour if the number is below 3 persons for all tour reservations combined.
Reviews(327)
Very educational but not boring. Good humor, answered questions. Seemed to really. enjoy speaking on the history and was very knowledgeable.
If you love history, DO this! Olof was our guide and he was incredibly knowledgeable and deeply intelligent. He taught us so much! It was quite an adventure. I am fascinated by Viking history and how it shaped history for Sweden and its culture. Olof linked so many things together from the sights we saw. It was a phenomenal experience!
This was an awesome tour. Gustav gives very detailed explanations, answers all your questions and speaks perfect English. Our driver Christian, was very funny and we had great conversations with him along the way. We would recommend this tour to anyone..
Olav was knowledgeable and considerate. We saw parts of Swedish history we would never have seen on our own. There is a fair amount of driving between sights, but vehicle was comfortable and Olav did his best to keep us out of the rain.
There was so much more history and scenery to enjoy today than my viking tour promised, and Olof our guide was terrific. Heading first through the beautiful countryside north of Stockholm see rune stones, then around an ancient lake, on to Sigtuna which was the first town/capital of Sweden, Scandinavia largest cathedral in the university town of Uppsala and then Gamla Uppsala. All fabulous.
This tour of Sweden was an absolute masterpiece from start to finish, easily deserving every one of its five stars. From the moment we began, it was clear that every detail had been meticulously planned, creating an experience that was both seamless and profoundly enriching. Our guide Carl was simply exceptional – a true expert whose passion for Sweden's history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes shone through in every anecdote and explanation. He didn't just present facts; he wove compelling narratives that brought each destination to life, making us feel deeply connected to the places we visited. Note: bring mosquito spray just in case!
Gabriel and Christian made the tour super fun... informative tour..never boring😴....................
Fascinating to see rune stones and learn their history connected to the land and Sweden. The same goes for Sigtuna and Uppsala withe churches and countryside there. A bit of driving involved, but this allowed time for informative commentary from our two good guides
I must admit that I was not initially looking forward to this trip; however, my experience completely changed after meeting Jakob. He was exceptionally friendly, welcoming, and attentive. He not only drove us comfortably to all destinations but also provided a thoughtful tour, sharing valuable insights about Sweden along the way. I would gladly choose Jakob again for future trips, as his service was truly worth the price. I would also like to extend my appreciation to our tour guide, Olof Näslund, who was both professional and engaging, adding a great sense of enjoyment to the experience.
I must admit that I was not initially looking forward to this trip; however, my experience completely changed after meeting Jakob. He was exceptionally friendly, welcoming, and attentive. He not only drove us comfortably to all destinations but also provided a thoughtful tour, sharing valuable insights about Sweden along the way. I would gladly choose Jakob again for future trips, as his service was truly worth the price. I would also like to extend my appreciation to our tour guide, Olof Näslund, who was both professional and engaging, adding a great sense of enjoyment to the experience.
