Sigtuna claims to be Sweden's oldest town, founded around 980 AD as a royal stronghold on the shores of Lake Mälaren. Whether the claim is strictly accurate or not, the town feels ancient — Stora Gatan, the single main street of low wooden houses, handicraft shops, and cafes, leads past ruined medieval churches to the tiny Sigtuna Rådhus, said to be Sweden's smallest city hall.
The Sigtuna Museum covers the Viking age and the town's role as an early Christian and trading centre. Rune stones are scattered around town and in the surrounding countryside. The ruins of three medieval churches — St Per, St Lars, and St Olof — stand along the main street, roofless but atmospheric, their stone walls draped in summer with flowering plants.
St Mary's Church is the only surviving medieval church in active use — a red-brick Dominican structure from the 13th century with original interior features. The surrounding churchyard contains several carved rune stones. Sigtuna is about 40 minutes north of Stockholm and close to Arlanda airport, making it an easy half-day trip or even a stop on the way to or from the airport. The lakeside setting on Mälaren is pleasant for a stroll, and on a sunny day the outdoor cafes along the main street fill with Stockholmers who have escaped the city for the afternoon.