Sigtuna Day Trip From Arlanda Airport: Sweden’s Oldest Town
Sigtuna is often called Sweden’s oldest town, with a history dating back to around 980 CE. Its colorful shops, medieval church ruins, runestones, and lakeside setting make it an interesting place to explore near Stockholm Arlanda Airport.
After spending two weeks visiting Sweden, Finland, Estonia, and Latvia, I arrived back at Arlanda Airport around 10:00 a.m. I had the rest of the day available before spending the night at the Clarion Hotel Arlanda and flying home early the next morning.
Having already spent three full days walking around Stockholm, I wanted to see somewhere different. Visiting Sigtuna from Arlanda Airport appealed to me because I could get there directly by bus. I also hoped for a more relaxed experience than Stockholm and liked the idea of exploring a town founded during the Viking Age.
Table of Contents
- Getting From Arlanda Airport to Sigtuna by Bus
- Walking Along Stora Gatan and Seeing Town Hall
- Sigtuna’s Bell Tower and Medieval Churches
- Searching for Sigtuna’s Runestones
- Walking Along the Lake Mälaren Waterfront
- Eating in Sigtuna and Returning to Arlanda
- Should You Take a Sigtuna Tour?
- Sigtuna Video Highlights
- Is Sigtuna Worth Visiting From Arlanda Airport?
- Related Content
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Getting From Arlanda Airport to Sigtuna by Bus
Before heading to Sigtuna, I stored my luggage at the Clarion Hotel Arlanda, where I was staying that night. If you need somewhere to leave your bags at the airport, there are also luggage lockers in SkyCity, with several sizes available.
To reach Sigtuna, I walked through the airport to SkyCity and caught bus 579 from the stop outside. The bus took me directly to Sigtuna busstation, with my journey lasting a little over 30 minutes.
You can pay by tapping an accepted contactless credit or debit card on the reader when boarding. As of August 2026, a standard adult SL single ticket costs 43 SEK and is valid for 75 minutes from the first tap. Check SL’s current ticket information before traveling. If you use single tickets, an afternoon visit will normally require a separate ticket for the return journey.
I recommend checking departures in the SL app before leaving the airport, including your options for getting back. Press the stop button as you approach Sigtuna busstation so the driver knows you want to get off.
Walking Along Stora Gatan and Seeing Town Hall
I began by walking along Stora Gatan, Sigtuna’s historic main street. Often described as Sweden’s oldest main street, it still follows the route laid out when the town was founded. The buildings and street surface have changed over the centuries, but the original alignment remains.
I walked the length of the street and stopped inside some of its colorful shops. Many were specialty businesses that felt different from the souvenir shops I had visited in Stockholm. One of my favorites was a pet shop selling items with Swedish themes.
Along the way, I stopped to see Sigtuna Town Hall at Stora Torget. A nearby museum was closed for a private event during my visit.
Sigtuna’s Bell Tower and Medieval Churches
After exploring Stora Gatan, I backtracked to see some of Sigtuna’s historical sights.
The Sigtuna bell tower, or klockstapel, stands on a hill above the town. Its history goes back to 1608, although the structure I saw was a reconstruction. The previous wooden tower burned down in June 2016, and its replacement was inaugurated in 2018.
Nearby are the ruins of St. Lars Church, which was probably built during the 12th century. Only part of its former tower remains above ground today.
The second church ruin I visited, St. Olof’s Church, was much more substantial. The surviving stone church dates to the first half of the 12th century, with remains of an earlier building beneath it, according to Sigtuna’s local parish.
I was able to walk through the ruins during my visit. It was inspiring to stand inside what remained of the church and think about the people who had worshipped there centuries ago.
Beside the ruins is St. Mary’s Church, known in Swedish as Mariakyrkan, with a cemetery extending through the surrounding area. I saw the church from the outside. Built as a Dominican monastery church during the 13th century, it remains in use today.
Searching for Sigtuna’s Runestones
One of the activities I enjoyed most was searching for Sigtuna’s runestones. These stones and boulders have inscriptions carved using runes, the characters of an early writing system. Many commemorate someone who died, but they do not necessarily mark that person’s burial place.
I enjoyed seeing how many I could find while walking between the other sights. Some stood on their own, while others had been incorporated into historic buildings. A runestone fragment is even embedded high in the wall of St. Olof’s Church.
If you have trouble locating them, try searching Google Maps or Apple Maps. You can also follow Destination Sigtuna’s runestone walking map for a more organized search.
Walking Along the Lake Mälaren Waterfront
Before leaving, I walked down to Sigtuna Stadspark and the waterfront along Lake Mälaren. There is a lakeside promenade, a platform with seating by the water, and a 12-hole miniature golf course. Each hole represents a historical place or building associated with Sigtuna.
There is also a stone labyrinth with a runestone at its center; both are modern additions.
Eating in Sigtuna and Returning to Arlanda
I noticed several places to eat around the town center, including options near the bus station. I chose Sibylla, where I ordered a pizza that I thought was delicious and reasonably priced.
To return to Arlanda, I caught bus 579 from Sigtuna busstation back to SkyCity. The bus was crowded, and I stood for the first few stops. After a group of passengers got off, I found a seat for the rest of the journey.
Should You Take a Sigtuna Tour?
I explored Sigtuna independently and did not feel that a tour was necessary to see the town. The main sights were easy to reach on foot, and I enjoyed searching for the runestones at my own pace.
A guided tour of Sigtuna could still be worthwhile if you want to learn more about the town’s Viking history. Several tours from Stockholm visit Sigtuna along with other historic locations, including ancient runestones, burial grounds, and Viking meeting sites. Some full-day tours also include Uppsala.
A knowledgeable guide can explain the runic inscriptions and provide historical context that is difficult to get simply by looking at the sites. If your main goal is to walk along Stora Gatan, see the church ruins, search for runestones, and visit the waterfront, Sigtuna is easy to explore independently. If Viking history is one of the main reasons for your visit, a guided tour may add value.
Sigtuna Video Highlights
I also created a video showing my day trip to Sigtuna from Arlanda Airport. The video follows my visit through the historic town center, Viking runestones, church ruins, and waterfront, along with my experience getting there by public transportation.
Is Sigtuna Worth Visiting From Arlanda Airport?
I enjoyed my day trip to Sigtuna and would recommend it to travelers staying near Arlanda or considering an outing during a long layover, especially if they have already explored Stockholm.
My visit involved an overnight airport stay, so I did not have to return for a flight that same afternoon. For a same-day layover, check the bus schedule and allow time for both journeys, possible delays, and your airline’s recommended airport arrival time.
If you have never visited Stockholm and have enough time to travel into the city, I would personally prioritize Gamla Stan or the Vasa Museum. However, after three full days in Stockholm, Sigtuna’s shops, church ruins, runestones, and waterfront were a welcome change of pace.
