Hotels near Storkyrkan (Stockholm Cathedral)

Storkyrkan, Stockholm's Cathedral, stands on the highest point of Gamla Stan just steps from the Royal Palace. The church dates back to 1279, making it the oldest church in Stockholm's old town. The exterior is baroque - remodelled in the 1740s to match the Royal Palace next door - but step inside and the original medieval brick vaulting reveals the building's 13th-century origins. Swedish monarchs were crowned here for centuries, and royal weddings still take place in the nave.

The artistic centrepiece is the wooden sculpture of Saint George and the Dragon, carved by Bernt Notke in 1489. Commissioned to commemorate the Swedish victory at the Battle of Brunkeberg in 1471, it stands over 3 metres tall and retains much of its original painted colour - a rare survival for a medieval work of this scale. The Vädersolstavlan (Sun Dog Painting), displayed near the entrance, is the oldest known depiction of Stockholm, painted in 1535 and showing the city skyline with an unusual atmospheric phenomenon above it.

Pro Tip: Storkyrkan charges a small entrance fee (80 SEK) but is still overlooked by most visitors heading straight for the Royal Palace. Visit mid-morning when the light through the east windows illuminates the Saint George sculpture - the detail in Notke's carving is worth studying up close.