City walk in Stockholm – in Östermalm and in the Old Town

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: October 2026 | A city walk in Stockholm can give you new perspectives even if you've lived here for decades. During two guided walks in 2016, we discovered the stories behind Östermalm's grand facades and the narrow alleys of the Old Town. Here we tell you about our experiences and why we appreciate exploring our own city with a guide.

Discover Stockholm with a guide

We had gone on city walks abroad several times, but in the spring of 2016 we tried a guided city walk in our own hometown for the first time.

It's easy to become homesick. You recognize the streets and buildings, but you may not know much about the people who lived there or how the environment has changed over the centuries.

Over two weekends, we followed Stockholm Our Way, now Ourway Tours, on walks with different themes. One was about the transformation of Östermalm and the other about lesser-known aspects of life in the Old Town.

Östermalm – from dirt to luxury

The walk ”From dirt to luxury” began at Berzelii Park. From there we continued along Strandvägen, up among the neighborhoods of Östermalm and ended outside the Dramaten. Today, many people associate Östermalm with exclusive addresses and grand houses. The guided tour gave us a different picture of the district’s history, with stories of poverty, dirt and difficult living conditions.

One detail that stuck out was that Berzelii Park is located where Packaretorgsviken once stood. It's fascinating to stand in the middle of today's city and try to imagine the water that used to be here.

We also heard stories about Ivar Kreuger and Carl Larsson, among others. The engaging guide made us look at familiar neighborhoods with new eyes.

At the same time, we had a nice walk. The houses along Strandvägen are impressive, and the boats at the quay contribute to the environment. The chilly but sunny April day was perfect for discovering the city on foot.

READ MORE: Visiting the Carl Larsson farm in Sundborn

The Old Town – the people behind the facades

The following weekend it was time for the ”Kiss & Snusk” walk. It started at Stortorget and then took us through the narrow alleys of the Old Town. Here the focus was on stories other than those about kings and magnificent buildings.

Instead, we heard about poor people, prostitution, brothels and executioners. At gates and street corners, our guide Samuel stopped and told us about life behind the facades.

Part of the story was about how society controlled women who sold, or were suspected of selling, sex. Between 1847 and 1918, such women were registered with the Stockholm Inspection Office and forced to undergo regular medical examinations.

It was a walk that gave perspective on what different people's living conditions could be like. For a moment, we got to try to imagine a different reality on streets where we ourselves had walked many times.

We also noticed details that are otherwise easy to miss. For example, the Engelen tavern is located in premises that previously belonged to a pharmacy.

Our experiences of the city walks

What we appreciated most was the combination of walking and storytelling. A knowledgeable guide can make an ordinary street corner or an anonymous gate much more interesting.

The two walks had different themes, but both made us more curious about Stockholm. You really don't have to travel far to learn something new or get the feeling of discovering a place.

Find a city walk in Stockholm today

Our visits and pictures are from 2016. We cannot confirm that "From Dirt to Luxury" and "Puss & Snush" are still offered.

Ourway Tours, however, remains and today presents private, customizable tours in Stockholm. On organizer's website you will find the current range and booking information.

READ MORE: Things to do in Stockholm – attractions and experiences

We were invited by Stockholm Our Way to participate in both city walks in 2016. The experiences and opinions in the report are our own.