Sigtuna is a small town between Stockholm and Uppsala, and a whole visit fits in a few hours on foot. This page settles the first-town question honestly, gets you there on an SL ticket without the SJ trap, and gives the museum’s dated hours.
When you need this
You have a free half-day in Stockholm, or a long layover at Arlanda, and want somewhere older than the capital. You’re choosing between Sigtuna, Birka and Gamla Uppsala for one Viking-era outing. Or you simply want to know whether your SL ticket or tapped card gets you there, and whether the museum is open on the day you’re going.
Is it really Sweden’s first town?
It depends on what you count. Sigtuna kommun says the town “etablerades som det blivande kungariket Sveriges första stad”, established as the first town of the emerging kingdom of Sweden, and that its town plan from the 980s can still be read in today’s plots and streets. The county museum, Stockholms läns museum, calls Sigtuna Sweden’s oldest town.
But the national heritage board, Riksantikvarieämbetet, gives Birka, founded in the 700s, the title of Sweden’s first real town. It adds that when Birka was abandoned at the end of the 900s, its role passed to Sigtuna. Both statements are official: Birka came first, and Sigtuna is the one that is still a town.
The founding year is not settled either:
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| Sigtuna kommun (heritage page) | Erik Segersäll pointed out the site in 970 |
| Stockholms läns museum | Excavations show the town was laid out in the 970s |
| Sigtuna kommun (planning document) | Town plan from the 980s |
| Visit Sweden | Founded in AD 980 |
They agree on the king, Erik Segersäll (Erik the Victorious), and on the late 900s. “Around 970–980” is the honest answer.
Getting there on an SL ticket
Sigtuna kommun is one of the 26 municipalities of Stockholm County, and SL tickets are valid throughout the county. The municipality’s directions: take the SL commuter train or an SJ train to Märsta, then SL bus 570 or 575 to Sigtuna bus station or Klockbacken. Visit Sweden puts the whole trip from Stockholm at a little under an hour, including the change.
Two details decide what you pay:
- SL tickets are not valid on SJ trains. The municipality lists SJ as an option, but on an SL ticket you need the SL commuter train. On SJ you need an SJ ticket for that leg.
- Tap the same card or phone all the way. A tapped contactless card buys a 75-minute SL single across all SL traffic, buses included. Switch from your card to your phone between train and bus, and SL charges you twice.
Our Stockholm public transport guide covers SL tickets and tapping in depth.
From Arlanda
SL bus 579 runs direct from Arlanda to Sigtuna. Any SL ticket is valid on SL buses at the airport, and no passage fee applies, because that fee is charged only at the gates of Arlanda C, the airport’s train station. That makes Sigtuna the cheapest way to fill a long layover with something medieval. The Arlanda to Stockholm guide explains the station fee, and the Arlanda Airport guide where the buses leave from.
What to see on foot
Everything below is free and within a short walk of Stora gatan.
| Sight | What it is | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Stora gatan | The main street; its line and plots are largely unchanged since the Viking Age | Public street |
| S:t Olof ruin | Stone church from the end of the 1000s, one of the oldest in the Nordic countries | Open in daytime |
| S:t Per ruin | Church from around 1100, meant as a cathedral | Open in daytime |
| Mariakyrkan | Brick convent church consecrated 1247, parish church since 1608 | Daily from 08:00 |
| Rådhuset | 18th-century town hall, said to be Sweden’s smallest | In the old town |
Stora gatan (“the main street”) is the spine. Visit Sweden calls it Sweden’s oldest pedestrian street. Under your feet lies the “black earth”, layers from the town’s earliest period up to three meters thick, dug in large excavations. The whole town center is a riksintresse, an area of national interest for cultural heritage.
Mariakyrkan was the first brick building in the Mälaren valley. Its bell tower burned in June 2016 and was rebuilt and reconsecrated two years later. It is a working parish church: morning mass is at 08:30 every day, and Sunday high mass (högmässa) at 11:00. Baptisms, weddings and funerals also take priority, so keep sightseeing for other times. The church stays open until 19:00 on Wednesdays and until 17:00 on other days.
Runestones in the street
The museum counts about 30 runestones in town and at least 170 known in the municipality. It calls this the area with the highest concentration of runestones in Sweden. Three are easy to find around Mariakyrkan:
- U 379, the “Friesian stone”, south of the church, raised by Frisian guild brothers for one of their own.
- U 380, in front of the church.
- U 390, at the ruin of S:t Lars (Saint Laurentius), found in two pieces decades apart and matched only in 1998.
The museum publishes a runestone walk in Swedish and English and a family rune hunt, The Secret of the Runes, as free downloads. Runestones and ruins are fornlämningar, ancient remains protected by law. Moving, covering or damaging one without a permit is an offence, punishable by fines or imprisonment. Look, photograph, don’t chip. For Birka and Gamla Uppsala, see our guide to Viking sites in Sweden.
Sigtuna Museum & Art
The museum sits at Stora gatan 55, in the middle of the old town, and doubles as the municipality’s tourist office. Adults pay 60 kronor, and everyone under 20 enters free.
Hours depend on the season. From May to September it opens daily at 10:00. In April and October it opens daily at 12:00. From November to March it opens at 12:00 but is closed on Mondays. It closes at 16:00 all year.
Autumn 2026: the museum has roof works. Scaffolding went up in week 36, and the roof works run through week 50, with removal in weeks 50–51. The municipality warns of periods with limited access and some noise, but has not announced a closure.
Mistakes to avoid
- Expecting a large Viking site. Sigtuna is a living small town; its Viking-age layer lies under the streets.
- Treating “first town” as undisputed. Birka holds that title in the national heritage board’s wording.
- Riding SJ to Märsta on an SL ticket. Take the SL commuter train instead.
- Paying the Arlanda station fee to get here. Bus 579 from the terminals avoids it.
- Arriving at the museum at 10:00 outside May–September, or on a Monday from November to March.
Practical information
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Stockholm County, between Stockholm and Uppsala |
| From Stockholm | SL commuter train to Märsta, then SL bus 570 or 575 |
| From Arlanda | SL bus 579, direct; no station fee |
| Tickets | SL ticket or tapped card; SJ trains need an SJ ticket |
| Old town, ruins, runestones | Free |
| Mariakyrkan | Free; daily 08:00–17:00, Wednesdays to 19:00 |
| Sigtuna Museum & Art, adult | 60 kr; free under 20 (checked 2026-09-25) |
| Museum hours | May–Sep daily 10–16; Apr and Oct daily 12–16; Nov–Mar 12–16, closed Mondays |
| Museum roof works | Scaffolding until weeks 50–51 of 2026 |
FAQ
Is Sigtuna really Sweden’s first town?
It depends on the definition. Sigtuna kommun says the town was established as the first town of the emerging kingdom of Sweden, with a plan from the 980s. Riksantikvarieämbetet calls Birka, founded in the 700s, Sweden’s first real town, and says its role passed to Sigtuna. Both are official, and the county museum calls Sigtuna Sweden’s oldest town.
When was Sigtuna founded?
Around 970–980. The county museum says excavations show the town was laid out in the 970s under King Erik Segersäll, and a municipal page gives 970. Another municipal page dates the town plan to the 980s, and Visit Sweden says AD 980. The sources agree on the king and the late 900s; the exact year is not settled.
How do I get from Stockholm to Sigtuna?
Take the SL commuter train or an SJ train to Märsta, then SL bus 570 or 575 to Sigtuna bus station or Klockbacken. Visit Sweden puts the trip at a little under an hour. An SL ticket or tapped card covers the commuter train and the bus, but SL tickets are not valid on SJ trains.
Can I use my SL ticket in Sigtuna?
Yes. Sigtuna kommun is in Stockholm County, where SL tickets are valid, and the buses to the town are SL buses 570, 575 and 579. A tapped contactless card gives a 75-minute single across SL traffic, so one tap can cover train and bus. SJ trains are the exception: they need their own ticket.
How do I get from Arlanda to Sigtuna?
Take SL bus 579, which runs direct from Arlanda to Sigtuna. Any SL ticket is valid on SL buses at the airport, and no station passage fee applies, because that fee is charged only at the Arlanda C train station gates. It is the cheapest way to fill a long layover with a medieval town.
What does Sigtuna museum cost, and when is it open?
Sigtuna Museum & Art on Stora gatan charges adults 60 kronor, and everyone under 20 enters free. It opens daily 10:00–16:00 from May to September, daily 12:00–16:00 in April and October, and 12:00–16:00 except Mondays from November to March. In autumn 2026 roof works limit access at times.
How many runestones are in Sigtuna?
About 30 in the town itself, according to the museum, and at least 170 known in the municipality, which the museum calls the highest concentration in Sweden. Several stand around Mariakyrkan and the S:t Lars ruin. The museum’s free runestone walk in English leads you to them, and each stone carries a code such as U 379.
Can I visit the church ruins?
Yes, free. The ruins of S:t Olof, from the late 1000s, and S:t Per, from the 1100s, are open in daytime, and Mariakyrkan next door opens daily from 08:00. Mariakyrkan is a working church, so services, baptisms, weddings and funerals take priority; Sunday high mass is at 11:00.
Related guides
- Viking sites in Sweden — Sigtuna’s runestones alongside Birka and Gamla Uppsala.
- Uppsala travel guide — the other half of a day north of Stockholm.
- Arlanda to Stockholm — the station fee and the bus routes that avoid it.
- How many days in Stockholm — where Sigtuna fits in a longer stay, or see Stockholm in 3 days.
- Vaxholm and Ystad — two more small Swedish towns, one also on an SL ticket.
Facts verified 2026-09-25. Sources: Sigtuna kommun (Sigtuna Museum & Art), Stockholms läns museum, Sigtuna församling (Svenska kyrkan), Visit Sweden, Riksantikvarieämbetet, Länsstyrelsen Stockholm, SL and Sveriges Riksdag (Kulturmiljölagen) — full register in this topic’s source file. Museum hours and prices are 2026 figures. Found something outdated? Tell us and we’ll fix it.