Located on the shore of Lake Mälaren, not far from Stockholm’s Arlanda airport, the small town of Sigtuna is the perfect place to spend a few summer days.

Founded a thousand years ago, just as Sweden was united as a single kindgom, it was for a couple of centuries the country’s capital. Mostly abandoned for 250 years after being destroyed by successive fires during the 17th century, Sigtuna was revived in the early 1900s and in the past decades has become a favorite destination to get away from Stockholm and for international tourists alike.

The main street, in the picturesque town center, is lined up with colorful old wooden buildings, many of them now housing small handcraft shops, cafés and restaurants, but you’ll also never be far away from ancient ruins, hiking trail in the woods, and the waterfront offering beautiful views of the lake.