Birka

Birka, on the island of Bjorko in Lake Malaren, was one of the earliest towns in Scandinavia, a Viking Age trading centre of the 8th to 10th centuries, and with nearby Hovgarden a UNESCO site. Little stands above ground, but the ramparts, hundreds of grave mounds and a museum bring the vanished town and its far-reaching trade to life.

What you actually see

• The grave mounds - hundreds of Viking burial mounds across the island.
• The town rampart - the earthwork defence of the trading settlement.
• The museum - finds and reconstructions of Viking Birka.
• The boat journey - the trip across Lake Malaren from Stockholm.

When to go

Summer, when the boats run and the site is open with guides; it closes outside the warm season. A dry day suits the walk over the mounds.

Honest expectations

There is little standing to see, so the reward is the setting, the mounds and the museum's context rather than dramatic ruins - imagination helps. Access is by a summer boat only, a half-day round trip. It suits those interested in the Viking Age more than casual sightseers.

Nearby

Drottningholm Palace lies between it and the city; central Stockholm is the boat's departure point.