Götgatan (Original Swedish ''Göthegatan''*Stahre, Nils-Gustaf; Fogelström, Per Anders (1986). Stockholms gatunamn: innerstaden. Monografier utgivna av Stockholms stad (1st edition). Stockholm: Liber/Allmänna förlaget. Libris 7269073. for " Gothia Street") is the name of one of the longest streets in central

Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...

on the Southern Isle (

Södermalm Södermalm, often shortened to just Söder, is the southern district of Stockholm City Centre. Overview The Södermalm district covers the island of the same name (formerly called ''Åsön''), which, however, is not fully separated from th ...

) of the city. The street itself has existed since the 12th century, and has had its name since the 1640s, the name based on it being a part of the old

Göta highway Göta highway () was, up to the late-17th century, the only road between Stockholm and south of Sweden. Dating back at least to the Middle Ages, and some parts even back to the Viking Age, the highway is the oldest known road from Stockholm to t ...

. At its northern end behind

Stockholm City Museum The Stockholm City Museum () is a museum documenting, preserving and exhibiting the history of Stockholm. The museum is housed in Södra Stadshuset at Slussen on Södermalm. History The building was completed in 1685. In the 1930s the museum m ...

it connects to Södermalm Square at

Slussen Slussen (') is an area in Stockholm, Sweden, located at the northern edge of Södermalm, adjacent to Gamla stan. It is known for its locks system between Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea, as well as its historic role as a major transport int ...

, and it runs due south from there to the former toll position of

Skanstull Skanstull (from ''skans'' "sconce; small fort" and ''tull'' "customs house") is an area in Södermalm in Stockholm. Skanstull connects the traffic between the inner city and the south parts of Stockholm and its suburbs. Skanstull was originally ...

and a high bridge (

Skanstullsbron Skanstullsbron (Swedish language, Swedish: "The Fortlet Tollgate Bridge") is a bridge in central Stockholm, Sweden. Overpassing the older bridge Skansbron, it connects the major island Södermalm to the southern district Johanneshov. The first p ...

) leading over to

Globe Arena Avicii Arena, originally known as the Stockholm Globe Arena and previously as the Ericsson Globe, but commonly referred to in Swedish simply as Globen (; ), is an indoor arena located in Stockholm Globe City, Johanneshov district of Stockholm ...

and mainland suburbs. Götgatan passes spacious Citizen Square (

Medborgarplatsen Medborgarplatsen (literally ''Citizen's Square'') is a large city square located near the center of the island of Södermalm in Stockholm, Sweden. The square is often colloquially referred to as "''Medis''". Description The development of the ci ...

) and one of Stockholm's first

skyscraper A skyscraper is a tall continuously habitable building having multiple floors. Most modern sources define skyscrapers as being at least or in height, though there is no universally accepted definition, other than being very tall high-rise bui ...

s popularly called Skatteskrapan (the ''Tax Scraper'') because until recently it housed Sweden's tax authority. In a country known for high tax rates, the term ''Barescraper'' has also been used for the building, and for decades taxpayers would traipse along Götgatan and line up ceremoniously to file their income tax forms on the day they were due.

Greta Garbo Greta Garbo (born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson; 18 September 1905 – 15 April 1990) was a Swedish-American actress and a premier star during Hollywood's Silent film, silent and early Classical Hollywood cinema, golden eras. Regarded as one of the g ...

was born a block west of Götgatan, and there is a bust of her on the (newer) building. A square named for her is located a few blocks east along park-like Katarina Bangata. Also a block away in either direction are the

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

Cathedral and the

Stockholm Mosque Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's Mosque (, ), commonly known as the Stockholm Mosque (''Stockholms moské'') or the Stockholm Grand Mosque (''Stockholms stora moské''), is the largest mosque in Stockholm, Sweden. It is located at Kapellgränd 10, a ...

. There are three underground railway stations along the street with two entrances for each. The northernmost stretch of Götgatan runs southward up a steep slope from intersecting Hornsgatan (another long street that also begins there) and then descends to level off before Citizen Square. That portion is pedestrian, called Götgatsbacken ("Goth Street Slope") and has become increasingly trendy in recent years. The Royal

Dutch Dutch or Nederlands commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands ** Dutch people as an ethnic group () ** Dutch nationality law, history and regulations of Dutch citizenship () ** Dutch language () * In specific terms, i ...

Embassy is located there. Otherwise Götgatan and all of the Southern Isle have long been known as a less pretentious and more relaxed – and so less fashionable – area than other parts of Stockholm. The area has been home to many struggling artists and artisans, and working-class residents. One of the areas oldest restaurants, Den gröne Jägaren, opened in 1866 in a block still owned by the Catholic Church.

References

External links

Streets in Stockholm Shopping districts and streets in Sweden {{Stockholm-road-stub

See also

References

External links