The word “Viking” often conjures up visions of sea-faring warriors with horned helmets. And while some of those stereotypes are true, the horned helmets are not. Even the warrior part only applied to a small percentage of the population of Sweden during the Viking age.

Those who weren’t busy raiding and trading stayed in Sweden. Farming, and even founding towns. Like Birka.

Birka is the perfect day-trip destination from Stockholm. Boats leave every day during the summer months from in front of Stockholm City Hall. The boat ride lasts about two hours and guides (sometimes actual archeologists) dressed in Viking garb pipe in during the trip describing the history of the surrounding areas.

Birka is often referred to as Sweden’s first town. The town was founded in the middle of the 800s, and abandoned about 15 or 20 years later. No one knows exactly why. Today, Birka is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

For those hoping that the UNESCO designation means the chance to traipse through archeological ruins, you will be disappointed. The Viking age was marked by wooden buildings. As a general rule, wooden buildings do not preserve well over the course of a thousand years.

Birka is home, however, to one of Scandinavia’s largest Viking age burial grounds. The burial mounds dot the landscape when entering through the gates that mark the UNESCO site. The surrounding countryside is spectacular. The rolling hills, free roaming sheep, and a view of the lake dotted by the Swedish islands make a trip to Birka a wonderful day trip away from the city.