The Mediterranean Museum in Stockholm is one of the World Culture Museums, and here you can see Egyptian mummies and archaeological finds from the great Swedish Cyprus expedition 1927-1931. We were told that the Mediterranean Museum is worth a visit, and yesterday we decided to check it out.
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Visiting museums in Stockholm
A few weeks ago we did a "museum tour" in Stockholm, where we had time for both Museum of the Middle Ages and adventure museum Viking life. Both these museums were really nice, and we got a taste for seeing museums in Stockholm. It's so easy to get home blind and miss things in your own hometown!
The Mediterranean Museum in Stockholm
We were told about the Mediterranean Museum, where we have never been, and yesterday we took the opportunity to visit. There will probably be some more museums in the future, so feel free to suggest museums you like, or that you would like to know more about!
What we thought of the Mediterranean Museum? This is a very nice museum in beautiful premises, with impressive collections and a nice restaurant. We thought there were perhaps too many classic displays of artefacts, but on the other hand it's completely free to visit. Definitely worth it!
The Cyprus collections
In 1927, four young Swedish archaeologists travelled on an expedition to Cyprus. Over four years they carried out an extensive excavation, authorised by the then British colonial government.
The Swedes were allowed to take just over half of the artefacts back to Sweden (excluding gold and silver items), which meant that around 12,000 items were shipped to Sweden. Thanks to this expedition, the Mediterranean Museum in Stockholm now has the world's largest Cyprus collection outside of Cyprus.
If you want to see more than objects, you can enter another world, using VR (virtual reality) goggles. Kind of fun, actually!
A walk through the history of Egypt
At the Mediterranean Museum in Stockholm, you can take a walk through the history of Egypt, starting around 7000 years ago. You can see lots of artefacts from different eras, not to mention the objects that accompanied the mummies into the tombs. The tombs were the place where the worlds of the living and the dead met.
The link between the worlds was a 'door of light' through which the soul of the dead could enter and leave. Being remembered was the most important prerequisite for eternal life, so the name and titles of the gravedigger were written on the walls of the tomb, preferably together with a story about the dead person's life.
It was also important that the body was mummified, so that the soul had a home even after death. The tour here reminded us of our... travel to Egypt, when we visited the Valley of the Kings, with all the tombs of the pharaohs. Powerful!
See more at the Mediterranean Museum in Stockholm
In addition to the above-mentioned exhibitions, there is an exhibition on Ancient Greece and Rome, a gold room with a collection of silver and gold artefacts, and some smaller temporary exhibitions. There are also children's activities, a library and a shop.
Baghdad Café
Within the museum premises is the Bagdad Café wine bar, restaurant and café, which looked cosy and is apparently very popular. Here you'll find things like salads, sandwiches and Mediterranean-inspired delicacies like lamb steaks and baklava.
Film from the Mediterranean Museum in Stockholm
Peter put together a short film from our visit to the Mediterranean Museum in Stockholm. Feel free to check it out!
Find the Mediterranean Museum in Stockholm
- Location: The Mediterranean Museum is located at Fredsgatan 2 in Stockholm, right next to Gustav Adolfs torg.
- Underground railway: The nearest metro station is Kungsträdgården.
- Go for a walk: It takes about 10-15 minutes to walk from the T-centre.
Guide: Opening hours and prices
- Opening hours: The museum is open Tuesday-Friday 11:00-20:00 and Saturday-Sunday 11:00-17:00. The museum is closed on Mondays and certain public holidays such as Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. (2018) Please note that opening hours are subject to change. For up-to-date information, see the museum's website.
- Prices: Visiting the Mediterranean Museum is free of charge, and a tour ticket costs 20 SEK (2018). Fees may also be charged for special activities such as family Saturdays, see information about guided tours and other activities in the the museum's calendar.
- Accessibility: All exhibitions are accessible by wheelchair. Some tours are provided with a sign language interpreter. More detailed information on accessibility can be found on the museum's website.
- Read more: You can find more information at the museum's website.
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Husisblogg says:
Interesting and maybe the owners will go here on their next visit to the capital.
The owners can also recommend the Police Museum and the Sports Museum, which they visited a few years ago. Even though it was a few years ago, there are many memories of these two museums.
18 November 2018 - 8:05
Helena says:
Thanks for the tips! I think I've been to the sports museum once, but I was probably about 15 years old then 😉 Great tips, we'll try to check these out at some point!
18 November 2018 - 13:44
Solan says:
There is a plumbing museum in Bromma, Mariehäll. It is open at odd times, but I will go there sometime. Too bad to flush it unseen ???
18 November 2018 - 9:50
Helena says:
Haha, I thought you were joking at first, but I googled and found the plumbing museum 🙂 It may not be at the top of my wish list ... but on the other hand, you get a little curious 😉 .
18 November 2018 - 13:45
Rolle o Carina says:
It's been a long time since we went to a museum!
Take care.....
18 November 2018 - 11:24
Helena says:
There are a bunch to choose from if you have the time and inclination 😉.
18 November 2018 - 13:46
Rosita says:
So glad to hear that you liked the Mediterranean Museum. Certainly the Cyprus collection is impressive. And that there are actually 3 real mummies preserved in the burial chamber. I find it fantastic that you can get a (group) tour for only 20 SEK. Ps, one evening a month the museum stays open until 11 pm with a disc jockey, guided tours and exciting lectures. The last time this year is 30 November. After work at the museum ??
My tip: The Ethnographic Museum on Gärdet, in Museiparken where you'll find a number of other museums (including the Police and Sports Museum mentioned earlier here) for a real cultural day. Visit Etnografiska BEFORE 3 March 2019, to see the fantastic exhibition Feathers - a world of feathers - free admission of course! For those who love travelling - this museum offers amazing journeys and travel stories from all over the world. Restaurant Matmekka in the museum is highly recommended ?
Hugs Rosita
18 November 2018 - 11:26
Helena says:
A very nice museum and yes, impressive collections! We have actually thought that we will check out some more of the city's museums, but it will be successive when we happen to have time 😉 Will try to get to Etnografiska before March. Thanks for the tips!
18 November 2018 - 13:48
Emma, Sol som sol? says:
I wonder if I've been there, I think so. You are "forced" around so much with school. It looks like a nice museum, anyway.
Peter was also at the National Museum.
Livrustkammaren is interesting. The Natural History Museum as well. Classics, as it were. I've always been interested in Hallwylska but have not been there. So I think you should go there and show me! I think that was a brilliant idea! 😀
18 November 2018 - 16:31
Helena says:
Thanks for more tips! I have visited Livrustkammaren a long time ago, but it was just ... a long time ago 😉 My dad worked at Naturhistoriska, so I have been there a bunch of times, but maybe time again soon! Sooo fun that you mention Hallwylska too! It's kind of my favourite museum in Stockholm. I've been there several times, but I've never written about it. We actually tried to go in yesterday (it's quite close to the Mediterranean Museum), but there was such a long queue... We'll try to find another day, not a Saturday 😉.
18 November 2018 - 19:14
Maria / Magnolia Magis says:
What fun with tips! Yes, museums and exhibitions are fun, not only for the obvious but also for the surroundings. I think of cafes, souvenir shops, buildings themselves, memories when you see objects, etc. Great!
By the way, I'm one of the few people who haven't been to Stockholm more than two or three times in my life. The first time was with my mum and dad as a child, so I don't remember that. The other two times were when I was studying at Sturebadet, and then we were mostly there. What I want to get to is whether you can make an excursion to Skansen and show pictures? It's the only thing I recognise the name of... Or have I missed that you blogged about it? Have a really good week! 😉
18 November 2018 - 19:48
Helena says:
Quite true, there are some experiences around the museum itself 😉 Good idea with Skansen, long time since we were there! Maybe they have a nice Christmas market 🙂
19 November 2018 - 11:04
Maria / Magnolia Magis says:
Oh I love Christmas market pictures!!! Yes go there!!!
20 November 2018 - 22:34
BP says:
You've been getting really cultural lately. We walked past the Mediterranean Museum a few weeks ago. Saw a banner "advertising" Cyprus, but as we are not very cultural, we didn't go in.
18 November 2018 - 21:58
Helena says:
Haha, yes, right? Do not know how cultural we are really, but I am interested in history and culture, when it comes to different countries and stuff 😉 (The concept of culture is known to be broad ;))
19 November 2018 - 11:06
Tamara says:
There is so much to see and experience in terms of museums in our beautiful capital city alone. I myself like Viking life and "classics" such as the Vasa Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Historical Museum and the Royal Armoury, all of which I try to visit at least once every two years. Another thing that struck me was that the Cyprus collection brought so many objects and artefacts back to Sweden. Although the collection is so incredibly impressive, it feels somehow strange that these are "at home" in Sweden and not in Cyprus.
Another "outsider" that I can highly recommend is Millesgården on Lidingö.
18 November 2018 - 22:03
Helena says:
There are many interesting museums in Stockholm, and many good classics! I don't know if I've seen Millesgården, thanks for the tip!
19 November 2018 - 11:07