Museer i Stockholm - guide till stadens bästa museer

Writer: Helena Bergström

Why not visit some museums in Stockholm? Sweden's capital is one of the most museum-rich cities in the world and the range of museums is vast, whether you prefer history, science, culture or perhaps art.

Table of contents

Museums in Stockholm

In recent years, we have visited a long of museums in Stockholm. We still have some left, which we plan to visit in the future. But, even though we have a few left, we feel that it is now time to put this guide together. Maybe we can tell you about some new museums in Stockholm to visit!

1. Historical museums in Stockholm

Hallwylska Palace (Norrmalm) is a fantastic museum. The rich Hallwyl family once lived here, and today you can see their beautiful home, as well as Wilhelmina von Hallwyl's amazing collections. Read more about the Hallwyl Palace here.

Museer i Stockholm - Hallwylska palatset

Historical Museum (Östermalm) is free of charge and offers an interesting journey from ancient times to the present. For example, you can immerse yourself in the worldview of the Vikings or be horrified by the bloody massacre at the Visby ring wall in 1361. Read more about the History Museum here.

Jewish Museum (Old Town) is located in Stockholm's oldest synagogue. Here you can learn about the history of the Jews in Sweden. It is particularly interesting if you join a guided tour. Read more about the Jewish Museum here.

The Royal Palace with its museums (Old Town) is fascinating to visit. You can see the representative floors, but there are also several different historical museums: Livrustkammaren, Skattkammaren, Museum Tre Kronor and Gustav III Antique Museum. Read more about the Royal Palace here.

Museum of the Middle Ages (Helgeandsholmen, Old Town) displays remnants of the real medieval Stockholm as well as finely constructed medieval environments. The museum is free and interesting to visit. Read more about the Medieval Museum here.

The Viking Museum (Djurgården) is not a classic museum with artefacts but rather an 'experience museum'. Here you can learn about Viking life in an interactive and entertaining way. Read more about The Viking Museum here.

2. Museums on the history of war and ships

Army Museum (Östermalm) is an interesting museum that tells the story of war and peace from the 16th century to modern times. It also hosts various temporary exhibitions and programmes. Read more about the Army Museum here.

Maritime History Museum (Djurgården) tells the story of seafaring and naval history. The museum is very well adapted for children and families, with many family activities. Read more about the Maritime Museum here.

Museer i Stockholm - Sjöhistoriska museet

Vasa Museum (Djurgården) is perhaps one of the most famous museums in Stockholm. At the museum you can see the Vasa ship in its full glory, but also learn more in several interesting exhibitions. Read more about the Vasa Museum here.

Wreck (Djurgården) is a marine archaeological museum focusing on wrecks found on the bottom of the Baltic Sea and their history. The museum is neat, modern and largely interactive. Read more about Wrecks here.

Museer i Stockholm - Vrak - Museum of Wrecks

3. Museums on Nordic cultural history

Nordic Museum (Djurgården) is a cultural history museum where you can learn more about traditions, holidays, fashion and food in the Nordic region through the ages. Traditional exhibitions are interspersed with temporary and more modern ones. Read more about the Nordic Museum here.

Skansen (Djurgården) is a fine open-air museum with heritage buildings from different parts of the Nordic region, as well as wild Nordic animals. Skansen also hosts many popular events such as the Christmas market. Read more about Skansen here.

4. Museums on culture in the world

Ethnographic Museum (Djurgården) offers a world of indigenous people, dance masks, poison arrows and travel experiences from different eras. The museum's restaurant offers exotic food and beer. Read more about the Ethnographic Museum here.

Mediterranean Museum (Norrmalm) displays Egyptian mummies and archaeological finds from the great Swedish Cyprus expedition of 1927-1931. One of the most interesting and beautiful museums in Stockholm! Read more about the Mediterranean Museum here.

Museer i Stockholm - Stockholm Medelhavsmuseum

East Asian Museum (Skeppsholmen) is a cultural history museum focusing on Japan, China and other parts of East Asia. This museum has free admission and is relatively traditional. Keep an eye out for different exhibitions. Read more about the East Asian Museum here.

Museer i Stockholm - Östasiatiska museet

5. Museums on social issues

Police Museum (Djurgården) tells us about the work of the police, but also about the victims of crime and how we ordinary people view the police. This is a museum for those who want to reflect and think. Read more about the Police Museum here.

Postal Museum (Old Town) is temporarily closed for renovation and will reopen in autumn 2023. The museum, which is aimed at both children and adults, tells the story of the development of the post, stamps and communication.

Liquor Museum (Djurgården) is an interesting and entertaining museum about alcohol and people's relationship with spirits. It has various exhibitions and also organises tastings. Read more about the Spritmuseum here.

Tramway Museum (Norra Djurgården) was previously located in Södermalm, but has now opened in new premises in Norra Djurgårdsstaden. The museum shows the development of public transport in the Stockholm area from the 1650s to the present day. Read more about the Tramway Museum here.

City Museum (Slussen) tells the story of Stockholm's history and the lives of Stockholmers in different eras. In addition to exhibitions, city walks and other activities are organised.

City Museum courtyard, photo: Mattias Ek

6. Museums about sport and play

National Sports Museum (Djurgården) tells the story of sport and athletics through the ages. Here you can see how people played sport in the past, learn about the culture of sport or perhaps try physical exercises yourself. An interesting and entertaining museum. Read more about the National Sports Museum here.

Stockholm Game Museum is currently closed and may reopen at a new address. The museum tells the story of video games. You can see and try out everything from early arcade games like Pac-Man to today's modern blockbusters. Read more about the Stockholm Game Museum here.

Stockholm Toy Museum (Skeppsholmen) displays an impressive collection of toys and comic books. An entertaining and nostalgic museum for children and adults alike. Read more about Stockholm Toy Museum here.

7. Science museums in Stockholm

National Museum of Natural History (Norra Djurgården) is a biological and geological museum. It is the largest museum facility in Sweden and also houses Cosmonova, a planetarium and a domed IMAX cinema. Read more about the Natural History Museum here.

Natural History Museum, photo: Emil Nordin

Nobel Prize Museum (Old Town) is a museum dedicated to the Nobel Prize. It has both permanent and temporary exhibitions, which focus on the laureates as well as their works. Read more about the Nobel Prize Museum here.

Technical Museum (Djurgården) is a history of technology museum that has a lot to offer for both adults and children. For example, you can see the fascinating 'Hyper Human' exhibition, which explores the border between man and machine. Read more about the Technical Museum here.

8. Museums on design, performing arts and literature

ABBA Museum (Djurgården) tells the story behind ABBA and the group's career. This is an entertaining and nostalgic museum for both ABBA fans and everyone else. Read more about the ABBA Museum here.

ArkDes (Skeppsholmen) specialises in architecture and design. You can see models of architecture in Sweden and various exhibitions. The museum has free admission and is located right next to the Moderna Museet. Read more about ArkDes here.

Dance Museum (Norrmalm) is a museum of dance and movement, with costumes, masks and visual arts. Various exhibitions and activities are organised here.

Performing Arts Museum (Östermalm) presents Swedish cultural heritage in music, theatre and dance. Various exhibitions and other activities are organised here.

Strindberg Museum (Norrmalm) showcases both Strindberg's home in the Blue Tower and exhibitions on his life and work. This is a nice museum, which is interesting both for Strindberg fans and those who want to know a little more about the famous author. Read more about the Strindberg Museum here.

9. Art museums in Stockholm

Bonniers Art Centre (Norrmalm) is an art centre with various exhibitions. Guided tours and other activities are also organised.

Photographic Centre (Södermalm) is one of the many popular museums in Stockholm where you can see exhibitions of contemporary photography. The exhibitions are varied and the photographs on display are often thought-provoking and emotional. Read more about Fotografiska here.

Liljevalchs art centre (Djurgården) displays modern and contemporary art in a renowned building. It hosts the annual 'Vårsalongen' - a juried exhibition open to anyone over the age of 18 to apply. Read more about Liljevalchs konsthall here.

Modern Museum (Skeppsholmen) is a museum of modern and contemporary art. At the museum, which is free to enter, you can be prepared for art that challenges and questions. Read more about Moderna museet here.

National Museum (Blasieholmen, Norrmalm) is Sweden's largest art and design museum. Here you can see art and design presented along an imaginary timeline, from the 16th century to modern times. Read more about the National Museum here.

Prince Eugen's Waldemarsudde (Djurgården) is a popular art museum showcasing Prince Eugene's paintings and various temporary exhibitions. You can also see the castle where the prince lived and walk among the sculptures in the park. Read more about Prince Eugen's Waldemarsudde here.

Sven-Harry Art Museum (Norrmalm) is a gold-coloured museum in the middle of Vasa Park where you can see Sven-Harry Karlsson's impressive art collection. It also hosts various temporary exhibitions. Read more about the Sven-Harry Art Museum here.

Thielska Gallery (Djurgården) is a fine art museum that showcases the Thiel couple's large art collection, as well as various temporary exhibitions. A nice way to visit the gallery is by shuttle boat. Read more about the Thielska Gallery here.

More museums in Stockholm

There are actually even more museums in Stockholm. There are a number of smaller museums that we have not included here, as well as museums in the neighbouring municipalities. For example, we can mention the Tom Tits Experiment in Södertälje, Marabou Park in Sundbyberg, Youseum in Solna and Pythagoras Industrial Museum in Norrtälje.

Pythagoras Industrimuseum — Pythagoras Industrial Museum in Norrtälje, Sweden

What are your top tips for museums in Stockholm?

What are your top tips for museums in Stockholm? Which of the above mentioned museums is your favourite? Or can you suggest something completely different?

5 Comments

Add yours →

bmlarsreseblogg says:

There are a lot of museums in Stockholm! I made an estimate and found that I have visited almost half of the ones on your list, 17 of them.
Our favourite and the one we have visited the most times is Fotografiska and now we will soon try to visit again as all three exhibitions seem interesting. Hans Gedda's portraits are really nice and the exhibition on news photography seems interesting.
Otherwise, we were pleasantly surprised by Hallwylska, where we got a really good guided tour.
Then we talked about visiting the Historical Museum, if only to see the Ålleberg collar, which is in the Gold Room at the Historical Museum. We had to settle for a replica at the Falbygden Museum.

23 October 2022 - 12:36

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  It was not bad to have visited 17 museums! There are so many in Stockholm. I agree that Fotografiska is an exciting museum! I also like Hallwylska! And we can recommend Historiska! It's interesting and surprised us positively, nice and well organised, so that you can easily absorb the history 🙂.
  
  23 October 2022 - 16:00
  
  - Monica says:
    
    27 I have been to, some with quite extensive study, a whole day sometimes🙂 and some several times, Tom Tits I know almost by heart. It is very interesting with all these museums and stimulating in many ways. There is a lot to take in. Very funny that they exist and nowadays they cost the state not as before with admissions. I think they paid for children as well. Don't really remember but they visited them anyway.
    
    23 October 2022 - 20:41
    
Amanda (Swedish Passport) says:

Oh, such great posts! I have probably managed to tick off most of them - although it is almost shameful that I have never been to the Vasa Museum even though I grew up in Stockholm, hehe.

24 October 2022 - 16:45

Lena+i+Wales+och+Spanien says:

Very interesting and inspiring!
Some I have visited. The one that made the most impression on me was probably the Jewish Museum, in its old premises, stayed there for several hours and had interesting conversations.
Best wishes to Lena from Spain!

26 October 2022 - 13:45

Museums in Stockholm - guide to the city's best museums

Writer: Helena Bergström

Museums in Stockholm

1. Historical museums in Stockholm

2. Museums on the history of war and ships

3. Museums on Nordic cultural history

4. Museums on culture in the world

5. Museums on social issues

6. Museums about sport and play

7. Science museums in Stockholm

8. Museums on design, performing arts and literature

9. Art museums in Stockholm

More museums in Stockholm

What are your top tips for museums in Stockholm?

You might also like:

Subscribe to our newsletter

5 Comments

bmlarsreseblogg says:

Helena says:

Monica says:

Amanda (Swedish Passport) says:

Lena+i+Wales+och+Spanien says:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

ABOUT FREEDOMtravel

CONTACT US

Social media and newsletters

SEARCH AND FIND ON FREEDOMTRAVEL

Categories

Archives