Swedish gems: the best bars and museums for tourists

Writer: Co-operation partner

Sweden attracts visitors not only with nature and the Northern Lights, but also with its cosy corners where you can immerse yourself in culture over a drink or an exhibition. Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö hide real treasures: bars with smart cocktails and museums that come to life before your eyes.

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Vasamuseet: a sunken giant in the heart of Stockholm

The Vasa is not just a museum, but a legend on the water. In 1628, King Gustav II Adolf's majestic warship set sail and immediately capsized in Stockholm harbour. It was only salvaged in 1961 and is now on display in a special building on Djurgården.

The ship is 69 metres long, has three masts and almost a thousand carved figures with various motifs such as lions, angels, sea creatures and Roman emperors. The exhibits tell the story of 17th-century seafarers: from the tools they used to what their meals looked like.

Tickets are currently priced between €195 and €230 for adults (2025) and the museum is open daily. Perfect for those who love history with a dose of adrenaline.

The ABBA Museum: pop nostalgia with an interactive twist

ABBA is the pride and joy of Sweden, and their museum on Djurgården in Stockholm turns the 70s into a party. It opened in 2013 and has since attracted fans from all over the world. You put on headphones, grab a microphone and sing Dancing Queen to the band's original music.

Agnetha's and Björn's costumes hang in stands, gold discs glitter and hologram installations make you want to dance. There's even a simulator of the 1974 Eurovision stage, where Sweden took home the top prize. Not just for fans: exhibitions on Swedish disco and fashion add to the charm.

Admission costs SEK 299, but it's worth it. There is a café nearby with speciality desserts. The museum is open from 10am and DJ sets are organised in the evenings.

Skansen: a living outdoor village

Skansen is the world's oldest open-air museum, founded in 1891. On a hill in Stockholm lies a miniature Sweden: farms, churches and houses from different eras, from the boxwood houses of Lapland to the red barns of Småland. Tourists stroll along the paths and watch craftsmen forging horseshoes or baking bread in wood-fired ovens.

In winter, there is a Christmas market with mulled wine and in summer, folk music festivals. There is also a zoo with northern animals: moose, brown bears and snowy owls. Children love the cow pastures and adults enjoy the view of the city from the tarpaulin platform. Tickets cost SEK 225 and it's open all year round. Here you can learn about Sweden through smells and sounds, without dusty stands.

The National Museum: art from Rembrandt to the Scandinavians

In the centre of Stockholm, by the harbour, stands the massive National Museum, housing 16 000 paintings. Opened in 1866, the collection has grown since then: from Dutch masters like Rembrandt to Swedish modernists like Carl Larsson. Tourists stop in front of Turner's Ship or portraits of the royal family.

Special rooms with jewellery and 18th century furniture add glamour. There are street art exhibitions in summer and design lectures in winter. The rooftop café overlooking the canal is an added bonus. Admission is free for EU citizens, otherwise it costs SEK 150. Open from 10am to 5pm, longer on Wednesdays. Art breathes here, instead of hanging like a dead weight.

Red House: the red house of local mixes

In Stockholm's Södermalm district, Röda Huset shines like a ruby among the grey facades. It's a bar and restaurant in a three-storey red building, where bartender Hampus Tunholm creates cocktails from Swedish berries and herbs. Think elderberries with local gin or plums mixed with honey from Lapland.

The bar has made the list of the world's 50 best bars and has also won an award for sustainability: all ingredients come from local farms. Tourists love the panoramic view from the top floor, where pizza and snacks are served. The atmosphere is cosy, like an old pub, but with a modern twist. Open until 02.00, cocktails cost 150-200 kroner. Perfect after a walk in the Old Town.

Tjoget: a multi-storey paradise for gourmets

Tjoget in Hornstull is a bar, a café and a wine bar in one. It was founded by bartenders Andreas Bergman and Joel Söderback and has since been ranked among the top 100 bars in the world. The cocktails are simple but ingenious: beetroot with vodka and ginger or apple with rye whisky. The downstairs is for beer, the upstairs is for wine, and the terrace is packed in summer.

Tourists praise the food: tapas with smoked fish or venison burgers. The atmosphere is relaxed, like an old working-class neighbourhood, but with a touch of chic. It's open from midday until late, and the average bill is 200 kroner. It's close to the metro, so it's easy to get there even after a few drinks.

Gemma: a secret flower cocktail bar

Hidden behind the façade of a flower shop in the centre of Stockholm, Gemma is like a door to a fairy tale. Owner Johan Evers, a Bar Olympics medallist, mixes drinks from no more than four ingredients: seasonal fruits, herbs and Swedish honey. The entrance is through lilies and orchids, inside there are velvet curtains and soft lighting. Popular mixes here are rye with apple, sweet and sour, with a hint of spices.

Tourists pay attention to minimalism: no unnecessary decorations, just flavour. The venue is small, so book in advance. Open from 6 pm, cocktails cost 180 kroner. Afterwards you can go to the nearby pub for a beer.

Pharmarium: a pharmacy with elixirs from the past

In Gamla Stan, on the site of Sweden's first pharmacy in 1575, Pharmarium brings history to life. Bartenders in white coats mix cocktails according to alchemists' recipes: rum with lavender or gin with bark. Tourists sample them while sitting at oak tables, and the menu is like an ancient book of herbs and poisons.

The food is equally authentic: appetisers with cheese and smoked nuts. The atmosphere is mysterious, with shelves of glass jars and candles. Open until midnight in summer, cocktails cost 160 kroner. It's close to the Old Town, so it's perfect to combine with a walk. This is not just a bar, it's a journey through time.