Stockholm Museums: 9 Must-See Museums in Sweden’s Capital

The number and variety of Stockholm museums ensure everyone visiting the Swedish capital will find one to their liking. 

Interested in Vikings and warships raised from the dead? Head to the Vasa! 

Fan of the 70's Swedish pop sensation ABBA? The group has a dedicated museum filled with memorabilia.

Prefer to learn about Nordic culture? Stockholm has several museums tracing the city and country's history.

The question most visitors will face is not whether to go to a museum in Stockholm; it's which museums to go to first. 

We've compiled a list of our favorite Stockholm museums to help you decide where to spend your time.

Opening hours are included, however as these may change over time, please be sure to confirm them via the museum websites.

Tip: Save time and money by purchasing a Stockholm Pass. Admission to most of the museums listed below will be included, plus royal palaces, bus and boat tours, and much more. 

Best Cultural Museums in Stockholm

1. Vasa Museum

Hearing the sad tale of this Viking warship is almost as enjoyable as seeing it in the flesh at the Vasa Museum.

The Vasa set off on its maiden voyage on the 10th of August 1628. It sailed for about 1,500 meters, before sinking, taking all on board (an estimated 30 people) down with it.

The ship was rediscovered within the Archipelago in the late 1950s and was salvaged in 1961.

Since then, the utmost care has gone into preserving the ship, which is now recognized as being an integral part of Swedish history and cultural identity.

Seeing the warship in person is an experience not to be missed. It's no surprise that it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Stockholm today.

Opening hours:

• September 1 to May 31: daily, 10 am – 5 pm, Wednesdays 10 am – 8 pm
• June 1 to August 31: daily, 8:30 am – 6:30 pm

Address: Galärvarvsvägen 14, Stockholm

Price: Adults – 150 kronor ($15) / 18 years old and under – free. Admission included in Stockholm Pass. 

See also: A Fall Escape to Vasterbotten (Swedish Lapland)

2. Spirit Museum

The small but interesting Spirit Museum is dedicated to alcohol and the relationship that the Swedish people have with it.

It might be worth going just to eat at the restaurant, which looks out on the water (not a bad view at all). The food is said to be fantastic.

The Spirit Museum is located adjacent to the Vasa Museum. 

Opening hours: 

• Monday to Wednesday: 10 am – 5 pm
• Thursday to Saturday: 10 am – 7 pm
• Sunday: 12 pm – 5 pm

Address: Djurgårdsvägen 38, Stockholm

Price: Adults – 100 kronor ($10) / Pensioners and students – 70 kronor ($7) / Age 15-18 – 50 kronor ($5) / 14 and under – free. Admission included in Stockholm Pass. 

3. ABBA Museum

The ABBA Museum is both informative and interactive. Many of ABBA's famously glitzy performance outfits are on display, along with album covers and awards.

You'll also see rooms featuring replicas of their manager's office and the music room in a house by the sea where Benny and Björn wrote many of the band's hits.

Best of all, patrons are invited to put their pride aside and get as involved as possible.

Dance in an ABBA music video, or test your karaoke skills in a voice booth. You can even take center stage to sing and dance with (a visual projection of) the band themselves!

Opening hours: Daily, 10 am – 6 pm

Address: Djurgården 68, Stockholm

Price: It's cheaper to buy admission online, as over the counter tickets incur a service fee. Adults – 250 kronor ($25) / Children aged 7 to 15 (under 7s are free) – 95 kronor ($9.50) 

4. Skansen Open-Air Museum

Skansen is the oldest open-air museum in the world. One hundred fifty farms from around Sweden were disassembled and moved to this dedicated space on the same island as the Vasa, ABBA, and Spirit museums. 

Opening hours: Daily, 10 am – 3 pm

Address: Djurgårdsslätten 49-51, Stockholm

Price: Adults – 140 kronor ($14) / Students, seniors, groups – 120 kronor ($12) / Children aged 4 to 15 (under 3s are free) – 60 kronor ($6). Admission included in Stockholm Pass. 

5. Nordic Museum

The Nordic Museum, located next to the Vasa, is Sweden's most significant cultural history museum. The exterior facade alone is worth a closer look. 

Inside, there's a spacious, multi-level hall with galleries full of traditional Nordic clothes, jewelry, and household items.

Opening hours:

• September to May: daily, 10 am – 5 pm
• June to August: daily, 9 am – 6 pm

Address: Djurgårdsvägen 6-16, Stockholm

Price: Adults – 140 kronor ($14) / Seniors – 120 kronor ($12) / 18 and under – free. Admission included in Stockholm Pass. 

6. Nobel Prize Museum

In 1895, Alfred Nobel, a Swedish industrialist known for inventing dynamite, established the Nobel Prize. 

He dedicated most of his estate (valued at nearly $500 million today) to awarding annual prizes for achievements in chemistry, literature, peace, physics, and medicine. 

All of the Nobel prizes are awarded in Stockholm, except for the Nobel Peace Prize, which is given out in Oslo, Norway.

The Nobel Prize Museum honors the contributions of Alfred Nobel and all of the winners.

It's filled with examples of discoveries made by past winners, including some of the tools that were used.

Opening hours: 

• September to May: Tuesday to Thursday, 11 am – 5 pm, Friday 11 am – 8 pm, Sunday 10 am – 6 pm
• June to August: daily, 9 am – 8 pm

Address: Stortorget (square) in Gamla stan (Old Town), Stockholm

Price: Adults – 120 kronor ($12), Students and Seniors  – 80 kronor ($8) / 18 and younger – free. Admission included in Stockholm Pass. 

Best Art Museums in Stockholm

7. Fotografiska

Not to play favorites or anything, but Fotografiska is a special place. The gallery is on the smaller side and can be seen in next to no time at all. 

That being said, it would be best to give yourself a good chunk of time there to properly savor the experience. 

It would be best to get there first thing in the morning. Although the prospect of spending a Friday or Saturday evening at the gallery is intriguing. 

Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday, 9 am – 11 pm, Thursday to Saturday, 9 am – 1 pm

Address: Stadsgårdshamnen 22, Stockholm

Price: Adults – 120 kronor ($12) / Students and Seniors – 90 kronor ($9) / 12 and under – free. Admission included in Stockholm Pass. 

8. Nationalmuseum

The Nationalmuseum is Sweden's premier art and design museum. It was recently renovated and re-opened to the public in 2018. 

The permanent collection features art from the 1500s to the 1900s, and there are temporary exhibits that touch on more modern themes as well. 

Opening hours:

• Tuesday to Wednesday: 11 am – 5 pm
• Thursday: 11 am – 9 pm
• Friday: 11 am – 7 pm
• Saturday to Sunday: 11 am – 5 pm

Address: Södra Blasieholmshamnen, Stockholm

Price: Free

9. Modern Art Museum

The Modern Art Museum is located on the small island of Skeppsholmen, about a 10-minute walk east of the Nationalmuseum.

Walking across the bridge, you'll also be treated to fantastic views of Gamla Stan (the old town). 

The museum's permanent collection features 140,000 works of art.

If you're visiting around lunchtime, the glass-walled cafeteria offers beautiful views of the city.

Opening hours: Tuesdays and Fridays, 10 am – 8 pm, Wednesday to Thursday

Address: Skeppsholmen, Stockholm

Price: Free to view the Moderna Museet Collection. Admission is charged to visit temporary exhibits.

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As you can see, there's no shortage of Stockholm museums where you can learn about Swedish art, history, and culture. 

The museums on this list include the best the city has to offer. Enjoy!

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This story was initially written by LC Hunter and later updated substantially by Dave Lee based on his trip in 2019. Dave received a complimentary Stockholm Pass from Visit Stockholm AB.