For absorbing authentic cultural diversity and traditional ancient artifacts, there are innumerable striking museums in almost every corner of the opulent nation Sweden. Although the place best known for its museums in the world is considered to be the Paris of France, Sweden beats Paris in terms of the number of Museums. Paris is home to the largest and the most visited Museum in the entire world, the lavish Louvre Museum, which is definitely worth all its hype. But while France, including Paris, has about 1,250 museums, Sweden exceeds this numerical value by owning approximately 1,500 museums within the country’s territory. This explains how much historical and cultural value the country holds in the real sense. Sweden is booming with thousands of gloriously structured archival museums which are thriving with the essence of Sweden’s rich cultural heritage, medieval treasuries and rich history. Since it wouldn’t be possible for foreign visitors to explore so many museums in a single trip of a few days, we’ve picked the top 5 majestically splendid museums out of the 1,500+ museums dwelling in Sweden. Let’s check them out now.
Table of Contents :
- Vasa Museum
- ABBA The Museum
- Skansen
- Gothenburg Museum of Art
- Fotografiska
- Related Posts
1. Vasa Museum
Choosing Sweden as a travel destination provides you the incredible opportunity of witnessing the legendary ship Vasa dated back to the 17th century! Vasa was a Swedish warship built during the 17th century and was one of the largest and most expensive ships of that period. This mighty warship was designed with hundreds of colorful, artistic sculptures, wooden coverings sculpted with the tales and stories of Swedish history, Royal Family and the country’s enriched heritage. It was one of the most powerful and beautifully decorated warships to be built during that time. But unfortunately, this phenomenal creation sank in the Baltic Sea during its first Voyage due to a powerful gust of wind in 1628. The ship was found and pulled out of the sea after exactly 333 years after the sinking. This staggering historical treasure is now on display at the Vasa Museum, located on the island of Djurgarden in Stockholm. This museum attracts about 1.5 million tourists from around the world every year. The ship Vasa has been preserved almost fully intact in the museum with more than 98% of the ship being wholly original. Visitors can get a close up view of the artistic patterns and paintings which shower the entire ship and absorb the essence of the then Sweden’s social traditions, features and astounding history. Other than the Vasa, the museum has more than 700 prehistoric and medieval findings and artifacts, including the original armory used by the soldiers during wars at that time. Like this, countless models of original weapons and other ancient discoveries are preserved with caution in this museum. This Museum is definitely awesome enough to blow your mind, even if you’ve little to no interest in history. And for history buffs? This museum is just a Wonderland! The place gives such an incredible amount of insight into Swedish history and heritage that the museum seems unbelievable to the visitors sometimes. On top of it all, the entirety of the museum is designed solely for holding the huge Vasa ship and the architectural style of the whole place is a view to treasure. The entrance of the museum alone will effectively attract your attention. With all these specialities and mesmerizing influence of the Vasa Museum, I can assure you that the museum is definitely worth your time and money. In fact, the only regret the visitors express in their reviews is that they didn’t visit this museum with enough time!
You can easily reach the museum from the city center by cycling for 10 mins. The most efficient public transportation system to get to Vasa museum would be by Tram. You can take tram number 7 from the city center and stop at tram stop Vasamuseet/ Nordiska museet. You can even reach the museum from Stockholm central stadium without a car by getting into a line 67 bus which takes 19 mins to reach and costs probably 54 krona. Other than these, Vasa museum is effortlessly reachable by car, ferry and also metro.
Entry fee: (Updated on 2024.03.30)
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2. ABBA The Museum
Are you a music buff? Or do you enjoy listening to music? Here is a musical wonderland ready, open and accessible for you to explore any time in Stockholm. The well-known ABBA Museum is an interactive museum dedicated to the world-famous Swedish pop supergroup ABBA, which first debuted in Stockholm in 1972. This supergroup of 4 members first attained the opportunity to have a Europe tour after winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974. After this, the group took off by creating catchy and appealing music and made their name around the world, showcasing their supreme talent in making unparalleled music. Some of their top hit songs like ‘ Mamma Mia’, ‘Waterloo’, ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!’ and ‘Dancing Queen’ are spectacular timelessly hit songs which are still strongly influential and unbeatable to this date in the world of music. People of almost all age groups enjoyed their amazing music which eventually contributed in making them one of the most dominant and commercially successful pop groups of the world. After the fame, the group had some interpersonal conflicts which resulted in the group’s disbandment in 1982.
ABBA the Museum is solely made for expressing dedication and enthusiasm towards this legendary group ABBA. It is located in between the Grona Lund Amusement park and the Liljevalchs Art Venue in Stockholm. The location is a 5-minute walk from Skansen and Vasa Museum and a 30 minute walk from Stockholm. The museum preserves all the original costumes, records, album, music, memorabilia and many more compelling items in its preservatory. These artifacts exhibit ABBA’s musical journey, their success and history. But besides these items of exhibition, there are many more exciting activities thriving in this museum which highlights the superiority of the place as a top museum of the country. The visitors here can get a chance to immerse themselves in the world of ABBA by having a virtual Singalong experience with the members of the group. They can also get to virtually try on ABBA’s costumes, sing their favorite ABBA songs, dance , film music videos and even perform on a large stage with the virtual group members in the museum. This whole experience gives you the exact feeling of what it would feel like being a 5th member of the group in the 70’s era. Such wonderful experiences can be rarely found in any corner of the globe. As a result, this museum turns into a cool and exciting place for people of all age-groups. And it could easily become a fantasyland for music lovers in no time.
The best time to visit ABBA, the museum would be at noon, 3 pm and you can also book your tickets through their official website. As for public transportation, you can take Tram nr 7 or Bus nr 67 and stop at Liljevalchs or Grona Lund in the island of Djurgarden. It is a short journey to the ABBA museum, be it on tram, ferry, bus or even on foot. Distance from Stockholm to the Museum is about 2.5 km and the travel duration would be from 10 mins to a maximum of 20 minutes.
3. Skansen
Skansen is the world’s oldest open-air museum and zoo, which was founded by Swedish teacher Artur Hazelius in 1981. Located majestically in Djurgarden island of Stockholm, it exhibits the compelling lifestyle and traditions of ancient Swedish people during the pre-industrial era. More than 150 dwellings and buildings have been built meticulously according to the exact 19th century style architectural design. In other words, all these historical buildings from every part of ancient Sweden have been diligently demolished and then reconstructed in this area of 75 acres ( 300,000 square.m ) in Skansen. The whole place wonderfully portrays the lifestyle, heritage and historical traditions of the people living in different parts of the country. There is a zoo in Skansen which displays a wide range of Nordic animals and birds, showcasing the dazzling wildlife of Sweden. To make this region an even more realistic replica of a standard 19th century town, there are craftsmen like tanners, silversmiths, showmakers,etc in traditional dresses who display their individual artistic skills in the area. There is the intriguing Skansen aquarium, Baltic Sea Science Center and a pleasant children’s zoological garden in this region, adding to the dynamic nature of the museum. The museum offers breathtaking views of the whole of Sweden including its eye-catching architectural constructions, farms, display of Nordic wildlife and traditional heritage. You can get to see all of Sweden in a miniature form in this museum. The unimaginable venture of exploring thousands of years worth of history has been made for you by the Skansen Open-air museum. But it’s not the end. If you visit during summer, you can also enjoy the Swedish traditional folk dance on summer evenings in Skansen! With all the historical cultural and social ambience the place radiates, you might feel like you time traveled to the 19th century in Sweden.
Traveling around such a huge area has been made less of a hassle and more of an exciting adventure by the sweet and friendly staff overlooking the place. Also transportation to this museum is super- comfy and affordable. The best option would be to reach Skansen by Tram or bus. You can take Bus 67 from Odenplan to Skansen at 39 krona only. . There are Trams 7 and 22 which stop near Skansen, making it convenient to travel to the museum from anywhere in the city. Another riveting option would be to take a ferry at just 54 krona from Slussen or Nybroplan to Djurgarden and have a 8-minute ride while enjoying the scenic natural beauty throughout Stockholm Archipelago. Besides, you can also travel fast in a taxi with a travel cost ranging from 35- 60 kr/person. So put an end to all the hesitation and get going for this enthralling journey to the Skansen!
4. Gothenburg Museum of Art
Gothenburg Museum of Art is one of the major art museums in Gothenburg city and apparently, the 3rd largest Art museum in the country in respect of its art collections. Its location is at the top of Kingsgate Avenue (Avenyn) in Gotaplatsen, Central Gothenburg. The museum houses one of the finest art collections in Northern Europe, with a wide exhibition of nearly 70,000 Nordic and International Artworks. The collections of this museum include artworks from the 15th century up until this day. Utmost emphasis is given on the Nordic arts dated back to the late 19th Century, which include marvelously crafted sculptures, paintings and portraits. One of the main highlights of the museum is the stunningly adorned Furstenberg Gallery, which was named after a known Gothenburg art donor, Pontus Fustenberg and his wife Gothilda. This gallery renders a true insight into the iconic Nordic artistry from the 1880s and 1890s. The wide range of art collections cover masterpieces of famous artists like Monet, Rembrandt, Picasso, Van Gogh, Edvard Munch, Albert Edelfelt, including contemporary artworks of Charlotte Gyllenhammer, Lina Selander, Cajsa von Zeipel, Carl Larsson, P.S Kroyer, and others. This museum building was originally built for the Gothenburg Exhibition in 1923 in celebration of the city’s 300th anniversary. The building was designed by Architect Sigfrid Ericson, and the design resembles the glamorous Neo-classical style in Nordic Architecture. The property is built of a type of unique yellow brick called ‘Gothenburg Brick’ due to its popular usage in the city. Other than the staggering Art exhibitions, there are lectures, artists talks, guided tours, creative workshops, cinemagraphs, and performances to take part in and delve into the realm of art exploration. Gothenburg Museum of Art is a three-stars awarded museum in the Michelin Green Guide. The place is an extensive mixture of hypnotic Scandinavian, contemporary and historical art collections that no one can afford to miss if they ever step foot on the land of Sweden. And the amazing part is that all visitors and students under 20 have free entry to the whole museum and all its exhibitions ( with a student ID). Also don’t forget to check out the museum store to get a hold of exclusive cultural and historical fancy items and gifts for yourself and your loved ones!
You can easily get to the museum by tram, bus, taxi or even foot. A taxi drive from Gothenburg to Gothenburg Museum of Art takes just 4 mins and costs 85- 110 kr. The nearest bus stop is the Gotaplatsen and a line 18 direct bus will take you from Goteborg Heden to Gothenburg Museum of Art within 7 minutes at just 3-5kr. You can also take a refreshing walk of 20-30 minutes along with your family or friends from the central station of Gothenburg to the museum, all while appreciating the nature and cool air of the soothing atmosphere.
5. Fotografiska
Fotografiska is a leading museum of photography, featuring world-class contemporary photography of famous Swedish and International photographers. Along with dazzling photography collections, the museum also offers spectacular rooftop views and top-notch bistro and cafe services. With the mesmerizing combination of vibrant photography exhibitions, gorgeous natural views, luscious dining experience, creativity and first-class events, Fotografiska would be a highly impressive place for a trip day or regular hang out. It would be the perfect place for you to visit if you are fond of diverse images, like to hang out in an innovative place or even if you want to take someone on a first date! Fotografiska Stockholm is located at Stora Tullhuset in Stadsgårdshamnen 22 in the north of Sodermalm district in Stockholm. The museum arranges 4 lavishly large Exhibitions annually along with 20 smaller ones around the year. The unique collections of this museum display a wide range of exhibitions from documentary or street photography to Fashion and art photography. Photographs shot in unique styles and techniques exhibited here, including shots of big artists like Mattias Klum, Sebastião Salgado, Nick Brandt, Annie Liebovitz and many more. The diversified photographs of the museum bring together photography, art and culture of Swedish and foreign artists. Not only that, Fotografiska of Stockholm is also known as one of the biggest museums of modern photography in the world. Its building is originally a three-storied customs house which was built in 1906. Famous Swedish architect Ferdinand Boberg beautifully designed this architectural site in Art Nouveau style. The original red-brick exterior part of the building has been uprightly preserved, while the interior part has been transformed into first two floors of galleries and a top floor sustaining a higher class restaurant and bar. This museum is also world-famous as one of the largest international meeting places for photography enthusiasts of all varied interests for discussions and various events centering the art of photography. Also in the museum’s main entrance, there’s an elusive museum store selling a wide range of photography related books, posters, gift cards and other appealing items.
In Stockholm, you can easily reach Fotografiska in 10 mins through a ride on line 2 bus at just 50-60 kr. If we talk about the fastest route, a taxi will cost a maximum of 80-110 kr and will take you to the destination in just 4-6 minutes. Other than that, you may take any red and green line buses which stop at Slussen or other buses from the numerous bus stops at Sodermalmstorg. Moreover, you can travel to Fotografiska effortlessly by metro also!
