Best Museums in Stockholm for Every Type of Traveler
There’s so much to see and do in Stockholm that planning your itinerary can feel overwhelming — especially if it’s your first time visiting Sweden’s beautiful capital.
I moved to Stockholm nine years ago and have explored nearly every corner of the city since then. While there’s plenty to love — from island hopping to a traditional swedish fika — some of my absolute favorite experiences were in its incredible museums.
Now, I’ll admit it: I’m a bit of a museum nerd. But even if museums aren’t usually your thing, I truly believe these ones stand out. From warships to pop icons, Stockholm’s museums are immersive, unique and unforgettable.
Skansen: The World’s Oldest Open-Air Museum 🗝️
- Location: Djurgården Island, Stockholm
- Price: 285 sek for adults (around 25€) 👉 Save time by booking your Skansen tickets online in advance
- Who should visit: Families, history lovers, culture enthusiasts
- Recommended time: Half a day to a full day
Skansen’s historical buildings are truly amazing
Click here to get my Complete Guide to Skansen: the World’s Oldest Open-Air Museum 🌼
Walking through Skansen feels like stepping back in time.
Many of the buildings are brought to life by knowledgeable actors dressed in period costumes who demonstrate traditional crafts, cooking and everyday activities. This immersive experience lets visitors truly connect with Swedish traditions and History in a way that’s rare in typical museums.
Skansen’s actors are the detail that makes this open-air museum so special
In addition to the historic village, Skansen is home to a charming Nordic zoo featuring native wildlife such as moose, bears, lynx and reindeer. It’s a perfect spot for families and animal lovers to get up close with Sweden’s natural heritage.
You can see many Nordic animals at Skansen Open-Air Museum in Stockholm
Skansen also hosts special events throughout the year that make each visit unique.
In December, experience the magical Lucia celebrations and a festive Christmas market that capture the spirit of Swedish winter traditions. On New Year’s Eve, Skansen is the place where Stockholmers gather for celebrations broadcast on national TV.
Summer visitors can take part in Midsummer festivities — one of Sweden’s most beloved holidays — complete with flower crowns, dancing around the maypole, and joyous community gatherings under the endless daylight.
Because Skansen covers such a vast area and offers so many experiences, it easily fills an entire day or more. Whether you’re a History buff, traveling with kids or simply looking to immerse yourself in Swedish culture and nature, Skansen is an unforgettable destination that captures the heart of Stockholm.
Vasa Museum: a 17th-Century Warship That Spent 333 Years Underwater ⚓
Even though the Vasa Museum’s theme is not as broad as Skansen’s, since it only focuses on the Vasa ship that is on display in the middle of the Museum, it is a must visit while you are in Stockholm. It is one of the most visited museums in the whole Scandinavia and that’s for a good reason.
Vasa is a Swedish warship that was built between 1626 and 1628 and sank straight after beginning its maiden voyage, due to a faulty design. The sunken ship was forgotten for quite a while at the bottom of the sea, but after lying there for 333 years, a great effort was made to take it up to surface and let the World appreciate its beauty and History.
On April 24th of 1961, thousands of people gathered in Stockholm in order to witness the amazing feat of bringing up a sunken warship from the 17th century. Nowadays, visitors of the Vasa Museum can see it on an amazing display that is sure to take your breath away even if you couldn’t care less about ships.
Trust me, I’ve seen really reluctant and uninterested tourists completely change their minds about Vasa Museum as soon as they enter the door and see the huge majestic warship in its full splendor at the center of the museum.
ABBA Museum: Step Into the World of Sweden’s Most Iconic Pop Group 🎤
Is there anything more iconic in Sweden than ABBA? This band completely took the World by storm with hit after hit in the 70s and 80s and the four band members became international symbols of Sweden like no others.
It might have been difficult to get close to the 4 pop stars in the old days but it‘s super easy nowadays for anyone who visits Sweden: just go to the ABBA Museum in central Stockholm. You‘ll be in ABBA World, with their original outfits on exhibition, quizzes you can take to test your knowledge about the legendary band and even exact replicas of places that were important to the band members throughout their lives and music careers.
If you‘re not convinced yet that this museum needs to be on your Stockholm itinerary, let me give you the major selling point: at the ABBA museum, you can become ABBA‘s 5th member. The museum has a hologram stage where you can stand next to Benny, Frida, Agnetha and Björn and be a part of the band, performing their hits to your heart‘s content.
Can you imagine a more unforgettable experience to have on your trip to Stockholm?
Nobel Prize Museum: Discover the Ideas That Changed the World 💡
Straight in Stockholm’s city center, there’s a museum dedicated to another swedish icon: the Nobel Prize.
Created by the swedish businessman and inventor who discovered dynamite, the Nobel Prize is the result of the fortune that was left by Alfred Nobel to establish it after his death. The goal was to recognize people who “conferred the greatest benefit to humankind” every year and that is exactly what has been happening for more than 100 years.
The first Nobel Prize ceremony took place in Stockholm in 1901 and more than 600 of them have been awarded so far. Nowadays, you can learn all about them at the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm.
At this museu located in the heart of Stockholm‘s old town, you will be able to read about previous Nobel Prize winners and their achievements, as well as you can visit temporary exhibitions.
Did you know? At the Nobel Museum, even the cafe’s chairs are special. If you turn them around and look at what’s underneath them, you will see that they are all signed by Nobel Laureates.
These are just a few of the many great museums you can visit in Stockholm. There are so many of them that it’s not easy to choose which ones to visit, so I hope this list of my absolute favorites helps you plan your trip to Stockholm and that you love these museums as much as I do!
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