The guide to Stockholm's best museums

The guide to Stockholm's best museums

Culture vulture, history buff, art lover or just curious and hungry for knowledge? Stockholm is a gold mine for everyone who enjoys visiting museums and the choice has grown and grown over the past few years. There are plenty of great museums for children, museums young adults will enjoy and of course a whole plethora of slightly more adult-oriented alternatives. Whatever you're looking for, Stockholm definitely has a fantastic museum for you to spend the day at. We've listed Stockholm's best museums in all genres, with something for everyone.

Tatty Good, Content Writer UK & Translator SE, Thatsup Tatty Good, Content Writer UK & Translator SE, Thatsup
Tatty Good
  1. The best museums in Stockholm
    1. 1
      Vasamuseet Crowd pleasing man-of-war
    2. 2
      Fotografiska The city's only purely photographic museum
    3. 3
      Armémuseum An overview of Swedish history
    4. 4
      Skansen-Akvariet Brightly coloured birds, cool fish and exotic creepy crawlies
    5. 5
      Stadsmuseet Pictures, memories and objects from Stockholm's history
    6. 6
      Medelhavs­museet Expedition to the Mediterranean
    7. 7
      Tekniska museet Technology for all ages
    8. 8
      Skoklosters slott Beautifully preserved Baroque castle
    9. 9
      Junibacken Magical fun for all Astrid Lindgren fans
    10. 10
      Skansen Stockholm's oldest open air museum
    11. 11
      Moderna Museet One of Europe's most notable art collections
    12. 12
      Etnografiska museet Art, culture and food from all corners of the world
    13. 13
      Naturhistoriska riksmuseet Nature, the environment, earth and man
    14. 14
      Paradox Unique perspectives
    15. 15
      Waldemarsudde Prince Eugen's former home
    16. 16
      Avicii Experience An interactive tribute to Avicii
    17. 17
      Nationalmuseum Sweden's art and design museum
    18. 18
      ABBA The Museum All about ABBA
    19. 19
      Sjöhistoriska Intricate model ships and the maritime history of man
    20. 20
      Thielska galleriet Fairytale art museum
    21. 21
      Carl Eldhs Ateljémuseum Complete experience
    22. 22
      Postmuseum The history of the Swedish post service
    23. 23
      Tom Tits Experiment Centre for experimentation
    24. 24
      Spårvägsmuseet Stockholm's public transport history

The best museums in Stockholm

Vasamuseet – Museums
Vasamuseet
Vasamuseet – Museums
Vasamuseet
Vasamuseet – Museums
Vasamuseet
Vasamuseet – Museums
Vasamuseet
Vasamuseet – Museums
Vasamuseet
Vasamuseet – Museums
Vasamuseet
Vasamuseet – Museums
Vasamuseet
Vasamuseet – Museums
Vasamuseet

Vasamuseet

Crowd pleasing man-of-war

Experience the acclaimed Vasa warship at the Vasa museum. You can see close up the almost untouched, intact ship, which sank on her maiden voyage in 1628 to be salvaged from Stockholm harbour 333 years later. Artifacts from the ship provide fascinating insights into life in 17th century Sweden.

Fotografiska – Museums
Fotografiska
Fotografiska – Museums
Fotografiska
Fotografiska – Museums
Fotografiska
Fotografiska – Museums
Fotografiska
Fotografiska – Museums
Fotografiska
Fotografiska – Museums
Fotografiska
Fotografiska – Museums
Fotografiska
Fotografiska – Museums
Fotografiska

Fotografiska

The city's only purely photographic museum

Alongside the waterfront at Stadgårdskajen, in a listed, Art Deco former customs building, you'll find Fotografiska, the Swedish Museum of Photography. Everyone is welcome here - photography nerds, art experts and curious amateurs alike. As well as impressive photographic exhibitions, you can also take photography classes here, take part in workshops or listen to talks on the subject. Fotografiska also has an ambitious restaurant with wonderful views over the water.

Armémuseum – Museums
Armémuseum
Armémuseum – Museums
Armémuseum
Armémuseum – Museums
Armémuseum
Armémuseum – Museums
Armémuseum
Armémuseum – Museums
Armémuseum
Armémuseum – Museums
Armémuseum
Armémuseum – Museums
Armémuseum
Armémuseum – Museums
Armémuseum
Armémuseum – Museums
Armémuseum
Armémuseum – Museums
Armémuseum

Armémuseum

An overview of Swedish history

Enter the army museum's impressive premises on Riddargatan for a history lesson stretching from Viking times to the present day. The focus is, not surprisingly, on the major battles and wars in which Sweden has been involved. While you're there, don't miss Restaurang Artilleriet, right next door to the museum.

Skansen-Akvariet

Brightly coloured birds, cool fish and exotic creepy crawlies

Skansen-Akvariet is part of Skansen. Inside the aquarium, visitors come face to face with a wonderful collection of exotic creatures. Not only marine life, such as fish, sharks and corals, but also rainforest mammels, spiders, snakes, lemurs, apes and many more. NB! Admission to the aquarium is charged separately. 

Stadsmuseet

Pictures, memories and objects from Stockholm's history

Stockholm City Museum in Slussen displays the history of Stockholm and its development. It includes a three-floor exhibition detailing the city's journey from the outskirts of Europe to a Scandinavian metropolis. The museum also arranges temporary exhibitions, talks, city walking tours and more.

Medelhavs­museet – Museums
Medelhavs­museet
Medelhavs­museet – Museums
Medelhavs­museet
Medelhavs­museet – Museums
Medelhavs­museet
Medelhavs­museet – Museums
Medelhavs­museet
Medelhavs­museet – Museums
Medelhavs­museet
Medelhavs­museet – Museums
Medelhavs­museet
Medelhavs­museet – Museums
Medelhavs­museet
Medelhavs­museet – Museums
Medelhavs­museet
Medelhavs­museet – Museums
Medelhavs­museet
Medelhavs­museet – Museums
Medelhavs­museet
Medelhavs­museet – Museums
Medelhavs­museet
Medelhavs­museet – Museums
Medelhavs­museet

Medelhavs­museet

Expedition to the Mediterranean

Egyptian tombs, Greek vases, archeological treasures and expeditions. Children and adults alike can learn more about ancient Greece and Rome, view marble statues, shining weapons and strange trophies. Some of the artefacts are even older than the pyramids.

Tekniska museet

Technology for all ages

At Sweden's largest museum of technology, visitors fo all ages can touch and test a variety of technological gadgets. It includes the huge science centre exhibition Megamind, where visitors can train their brains and carry out experiments using their entire bodies. The exhibit won the Children in Museums Award.

Skoklosters slott – Museums
Skoklosters slott
Skoklosters slott – Museums
Skoklosters slott
Skoklosters slott – Museums
Skoklosters slott
Skoklosters slott – Museums
Skoklosters slott
Skoklosters slott – Museums
Skoklosters slott
Skoklosters slott – Museums
Skoklosters slott
Skoklosters slott – Museums
Skoklosters slott
Skoklosters slott – Museums
Skoklosters slott
Skoklosters slott – Museums
Skoklosters slott
Skoklosters slott – Museums
Skoklosters slott
Skoklosters slott – Museums
Skoklosters slott
Skoklosters slott – Museums
Skoklosters slott
Skoklosters slott – Museums
Skoklosters slott
Skoklosters slott – Museums
Skoklosters slott

Skoklosters slott

Beautifully preserved Baroque castle

Baron Carl Gustaf Wrangel and Baroness Anna Margareta von Haugwitz had Skoklosters castle built in the 17th century, a project that was to take more than 30 years. It's now one of the world's best preserved Baroque castles and visiting feels like being transported back in time. Explore the noble family's everyday and luxury artefacts, walk in the beautiful surroundings and admire the painting Vertumnus by Giuseppe Arcimboldo, which is one of the world's most famous artworks. 

Junibacken – Museums
Junibacken
Junibacken – Museums
Junibacken
Junibacken – Museums
Junibacken
Junibacken – Museums
Junibacken
Junibacken – Museums
Junibacken
Junibacken – Museums
Junibacken
Junibacken – Museums
Junibacken
Junibacken – Museums
Junibacken
Junibacken – Museums
Junibacken
Junibacken – Museums
Junibacken
Junibacken – Museums
Junibacken
Junibacken – Museums
Junibacken

Junibacken

Magical fun for all Astrid Lindgren fans

Junibacken is a wonderfully playful children's cultural centre with plenty of human interaction. Most of it centres around the world created by Pippi Longstocking author Astrid Lindgren's books. One of the most popular attractions is the story train which takes children on a magical journey through Lindgren's best-loved sagas.

Skansen

Stockholm's oldest open air museum

Whatever the time of year, the city's oldest open air museum is open to tourists, Stockholmers, families and anyone who wants to experience Skansen in its seasonal colours. The museum's aim of showing how people lived and worked in Sweden throughout different periods of history is achieved through a wide-reaching cultural-historical experience complete with bandstand and funfair. The 75 acre site also houses Stockholm's only zoo, with mainly Scandinavian animals.

Moderna Museet

One of Europe's most notable art collections

Situated on the island of Skeppsholmen, this stylish building conceals a unique art collection. 20th and 21st century art in all its forms and guises has been collected and displayed here. The collection is mainly arranged in chronological order with more in-depth focus on certain themes as well as temporary exhibitions.

Etnografiska museet – Museums
Etnografiska museet
Etnografiska museet – Museums
Etnografiska museet
Etnografiska museet – Museums
Etnografiska museet
Etnografiska museet – Museums
Etnografiska museet
Etnografiska museet – Museums
Etnografiska museet
Etnografiska museet – Museums
Etnografiska museet
Etnografiska museet – Museums
Etnografiska museet
Etnografiska museet – Museums
Etnografiska museet
Etnografiska museet – Museums
Etnografiska museet
Etnografiska museet – Museums
Etnografiska museet

Etnografiska museet

Art, culture and food from all corners of the world

Different cultures, world views and traditions come togother at the Museum of Ethnography. Learn about America's indigenous people, Japanese samurais and African masks, for example. As well as exhibitions the museum also holds workshops and other activities for both children and adults. 

Naturhistoriska riksmuseet

Nature, the environment, earth and man

The Swedish Museum of Natural History is the perfect place to visit for anyone with an interest in nature, the environment, animals and the human body. You'll find permanent exhibitions about the development of humans, dinosaurs and Swedish nature. And don't miss the films shown in their Cosmonova cinema.

Paradox Museum – Museums
Paradox Museum
Paradox Museum – Museums
Paradox Museum
Paradox Museum – Museums
Paradox Museum
Paradox Museum – Museums
Paradox Museum
Paradox Museum – Museums
Paradox Museum
Paradox Museum – Museums
Paradox Museum
Paradox Museum – Museums
Paradox Museum
Paradox Museum – Museums
Paradox Museum

Paradox

Unique perspectives

The lines between what's real and what's not disappear at the Paradox Museum. There are more than 70 different interactive rooms and objects here that create paradoxical points of view and skew your perspective, while stimulating your creativity and imagination. Groups of friends, work teams, couples and families alike are welcome here for a fun, memorable and educational experience. 

Waldemarsudde

Prince Eugen's former home

At the far end of Djurgården you'll find this stately palace, which was once the home of Prince Eugen. Waldermarsudde was designed for Prince Eugen by Ferdinand Boberg and built between 1903 and 1905. These days the palace and its surrounding gardens are an art museum where you can admire the Prince's own artworks and private collections.

Avicii Experience

An interactive tribute to Avicii

Visit Avicii Experience - a tribute museum to musical icon Tim Bergling, aka Avicii, at Space Stockholm, Stockholm's digital meeting place. The internationally renowned DJ lives on through this museum's experiences and stories. See the exhibitions, find out about Avicii's life and work, listen to his music and much more.

Nationalmuseum

Sweden's art and design museum

The National Museum exhibits paintings, sculptures, crafts and design from the 1500s to the present day and their collection consists of around 700 000 objects. Their long-awaited re-opening in 2018 has given the museum a huge boost.

ABBA The Museum

All about ABBA

Are you an ABBA fan? Then don't miss ABBA The Museum, a museum totally dedicated to the infamous Swedish pop group. The museum includes everything from the singers' stage costumes to realistic recreations of the places ABBA worked and visited during their career. You can also listen to an audio tours - narrated by the group members themselves - and try out interactive experiences.

Sjöhistoriska

Intricate model ships and the maritime history of man

If you're an incurable model ship geek, or have a strong interest in how humans have made their way across the world's oceans over the centuries, you're guaranteed to wax lyrical about a visit to Stockholm's Maritime Museum. As well as model ships, art, photographs and objects with a maritime connection you can also visit the museum's temporary exhibitions.

Thielska galleriet

Fairytale art museum

This art museum is beautifully situated on the waterfront at Blockhusudden in Djurgården. The house was built at the turn of the last century for financier Ernest Thiel and his unique art collection. Wander around and discover works by some of Sweden and Scandinavia's most important artists, including Bruno Liljefors, Edvard Munch and Carl Larsson.

Carl Eldhs Ateljémuseum

Complete experience

A beautiful little artist's museum by Brunnsviken on the outskirts of Vasastan. The specially designed wooden house used to be the studio of sculptor Carl Eldh and later became a museum. Go on a guided tour and admire both the sculptures and the house with its wonderful light.

Postmuseum

The history of the Swedish post service

In a beautiful 17th century listed building in the Old Town you'll find Postmuseum, which is regarded as one of the world's leading post museums thanks to its unique and comprehensive history and philatelic collections. Learn about how Sweden and the Swedish postal service has changed since the 17th century. And as well as permanent collections, the museum also occasionally shows temporary exhibitions.

Tom Tits Experiment

Centre for experimentation

At Tom Tits in Södertälje everyone can be a child. Surrounded by masses of interactive experiments, optical illusions and fantastical settings visitors can touch, feel and try out. Experience, for example, the feeling of being weightless in a Space Ball or climb a digital climbing wall. 

Spårvägsmuseet

Stockholm's public transport history

Explore the history of Stockholm's public transportation in a fun and playful way. The transport museum gives you an overview of the development of the city's public transportation from the first horse-drawn trams in 1877 until the present day. The museum is designed to appeal to both children and adults, and don't miss the veteran vehicle section where you can experience the veteran vehicles up close and take a sensory trip back in time

Museums – About the guide

The guide to Stockholm's best museums - Our guide to the best museums in Stockholm is updated regularly. If you know of a great museum in Stockholm that we have not featured in our guide please get in touch. Please also let us know if you find any errors in our guide. Have you visited any of the places mentioned in the guide? Don't forget to write a review on Thatsup.

Send suggestion

Did we miss something in this guide?

At Thatsup, we have extensive experience of guiding our readers to a city’s hidden gems. Since 2008, our editors have been writing insightful guides covering restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, and hairdressers, among other things. Our guides consist of carefully selected tips based on our local knowledge and are regularly updated with the help of our focus group, where we collectively discuss selections and content. We are constantly working to inspire and provide you with the best possible experience, no matter where you are or what you are looking for.