Stockholm
on a shoestRiNg

Vasa Museum – a must see in Stockholm!

If you are only going to visit one museum in Stockholm, this needs to be it!

Vasamuseet (The Vasa Museum) houses the complete ship-wreck of the warship Vasa which sank on her maiden voyage in 1628, a mere few hundred metres from its dock. The irony surrounding the lengths the Swedes have gone to in order to salvage, house and display this failure of a vessel in itself is quite amusing! But we’re not complaining because the Vasa ship, housed in the Vasamuseet, stands in all its glory and truly is a sight to behold.

The Vasa Museum is said to be the most visited museum in Scandanavia and it is not difficult to see why: Due to the conditions of the baltic sea and the fact that it was not damaged in battle or by storms, Vasa remained largely intact after it sunk, allowing her to be recovered and restored in 1961.

Entry to this museum includes a short film detailing the history of Vasa from her maiden voyage and sinking, as well as her salvage and restoration.  Should you wish to have a guided tour, these are also available as well as many hands on exhibitions around the museum which are well equipped for both adults and children alike.  (Both the video and tours operate in many different languages – times are listed on a schedule inside the museum.)

Discount cards and Vasa on a budget:

Entry at the time of writing costs 130SEK for adults.  However, there are a couple of ways to be thrifty when visiting Vasa.

Firstly, if you plan on visiting several museums during your time in Stockholm, why not get the Stockholm Visitor Card – this is a great option to see Stockholm’s museums on a budget (the card includes free travel around the city too).

Alternatively, if you plan to visit the Vasa museum more than once in a year, it makes sense to become a silver member (200SEK) and you can then visit as many times as you like for free (this is great value option for us as it means we can visit with friends who come to stay).  Vasamuseet also offers a gold membership with additional benefits including reduced entry fees for any people who accompany you and a discount in the museum shop.

Location: Galärvarvsvägen 14, Djurgården, Stockholm
Nearest Tube: Karlaplan (Red Line)
Opening Times:
1 June – 31 August: Everyday 8:30-18:00,
1 September – 31 May:  Every day 10.00-17.00, Wednesdays 10.00-20.00

To find out more about the history surrounding Vasa, visit their website or why not just take a trip to the museum.