Travel in Sweden
Some of the best things in life are free, and that includes most of Stockholm’s museums. Some of the Swedish capital’s museums even offer free guided tours in English.
The Vasa Museum and the Skansen Museum are Stockholm’s largest and most famous museums, and they still charge admission.
But fully 15 of the Swedish capital’s museums are free. Admission is sometimes charged for special collections or performances.
Museums are open daily, with some museums closing on Mondays and public holidays. Hours vary by the season.
Many of the museums offer guided tours in English and audio tours in various languages. Some are free, other are charged.
Click on the museums’ names below for direct access to their websites for details on permanent collections, temporary exhibitions, performances, dining facilities, how to get there, and other information.
1. Army Museum – Take a walk through Swedish history from 1500 to the present. Daily guided tours in English from June through August.
2. Hallwyl Museum – Enter the palatial residence of Count and Countess Walther and Wilhelmina von Hallwyl.
3. Swedish Museum of History – Check out one of the world’s largest collections of Viking exhibits as well as medieval art.
4. Royal Armoury – Check out 500 years of royal history, from weapons to clothing to household objects.
5. Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities – Experience the aesthetics, culture, and traditions of the Mediterranean.
6. National Museum – The museum is under renovation. There are temporary exhibition spaces in central Stockholm.
7. Swedish Museum of Natural History – Explore the development of the universe and earth. There is a fascinating Discovery Trail for children!
8. Maritime Museum – Sail the Seven Seas, checking out navigational instruments, figureheads, and maritime art. Click Here for Pictures.
9. Skokloster Castle – Explore this palatial baroque castle. One of the most famous paintings from the 16th century can be found in the castle.
10. Royal Coin Cabinet – See how payment evolved from shells to credit cards at Europe’s largest museum of economy.
11. Museum of Ethnography – Public programmes and exhibitions on lifestyles and cultures around the world.
12. Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities – Explore the traditional fine arts of East Asia.
13. Moderna Museet – Check out the exhibitions at the modern museum. There’s always something quirky on display!
14. Architecture and Design – Check out this national centre for architecture and design.
15. Medieval Museum – Explore reconstructed brick warehouses, workshops, and buildings of Medieval Stockholm.
I plan to visit all 15 of these museums while I am in Stockholm. I will add brief comments (and a thumb’s up of a thumb’s down) following each visit.
Click here for information on Insight Guides Sweden.