Stockholm Museums: Honest Insights into My 4 Must-Sees

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Stockholm Museums: Not Just for Rainy Days

Stockholm City is rich in history, culture, and yes, meatballs (among other equally, if not more delicious food). They also have a mind-boggling (for a non-European) selection of museums that cater to a wide range of interests.

Whether you’re fascinated by royal life, the Nobel Prize, Nordic traditions, contemporary art, maritime history, alcohol, or even ABBA, Stockholm City has a museum for you!

They also offer a well-rounded experience and something to look forward to. Museums in Stockholm are not just a backup attraction or somewhere you end up on a rainy (or snowy) day. There was so much to choose from that we had difficulty narrowing it down. But with only 3 days in Stockholm during our Nordic trip, we had to make some tough calls.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the 4 Stockholm Museums that made it into our itinerary and what makes each a must-see! Whether you’re only looking for the visitor information, or my in-depth take into each location, I’ve got you!

Although if you thought my 1 day in Helsinki was jam-packed, just wait until you see my Stockholm itinerary…

DISCLAIMER: Please note that the hours & location listed were based on my visit in February 2025. Most, if not all, museums have seasonal hours & admission fees. I have links to each museum’s relevant page so you can find the most up-to-date information! But most importantly, 3 out of 4 of these locations only accepted card payment – absolutely no cash!

The Royal Palace is located in the island of Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s oldest settlement. It functions as a working palace and a museum, and much of it is open year-round to visitors. But since it’s also technically a workplace, there might be times when certain areas (especially the various apartments) would be closed to the public.

If you simply want to walk around inside one of the largest palaces in Europe for the vibes, look at shiny things in the Treasury, or simply admire its Baroque style architecture, then the Royal Palace is a must-see!

But if you want to see specific apartments, the Royal Chapel, or the treasury, I highly recommend that you check out their website to see if one or more areas are closed during your travel dates. During our visit, some parts of the palace were being renovated, and I believe the treasury might’ve been closed, and there might’ve been an event in the Royal Chapel (there were some formally dressed people, so I’m just assuming). Though to be honest, the treasury and chapel weren’t high priorities for us.

The Storkyrkan Cathedral requires an admission fee to view the contained artifacts and a statue of St. George & the Dragon. If you’re interested in the statue, fortunately for you, there’s a twin/accompanying St. George & the Dragon statue about a 5-minute walk away, at Köpmantorget, 111 31 Stockholm, Sweden.

Located next to the Storkyrkan Cathedral (to your right if you’re standing between the Obelisk and the Cathedral) is the Yttre borggården (Parade Square). Here, you can admire more of the palace’s exterior or, if you come at the right time, watch the 40-minute-long Changing of the Guard.

The Changing of the Guard wasn’t something I got to see (unfortunately) since we were there during Winter and on a Monday. But if watching it is a priority for you, I looked up the Changing of the Guard schedule so you can plan accordingly. I’m gonna go ahead and guess it can get busy, so maybe arrive early if you want a good view!

Finally, that aforementioned twin/accompanying St. George & The Dragon statue is located a short 5-minute walk from the Storkyrkan Cathedral. Along the way, you’ll most likely see the Nobel Prize Museum (which we skipped).

The Nordic Museum is the largest on this list, and also Sweden’s largest museum dedicated to cultural history. They showcase the life and people of the Nordic region over the past 500 years, housing extensive collections that reflect Nordic life, traditions, practices, and even fashion!

Looming over tourists, nearby buildings, and even trees, the imposing architecture of the Nordic Museum is already impressive from the outside. Especially in Winter, without any leaves to partially obscure it. We got a glimpse of its spires before even crossing the Djurgården Bridge, then bam, museum. We haven’t even gone inside, and I’m already impressed.

Don’t worry: the inside (and the exhibits) were equally, if not more impressive.

My favorite part was, as strange as it sounds, the sheer amount of texture from the variety of displays. It sounds odd, but hear me out: Texture is a seemingly insignificant detail that most of us take for granted. Viewing art (especially paintings, sculpture, and clothing) digitally won’t have the same impact as seeing the texture of brush strokes, carvings, and embroidery in person. It’s why I could never imagine opting for a virtual tour over visiting in person, given the opportunity (& finances).

Going through their permanent exhibit, the “Nordic Life,” feels as if you’ve gone through a time machine. It showcases the evolution of Nordic culture through a collection of everyday objects like plates, shoes, and tools. I walked through displays that went from simple utilitarian design, rough carvings, ornate noble clothing, the Cafe and Fika culture, and the seeds to the eventual rise of Scandinavian minimalism in Sweden (which gave us IKEA, by the way).

That’s honestly not even scratching the surface of what they have on display!

First off, you might be asking, “What is the Vasa?” Well, the Vasa was a 17th-century warship that’s almost entirely intact. It’s a powerful statement of maritime power, and the intricate carvings that cover the entire ship offer a very detailed glimpse into 17th-century craftsmanship and shipbuilding.

Next, you might ask, “How is it preserved so well and kept intact all this time?” This was thanks to the unique conditions of the Baltic Sea, where it sank, as well as its sunken location within a sheltered harbor. Oh, and also, it sank about 20-ish minutes into its maiden voyage. So that helped a ton…

Salvaged in 1961, conserved, and meticulously restored with as much original material as possible. Highlights include the ship’s history, retrieval, and the ongoing steps to preserve this part of Swedish history.

Visiting as we did in February 2025, they were still in the process of installing a new support structure. Luckily, we were still able to see most, if not the entire, museum. Admittedly, I didn’t look around that intensely on the ground floor since the top floor had more interesting displays.

I’m uncertain if they would eventually close or partition some areas the further along they get. According to the website, the goal is to finish the installation of the new support structure just in time for the ship’s 400th anniversary in 2028! So if you’re a fan of maritime history or you just like anniversaries, keep an eye on their website to plan your future visit accordingly.

The most technologically forward out of the 4 options, but also the smallest. Though that’s not to say they have the least to offer – on the contrary, the Museum of Wrecks has managed to pack quite a lot of intrigue in a delightfully compact package!

Despite being called The Museum of Wrecks and covering the maritime incidents across a (surprisingly long) period, its exhibits are not as depressing as it sounds.

I loved how they combined virtual reality, holograms, and short films to bring history – and the Baltic Sea itself! – to life. No, really, they have an immersive exhibit that offers a unique perspective through the personification of the Baltic Sea. It’s called the Sea of Memories, and it was one of my favorite exhibits there.

My other favorite (which later became a…complicated favorite part) was The Assignment, an exhibit on underwater archeology. I loved how interactive it was getting to touch some of the display, and experiencing what its like to be a maritime archeologist with a VR headset… at least, I loved it until I realized a couple days later (when I was already in Oslo) that my sudden pinkeye was most likely from there.

To be fair, I’m not entirely 100% certain it’s from the VR headset – after all, my husband and our friend who also played didn’t get infected. But it was pretty much the only thing I put to my face, outside of hotel towels, after showering. I suppose with my luck, I just managed to choose the 1 of maybe 6 headsets that was infected… I regretted not bringing my own alcohol spray during that trip.

Potential pinkeye source aside, the Museum of Wrecks was a surprisingly pleasant and intriguing stop, especially since it wasn’t on our plan. But when we found out about the combination ticket at the Vasa Museum, we just rolled with it. I would still recommend it, though maybe look for disinfecting wipes or bring your own before using the VR headset…

Are These Museums Worth It?

Yes, visiting any of these 4 museums would be worth it. Individually, any of these museums offers a deep dive (pun intended!) into different aspects of Sweden’s rich history, culture, and heritage.

But if you want a fuller picture, exploring all 4 ensures you get a comprehensive understanding of Swedish culture. Whether you’re a history buff, a casual tourist, a museum lover, or even going along with the group, there’s literally so much information and points of interest in all 4 museums, you’ll most likely find something to enjoy.

If you enjoy immersing yourself in the history or culture of your destination, any of these museums would be worth enjoying in person. Regardless, there’s still plenty of views & attractions to enjoy in Stockholm without having to step inside (and paying for) a museum.

On the other hand, if you’re on a budget and looking to get the most bang for your buck, I recommend prioritizing the Nordic Museum. After that, in order of priority: the Vasa and/or Vrak Museums (Vasa if you prefer a traditional museum, Vrak if you prefer an interactive museum), then finally, the Royal Palace. Even then, the palace is still gorgeous (and free) to view from the outside.