This place was highly recommended in the Eick Steves Scandanavia guide. He was right - thoroughly enjoyed this museum where a 17th century warship is the star attraction. Took a free 25 minute tour - very useful for explaining the history behind the ship and its unfortunate sinking - the Titanic of Sweden. The ship itself is breathtaking! Lovingly restored and hopefully they can keep it around for posterity. There's a nice film to watch that provides additional background. Great multi floor exhibits and viewing platforms for the Vasa. Highly recommend!!! read more

See all

What an amazing experience. I was so looking forward to visiting Vasa prior to getting to Stockholm and it didn't disappoint. What an amazing place to visit. An almost 400 yr old boat 95% intact. The museum itself is keep climate controlled to maintain the temp and humidity. The workers couldn't have been more accommodating. There's an 18 movie you can watch ahead of time that gives you some history of the Vasa. The museum is very clean and loaded with artifacts. A truly great experience. read more

See all

AHHH THIS WAS SO COOL! Our tour guide was very clear and thorough with his explanations so I had a really good understanding of the story. There were plenty of artifacts and the place also displayed a lovely movie. AND HELLO?!? THE SHIP ITSELF?? SO cool. I would love to go back in the future and I think it was a great time to spend my day with my family. read more

Astonishing. Seeing a 17th century ship is astonishing, let alone one which was intended to be amongst the biggest and best. This museum is world-class; design and displays are fascinating and add to experience. Every one deserves at lease a glance. BONUS nice cafe! TIP there's an audio-visual experience recounting a post-disaster inquest which adds a lot to your understanding of why Vasa could've sunk TIP consider riding a ferry; we rode 82 to Slussen. read more

Vasamuseet - There's a cat on the Vasa! - Museums Near Me - Stockholm, Alberta

This was a fabulous museum and one of the highlights during our recent travels to Scandinavia. We arrived before opening and waited outside looking at the Vasa's masts mounted on top of the museum. The replicas were meant to convey just how crazy tall this ship was and I certainly wouldn't be one to work at the top of the rigging! Once inside, we showed our Stockholm Pass QR codes and received a ticket to enter in the museum. Very quick. Once inside, the Vasa just towers over you. It was an amazingly preserved warship that has to be seen in person. We took the first tour of the day and enjoyed the stories and history the guide conveyed to us. Well worth it to get these insights before wandering on each floor to see more up close. Other exhibits included the fateful day of the Vasa sinking, life on board, and more of the artifacts recovered including the sails. Overall we spent two hours here and enjoyed all of it. read more

See all

The Vasa Museum is a can't miss experience when you are in Stockholm. It's a 10-star experience on a five-point scale. The story of the Vasa, a huge Viking Ship starts in the 1600's. It was built from 1626 and 1628. On August 10, 1628 it set sail for the very first time. After sailing for 1400 yards, it tipped over and sunk. The ship was discovered in the 1950's and was surfaced 1961. The one lucky thing about the Vasa was that it sank in one of the few ocean environments that would have completely dissolved the ship. The Vasa sank in the Baltic Sea's cold, low-salinity, and oxygen-poor water, which prevented wood-eating shipworms from infesting the ship. This was due to it sinking close to Stockholm where the ocean meets fresh water. After being salvaged, it was preserved through a 17-year process of spraying the wood with a water-soluble wax called polyethylene glycol (PEG) to prevent it from drying out and cracking, and the ship is now in a climate-controlled environment. Although the wood was preserved, much of the iron which held it together rusted, so the restoration took decades. Because of the fact that it was salvaged in tack at a time when the knowledge and technology existed to preserve and restore the ship, it is like a time travel back to the 1600's. Although the museum opened in 1990, there was still decades of more restoration, it is now ready for prime time. The museum includes the restored ship (which is HUGE), models of what it looked like originally (all of the wood carvings were brightly colored), a full scale model of the front of the ship that you can walk through, the original clothes and artifacts that were found intact on the ship, and multiple exhibits. Why did the ship sink in the first place? The king insisted that an additional level be added to the original design, making it obviously top heavy. However, back in the 1600's to disagree with the King meant instant death, so even though the architects knew it couldn't stay afloat, no told the king, Gustavus Adolphus. read more

See all

The Vasa Museum is built around a 17th-century warship that sank on its maiden voyage and was salvaged centuries later. Seeing it up close is striking, detailed, and well-preserved. The exhibits are clear and engaging, with just the right amount of context. Perfect for a rainy day. It was very crowded when we left, so reserve tickets ahead if you can. Overall, definitely worth the visit if you're in Stockholm. read more

See all

This was one of the most interesting museums I've ever been to. My initial thought was, how much content could there be for a museum about just one boat? Well tons! They found a way to highlight so many aspects of this ship's short journey. The museum touches on the passengers, the construction, the history and the unfortunate fate of the ship's maiden voyage among many other aspects. This museum is well worth your time. read more

See all

They have a giant ship here Still quite a lot to see. I recommend looking at the short video in the theater room. A lot of the things here are the ship art and relics. Just like the museum next door contains a lot of reading. read more

See all

I almost did not go to the Vasa museum, because it was a long walk from the hotel and how interesting can an old ship be? I bought a ticket in advance to try and avoid a long line. The timed ticket entry says 10:00 am when the museum opens, but in the museum FAQ, you can show up any time and we got there around 11:00 am and it was fine. However there was only one line to enter, so buying a ticket (and printing it) ahead of time just allowed them to scan my tickets and enter, but we were still in the same line as the people buying tickets. Fortunately, it was a short line that went quickly. I just didn't want to walk all the way and find that we could not get in the museum since it was sold out or at capacity, but this was April/non-peak time on a Saturday, and it was fine. When you enter the dark museum and see the old ship towering above you, it is definitely impressive with the height and intricate wood carvings. See when the next introduction movie plays in your language of choice to watch first and grab a brochure in your language. The signs are also in English which was really nice. Some people rented audio guides, but we just read the placards. The movie explains what was happening in Sweden when the ship was created and how the King wanted an extra row / a third of cannons on the Vasa ship. A few days later we were in Copenhagen and saw a Danish model ship with three rows/ levels of cannons, so I can see why the King in Sweden wanted a third level. We were in the museum for around 3.5 hours, so yes, an old ship and its engineering and recovery, seeing a painted replica of what the carvings looked like, artifacts and skeletons recovered, getting insight into life was like as a sailor or officer, the technology used to restore the ship, and the cool Infrared light which showed you and your heat you are emitting all made for a very interesting and enjoyable day. There are bathrooms and a nice cafe with healthier than American food choices plus pastries. I think you could have a nice lunch at the cafe, but we just had our Fika/coffee break to keep us going. Other than the cafe, there was not a lot of chairs to rest your feet or if you are mobility impaired. Downstairs was an amphitheater seating area where I rested up after being there 3 hours. There were several floors to the museum which was great in it allowed you to get closer to the ship to see the detail. I am assuming there was an elevator somewhere, but just know there are stairs with plenty to see on each level. read more

See all

What a beautiful museum. So much history and a fun experience overall. I couldn't take my eyes off this beautiful ship. I enjoyed the video they offer in so many languages so everyone can enjoy. A must see. read more

Vasamuseet - Breathtaking! A must see when in Stockholm. - Museums Near Me - Stockholm, Alberta

Absolutely cannot miss. One of the most fascinating museums I have ever visited. It brings history to life in a way I didn't know possible. Get there early to avoid lines and it's actually easier to buy tickets day of. read more

See all

Spectacular preservation of the Vasa ship and the history. Definitely worth the visit if you're in Stockholm. You got to see this in person! read more

See all

So much history, lots to see in this museum, it is more than just a warship that tragically drowned. They show a short film in 17mins intervals so check the times and languages before visiting. We got lucky we arrived just in time for the English version, and learned a lot about the making of the ship. read more

Vasamuseet - Museums Near Me - Stockholm, Alberta

Entirely devoted to unpacking the history around the best-preserved old Viking ship, the Vasa Museum is an absolute must when visiting Stockholm. Located near the southeast edge of the island of Djurgården, Vasa is easiest to get to via public transit/bus from the main part of Stockholm (~10 min ride from Östermalm). Tickets for the museum are roughly $24 usd (230 sek) and are easy to buy online with delivery electronically to your phone or at the museum. The main entrance brings you to level 4 (out of 7, but the first floor isn't part of the museum). You can see the main part of the ship immediately, but beware the ship is HUGE and spans 7 floors total for height. There's a recommended roughly 20 minute introductory film to see first. It runs in multiple languages (with English subtitles) and also in English three times an hour. The film was super interesting and gave a good overview of the history and significance of the initial difficulty of finding the Vasa and then pulling it above ground and starting the long process of preservation and restoration. After the film, there are a few options for perusing the actual ship & museum: a recommended ~ 25 minute guided tour (offered on the half hour and hour) around level 4, an audio guide that covers each exhibit across the 6 main floors of the museum, or just walking around, reading the exhibit cards and watching short films where offered. I did all three but a note on the audio guide: it streams from their website via your phone (there is free WiFi for this), so you might want bring your own headphones for this option. I enjoyed the guided tour best - our guide was lively, a total nerd about the history of it, and told us each guide would put their own spin on the tour so encouraged us to feel feee to attend other guided tours! It's easy to access the museum via stairs or a gigantic elevator, but beware there's sometimes a wait for the elevator. Each floor gives you a different unique vantage point of the ship and are themed to showcase different aspects of it; floor 4 (main entrance) showcases the highlights of the history and architecture, floor 7 mostly gives you a majestic view from the top of the ship, floor 6 goes more in depth to the architecture, floor 5 (my favorite) gives you insight to life on board, floor 3 talks about Sweden during the 1600s, and floor 2 goes in depth to the rebuilding process. I spent 2-3 hours going through the museum. On a rainy weekday in May, it was certainly crowded, despite getting there shortly after opening, filled with school groups and tourists, but still felt comfortable and I only had to wait a couple of minutes max to use the restroom. I didn't partake in the cafe but the gift shop had some nice artsy tote bags and the like. Overall this is an incredibly well curated and interesting way to see a very unique piece of Scandinavian history. Even if you're not keen on history, I'd highly encourage anyone visiting to check this spot out and get a chuckle out of the story behind the sinking and be impressed by just how cool this ship is in person! read more

See all

This was our first day in Stockholm and we came here after a friend recommended it. It was wonderful! HUGE, breathtaking, a must see. read more

Vasamuseet - Museums Near Me - Stockholm, Alberta

In 1623, the pride of the Swedish fleet was unveiled after 2 years under construction. It made it about 1000m on its maiden voyage, capsized, and sank! There it sat in 150m of water till about 1960 when it was raised and conserved. The Vasa Museum is a must see! The Vasa was a time capsule that gave an unprecedented view into the 1600s. It is well preserved and displayed. The side exhibits re fascinating. The size and workmanship of the vessel is amazing. read more

Vasamuseet - Breathtaking! - Museums Near Me - Stockholm, Alberta

I do love history and I have to say that the Vasamuseet did not disappoint! To be honest I went in with low expectations (I mean how much can you say about a boat that sank 300 years ago), but this place quickly changed my perspective. It is a museum that is well thought out from it outside design that resembles a ship to the way it is laid out inside. It has many different artifacts from the time period and gives a in-depth look at all aspects of the history surrounding the ship that only sailed 1,500 meters! This place is a definite stop for those who love history! read more

When we visited Stockholm for a few days last week, the Vasa Museum was one of our first stops. We'd heard amazing things and knew we had to visit. The Vasa Museum is a maritime museum famous for displaying ... you guessed it ... the Vasa. The Vasa was a Swedish warship, built on the orders of the King of Sweden Gustavus Adolphus in 1627. Richly decorated and intended for as a symbol of Sweden's strength, the ship sank 1,300 meters into her maiden voyage (the ship was unstable with too much weight in the upper part of the hull and sank due to wind). The ship sat at the bottom of Stockholm harbor until it was salvaged 333 years after its sinking in 1961. In the years since, the ship has been preserved and restored, with 90% of the ship being original. The museum is a must see if you're visiting Stockholm for the first time. It's incredible. The scale and sheer size of the ship is stunning. And the displays throughout the museum are helpful in explaining Swedish history and the history of the Vasa (from its construction to its recovery. And the various viewpoints provide amazing views of various parts of the ship (including the upper deck). It's a unique museum (I heard someone describe it as the only museum dedicated to a country's worst military failure) and was a wonderful introduction to Stockholm and Sweden as our first stop on the trip. read more

See all

Was told prior to coming to Stockholm that this museum was a "not to miss". That was an accurate statement. The sheer size of the ship was worth the entrance fee. It was also kind of neat that the museum was built around the ship, so when your toured the museum, every floor was basically a different level of the ship to see. Reading about the history was also very interesting. Will note that, since it seems to be a popular place, lines form early and gets crowded quickly. My group went right at opening, which I think was a benefit. We also had pre-purchased tickets, so we could walk right in, instead of stand in the long line for tickets. I would definitely agree this is a not to miss place, just plan a visit appropriately. read more

See all

I find it pretty remarkable that they were able to rescue this ship from the sea floor and restore it to the condition seen here. This museum was very crowded, and it's clear why it's so popular. read more

See all

One of my friends highly recommended the museum, so I decided to check it out. It is probably one of the most visited museum in Stockholm, but I was a little disappointed. The nearby Nordic Museum seemed to be more interesting. Also, the entry fee of $17 was a little steep just to see a ship and some memorabilia. The Vasa ship was certainly vast, ornately decorated, and impressive to gaze upon. It was cool to learn that the reason the vessel was preserved so well was because it was in the Baltic Sea, which is made up of both salt and fresh water. There were 3 different levels, so you can look at the ship from below, level, as well as above, which was kind of cool. There were additional little exhibits to give more details about the tragedy of the ship sinking, along with skeletons, and more information about the people who were on the boat. There were also 2 videos that showcased what happened ~ One for grown ups, as well as one for children. Overall it was pretty interesting, but 1 visit was enough and I wouldn't return. read more

See all

The Vasa Museum is quite interesting for any history buff, but even the general tourist will be wowed by the ship housed here. It doesn't hold the same expedition legends as you'll learn about at the Fram Museum, but the details of how this ship was recovered and restored are extraordinary. read more

See all

So much more than a museum about a sunken ship! You can also explore the culture during the time of the Vasa's creation, people recreated from the unearthed skeletons and handle tools of battle. The building provides an excellent layout to spread the masses of people and tour groups. Details are brilliant-- from a hands-on game of how to steer a boat to display samples of some of the 1000 pigments it took to paint the vessel. Highly recommended! read more

Vasamuseet - 1000 pigments were used to decorate the Vasa! - Museums Near Me - Stockholm, Alberta

What an incredible museum this is! Definitely one of the top attractions in Stockholm. Do not miss this museum. You don't need a lot of time here. 45 minutes is plenty enough. The entire museum is built around the Vasa which sank on it's maiden voyage back in 1628. The boat has been re-surfaced and painstakingly refurbished to its former glory. The boat is a masterpiece. It's a feast for the eyes in grandeur and detail. It's mind boggling to think how they could produce such a feat of engineering such a long time ago. Aside from admiring the boat, you can see the small displays showcasing what life on the boat was like. The Vasa museum is closely situated to the Nodiska Museet, the Viking Museum and the ABBA Museum. read more

See all

One of the coolest museums I've been to! Not only is there a massive ship in the museum but also detailed history about the ship and Swedish maritime history! read more

See all

Went on a Saturday and it was crowded. Tour groups and kids on field trips. Even with the crowd, a really cool museum to go through and learn the various elements of ship life and after math. An added plus is that the museum is very well air conditioned. We spent about 2 hours in the museum. read more

See all

Probably the number one thing to visit in Stockholm, the Vasa Museum tells the tale of this amazing warship that sank in Stockholm harbor three hundred years ago and was salvaged, repaired and put on display. There's quite a lot to see here and you can expect to spend at least an hour at a minimum if you rush and closer to three or four hours if you're doing it proper justice. Start with the movie in the welcome center to learn the history of the ship that includes some animation to recreate the circumstances of the construction and sinking that continues through the recovery and repairs through to the current day and the ship on display. Once that's complete, take the lift to the top floor and wind your way down through the various displays that discuss what life would have been like on the ship (it was only afloat for a half hour!), how it was salvaged and the repairs, and what life was like in 17th century Sweden. There is tremendous attention to detail throughout the exhibit for enjoyment. Of course, there's a gift shop and while they have lots of very expensive stuff to purchase, there are some smaller and less expensive for the people like myself. I had a great time and have no trouble with a five star review here. Don't miss this museum in Stockholm. [Review 18135 overall - 20 in Sweden - 1657 of 2022.] read more

See all

Vasa museum I would have to say is one of the landmarks for Sweden and one of the museums that tourists/visitors has to go and see. There's just so much to see other than the extremely detailed and well preserved huge ship that they have housed the building around. There's also artifacts that they found throughout the excavation to also include in the museum. When walking in, you have the option to watch an introductory short film about how the ship was discovered and what they did to preserve and also restore the ship. They knew exactly when this ship sank and why it sank and that's all explained in the movie. There's specific showtimes depending on the language you want to hear the story in. I would say that the English version came on every half hour or so? I'll save the tons of photos that I have of this place, because it's just better if you go there and see it yourself. All the photos in the world does not do it justice as far as the size of the ship and even just the building that you're standing in that encompasses it. I would say if you have the chance and you're a history buff or want to see a massive ship, that this museum is a definite visit. I would say you could spend at least half a day if you wanted to read everything here. We were here for a solid 3 hours and we just walked around and glimpsed at everything. I would say you can stay for around 3-6 hours dependent on how interested you are in the subject. read more

Vasamuseet - Museums Near Me - Stockholm, Alberta

With limited time in Stockholm, I decided to come to this museum upon the high recommendation of my cousin and various friends. This ship and its story is phenomenal! There is an overpowering sense of all and wonder when you see the ship for the first time, the fact that the ship has a funny story of sinking after fifteen minutes and its importance in internationally renowned preservation techniques only enhances the experience. Aside from the gorgeous ship, and the thoughtfully prepared exhibits including life on board the ships, I would say one of the best aspect was the guided tour in which you're given insight into more details about the ship, it's significance in Denmark history, and tasks of preservation. I also enjoyed the quick movie that they offer. Vasamuseet is exceptionally busy! There are tons of tourists. That is the primary downside because it's challenging to get photos and see each exhibit with the sheer volume. Given its history, the crowds are certainly warranted and I highly recommend coming here. There is a reasonably sized museum shop if that interests you, and a separate exhibit for children with ship models comprised of Legos. read more

Vasamuseet - Museums Near Me - Stockholm, Alberta

One of the coolest museums I've ever visited. They built the museum around a sunken ship that was preserved for hundreds of years in the brackish water outside Stockholm. A centrally-located must-visit. read more

Excellent maritime museum in Stockholm. This is another place I visited during my European travels many years ago. Today's word for our history lesson is "hubris". The Vasa is a huge old warship built for the Swedish Navy around 1626. It was a work of art, beautiful, very expensive to construct and intimidating to behold. Unfortunately it was also poorly engineered and so overladen with cannons that it was very unstable. Shortly after it was launched, it simply rolled over in Stockholm Harbor and sank. Skip ahead to 1961, and engineering was a bit better. Sweden rediscovered the old wreck, which was very well preserved in the cold water and muck and managed to raise it. Then the Vasa spent about 25 years in a temporary museum before being moved to the current location. This is a huge ship and it's entirely enclosed in the museum building itself. I'm reminded a bit of the old submarine enclosed in the Museum of Science and Industry here in Chicago... It's a similarly large project but very well done and the ship is well maintained in climate control. I recall at one point they had special limited tours where you could go on the ship, I did not do this. If you are in Stockholm and looking for something to do for 2-3 hours, you can do a lot worse than Vasa Museum. They do have other exhibits besides the ship, too. read more

Incredible!! The sheer magnitude of this endeavor is unbelievable, especially considering the timeframes involved. Really read about this ship, how it was found, recovered and restored while you're there. It really makes it remarkable what was achieved. An absolute must while in Stockholm. It can be very crowded, and I recommend about two hours, but I could have spent four. Even if you find stuff like this boring, try an immerse yourself in it. Amazing job! read more

Vasamuseet - Some of the incredible detailed woodworking - Museums Near Me - Stockholm, Alberta

See all

The ship was truly a spectacular sight to behold. There were numerous levels to see as much of it as possible. The explanations were insightful and the movie about it was well done. A must to see read more

Amazingly well preserved ship that was sunken on its maiden voyage. Great free tour. Definitely worth a visit when in Stockholm! read more

Vasamuseet - Museums Near Me - Stockholm, Alberta

See all

If you are in Stockholm for a limited amount of time, I would definitely recommend the Vasa museum as a must visit. The ship is super impressive and the information on the restoration project and archaeological findings of the ship was detailed. This is not a viking ship, but a ship from the 17th century that sank on its maiden voyage. read more

If you go to one museum in Stockholm, make it this one. When I went, I thought there wouldn't be a lot to see, because it was about one ship, but I was so wrong. This is a thoughtful, engaging, and comprehensive with so many details about the Vasa warship and what went wrong. Such a fitting memorial to those who perished in the accident. Highly recommend setting aside several hours so you can spend as much time on each exhibit. Not many people know this, but you can take one of the elevators to the 7th floor -- the lookout point! Do that and you can see the ship from the highest point in the museum. Pretty cool and a great view. read more

6 years later and Yelp prompted me to finish the below review. A colleague of mine described this as "an exhibit of Sweden's greatest military failure." The Vasa was commissioned back in the 17th century by Sweden's king for a war against Poland, but never made it out to sea. Instead, it fell victim to wind and poor design, sinking to the bottom of one of Stockholm's rivers. Despite that, the ship was recovered in the 20th century in well-preserved condition, allowing tourists like myself to admire the many fine details of renaissance shipbuilding. It was remarkable to see this craftsmanship up close and personal and also appreciate such a monumental part of the country's history. read more

See all

An extraordinary museum as well as an amazing achievement by the men and women who salvaged and preserved this magnificent ship. If you are in Stockholm, this is a must see. The museum's attention to detail and wealth of information is remarkable. Combine a visit to the Vasa Museum with other nearby exceptional museums for a memorable experience. read more

Vasamuseet - Museums Near Me - Stockholm, Alberta

See all

While this museum doesn't take too long to go through, it's still incredibly interesting to visit! There's a great video that describes how this ship ended up at the bottom of the ocean, and then the incredible way they brought it back and restored it! While I don't think little kids would like the museum, adults will definitely think it's cool and it's amazing the sheer size of the vessel. read more