Museums in Sweden: Best Selection for Campervan Travelers

Two people lean on a black railing that separates them from a huge wooden ship on display in what looks like a naval museum.

blog author By Johanna Hansen shield verification Verified Expert

Embarking on a Sweden road trip in a rental campervan usually evokes images of mirror‑calm lakes and winding coastal highways, but there’s more to discover beyond the landscape.

With its deep historical roots and dynamic cultural scene, museums in Sweden offer the perfect complement to nature’s splendor. From Stockholm’s grand galleries to remote arctic exhibits, each museum becomes a milestone on your journey.

Best museums in Sweden

Whether you’re captivated by the Vasa Museum’s majestic salvaged warship or eager to remix ABBA classics in Djurgården, this guide covers fifteen essential stops. Keep in mind that opening hours, ticket fees and seasonal events can change, so always verify details on each museum’s official site before planning your route.

1. Vasa Museum (Vasamuseet) — Stockholm

The Vasa Museum showcases the only preserved 17th-century warship in the world. Launched in 1628 and sunk in Stockholm harbor just minutes later, the Vasa lay buried in muddy silt until its dramatic recovery in 1961.

Today she stands in a purpose-built, climate-controlled hall on Djurgården, her 226-foot hull ringed by six tiers of walkways that let you study the intricacies of her carved sterncastle and gun ports.

Built for King Gustavus Adolphus’s navy, the Vasa originally carried 64 cannons and a crew of 150; the museum’s audio guides bring their stories to life, from daily routines to the panic as the ship foundered.

Important info:

Admission: High season (May–Sept) 230 SEK; off-peak 195 SEK; under 18 free
Hours: Jun–Aug 8.30 AM–6 PM; Sep–May 10 AM–5 PM (Wednesdays until 8 PM)
Closed: December 24–25

General view of a wooden ship on display at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm.

2. Skansen Open-Air Museum — Stockholm

Founded in 1891 by folklorist Artur Hazelius, Skansen is the world’s first open-air museum and living history park. Over 150 historic buildings, from Gotland cottages to Dalarna farmhouses, have been moved here to preserve regional architecture and folk traditions. Wander cobblestone lanes past artisans weaving wool, baking gingerbread or blowing glass as they have for centuries.

Beyond the village, Skansen’s Nordic wildlife park features moose, brown bears, lynx and reindeer in naturalistic enclosures. Annual festivities, Midsummer maypole dances in June and Lucia candlelit processions in December, draw locals and visitors alike into Sweden’s most cherished customs.

Important info:

Admission: Apr–Sep adults 285 SEK; rest of year 220 SEK; children 4–15 pay 85 SEK; under 4 free
Hours: Jun–Aug 10 AM–6 PM; Sept–Apr weekdays 10 AM–3 PM, weekends 10 AM–4 PM
Closed: Not a single day!

Overview of gardens located at the Skansen Open-Air Museum in Stockholm on a beautiful sunny day.

3. ABBA The Museum — Stockholm

Opened in 2013 on Djurgården Island, ABBA The Museum immerses you in the meteoric rise of Sweden’s most famous pop group. Original stage costumes, gold records and handwritten lyric sheets line the walls, while interactive exhibits let you step into the Polar Studios to record your own cover or perform alongside holograms of Agnetha and Björn on a virtual stage.

Rotating “deep-dive” galleries, like “Mamma Mia! Behind the Movie”, reveal rare behind-the-scenes footage and personal memorabilia, ensuring each visit uncovers fresh insights into ABBA’s artistry and influence.

Important info:

Admission: Timed tickets 239–329 SEK; children (7–15) 100–120 SEK; under 7 free
Hours: Jun–Aug 9 AM–8 PM; the rest of the year varies depending on the dates.
Closed: Not a single day!

Close-up of several mannequins dressed in costumes typical of the musical group ABBA at the museum named after them in Stockholm.

4. Nationalmuseum — Stockholm

Dating to 1792, Nationalmuseum began with King Gustav III’s bequest and has grown into Sweden’s premier art and design repository. After a three-year restoration completed in 2023, the neoclassical palace on Blasieholmen boasts 60,000 sq ft of galleries displaying 500,000 works, from Rembrandt’s chiaroscuro portraits to Goya’s bold etchings and Carl Larsson’s intimate watercolors of family life.

Glass-walled conservation studios let you observe expert restorers at work on centuries-old paintings and delicate textiles. Special exhibitions range from Viking-era gold hoards to digital art installations, making Nationalmuseum a bridge between past and future.

Important info:

Admission: Adults 160 SEK (free under 20); last-hour tickets 80 SEK; free Thursdays 5 PM–8 PM
Hours: Closed Mon; Tue–Wed and Fri–Sun 11 AM–5 PM; Thu 11 AM–8 PM
Closed: Midsummer Eve, Midsummer Day, Dec 24–25, Dec 31

General view of the façade of the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, with a reddish color that simulates exposed brick and curious semicircular arches at the entrance and windows.

5. Moderna Museet — Stockholm

Since 1958, Moderna Museet has led Sweden’s modern-art scene from its striking Skeppsholmen location. Its permanent collection is free to visit and includes groundbreaking works by Picasso, Dalí and Swedish pioneer Hilma af Klint, whose 1906 abstractions predate her more famous contemporaries. The Rafael Moneo–designed galleries flood with natural light, highlighting the bold colors and forms of mid-century avant-garde.

Outside, the sculpture garden offers a serene harbor-view setting for pieces by Alexander Calder, Antony Gormley and Niki de Saint Phalle. Rotating commissions push the boundaries of video, installation and performance art.

Important info:

Admission: General ticket 150 SEK; reduced ticket 120 SEK; under 18 free
Hours: Tue–Friday 10 AM–8 PM; rest of the days until 6 PM; closed Mon
Closed: December 24–25

Overview of the façade of the Moderna Museet in Stockholm with several people sitting in what appears to be a dining room lit by warm light from inside through large windows.

6. Nordiska Museet — Stockholm

Under its soaring copper roof on Djurgården, Nordiska Museet has chronicled Nordic culture since 1873. Its 1.5 million artifacts range from Sami silver jewelry and embroidered bunads to 20th-century IKEA prototypes and contemporary fashion. The “Home Stories” exhibit recreates period interiors from the 1700s through today, complete with authentic furnishings and interactive displays.

Seasonal showcases, like deep dives into sustainable Nordic design or the Sámi Now movement, connect centuries-old traditions to today’s cultural dialogues. A fragrant herb garden and café offer traditional fika with views of the museum’s stately façade.

Important info:

Admission: Adults 170 SEK; seniors (65+) and students (over 19) 150 SEK; under 3 free
Hours: 10 AM–5 PM
Closed: Not a single day!

General view of the building that houses the Nordiska Museet in Stockholm from across a large body of water surrounded by trees, with a few boats moored in front of it.

7. Royal Palace — Stockholm

Built atop the ruins of the medieval Tre Kronor Castle after a 1697 fire, the Baroque Royal Palace remains the monarch’s official residence while housing five distinct museums. Wander through the glittering Royal Apartments, the Treasury’s crown jewels, the Armory’s parade-ready armor and carriages, and the Tre Kronor exhibit detailing the old castle’s vanished chambers.

At noon each day, the Changing of the Guard unfolds in a pageant of drums, fifes and plumed bearskin hats, echoing a tradition that dates back to the Vasa kings. In summer, open-air chamber concerts on the palace terraces add regal ambiance to the waterfront.

Important info:

Admission: 100–200 SEK; combo deals available; under 7 free
Hours: May–Sep 10 AM–5 PM; Oct–Apr 10 AM–4 PM
Closed: December 24–25

Detailed view of one of the rooms in the Royal Palace in Stockholm, featuring several upholstered chairs, enormous paintings with gilded frames, and a mirror in front of which stands a white sculpture.

* Wenn Sie sich nicht sicher sind, wo Sie während Ihres kulturellen Aufenthalts in Stockholm übernachten sollen, sehen Sie sich unseren Guide zu den besten Campingplätzen der Stadt an.

8. City Museum of Gothenburg — Gothenburg

Housed in a former East India Company warehouse on the waterfront, the City Museum of Gothenburg traces the port city’s evolution from its 1621 founding to its modern maritime prominence. Interactive simulators let you steer a virtual 18th-century clipper into port, while archaeologists’ excavations reveal 18th-century tavernware and cobblestone cellar floors beneath the galleries.

Authentic period rooms, shopfronts, parlors and kitchens, are meticulously furnished, and seasonal “Port City” festivals bring costumed interpreters, historic vessels and sea shanties to the quay.

Important info:

Admission: Adults 70 SEK; under 20 free
Hours: Tue & Thu 10 AM–6 PM; Wed 10 AM–8 PM; Fri–Sun 10 AM–5 PM; closed Mon and public holidays
Closed: Mondays and public holidays

Overview of the yellowish façade of the City Museum of Gothenburg contrasting with the blue of the water in front of it and the sky.

9. Flygvapenmuseum (Swedish Air Force Museum) — Linköping

Just off the E4 corridor, Flygvapenmuseum presents over a century of Swedish military aviation in expansive hangars. Admire WWI biplanes, Cold War jets like the Saab 35 Draken and modern JAS 39 Gripen fighters. A reconstructed Cold War command bunker adds historical context, while interactive flight simulators let you pull G-force loops over painted panoramas of Lake Vättern.

Each August, the annual Flygdag airshow sees restored warbirds and aerobatic teams take to the skies, an aerial pageant that brings the museum’s collection vividly to life.

Important info::

Admission: Adults 150 SEK; under 18 free
Hours: Daily 10 AM–5 PM (summer until 6 PM)
Closed: December 25 only

Detailed plan of one of the areas of the Swedish Air Force Museum in Linköping with several light aircraft on display, lined up in a row.

10. Volvo Museum — Gothenburg

On Hisingen Island, the Volvo Museum charts the automaker’s century of innovation, from the 1927 ÖV4 “Jakob” roadster to today’s electric XC40 Recharge. Vintage sedans, trucks and buses line the galleries alongside concept cars and VR crash-test stations that illustrate Volvo’s pioneering safety standards.

Archival sketches and designer notes reveal the Scandinavian design ethos that has defined the brand. Guided “Design Lab” tours delve into future mobility, autonomous systems, and sustainable materials, while the annual Volvo Classic weekend fires up heritage engines on nearby test tracks.

Important info::

Admission: 120–235 SEK; family ticket (2 adults + 3 children) 640 SEK; under 6 free
Hours: Monday–Friday 10 AM–5 PM; Saturday-Sunday 10 AM-4 PM
Closed: December 24–26, 31

Detailed view of one of the areas of the Volvo Museum in Gothenburg with several vintage cars on display in front of a mural with photographs.

11. Tekniska Museet (National Museum of Science & Technology) — Stockholm

Tracing Sweden’s industrial heartbeat since 1936, Tekniska Museet occupies repurposed locomotive sheds on Gärdet. Inside, interactive galleries let you pilot a submarine simulator, program an assembly-line robot and step into a VR reconstruction of the Vasa salvage operation, bringing science and engineering to life.

Recent exhibitions have spotlighted the mobile-phone revolution, showcasing prototypes from Ericsson’s first telephones to today’s 5G innovations, alongside hands-on workshops where visitors can code their own microcontrollers.

Important info:

Admission: Adults 170 SEK; under 7 free
Hours: Daily 9 AM–9 PM
Closed: Not a single day!

Close-up of a child wearing red clothing listening attentively to the instructions of an elderly man in what appears to be a museum.

12. Museum of World Culture (Världskulturmuseet) — Gothemburg

Since opening its bold angular building in 2004, the Museum of World Culture has become a hub for global dialogue. Its immersive installations have tackled everything from the refugee crisis, mapping migration routes in lifelike video corridors, to climate change, where full-scale reconstructions of threatened island villages have brought distant environmental crises home.

Rotating exhibits blend documentary photography, sound art and interactive media to challenge visitors’ perspectives on identity, rights and belonging.

Important info::

Admission: Adults 160 SEK; under 19 free
Hours: Tue–Sun 11 AM–5 PM (Wed until 8 PM)
Closed: Mondays and public holidays

13. Birka Viking Village — Björkö Island

A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993, Birka was Sweden’s earliest major trading center, founded around 750 AD. Today’s reconstructions include longhouses with thatched roofs and smoky hearths, where costumed interpreters demonstrate rune carving, textile weaving and Viking-era smithing.

Visitors can ascend burial mounds to survey the original harbor site, imagining merchant ships laden with furs, silver and amber navigating Lake Mälaren’s waterways.

Important info::

Admission: Strömma ferry; Rederi Mälarstaden boats; Ejdern steamship; water taxi
Hours: May–September daily; October–April weekends only
Closed: Weekdays November–March

Detailed view of black wooden boats moored to a small jetty in a wild setting.

14. Icehotel Experience & Museum — Jukkasjärvi (Lapland)

Each winter since 1989, the Icehotel team harvests crystal-clear blocks from the Torne River to craft 100 art suites, each designed by international and Sami artists. The museum chronicles this ephemeral art form with archival photos of the first volunteer-built igloo and displays of modern mechanized ice-cutting tools.

In summer, guided tours reveal the science behind ice sculpting, from the crystalline structure that makes the walls glow to the thermal properties that keep the suites at -5 °C.

Important info::

Admission: Adults 315 SEK; student/senior 215 SEK; children 0–12 free
Hours: Art exhibition 11 AM–6 PM year-round; ICEBAR varies (see above)
Closed: Not a single day!

View of the interior of one of the bedrooms at Sweden's famous Icehotel, completely covered in ice and illuminated by lights that seem to recreate the northern lights of the area, with a black bed.

15. Uppsala Cathedral & Museum Gustavianum — Uppsala

Dominating Sweden’s oldest university town, Uppsala Cathedral dates to the late 13th century and houses the tombs of medieval kings and relics of Saint Erik, the nation’s patron saint. Adjacent Gustavianum, once an anatomical theatre where 17th-century dissections educated future physicians, now showcases Viking silver hoards discovered under the cathedral floor and Carl Linnaeus’s original herbarium specimens collected in 18th-century Uppsala.

Did you know? The Cathedral’s 18 bells make it Northern Europe’s largest peal, and you can climb the south tower bell stairs for panoramic views of the Fyris River valley.

Important info::

Admission: Free for all visitors
Hours: Daily 8 AM–6 PM
Closed: Not a single day!

Aerial view from outside Uppsala Cathedral showing the grandeur of this reddish building with three big towers

Final Conclusions About Museums in Sweden

As you can see, museums in Sweden are not just repositories of artifacts; they are vibrant centers of learning and inspiration. They reflect the nation's commitment to preserving its heritage and sharing it with the world.

For those planning a road trip, consider enhancing your journey by exploring the country in a rental campervan in Sweden, offering the flexibility to travel at your own pace and immerse yourself in the Swedish landscape. It's an ideal way to create a personalized and memorable museum tour across this beautiful country.