Eden Fite

Coming up with a list of the best museums in Stockholm was no easy task. Any past visitor to the city can tell you the list of incredible museums here in Stockholm is a long one.

To be honest, I’m normally not the kind of person you’d find raving about museums after visiting a new city, but Stockholm isn’t like most other cities.

Upon visiting the city you’ll find Stockholm has an impressive art scene which is well represented in the city’s streets, museums, and even subway stations.

Those of you planning to stick around a while will have plenty of opportunities to experience the city’s best art, whether that be via curated exhibits in museums, or via street art in the city’s local neighborhoods and metro stations.

For those of you with less time to spend, this list of the best museums in Stockholm will help you make the most of your time while in the city.

Some of the links in the post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links it helps to support this site at no extra cost to you.

The Best Museums in Stockholm Sweden

This guide to the best museums in Stockholm is based on my own personal experience during my recent visit to the Swedish capital.

This list is by nature, very subjective. However, I think you’ll agree these museums are all worth a visit during a first trip to Sweden.

The list below lists my favorite museums in the city starting with the one I most recommend, the Vasa Museum.

No matter which museums you visit, I hope you have a fantastic time exploring Stockholm on your first visit. This city is a lot of fun and I’m sure you’re in for a great time.

Stockholm City Pass

Those of you planning to be in the city for more than a day or two may wish to consider purchasing the Stockholm City Pass.

The city pass will get you into the museums down below along with a variety of other city attractions. The pass is a good way to save on admission costs if you’re planning on doing lots of sightseeing.

Vasa Museum

The Vasa Museum was hands down my favorite Swedish museum. The museum is the home of a real life Viking ship that you honestly have to see to believe.

The 17th century ship sunk off the coast of Stockholm in 1628, and remained under water for over 300 years. In 1961 the Vasa was pulled up from the bottom of the ocean and underwent many years of restoration.

Today, visitors to the Vasa Museum can view the entire massive ship in its entirety from all angles. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn about this history of the ship and what life would have been like on the ship back in the 17th century.

The Vasa Museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Price of admission varies depending on season.

Nordic Museum

Stockholm’s Nordic Museum, also known as the Nordiska Museet, is located a short walk from the Vasa Museum mentioned above. You could easily visit both these museums in the same afternoon.

The Nordic Museum features exhibitions on Nordic culture and history and is Sweden’s largest museum of cultural history. The museum was also recently nominated for Europe’s Museum of the Year award.

Current exhibitions at the Nordic Museum include Paris of the North, The Arctic – While the Ice is Melting, and British – Ever So Nordic.

Exhibitions often rotate throughout the year, be sure to check their website prior to your visit.

The Nordic Museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. Cost of admission varies.

Fotografiska

Fotografiska Stockholm is located in the city’s artsy Sodermalm neighborhood. This was one of my favorite museums in Stockholm and features unique photography exhibits focusing on a wide variety of topics.

If you’re a photographer, or fan of photography, this museum is a must visit. They currently have a very cute collection of photographs featuring dogs called The Pet Show, which runs through February 13, 2022.

The exhibitions here are next level amazing. Don’t miss this one if you can help it.

Fotografiska Stockholm is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Price of admission varies depending on your age and the day of your visit.

Abba Museum

If you’re a fan of the pop group Abba don’t miss your chance to visit ABBA The Museum. This museum is located in the same area as the Vasa Museum and Nordic Museum, so you could spend a few hours and just see them all if you’re interested.

ABBA The Museum is an immersive experience where you can virtually try on ABBA costumes, sing and play along with their music, or even perform on stage with the band members.

This is a really fun museum experience and I recommend a visit even if you’re not a huge ABBA fan. It’s a unique museum and definitely worth exploring for a bit.

ABBA The Museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission prices vary.

Nobel Prize Museum

The Nobel Prize Museum is one of the most popular Stockholm museums and is located in the city’s historic Gamla Stan area. The museum tells the history of the Nobel Prize and takes visitors through the nomination process and the process for selecting annual winners.

You can also see the annual Nobel Prize winners throughout the years and learn about their achievements that led to their nominations and eventual winning of the prize.

I found this museum to be both educational and inspiring. It’s an easy visit while exploring the Stockholm historic center.

The Nobel Prize Museum is open Thursday to Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Cost of admission varies.

Skansen Stockholm

Skansen is a Swedish history and culture museum located about a 10 minute walk from the Vasa Museum. Notably, it is also the largest open air museum in the world.

Visitors to Skansen will learn about traditional and rural living in Sweden from centuries past. You’ll also have the opportunity to view homesteads and farmhouses from around the country.

Skansen is open daily from 10:00n a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Cost of admission varies.

Bonus: Stockholm Metro Stations

If you’re looking for art outside the city’s museums, look no further than the Stockholm metro stations.

Stockholm’s metro stations are each designed in a unique way and feature unique murals, paintings, and sculptures.

The city’s metro stations open early and close late, so you can squeeze in a visit whenever you find the time.

Here are a few of Stockholm’s artsiest metro stations:

• T-Centralen Station
• Solna Centrum Station
• Tensta Station
• tadion Station (pictured above)

For the best photo opportunities, arrive very early or very late. I managed the photo above at about 6:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning.

Other Museums in Stockholm

If you’re on a mission to see every national museum in Sweden, here are a few more options to keep you busy.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to the Best Museums in Stockholm and that I’ve helped you plan a trip you’ll love. If you’d like to support this blog please consider sharing this post. Thanks for reading.

Stockholm in winter is always a good idea in my opinion. Sure, you’ll need to bundle up so you don’t freeze to death while you’re out exploring, but it’s worth cramming those extra clothing layers in your suitcase, I promise.

I just returned from a visit to Stockholm myself and ended up loving this city so much. To be honest, I had not done much research before my trip, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I assure you, I was not disappointed.

There is so much to see and do in Stockholm, from taking a walking tour around old town to joining a boat tour around the city’s islands to visiting city hall, or my personal favorite, sampling all the delicious restaurants.

I found winter to be a perfect time to visit Stockholm, even if it was a bit on the chilly side. The city was covered in festive holiday decorations and the Christmas markets were in full swing. I just loved wandering around the old town area sipping mulled wine, taking pictures, and watching the locals and their families enjoy the holidays.

Visitors to Stockholm in winter will also get to enjoy the city with fewer tourists and lower prices on flights and hotel rooms.

Want to know more? Keep reading.

Some of the links in the post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links it helps to support this site at no extra cost to you.

Stockholm in Winter Travel Guide

Winter in Stockholm runs from mid December to mid March. December is the wettest month with the most precipitation, but for the record, Stockholm weather in winter is COLD. If you’re curious, February is typically the coldest.

Here are the average temperatures per month in winter in Stockholm. My blog has an international audience, so I am providing average temperatures in both Fahrenheit (F) and Celsius (C).

• November 37.4 (F) / 3 (C)
• December: 31.5 (F) / -0.3 (C)
• January: 29.1 (F) / 1.6 (C)
• February: 29 (F) / – 1.6 (C)
• March: 34.2 (F) / 1.2 (C)

In case you’re wondering, I included November because that’s when the holiday market opens up, though technically winter does not begin until the following month.

If you plan to do quite a bit of sightseeing while in Stockholm, I encourage you to take a look at the Stockholm Pass. It’s a city pass that get’s you into the city’s biggest tourist attractions for a big discount.

Just make sure you plan to visit enough places to make the pass worth it. If you don’t plan to be around Stockholm for at least two days, you’ll be better off paying regular admission at whichever attractions you visit.

Also, just a few tips for visiting Stockholm during winter:

• When you visit Stockholm in winter you’ll want to dress warmer than you think you need to. This means a thick winter coat, hat, scarf, and mittens or gloves.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes. Stockholm is very walkable, but it’s also kind of big so you’ll be doing a lot of walking. Don’t forget warm socks.
• Get up early to explore the old town area of Gamla Stan. It’s a lovely area to explore especially when no one else is around.
• Book your hotel in the city center or old town area to save on time. I include several hotel recommendations down below.
• Don’t forget that Stockholm winter daylight hours may be shorter than you’d expect. In December for example, sunrise is around 8:40 a.m. and sunset is around 2:45 p.m. This gives you about 6 hours of daylight, but don’t worry, Stockholm is still fun after the sun goes down.
• Definitely visit the Christmas market. It makes for a fun afternoon or evening and it will surely get you into the holiday spirit. Also, because there is mulled wine.

Stockholm Christmas Market

Stockholm in December is especially fun and festive due to the holiday market and abundance of citywide decorations on display this time of year.

In my opinion, the Stockholm Christmas Market is one of the best things to do when visiting Stockholm during the winter months.

The Christmas market is located in Gamla Stan, which is the old town neighborhood of Stockholm. The historic buildings here provide a beautiful and historic background for this lively holiday festival.

The Stockholm Christmas Market runs from about mid November to just before Christmas each year and is typically open from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Visiting the market is a fun way to get into the holiday spirit. You can visit the markets many chalets where vendors sell everything from local candies to Christmas ornaments.

There are also food vendors selling hot chocolate, waffles, hot dogs, and my personal favorite, mulled wine.

Plan to spend an hour or two enjoying the market and sampling food from the local vendors.

Be sure to check the market out after sunset as well, it’s extra festive with the holiday lights turned on.

Remember, sunset is early here in Sweden in winter. In December the sunset time is between 2:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Museums

While I’n not normally one to rave about museums, Stockholm really does have some incredible museums, many of which are very much worth visiting.

Also, I think visiting museums is one of the best things to do in Stockholm in winter because they are warm inside and will give you a break from the cold weather outside.

At the very top of that list is the Vasa Museum pictured above. While it doesn’t look like much from the outside, it’s the coolest museum I’ve ever been to and I’m not joking.

The Vasa Museum is home to a real viking ship that capsized and sank in Stockholm in 1628. The ship sat at the bottom of the sea for 333 years before it was pulled up to the surface and restored. You seriously have to see it in person, it’s the coolest thing ever.

Seriously, If you visit only one museum in Stockholm, let it be this one.

Another very popular museum in Stockholm is the Abba Museum. Full disclosure, I did not visit the Abba Museum during my visit because I ran out of time, but I heard it’s an impressive museum even if you’re not a big fan of the band. I plan to visit this museum next time I’m in Stockholm, which will hopefully be soon.

The third museum that I highly recommend visiting is Fotografiska which is a large urban and modern photography museum. They have really cool exhibits from photographers around the world focusing on a variety of subjects.

Fotografiska is currently featuring an exhibit called The Pet Show which runs through February 13, 2022. This is a rather adorable exhibit showcasing some of the cutest dogs you’ve ever seen.

If you have even more time, head to the Nordic Museum to learn about Nordic history and culture. The Nordic Museum is located a short walk from the Vasa Museum, so you could see these one after the other.

Stockholm Food Tour

If you’re going to visit Stockholm you won’t want to miss an opportunity to sample the city’s best local restaurants and markets. In case you didn’t know, Stockholm is very much a foodie city, so there’s no shortage of great food options in the city.

One of the most efficient and affordable ways to sample the city’s best cuisine is on a Stockholm food tour. With a guided tour you’ll get to try local dishes like the country’s famous Swedish meatballs, but also have the opportunity to try things you may not have heard of.

Food tours also often come with the option to sample a local beverage such as beer, wine, or a popular local cocktail. You’ll also get to learn about how the dishes are made, all while learning about local customs and traditions.

Here are a few food tours I recommend in Stockholm:

• Stockholm Nordic Food Tour
• Stockholm Culinary Tour

What I love most about food tours is that you get to try a lot of local dishes in a short amount of time, which makes the cost of the ticket worth it to me. The food tours above run about 4 hours each, so you’ll still have plenty of time before and after to see the sights.

Also, the guides will typically put together a tour with multiple stops within walking distance to one another, which will minimize your time in the frigid outdoors. You will 100 percent appreciate this during the cold winter months.

Old Town Stockholm

No matter how icy the temperature outside, plan to layer up to keep warm and head to the old town area of Stockholm known as Gamla Stan.

Gamla Stan is where you’ll find cobblestone streets lined with colorful 17th century and 18th century buildings. It’s the kind of place that’s just begging to be photographed. This is also where you’ll find the city’s Christmas market I mentioned above.

Besides the Christmas market, Gamla Stan is also home to Swedish bistros serving local and international cuisine, and plenty of bars and pubs to wind up in at the end of a long day exploring the city.

Stockholm’s famous Nobel Prize Museum is here as well, along with The Royal Palace and the Medieval Storkyrkan cathedral. The Nobel Prize Museum is really cool if you have the time to stop in for a visit.

Exploring Gamla Stan in the early mornings was one of my favorite things I did while in Stockholm. I love visiting historic city centers in Europe because they’re usually beautiful with unique architecture, which makes for great photograph opportunities.

Plus, historic city centers also hold so much history. I feel like I’m stepping back in time whenever I visit them.

Ice Skating

If you’re feeling brave and want to show off your ice skating talents, head over to the King’s Garden outdoor ice rink near the city center. This is one of the most popular Stockholm attractions in winter. Not only because it’s festive and fun, but also because it’s a great way to interact with the locals.

You’ll find the skating rink is very popular with locals and families on the weekends, so it’s a fun place to visit if you have the time. You’ll also immediately notice that the Swedish are very good at ice skating.

Even is you’re not brave enough to put on skates of your own, you can always just grab a cup of hot cocoa and enjoy watching everybody else. It’s rather entertaining if I do say so myself. I stood around watching the skaters for at least 30 minutes one night on the way back to my hotel.

The King’s Garden ice rink is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Adult skate rentals are 70 SEK, or about $7.65 USD.

Sodermalm

Located just south of the Gamla Stan neighborhood you’ll find Sodermalm, one of Stockholm’s coolest neighborhoods.

Sodermalm is the city’s bohemian artsy neighborhood where you’ll find trendy restaurants and cafes along with art galleries, bars and pubs.

Stockholm’s popular Fotografiska photography gallery (mentioned above) is also located here. I recommend vising the gallery first then walking around Sodermalm on foot and just exploring the neighborhood.

If you’re looking for a fun lunch spot in Sodermalm, head over to Meatballs for the People. It’s about a 20 minute walk from Fotografiska.

Before leaving Sodermalm, be sure to make your way down by the waterfront for the impressive views of Gamla Stan across the water.

Enjoy a Fika Break

While you’re out exploring beautiful Stockholm during your visit you’ll need to schedule in time to enjoy what the locals refer to as a Fika.

Fika can loosely be described as a “coffee break with friends,” but its part of the culture and an important part of the day for Swedes.

Typically taking a Fika would consist of socializing over a cup of coffee with a small bite to eat, usually something sweet like cake or a muffin.

As a tourist (or traveler) you’ll find many places around town to sit down and enjoy your own Fika. Here are a few popular options to consider visiting during your trip:

• Kaffekoppen
• Cafe Pascal
• Chokladkoppen
• Vete-Katten

If you’d like to learn more about the Fika tradition and sample several of the city’s best Fika spots, you can also book yourself a spot on a Stockholm Fika Tour.

The tour runs about two hours and you’ll get to sample local coffees, traditional Swedish cakes and pastries, and of course visit some of Stockholm’s best cafes.

Stockholm Ghost Walk

If you’re looking for something fun and a bit more unique to do in Stockholm in the winter I recommend signing up for the Stockholm Ghost Walk.

This is a very popular 90 minute guided tour exploring the Medieval haunted history of Stockholm’s Gamla Stan neighborhood. You’ll get to learn about unsolved mysteries, murders, and more. You’ll also hear true accounts of mysteries, myths, and legends.

This is honestly a very fun tour and I highly recommend signing up. Stockholm’s history is truly fascinating, especially it’s Medieval and haunted history.

If you want to learn more about the history of Stockholm in a fun and entertaining way, this is the tour for you. Plus, you’ll be guided through the darkened streets of Stockholm with lighted lanterns.

After your Stockholm Ghost Walk, you can enjoy the rest of the evening with a night out in Gamla Stan visiting the neighborhood’s trendy bars and restaurants.

Stockholm Subway Art

While it may seem a bit strange I’m telling you to go explore Stockholm’s subway stations, I think you’ll agree they’re pretty neat once you see them for yourself.

Stockholm’s subway stations are like urban art galleries, they’re colorful and artsy and fun to look at. They also make for great photo spots.

If you’re just hoping to see the art, you can visit the various stations just about any time of day. They open early in the morning and stay open late into the night.

However, if you’re hoping to get photographs, especially those without other people in them, you’ll want to get there early. I arrived at the station above around 6:00 a.m. on a Sunday and had the station mostly to myself.

Here are some of the best subway stations to visit:

• Stadion Station (pictured above)
• T-Centralen Station
• Solna Centrum Station
• Tensta Station

To find the various subway stations, you can just enter the station names into Google Maps. There you can get transit, walking, or driving directions to any of Stockholm metro stations.

Where to Stay in Stockholm

When looking for a hotel in Stockholm in winter you’ll want to choose a hotel near the places you want to visit. This will make it easier to get around and reduce the amount of time you spend outdoors in the cold.

Here are a few of my favorite options, including the hotel I stayed at during my visit.

• Nobis Hotel Stockholm: I loved this hotel and thought the location was perfect for exploring the city. Nobis Hotel is a boutique hotel with modern rooms and an impressive buffet style breakfast.
• Hotel Reisen: Hotel Reisen is right in the Gamla Stan neighborhood next to the Christmas market. The hotel features upscale rooms and an ideal location in the city’s historic center.
• Sheraton Stockholm: The Sheraton is an affordable option located right between the historic center and city center.

I hope you found this Ultimate Guide to Stockholm in Winter helpful and that I’ve inspired you to plan a visit of your own. If you enjoyed this article please consider sharing. As always, thanks for reading.

The Stockholm Christmas Market is up and running for 2021.

Visitors to Stockholm during the holiday season will not want to miss spending a few hours wandering around at the Stockholm Christmas Market.

This festive holiday market is located in the city’s Old Town area, known locally as Gamla Stan.

I had the opportunity to visit the Stockholm Christmas Market on its opening day and had such a great time I went back again the next day.

Following my recent visit, I put together this Ultimate Guide to the Stockholm Christmas Market to help you plan a visit of your own. I know you’ll love it as much as I did.

Be sure to come hungry, there are so many delicious snacks you’ll want to try.

Some of the links in the post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links it helps to support this site at no extra cost to you.

Stockholm Christmas Market 2021

This Ultimate Guide to the Stockholm Christmas Market will help you plan your visit to Stockholm during winter and ensure you have a great experience at the market.

If you’ve never been to a European Christmas market before, just know that you’re in for a really good time. The Christmas markets across Europe are a fun way to experience the holidays, especially when exploring a new city for the first time.

One of the things I loved most during my recent visit to Stockholm was how festive the whole city is. You’ll find holiday decorations on nearly all the streets in the city, it’s absolutely beautiful.

If this is your first visit to Stockholm in winter, be sure to pack your warmest clothing. This city is cold come November and December. You’ll want to pack a winter coat, sweaters, a scarf, a warm hat, and gloves or mittens.

I’m serious about those mittens. I forgot mine and my hands were freezing. Don’t forget them.

When is the Stockholm Christmas Market?

Here are the dates for the market in 2021:

• Start: November 20, 2021
• End: December 23, 2021

During this time the market is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

There is no cost of admission, everyone is welcome.

Where is the Stockholm Christmas Market?

The Christmas market is located in the city’s old town area know as Gamla Stan. This is known as the city’s Gamla Stan Christmas Market.

Gamla Stan sits on a small island just off the shores of Stockhom. There are plenty of pedestrian friendly bridges, so don’t worry if you plan to explore on foot.

The Gamla Stan neighborhood is known for its 17th and 18th century buildings, which you’ll see pictured above lining the main square. I loved that these gorgeous historic buildings created such an impressive backdrop for the Christmas market.

Elsewhere in Gamla Stan you can wander the area’s cobblestone streets and visit lively local pubs, restaurants serving Nordic cuisine, and plenty of chic cocktail bars.

To summarize, there’s plenty to do here after the market closes at 6:00 p.m.

Things to do at the Christmas Market

The first thing I encourage you to do at the Christmas market is to simply take in the festive atmosphere. The markets are often filled with local families enjoying the holidays together, so this is the perfect opportunity to just watch and listen.

I think it’s important to be an observer when traveling. Take a step back and just take in your surroundings. You’ll learn so much about local customs and culture from doing this.

After you’ve had a chance to take it all in, head over to visit the various chalets (or stalls). Each chalet is selling something different and you’ll find plenty of options for unique Christmas gifts.

For an especially good time, make your first stop the mulled wine chalet. You can sip hot mulled wine to stay warm while you’re exploring the rest of the market. You can thank me later for this great tip.

Personally, I picked up some Swedish Christmas candies to bring back home and share with family over the holidays. Though, for full disclosure, I ate said candy over the course of the following week. Apologies to my family.

Besides the local candies you can also find locals selling knit clothing, holiday decorations, artisanal goods, and more.

What to eat

Sampling all the snacks was my favorite activity at the market this year. As mentioned above, I like to start off with a cup of hot mulled wine. I do this to keep warm, but also because it’s wine. You get me!

With my mulled wine in hand, I wander from chalet to chalet in search of other snacks. This year they were serving hot dogs, waffles, toasted nuts, chocolates, egg nog, and hot cocoa.

Yes, I tried it all, and all was delicious. If you’re wondering, I liked the mulled wine and waffle the most.

If you’re interested in learning about other Stockholm Christmas markets you can view the city’s official website here. On their website you can also read about the nearby Skansen Christmas market and holiday festival, which is also worth a visit if you have the time.

Where to stay in Stockholm

If you’re looking for the best hotels near the Swedish Christmas market, I’ve included a few of my favorites below including the hotel I stayed at during my visit.

• Nobis Hotel Stockholm: This is the hotel I stayed at. It’s located in the city center about a 15 minute walk from the city’s Christmas Market. This is a chic boutique style hotel located walking distance to public transportation and many city attractions.
• Hotel Reisen: This is an upscale modern hotel located as close to the market as you can get. It’s about a 2 minute walk to the market from the front of the hotel.
• Sheraton Stockholm: The Sheraton is a mid range hotel located right outside Gamla Stan. It’s about a 12 minute walk to the market.

I hope you found this Ultimate Guide to the Stockholm Christmas Market helpful and that I’ve inspired you to plan a visit of your own. If you enjoyed this article please consider sharing. As always, thanks for reading.