Sjöhistoriska museet

Sweden's maritime museum

The Sjöhistoriska museet (Maritime Museum) sits on the northern shore of the Djurgårdsbrunnsviken, in the Gärdet district on the edge of Djurgården and just a short walk from the Kaknästornet tower. It's Sweden's national museum of maritime and naval history, part of the same state museum group as the Vasa Museum.

The collection ranges across merchant shipping, shipbuilding and underwater archaeology. Altogether it holds around 50,000 objects, plus roughly 900,000 photographs and 45,000 drawings – naturally only a fraction is on display at any one time, arranged in rotating and permanent exhibitions.

The Amphion as centrepiece

The best-known exhibit is the original stern of the royal yacht Amphion of 1778. The ship was built for King Gustav III by the shipbuilder Fredrik Henrik af Chapman. What survives is the richly carved stern castle, complemented by a reconstruction of the cabin and surrounded by ship models and figureheads. If the schooner's name rings a bell from older guidebooks: this same ensemble remains the centrepiece of the museum today.

The building itself is a piece of architectural history. It was built from 1933 to 1936 to designs by Ragnar Östberg, the architect behind Stockholm's City Hall, and opened on 28 May 1938. The pale, semicircular building on the water is worth a look even without the collection inside.

What to expect

Alongside the permanent exhibitions, there's a dedicated children and family area, making the museum an easy one to combine with a visit with kids. In summer, another highlight is added: the ship pier, with historic museum ships you can view both outside and inside.

Practical details:

• Free audio guide, at reception or via QR code on your own smartphone – in Swedish, English, German, French and Finnish
• guided highlights tours are offered
• Café open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:30 to 16:00
• Lockers on the lower floor near the toilets
• Photography is allowed, but without flash

The museum aims to be accessible to all visitors, and there's also a dedicated family area.

Opening hours, admission and tickets

The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00, closed on Mondays – with a few public-holiday Mondays as exceptions. In 2026 it also closes on 29 May, on 19 and 20 June (Midsummer), from 23 to 25 December, on 31 December and on 1 January 2027. The ship pier is open seasonally only, in 2026 from 29 May to 13 September, Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 18:00.

Admission costs 150 SEK for adults, and 110 SEK for senior citizens and students. Children and young people up to 18 get in free, and an annual pass costs 250 SEK. Tickets are available in advance online via Tickster or on site; current times and prices are listed on sjohistoriska.se.

Visiting and combining with other sights

1 to 2 hours is enough for the permanent exhibition. Large crowds are rare here – it's quietest on weekday mornings or in the late afternoon. If you want to see the museum ships at the pier, come between late May and mid-September and allow a bit more time.

The Gärdet location makes a good half-day loop away from the busiest museums. Right next door is the Kaknästornet viewing tower, and towards Djurgården you'll find the Swedish History Museum as well as the museum cluster around the Nordiska Museet and the open-air museum Skansen. For an overview of the island, see the Djurgården neighbourhood guide, and for trip planning, the Stockholm Attractions guide.