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Museums

Swedish History Museum

Sweden's history museum

Sweden's national history museum in Östermalm, home to the country's largest Viking exhibition and the Gold Room's prehistoric treasures.

Contents

What to expect

The Swedish History Museum (Historiska Museet), in the Östermalm district, is the place to go for Sweden's history from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. Its signature draw is the country's largest Viking exhibition – genuine finds, runestones, weapons, jewellery and everyday objects that show the life of the Norsemen beyond the usual clichés.

A second highlight sits downstairs: the Gold Room (Guldrummet), a secure vault packed with prehistoric and medieval gold and silver treasures, elegantly displayed. The same building also houses the Economy Museum (coins and monetary history), already included in the ticket.

History and collection

The museum holds one of Sweden's most significant archaeological collections, spanning prehistory through the Viking Age to the Middle Ages. Alongside the Viking exhibition and the Gold Room, the medieval church art and textile holdings are worth a look. Guided tours for children and adults can be booked for groups, and an audio guide – including a "highlights" tour – takes you to 16 key objects in around an hour.

Visiting and practicalities

Admission in 2026 costs 180 SEK for adults, seniors and students; children and young people up to 18 go free, as do companions of visitors with disabilities. Daily between 16:00 and 17:00 the half-price rate (90 SEK) applies, and the same goes for students on Sundays. Online tickets are accepted through third-party booking portals such as Tiqets or Go City – the museum doesn't list its own online sales channel. Long queues are rare here in any case.

The museum has its own Restaurant Rosengården (lunch 11:30–15:00) and a museum shop, both free to enter without a ticket. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for a good overview.

Location and getting there

The museum stands at Narvavägen 17 in Östermalm, close to the Djurgårdsbron bridge – on the mainland side, not on Djurgården itself. Bus 67 stops right outside the entrance, routes 69/76 and tram 7 stop at Djurgårdsbron, and it's a 5 to 10 minute walk from the Karlaplan or Östermalmstorg metro (T-bana) stations.

Being a little off the main sightseeing routes, the Swedish History Museum makes a good stop on a rainy day and pairs well with the museums on Djurgården – the Nordiska Museet and the Vasa Museum are just a few minutes' walk across the bridge. For more on the district, see the guide to Östermalm.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Swedish History Museum worth it for Viking fans?+
Absolutely. It holds Sweden's most extensive Viking exhibition, with original finds, runestones, weapons and jewellery that go well beyond the clichés. There's also the celebrated Gold Room (Guldrummet), with gold and silver treasures from prehistory and the Middle Ages.
Is there an admission charge?+
Yes. Adults, seniors and students pay 180 SEK, and children and young people up to 18 go free. Daily between 16:00 and 17:00 the half-price rate (90 SEK) applies, as it does for students on Sundays. The ticket also covers the Economy Museum in the same building.
How do I get to the Swedish History Museum?+
The museum sits at Narvavägen 17 in Östermalm, near the Djurgårdsbron bridge. Bus 67 stops right outside; routes 69/76 and tram 7 stop at Djurgårdsbron. It's a 5 to 10 minute walk from the Karlaplan or Östermalmstorg metro (T-bana) stations.
How much time should I set aside?+
1.5 to 2 hours is enough to cover the highlights of the Viking-era galleries and the Gold Room. An audio guide takes in 16 key objects in about an hour. Visit on a Wednesday and you have until 20:00.

Nearby

The Armémuseum in Östermalm with its green Baroque dome

Armémuseum

Sweden's military museum in Östermalm covers military history from the 16th century to today, with over 100,000 objects and a dedicated Raoul Wallenberg room.

The Junibacken children's museum on Djurgården seen from the water, with the neo-Gothic Nordiska museet building behind it.

Junibacken

Storybook house on Djurgården built around Astrid Lindgren's characters, with the overhead story train Sagotåget and Pippi Longstocking's walk-in Villa Villekulla.

The Djurgården ferry 11 passes in front of the Nordiska museet on Djurgården, its distinctive tower visible in the background.

Nordiska Museet

Palace-like museum on Djurgården covering 500 years of Swedish cultural history, with folk costumes, home life and the country's largest Sami collection.

The Vasa Museum on Djurgården seen from the water, with the warship Vasa's distinctive red masts rising above the roof.

Vasa

The Vasa Museum on Djurgården houses the only nearly intact 17th-century ship afloat – a warship that sank in 1628 and was raised in 1961.

Hallwylska Palatset

A fully preserved city palace from around 1900 in Östermalm – from grand salons and a library to bathrooms with running water and a telephone, all original.

Exterior facade of the Vikingaliv Viking Museum on Djurgården, with a rune stone sculpture in front of the entrance.

The Viking Museum

The Viking Museum (opened as Vikingaliv) on Djurgården tells the story of the Viking Age through archaeological finds. The centrepiece is the Ragnfrid saga ride through a village in the year 963.