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Museums

Vasa

Salvaged 1628 warship on Djurgården

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.

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

The Vasa Museum on the museum island of Djurgården is built around a single, overwhelming object: the Vasa, a massive 17th-century warship. It's the only ship from that era to survive almost fully intact anywhere in the world – and that's exactly what makes a visit an experience you won't find anywhere else.

The Vasa was launched in 1628 as the most magnificent warship in the Swedish fleet, richly adorned with carved sculptures. On its maiden voyage in Stockholm harbour it sank after just a few hundred metres, because it had been built too tall and was top-heavy: a gust of wind was enough to capsize it. It lay for 333 years in oxygen-poor mud that preserved the oak timber, until it was raised almost intact in 1961.

A colossus under one roof

The recovered Vasa was conserved over decades and now stands at the centre of a purpose-built, darkened exhibition hall. The ship is enormous: about 61 metres long (69 metres with the bowsprit), up to 11.7 metres wide, with a stern castle around 19.3 metres high and a mainmast rising roughly 52.5 metres above the keel. It displaces around 1,210 tonnes.

Several gallery levels let you take in the Vasa from every angle – from the carved figurehead to the stern. Exhibitions all around cover the ship's construction, its sinking, the salvage operation and life on board, illustrated with finds recovered from the wreck. A 17-minute film on the Vasa's history runs in several languages.

The richly decorated stern and starboard side of the warship Vasa in the museum hall

Guided tours, audio guide and languages

Guided tours around the ship, about 25 minutes long, are included in the admission price for individual visitors. From January to May and September to December they run hourly between 10:30 and 15:30, and in summer (June to August) twice an hour between 9:30 and 16:30. The standard languages are English and Swedish.

If you want more depth or a different language, you can pre-book a private tour with a Vasa guide (around 45 minutes): 1,500 SEK per group on top of admission, available on request in German, French, Italian or Spanish (not guaranteed). Separately, a free audio guide in 19 languages is available to download or on-site over free Wi-Fi.

Tickets, opening hours and prices

In summer (June to August) the museum is open daily from 8:30 to 18:00, and from September to May daily from 10:00 to 17:00, Wednesdays until 20:00. It's closed on 24 and 25 December; shorter hours apply on 31 December (10:00–15:00).

Admission for adults (seniors included) costs 195 SEK in the low season (January to April and October to December) and 240 SEK in the high season (May to September). Children and teens up to 18 get in free; there's no separate student discount. A combined ticket with the neighbouring Vrak wreck museum costs 315 SEK (low season) or 359 SEK (high season). Payment is card only – no cash accepted. Tickets can be booked in advance via the official booking page; current hours and prices are listed on vasamuseet.se.

The building is fully accessible, with disabled parking (valid permit required) right by the entrance. Car parking is available on the right just after the Djurgårdsbron bridge; coach parking is available at the museum (drop-off and pick-up only in summer). The museum doesn't publish exact queue times – buying a ticket in advance and visiting at opening or in the late afternoon are the best ways to avoid the crowds.

Best time to visit and combining it with other sights

The Vasa Museum is one of Scandinavia's most-visited museums and can get very crowded during the day. It's quietest early in the morning at opening or in the late afternoon; from September to May, Wednesday evening (until 20:00) is a good option for a relaxed visit. The official recommendation is 90 minutes – with the film, a guided tour and the surrounding exhibitions, 1.5 to 2.5 hours is more realistic.

The Vasa sits right in the middle of the Djurgården museum cluster and combines well with its neighbours. Just a short walk away are the Nordiska Museet, the ABBA Museum and the open-air museum Skansen; families will also enjoy Junibacken right next door. For an overview of the island, see the neighbourhood guide Djurgården, and for trip planning see Stockholm attractions.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the Vasa so famous?+
The Vasa is the only nearly complete ship to survive from the 17th century. The richly decorated warship sank just a few hundred metres into its maiden voyage in 1628 because it was too top-heavy, and was raised almost intact from the harbour mud in 1961. There is nothing else like it anywhere in the world.
How much does admission cost?+
Adults and seniors pay 195 SEK in the low season (January to April and October to December) or 240 SEK in the high season (May to September). Children and teens up to 18 get in free. A combined ticket with the Vrak wreck museum costs 315 or 359 SEK. Payment is card only – no cash.
Are guided tours included in the ticket price?+
Yes. Guided tours around the ship, about 25 minutes long, are included in the admission price for individual visitors – twice an hour in summer, otherwise hourly, in English and Swedish. There's also a free audio guide in 19 languages and a 17-minute film about the Vasa.
Should I book tickets in advance?+
It's worth it. The Vasa Museum is one of Scandinavia's most-visited museums and can get very busy at times. Buying a ticket in advance and visiting right at opening or in the late afternoon both help you avoid the crowds.
How much time should I set aside?+
The official recommendation is 90 minutes. If you also take in the film, a guided tour and the surrounding exhibitions, allow 1.5 to 2.5 hours.

Nearby

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 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.

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.

Liljevalchs konsthall

Municipal art gallery on Djurgården, in the 1916 Bergsten building plus the glass-bottle Liljevalchs+ wing. Changing exhibitions and the Vårsalongen since 1921.

Hologram stage inside ABBA The Museum on Djurgården, where the four ABBA members appear as projections.

ABBA Museum

ABBA The Museum on Djurgården celebrates Sweden's most famous pop band: original costumes and stage recreations alongside a karaoke booth, hologram stage and mixing station.

Moderna Museet on Skeppsholmen with Alexander Calder's red sculptures

Moderna Museet

Sweden's museum of modern and contemporary art on Skeppsholmen – Picasso, Dalí, Matisse and Nordic modernism, free admission to the permanent collection.