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The salvaged 17th-century warship Vasa inside the Vasa Museum, Stockholm

No. 17 Top Landmarks & Attractions 2026

Vasa Museum

Stockholm, Sweden · City guide: Stockholm

A 17th-century warship that sank on her maiden voyage, raised almost intact and displayed in Stockholm.

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Photo: Jules Verne Times Two, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

The Vasa Museum is No. 17 in Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Best of the Best 2026 ranking of the top attractions in the world. Its centrepiece is the warship Vasa, built for King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden. On 10 August 1628 she capsized and sank in Stockholm's harbour, within sight of the shore, minutes into her maiden voyage.

The ship lay on the seabed for 333 years before she was raised in 1961. The museum on the island of Djurgården opened in 1990. More than 98% of the ship on display is original, including hundreds of carved sculptures, which makes Vasa the world's best-preserved 17th-century ship.

The Vasa Museum building on Djurgården, with masts on its roof
The Vasa Museum building on Djurgården, with masts on its roof. Photo: John Samuel, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Best time to visit

The museum is open all year and is busiest in summer and around the middle of the day. Arrive at opening time or come late in the afternoon. Check the official website for seasonal hours.

Highlights

  • 1

    The ship

    Seen from several levels of galleries, the hull and masts tower over the hall. Every detail is close enough to study, from the gun ports to the rigging.

  • 2

    The carved stern

    The high stern is covered in sculptures of lions, Roman emperors and mythical figures, carved to glorify the king. A scale model shows the ship in her original bright colours.

  • 3

    The people on board

    Remains of people found in the wreck have been studied by scientists, and facial reconstructions show who sailed and died on the ship.

  • 4

    Why did she sink?

    An exhibition explains the investigation that followed the disaster and why the ship was so unstable.

  • 5

    The film

    A short film about the sinking and salvage is shown throughout the day in several languages.

Getting there

The museum is on Djurgården, a short walk over the Djurgården bridge from the city centre. Tram 7 runs from Sergels torg and Norrmalmstorg to the Nordiska museet/Vasamuseet stop, and the Djurgården ferry runs from Slussen. From Arlanda Airport, the Arlanda Express train runs to Stockholm Central.

Practical tips

Tickets & hours
Buy tickets online or at the entrance. Check the official website for prices and opening hours.
Time needed
About an hour and a half to two hours.
Currency
Swedish krona (SEK). Sweden is largely cashless: cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere, and some places do not take cash.
Safety
Stockholm is generally safe. The emergency number is 112.
Visa & entry
Sweden is in the Schengen Area. Many visitors, including citizens of the US, Canada, the UK and Australia, can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) now records non-EU travellers' entries and exits at the border, and the ETIAS travel authorisation is due to follow. Check the official EU site travel-europe.europa.eu and your own government's travel advice before you go.

Official information: Vasamuseet (official website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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