Vasa Museum
Stockholms län
The Vasa Museum, located on Stockholm's Djurgården island, is a maritime museum showcasing the only almost fully intact 17th-century ship ever salvaged, the warship Vasa, which sank on its maiden voyage in 1628. Opened in 1990, the museum was designed to house the ship in a building featuring a large copper roof with stylized masts representing Vasa's original height. Visitors can view the ship from six levels, from keel to sterncastle top, and explore numerous exhibits about the ship's construction, sinking, recovery, and 17th-century Swedish history. Replacement parts on the ship are clearly distinguishable from the original wood, which darkened after centuries underwater. The museum also includes four historic vessels moored outside, enriching the maritime experience. It is part of the Swedish National Maritime Museums and attracts over a million visitors annually, underscoring its cultural and historical significance.
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Tip: For the best experience, visit on weekdays or Wednesday evenings when the museum stays open until 8 PM. Purchase tickets in advance online to ensure entry, noting that the museum is cash-free and large bags are not allowed. Visitors under 19 enter free. Allocate around 90 to 120 minutes to fully explore the museum and its exhibits.
Interesting facts
- •Vasa is the only almost fully intact 17th-century ship ever salvaged worldwide.
- •The museum building's highest mast on the roof matches the height of Vasa's original main mast at 52.5 meters.
- •The ship was treated with polyethylene glycol for over two decades to preserve its wood.
- •Visitors can view the ship from six different levels inside the museum, from keel to sterncastle.
- •The museum also features four historic ships moored outside: the icebreaker Sankt Erik, lightvessel Finngrundet, torpedo boat Spica, and rescue boat Bernhard Ingelsson.
History
The Vasa ship sank in 1628 on its maiden voyage and was rediscovered in the late 1950s by Anders Franzén.
Salvage operations began in 1961, initially housing the ship in a temporary structure called Wasavarvet where it underwent preservation treatment.
In the 1980s, a design competition led to the construction of the current museum building, which opened in 1990.
Since then, the museum has become a major cultural landmark, with ongoing archaeological publications commemorating the ship's recovery and conservation.
Place Guide
The Vasa Ship1628
The centerpiece of the museum, the 64-gun warship Vasa sank on her maiden voyage in 1628 and was salvaged nearly intact in 1961. Visitors can view the ship from six levels, observing original and replacement parts, with the rigging and masts restored to reflect its historical appearance.
Exhibition Galleries
Surrounding the ship are exhibits detailing the archaeological findings, the ship's construction, the reasons for its sinking, and 17th-century Swedish history, providing context to the Vasa's story.
Floating Museum Ships
Outside the museum at Jagarpiren, four historic vessels are moored: the icebreaker Sankt Erik (1915), lightvessel Finngrundet (1903), torpedo boat Spica (1966), and rescue boat Bernhard Ingelsson (1944), offering visitors additional maritime heritage experiences.
Contact
Phone: 08-519 548 80
