At the Nordic Museum learn about Swedish culture from the 16th century to the present day. Artur Hazelius founded the museum in the late 1800s with a collection of folkloric artifacts, including clothes, furniture and photographs. Today, the museum possesses over 1 million objects and an archive of 7 million photographs.
Enter through the Main Hall to see a statue of King Gustav Vasa, who helped to establish Sweden as a sovereign state independent of Denmark. Go to the Table Settings exhibition to view ornate examples of a 17th-century banquet hall and an 18th-century tea party. See changes in Swedish interior design styles from the late 1800s to 2000 in the Interiors exhibition. Here, photography enthusiasts will learn about the styles of contemporary Swedish homes in photos taken by Mikkel Ørstedholm.
Don’t miss the Traditions exhibit, dedicated to Swedish festivals and celebrations. Here, you can learn about the origins and history of the Midsummer festival. Investigate the displays of Sami life in the Sápmi exhibition. Over 20,000 people in Sweden identify themselves as belonging to the indigenous Sami group.
Literature fans will enjoy the August Strindberg exhibition. He was a controversial Swedish playwright and artist and also a friend of the museum’s founder. Find original manuscripts of his plays, photographs taken throughout his life and his old smoking jacket.
Located on Djurgården, the Nordic Museum is a 10-minute drive from Stockholm’s city center. Pay-and-display parking is available but limited. Take the tram from Sergels Torg for a more convenient transportation option. Alternatively, the museum is a 20-minute walk from King’s Garden in the city center.
The museum is open daily, except for select public holidays. Visit the museum’s website for full details on opening times. A free audio guide in English is available at the museum entrance. Admission is free for visitors under 18 years old. The museum is free every Wednesday evening from September through May.
