Vasa Museum + Vrak - Museum of Wrecks
Location
Essentials
- See one of Stockholm’s most iconic landmarks up close
- Explore life on board a 17th-century ship
- Become a maritime archaeologist for a day with a VR experience
Practical info
Children
Free entry for 0-18 year olds when accompanied by a paying adult
At Vasa Museum children 12 years and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times during their visit
Opening hours
Vasa Museum:
September – May:
Thursday – Tuesday: 10.00 – 17.00
Wednesday: 10.00 – 20.00
June – August:
Monday – Sunday: 8.30 – 18.00
Vrak – Museum of Wrecks:
Thursday – Tuesday: 10.00 – 20.00
Wednesday: 10.00 – 18.00
Languages
Vasa Museum audio guide is available in English, English for kids, Swedish, Swedish for kids, simple Swedish, German, German for kids, Finnish, Finnish for kids, Spanish, French, Italian, Arabic, Polish, Ukrainian, Japanese, Hindi, Korean, Chinese, Soomali, Sorani, Farsi, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian and Russian
Vrak – Museum of Wrecks audio guide is available in English, Swedish, Finnish, German, Polish and French
Ticket information
Ticket directly available on smartphone
Tickets valid for 72 hours
Tickets cannot be rescheduled or cancelled
More information
For questions about the product, please contact [email protected]
Accessibility
Getting there
Public Transport
The nearest stops ar Nordiska museet/Vasamuseet (tram 7) and Djurgårdsbron (bus 69 & 76). The two museums are a five minute walk from each other.
About
Vasa: the only fully intact 17th-century ship
The Vasa Museum is the only place in the world where you can see an almost fully intact 17th-century ship that has ever been salvaged. The 64-gun warship Vasa sank on her maiden voyage in 1628, after only sailing around 1,300 metres. In the late 1950s, she was rediscovered and, 333 years after it sank, in 1961 the Vasa was salvaged from the harbour floor.
For almost thirty years, the ship was on display at a temporary museum. It wasn’t until 1990 that the Vasa got its own permanent museum, specially designed to with stylised masts on its roof which represent the actual height of the original ship. Inside, you can see the ship from six different levels, from the keel to the very top of the aftercastle.
With the ship at the centre of the museum, there are other exhibits set up around the ship throughout the museum. Some of the exhibits focus on the ship itself, with models portraying the construction, sinking, location and recovery of the Vasa. Other exhibits show you life on board the Vasa, as there would have been 145 sailors and 300 soldiers on board.
Explore the bottom of the Baltic Sea at Vrak - Museum of Wrecks
The Baltic Sea has more well-preserved wooden wrecks than anywhere else in the world. Vrak – Museum of Wrecks takes you on a journey to discover their stories. With the help of digital technology, you can stay on the surface as you discover the wrecks on the bottom of the sea.
With Virtual Reality (VR) dives, holograms and games you will gain a deeper understanding of maritime archaeological investigations which are still happening at the bottom of the sea. You will see the tracks that explorers have left behind in Sweden’s seas, lakes and streams. You will never look at the water in the Baltic Sea again without remembering what lies beneath the surface.
A ticket to Vrak - Museum of Wrecks also gives access to their new exhibition Vikings Before Vikings, an exhibition about recent findings that show that vikings were active earlier than we thought. The exhibition shows findings from a Viking burial ground on the island of Saarema in Estonia, which prove that vikings where active in the Baltics earlier than was talked about by historians. This is an exciting exhibition, with interactive opportunities such as dressing up as a viking yourself, but also historical pieces from the time period.
Tickets to two museums at a discounted price
With this one ticket you can visit both museums but you don’t have to visit them on the same day. Your visit to the second museum just has to fall within 72 hours of your visit to the first museum. Get your combination ticket today to see a famous ship wreck up close and learn more about the other ships still at the bottom of the Baltic Sea.
Both the Vasa Museum and Vrak – Museum of Wrecks have free audio guides available to download on their websites. At Vrak you can also take a free guided tour, there is a free 20-minute tour every day at noon and 15.00 in English and at 11.00 and 14.00 in Swedish.
Reviews
530 reviews
Easter 2025 visit
Great museum. Used English self guided audio tour and it was perfect. Visited on Easter Saturday afternoon which was really busy but still enough capacity. Happy to recommend.
Truly breathtaking experience
Just WOW! I had not read a thing about this museum or the history behind the exhibit. So I was stunned when I entered the massive building to be greeted by this complete ship out of water from hundreds of years ago. A truly magnificent piece of restoration and preservation. Words can’t explain how large a project this was and just how well it’s been undertaken. So much to see there. All the artefacts, displays, models, cinemas and galleries all around the ship at all all levels giving great views. Terrific! My only slight criticism is the amount of toilets in the museum. Considering it is very popular and therefore very busy…there just are not enough WCs. This leads to long lines of people waiting for their turn in the unisex toilets. But that’s a very small negative on what is an amazing museum.
Well worth visiting
The concept is fairly unique - an almost complete ship from the 1600s very well preserved. The whole museum is based around the ship and the preservation efforts. It is well set out and the exhibits follow logically without any confusing jumps. We started by watching the film. I’d recommend doing the same, as it gave us important background before looking at the exhibits. It can be done in 2-3 hours at a comfortable pace.
Not to be missed!!!
If I had time for only one museum in a city that is rich and museums, I would recommend this one. It encompasses seven stories and has the most marvellous preserved ship. The displays and interactive activities are excellent and the film when you first walk in is very informative. Plan to spend at least a couple hours at this amazing museum.
Brilliant
The best museum I have ever been to. Stunning to walk in and be greeted by the ship in all its glory. Friendly and informative staff. Lots of information dotted about. The top floor view and the ground floor information about conservation were standouts, but there's lots to do on every floor. It was very busy, which is understandable, but the museum is large and you can see everything with a little patience. Beautiful, fascinating, and informative.
Fascinating
Bring your camera! The size and detail on this ship is overwhelming. And the amount of effort put into restoring her is nothing short of monumental. Be sure to read each of the placards along the way. They provide some very interesting factoids. The best part for me was the intricate carvings on the ship. It’s hard to imagine with the rudimentary tools of the time. There is a cafe inside for snacks. Not many bathrooms that I saw. There are 7 levels in the museum, and one elevator. Be prepared for stairs because the elevator stays pretty busy. Also, be sure to board the free museum ships behind the Vasa museum. I thought that was equally cool.
Historic Warship
The Vasa Museum features the restoration of a large historic warship. It's huge & elaborate. The ship sank on its maiden voyage. It's very impressive. In addition to the ship itself, the exhibits are excellent & informative.
Amazing shipwreck retrieved
This ship wreck is in perfect condition. It sunk on its maiden voyage. It's so huge. There are 4 levels you walk around learning about the ship wreck, the culture of shipping industry and the war itself. It's really fascinating. We got a city pass and this was included as part of it. We loved the carved figures on the ship.
Breathtaking
From the second you walk in the door Vasa stretches out before you a wooden behemoth, it quite simply blew our minds hence we stayed almost four hours to be certain we had missed nothing. A lasting memory that we will cherish forever
Fantastic!
Fantastic! Such an amazing thing to see. We watched the film first which we thought was a good way to do it as we got a sense of how it was found and raised. Then we joined one of the free guided tours which was good and gave us a few more insights and pointed out some of the main features. Fabulous details and informative displays about what the symbolism meant. We also had a nice snack lunch in the cafe! Could do with some more loos though.
Jaw dropping experience, not to be missed
I had read about this museum but when I stepped into the hall containing this massive ship from 1628 it was a jaw dropping experience. The entrance fee includes a guided tour and please take the tour, so many features that we weren't aware of. Also the video presentation is excellent.
Outstanding!!
Great museum, need at least half a day. Few tips, temperature is kept low so dress for chill! Always busy, go to the information desk for tour & film times in English. All the info boards are in Danish & English. Not to be missed.
Must see museum while in Stockholm
Very interesting museum with a interesting period in Sweden's history. Free 25 minute tour in English. Do this first. One of the top museums to see in Stockholm. We had no line at 11:30am. Walked right in.
Well Preserved and Exhibited 16th Century Warship
This Museum visit was an afternoon well spent exploring the huge Ship from the 16th century. They have done a wonderful job of restoring and preserving the formerly sunken ship to its former grandeur and exhibited it so well that you can access it from all the directions. We really enjoyed the visit and was a day well spent.
Just the best museum
This is definitely the best museum I have ever been to anywhere. The sheer enormity of the ship is mind blowing. Everything is laid out extremely well with just about the right amount of information. Extremely interesting, you will not be disappointed. Easy location to get to by ferry, an absolute must if in Stockholm.
Heard about it from Rick Steves show
It’s the reason we went to Sweden, just to go to the Vasa Museum and see the only 16th century war ship, that was intact. I’m not kidding you, we spend the most part of a day there. There are two move’s going on all day, to see and talk about its recovery. They also have a cafe’ there. We took pictures from underneath, on top,, each side, from the front and in the back. It is so captivating and so many details, to focused on. We did buy tickets ahead of time, but you can buy them there as well. We walked to the museum from our our hotel, it’s close to the city center. .
Highly recommend.
This is a great experience and would highly recommend. Excellent place to visit in Stockholm. Not something that can miss during your visit.
Real History
What an awesome experience. There is so much to learn and see about this ship. This was our second time to visit within 10 years and we found it still fascinating. Lots of other museums to visit nearby.
A once in a lifetime story displayed with character and care.
Fascinating display of a unique maritime story. The detail and craftsmanship the museum understood in respecting the 1628 war ship and all the elements of it's story. The layout of the museum feels unique and helps to tell the story at numerous levels.
Colossal piece of history that will blow your mind.
One of the great museums of the world! Walking in and seeing the ship for the first time is up there with one of the great sights of my life. Then the expansive levels which brings you up close to this colossal piece of history
Do not miss this amazing place
Wow. Just wow. Do not miss this most amazing place and it's astonishing history. The ship, well, you walk into the place and it is breathtaking. The museum has done a fabulous job on all fronts. Loved the stories in the basement of the people who were on board. It's worth travelling to Stockholm for this. We stayed for hours. Oh, and the cafe was excellent.
An amazing ship, and a museum worthy of it
Remarkable museum that features the recovered and restored Vasa, an amazing royal sailing ship that sank shortly after launch. The museum riffs off of that to go into depth on two stories: the recovery and restoration work on the ship, and what the Vasa tells us about life in the era of Gustavus Adolphus. Definitely a good place to visit when vacationing in Stockholm.
So Beautiful — and So Ill-Fated Ship
This is an absolute must-see. The Vasa was the largest and most beautiful warship of its time — yet tragically, it sank just minutes into its maiden voyage. The ship stands right before your eyes. It's enormous — incredibly tall (six stories high) and long, though not very wide, which ultimately caused its sinking. The ship is richly decorated with intricate carvings of lions, mermaids, Roman emperors, grotesque masks, and more. Originally, these figures were brightly painted, and you can see reconstructed, colorful replicas around the museum that give a glimpse of how vibrant the Vasa once looked. It truly feels like a wonder of the world. Take the 25-minute guided tour to get a great overview, then spend time exploring the ship and its artifacts at your own pace. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for the full experience.
One of the best museums I’ve been in!
The Vasa Museum was a special experience and one of the most interesting museums I have ever been in. To have the actual 286 foot long Vasa from almost 400 years ago, 95% in tact, is a remarkable. The ship is so large and impressive that it will make any first time visitors marvel. Even if you don’t care about boats or maritime museums, this combines 17th century history with an amazingly preserved vessel. If you are in Stockholm and there is only one museum you visit, don’t miss the Vasa.
Well worth a visit
An incredible exhibit showcase the 16th century ship, in an amazing condition. Definitely worth a visit although tickets are quite expensive.
Unbelievable 5 plus stars!
Absolutely loved this museum and learning about the Vasas history. Highlight of my 21 day Baltic journey and can see why it's #1 site in Stockholm. Don't miss it. Also gift shop though pricey is very nice.
Totally worth it
Highly recommended to visit. The museum opens at 8.30am, so it's best to go early to avoid the large crowds. I arrived around 9am and only a few visitors were there. You can also buy tickets online to save time.
VASA VASA VASA-VIKING'S INHERITANCE
If you leave without seeing this museum, which was discovered after lying underwater for 333 years and is considered to be one of the first warships, you will be missing out on a great deal.
Best museum in Stockholm
This is a must visit in Stockholm. The ship itself is really beautiful and worth seeing alone. The museum is really brought together with the different information panels provided throughout the different floors, covering the preservation, the investigation, the meaning behind the different wooden carvings. Would highly recommend this museum to anybody visiting Stockholm.
GREAT EXPERIENCE
FASCINATING! Particularly the story of the legal investigation following the sinking of the ship and the ships's recovery. Very nice exhibition - recommend the film.
Incredible
One of those museums which make you think "wow". Kept interesting with a lot of verity in the way the information was presented. The museum is a must see.
A must see for all ages in Stockholm!
The highlight of our day in Stockholm was visiting the VASA Museum. Vasa was the name of a huge and gorgeous ship built in Stockholm back in the early 1600s. When it made it maiden voyage, there was a flaw in the design and it sank within 1000 meters of sailing! Sadly 30 to 50 people died… The film said 30 and the sign said 50, so I don't know how many exactly. The ship sat underwater in brackish water for about 340 years until 1961, when they extracted it and create an a museum out of it that is absolutely incredible. It's about 210 feet long and weighs 1210 tons! It was a great afternoon and I'm not even particularly a history buff and I really loved it.
Great Visit - as always
This is a can't miss museum. This is my third time there and will continue to visit with every return visit to Stockholm. Make sure to watch the 20 minute movie while there - gives a lot of good background in a short period of time. Can view the ship from below and several floors up. As good as it gets for a museum.
wow
we were very unsure weather to visit this museum as from the outside it does not look impressive but wow once you are inside it is very impressive allow at least 2-3 hours to wander around
Wonderful museum and exhibit.
Very interesting and well put together exhibit of a 1628 recovered war ship wreck. The ship itself was very impressive, well preserved and restored. The exhibits around the ship have interesting artifacts and write ups describing the story of the Vasa and the times. Well worth the price and the time - highly recommend.
Fun experience, Unique museum
Completely unique museum with rescued ship brought up after it had sank. It’s giant and so well preserved. Fascinating sculptures on the outside. Besides the actual ship Vasa, there were excellent exhibits on sailing the old ship in general. We really enjoyed it.
Stunning History Preserved
We always wanted to see the Vasa, living near to the Mary Rose in England, the Vasa is Swedens 'Mary Rose'. To see her almost c0mplete, towering above you is amazing. The museum is engaging and you can view the ship from the keel to the poop deck to really get the size of this amazing ship.
A must see
This museum should be on all travel advisor lists. Incredible history and archeological work. The accompanying exhibits are informative and provide detailed history of this beautiful ship.
Big old warship and nice restaurant inside.
Probably the best museum in Stockholm to visit. It's the most preserved 17th century ship in the world. It's a warship that sank during its maiden voyage, not far from its base but retrieved during the 60s! The ship is massive and you can view from several heights. The museum has a nice restaurants that is reasonably priced so we ate there, better than eating outside with that price and quality.
Incredible experience
An incredible experience seeing such a well preserved ship from over 400 years ago! The museum is really well presented and easy to navigate the different levels. Highly recommended if you’re in Stockholm!
A museum you shouldn't miss!
The ship is really impressive, it is worth visiting. The museum is very well organised with audioguide included in the ticket price. The cafe is also very nice!
Fascinating Piece of Maritime History
The Vasa Museum is situated on the island of Djurgarden in Stockholm harbour. I took ferry 82 from Slussen to Djurgården from where it is just under half a mile on foot. It is an amazing spectacle to see this ship which sank in 1628 in all its glory having been recovered in 1961. The story of its demise is very poignant. There are several skeletons of those who drowned on that fateful day on display plus a video reenactment of the inquest into the sinking. It was deemed that nobody was specifically to blame but its narrow hull meant that insufficient ballast got taken on board hence it became susceptible in the slightest breeze. I spent around 90 minutes here but could easily have stayed longer. I paid SEK 195 for my visit.
Amazing Ship!!
It was such an amazing experience! The historic ship is beautifully preserved – it looks just like something out of a movie. There were fun activities, detailed historical information, and even a film to watch. It was absolutely worth the money, and we’re definitely planning to come back again.
Definite must see!
Amazing. Hotel receptionist said she had been there recently and spent 3 hours. When we walked in the ship was just exceptional, ghostly and looked straight out of a movie. First look and we thought fabulous! but how did receptionist stay 3 hours. The building is so vast but on entering you only see the ship. Moved on and found so much information, displays, artefacts etc. Did not get to see the film part so cannot comment on that. It was fascinating. Really enjoyed it and would highly recommend.
There is a reason this is the best attraction in Stockholm
There are many great things to do in Stockholm. The ABBA or Nobel Prize museums are great, the old town is worth seeing and the palace. But by far, the most amazing sight is the Vasa Museum. The condition of the boat is staggering, it is so well preserved. The rest of the museum is also interesting to walk around and find out about the main attraction. Of the vast amount of things I did during our three day stay this was by far my favourite. My wife wasn't looking forward to it thinking it was going to be uninteresting, but quickly changed her mind once we were inside. I think that is a great testimony to the attraction.
Much more interesting than I though it would be - over 3 hours
I almost did not go to the Vasa museum, because it was a long walk from the hotel and how interesting can an old ship be? I bought a ticket in advance to try and avoid a long line. The timed ticket entry says 10:00 am when the museum opens, but in the museum FAQ, you can show up any time and we got there around 11:00 am and it was fine. However there was only one line to enter, so buying a ticket (and printing it) ahead of time just allowed them to scan my tickets and enter, but we were still in the same line as the people buying tickets. Fortunately, it was a short line that went quickly. I just didn't want to walk all the way and find that we could not get in the museum since it was sold out or at capacity, but this was April/non-peak time, so it was fine. When you enter the dark museum and see the old ship towering above you, it is definitely impressive with the height and intricate wood carvings. See when the next introduction movie plays in your language of choice to watch first and grab a brochure in your language. The signs are also in English which was really nice. Some people rented audio guides, but we just read the placards. The movie explains what was happening in Sweden when the ship was created and how the King wanted an extra row / a third of cannons on the Vasa ship. A few days later we were in Copenhagen and saw a Danish model ship with three rows/ levels of cannons, so I can see why the King in Sweden wanted a third level. We were in the museum for around 3.5 hours, so yes, an old ship and its engineering and recovery, seeing a painted replica of what the carvings looked like, artifacts and skeletons recovered, getting insight into life was like as a sailor or officer, the technology used to restore the ship, and the cool Infrared light which showed you and your heat you are emitting all made for a very interesting and enjoyable day. There are bathrooms and a nice cafe with healthier than American food choices plus pastries. I think you could have a nice lunch at the cafe, but we just had our Fika/coffee break to keep us going. Other than the cafe, there was not a lot of chairs to rest your feet or if you are mobility impaired. Downstairs was an amphitheater seating area where I rested up after being there 3 hours. There were several floors to the museum which was great in it allowed you to get closer to the ship to see the detail. I am assuming there was an elevator somewhere, but just know there are stairs with plenty to see on each level.
333 Years Underwater – The Story of Vasa ⚓️🚢🇸🇪
The Vasa Museum, Stockholm 🇸🇪 One of the highlights I had been looking forward to the most on this trip! As someone who loves history—and with a father who served in the navy—seeing the Vasa warship, the world’s best-preserved 17th-century warship, was truly exciting and emotional. The ship sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 and lay underwater for 333 years before being salvaged in 1961. The Vasa Museum officially opened in 1990 and has since become one of the most visited museums in Scandinavia. The museum spans several levels, allowing visitors to view the ship from the mast to the keel. One of the most striking features is the skeletons of the crew members, along with markers showing where they were found on the ship. If you’re a history lover or simply fascinated by naval stories, this is an absolute must-visit. For more information, visit the official website: vasamuseet.se
A must see
when we booked this visit we didn't know what to expect, actually we were mind blown by the size, state and beauty of the wreck...and the story behind its sinking, salvage and conversation are equally interesting, so we spend way more time in the museum than planned; spoiler alert: the ship is disintegrating over time so hurry to see it while it lasts...
One of a lifetime experience!
Incredible museum! The recovered ship is more than 350 years old and it blows my mind to be able to still see the original one! There's plenty of exhibits and representations of how the ship looked like on the inside. The museum presents everything, from the history of the ship to the preservation efforts in a very simple and 'visitor friendly' way. It is designed in 5 floors allowing you to see every detail of the ship from the lower deck to the masts! Do not miss out the gift shop which has very interesting books and little replicas of the ship availiable to buy! The experience is unique and breathtaking, worth every SEK and minute we spend!
Fantastic working preservation museum
It's amazing to think this ship was built in the early 1600's, sunk and then recovered from the harbour 300+ years later. The story of preservation is fascinating and there are plenty of exhibits to look at as well as the conservators actually working on the ship in the museum. It's well worth buying tickets online and then heading straight for the video presentation which is signposted on the right as you enter through the air lock. Multiple languages on offer at varying times and lasts about 10-15 minutes. There is a cafe which isn't bad as far as museum eateries go and it serves alcohol! Don't forget to climb to the top floor for the best view of the ship. If there are lots of kids playing with the iPads around the ship- don't worry, these only repeat the printed information boards in a more interactive way for the younger audience and don't really contain any additional information.
