The Museums Island Walk (Self Guided), Stockholm

The Vasa Museum is a unique maritime museum experience; in fact, it is said to be the most popular museum in all of Scandinavia. It houses a 17th-century 64-gun warship that has been meticulously restored and preserved. It is a grand lady of the sea, measuring 69 meters and was built under the rule of King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden. Intended to be the flagship of the Swedish Navy, the ship sunk on its maiden voyage, barely making it out of the harbor, when high seas and wind overtook its deck.

Vasa is filled with some of the most ornate and exquisite carvings ever seen on a ship of its kind. It is located in a climate and humidity controlled environment and is constantly monitored and maintained to keep it in the most ideal condition for a relic of its age. The ship is a terrific photographic subject but expect its interior to be dark, making it difficult to get that perfect photo. Besides the ship itself, the museum is filled with tools of the maritime trade and traces the history of Scandinavian maritime society.

Why You Should Visit:
It's not much of a stretch to say that there are not many ships available to examine that were built in 1628. Inside, there are several levels so you can see it from all angles.
As a bonus, at the back of the building, you can visit three interesting boats belonging to the Maritime Museum – and for free!

Tip:
Allow a couple of hours for the visit and therefore arrive 2/3 hours before it closes – it will be much quieter then.

Junibacken is a children’s museum situated on the island of Djurgården in the centre of Stockholm. Officially opened by the Swedish Royal Family in 1996, it is Stockholm’s 5th most-visited tourist attraction. The museum is devoted to Swedish children’s literature, but especially Astrid Lindgren, whose bronze statue sits outside the building. The art direction and images for the interior design were made by Swedish artist Marit Törnqvist, who had previously made illustrations for more recent versions of Lindgren's books.

The museum contains the largest children’s bookstore in Sweden. The lockers in the entrance hall are unusual in that each is in the form of a giant book-spine, featuring world classics such as Treasure Island and The Jungle Book. Other main attractions include a Storybook Square, a mock public square where each house is devoted to a separate Swedish children’s author (other than Lindgren), from the earliest writers such as Elsa Beskow to recent writers such as Sven Nordqvist. The square ends at a mock Vimmerby railway station. The station also presents framed copies of Lindgren memorabilia, including a glowing letter of praise for Lindgren from then president of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev. From the station visitors then take a theme-train ride through the world of Astrid Lindgren’s books, with one “stage setting” for each of her well-known works, such as Madicken, Karlsson-on-the-Roof, Ronia the Robber's Daughter, Emil i Lönneberga, and The Brothers Lionheart. The train ride ends at a half-side reconstruction of Villa Villekulla, the home of Lindgren's most well-known character, Pippi Longstocking.

The site also includes a theatre, restaurant and temporary exhibition space – the latter is usually devoted to a single author or character and normally remains in place for 11 months. Among the most popular of the temporary exhibitions have been Pettson and Findus, and Trazan & Banarne.

Tip:
Choose lunch time wisely or make sure you take sufficient water/juice for your tot as the queues for dining can get quite long.
Do make sure that you get tickets for the fairy tale ride, as that is the main attraction of the place.

Guests to the Nordiska Museet located in Stockholm will be delighted to find over one and a half million items on display, which trace the rich cultural past of the country. The displays extend across centuries and eras, starting with the 16th century. Founded in 1873 by folklorist, Artur Hazelius, the museum was once known as the Scandinavian Ethnographic Collection. The building itself is a skillful example of Renaissance architecture. Made to resemble a palace, the museum opened its doors in 1907 after 19 years of construction.

After taking in the beauty of the structure, guests are greeted in the main hall by a large sculpture of the founder of Sweden, King Gustav Vasa. The uniqueness of the collections will captivate visitors for many hours, with displays filled with items which have been common to the Scandinavian culture, including clothing and the necessities of everyday life in a Swedish domicile. Broken into collections which reflect the class system of the past, the ground floor is known as the Royal Armory, a place devoted to the natural life and riggings of the affluent class. In other parts of the museum, guests will find cultural implements which were commonly used by the provincial class and regional society of the country.

Tip:
Get the free audio guide (available in 10 languages) at the main lobby and enjoy!
Audio guides are very easy to use; you only have to key in the exhibit's number.
They also have a great restaurant with good lunch as well as coffee & tea selection.
You might consider combining the Swedish History Museum & the Nordic Museum since the latter picks up where the former leaves off (Renaissance) in historical coverage.

What to buy here: Dalecarlian horse - perhaps the most well known red horse in the world.

Perhaps the most well known of all swedish artifacts, the Dalecarlian horse with its brick red color and hand painted pattern has become somewhat of a swedish trademark. The original shape is a horse carved in wood, but nowadays the famous horse come in other shapes, in crystal, ceramics or glass. The traditional and original 'Dala Horse' will always be the hand made wooden one, carved and hand painted locally in the swedish county of 'Dalarna'.

The Dalecarlian, or 'Dala Horse' is cut out of wood and hand painted in the traditional folklore or kurbits pattern that is typical for the swedish county of Dalarna, located in the middle of the country. The original and genuine horses are only made in one specific village, Nusnäs, and the original color is brick red. Other colors such as white or blue are approved, but less traditional, even as the oldest horses were not colored at all, as they were pre-dating the production of the brick-red color of the paint.

ABBA: The Museum is an interactive exhibition about the pop-group ABBA that opened in Stockholm, Sweden in May 2013. ABBA's collected works are showcased in a contemporary setting at Swedish Music Hall of Fame, a new exhibition venue located at Djurgården, Stockholm. Apart from extensively covering everything you want and don't want to know about ABBA, the museum offers visitors a chance to step into the lives of its members. A highly interactive museum, numerous exhibits allow you to sing with the band, make a music video, dance along, or grace the covers of the band's albums. Kids and adults alike will have a total blast.

Tip:
Buy your tickets in advance for a discount and get there early or later in the day (2-3 hrs before closing).
On all the interactive exhibits that require singing, you should sing loudly and directly into the microphone.
Please keep your tickets as you'll need to scan your barcode so you can download your performances/quiz results later from their website.

Grona Lund's roots are in the 1880s, making it Sweden's oldest amusement park. However the area has been used for similar purposes since the early 18th century. In 1883, a German by the name of Jacob Schultheiss rented the area to erect "carousels and other amusements".

The park's location is unique in the sense that most of the buildings are old residential and commercial structures from the 19th century. The buildings were not built for the park; instead, the park was built around the buildings. Its central location allows visitors to view large parts of Stockholm from the taller attractions.

Grona Lund features over 30 attractions, including roller coasters, carousels, a funhouse, a tunnel of love and more. The park is famous for hosting large concerts with stars like Bob Marley, Janis Joplin, The Boppers and more.

Tip:
Many famous bands/artists play here through the summer. Best value is if you buy the season access Green Card ('Grona kortet') that gives admission for the whole season (rides are extra). The card really pays off!

This incredibly impressive museum was the first of its kind in 1891. The open-air museum was created to celebrate Swedish culture and its traditions. The brainchild of Artur Hazelius, the founder of the Nordic Museum, Hazelius acquired land and a collection of buildings over time, which has now come to be known as Skansen. Today, this living museum paints over 300,000 square meters of the Scandinavian landscape.

The museum consists of gardens, fantastic architectural pieces, walking paths and a zoo which houses a variety of animals. Hazelius sought architectural structures which told the story of Scandinavian society. He purchased over 150 buildings throughout the country and moved them to Skansen for display. The buildings represent everything from affluent society to provincial living.

Guests to Skansen can expect to spend many hours exploring the features of the museum or visiting during one of its many celebrations and festivals. Discover the crafts, which were common to Swedish society, by observing traditionally clad craftsmen or explore the zoo, which is filled with animals native to Sweden's ecosystem.

Why You Should Visit:
If you're looking to get a 'sense' of Sweden outside the confines of great halls, Skansen is the place!
Friendly docents will explain really interesting things about the time period or the structure you're visiting.
Plenty of food/drink outlets to keep you refreshed as you explore the 300,000 m² site, or you can bring a picnic.

Tip:
A must is the Skansen Aquarium and the "monkey house" with everything from funny baboons to scary crocs.
On different Holidays, there are some very exciting traditional celebrations that take place there.

An exceptionally popular museum, Waldemarsudde was once the home of Prince Eugen Napoleon Nicholas, the Duke of Närke. The youngest son of King Oscar II, Prince Eugen was an accomplished artist and patron of the arts. After his death in 1947, the Prince's house was donated to his beloved country to be utilized as an art museum. The exquisite complex is a combination of buildings, which includes a distinguished castle structure designed by the well-known architect Ferdinand Boberg. Additionally, the grand gallery building and the original manor house were once part of an active linseed mill.

As a student of color, balance and natural form, Prince Eugen was an accomplished landscape painter; several of his pieces are on display throughout Waldemarsudde along with his extensive collection of Swedish art. Because of the Prince's love for the landscape, the property is grand with picturesque grounds, fantastic sculptures, and breathtaking landscaped views. Guests will enjoy time exploring the gardens and gazing at the active Stockholm Harbor, where Prince Eugen gained much of his inspiration as he once painted from his studio which was high atop the mansion. The park is open all year round. Private tours are available but guests are encouraged to call ahead to make reservations.

Why You Should Visit:
If you're not inclined to visit the house itself, the outside garden areas are open to the public and present more than enough for the eye to wallow in.
The house is fascinating, however, with great information on the owner, followed by a great collection of Nordic art spanning many artists & genres.

Tip:
Waldemarsudde is easy to visit alongside all the other museums in Djurgården, with the Stockholm Pass getting you admission to all of them.
When you walk into the grounds, there's a little cafe on the left which may be more convenient than the in-house restaurant as you can sit outside.