Stockholm Maritime Museum – Ships & Sea Stories on Djurgården

Stockholm Maritime Museum—Sweden’s Nautical Legacy on Djurgården

Journey through centuries of Swedish seafaring at the Stockholm Maritime Museum (Sjöhistoriska museet), located on the lush island of Djurgården. This cultural landmark features more than 100,000 artifacts—including ship models, figureheads, maritime tools, and historic maps—that vividly showcase Sweden’s naval heritage, shipbuilding traditions, and oceanic exploration.

Stockholm Maritime Museum in Stockholm. Photo: Anneli Karlsson, Sjöhistoriska museet/SMTM

Oseberg ship (9th century). Ship model, waterline model, carved from a single block of wood. Photo: Sjöhistoriska museet (CC BY)

⚓ More Than a Museum: A Living Maritime Legacy

The Maritime Museum is more than a static collection—it’s an active hub for education and discovery. Visitors can attend public lectures, engage with rotating exhibitions, and participate in hands-on programs covering topics from naval warfare to life aboard merchant ships. Open year-round, it’s an ideal destination for families, students, and maritime enthusiasts alike.

⚓ The Amphion: A Royal Vessel

Commissioned by King Gustav III, the Amphion was a hybrid royal yacht and warship—striking in design but unstable at sea, limited to Lake Mälaren. Today, its preserved cabin and stern are on display at the museum, offering a rare look into 18th-century royal naval architecture.

🏛️ Designed by Stockholm’s Most Famous Architect

The museum itself is an architectural gem. Designed by Ragnar Östberg—renowned for Stockholm City Hall—it features a neoclassical style enriched with maritime elements like marble ship motifs, anchor carvings, and seahorse handles. As Östberg’s final major work, the building stands as a tribute to Sweden’s naval legacy.

🎁 Built on Vision and Philanthropy

The museum owes its founding to a 1938 donation from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. Their support established the Maritime Museum as a cornerstone of Swedish cultural heritage and maritime education.

Stern ornament belonging to the ship-of-the-line KARL XIV JOHAN, consisting of shield, crown with apple. Photo: Sjöhistoriska museet (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Model of a new type of galley for the Swedish navy, made i France 1715. Photo: Dagjoh (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The Swedish Archipelago Fleet under Gustav III's personal command attacking Fredrikshamn on May 20, 1790. Photo: Johan Tietrich Schoultz (Public Domain)

Ship model exhibited at the Maritime Museum in Stockholm. Photo: Holger.Ellgaard (CC BY-SA 3.0)

🌳 Afterward, Explore Djurgården

Step outside and discover the peaceful trails and gardens of Djurgården. This scenic island also hosts many of Stockholm’s top museums and open-air attractions—perfect for a full day of culture and nature.

🧭 Nearby Attractions Worth Visiting

Vasa Museum: See a fully preserved 17th-century warship and learn about Sweden’s naval power.
Skansen Open-Air Museum: Walk through centuries of rural Swedish life with live animals and demonstrations.
Nordic Museum: Dive into Swedish culture, fashion, and traditions from the 1500s onward.
Gröna Lund: Enjoy waterfront amusement rides and live music.
Rosendal Palace: Visit a royal garden villa showcasing 19th-century interiors.
Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde: Explore Swedish art in a serene mansion overlooking the water.
Djurgården Island: Rent bikes, take boat rides, or relax in cozy cafés on this green cultural oasis.
Tekniska Museet: Discover hands-on science exhibits for all ages.

Whether you’re captivated by maritime history or simply exploring Stockholm with your family, the Stockholm Maritime Museum offers a rich, engaging, and beautifully located window into Sweden’s seafaring past.