1.9 C
Stockholm
1 May , 2025

The Swedish History Museum
– Discover Swedish History: From Vikings to Renaissance Splendor

Visitors can explore Sweden’s rich and fascinating history in a remarkable way at the Historiska museet (Swedish History Museum). Located in central Stockholm at Narvavägen 13-17, this museum is a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts and curious travelers.

The museum houses an extensive collection of over 10 million objects, including archaeological artifacts and ecclesiastical art from various periods of Swedish history. Visitors can explore a diverse array of exhibits, from Iron Age skates and Viking boats to medieval textiles and Renaissance triptychs.

World-Class Viking exhibition

The Swedish History Museum houses one of the world’s most comprehensive Viking exhibitions, spanning nearly 1,000 square meters and featuring an extraordinary collection of 2,500 original artifacts. This immersive exhibition goes far beyond a traditional display, offering visitors a nuanced and dynamic exploration of Viking life and culture.

Exhibition highlights

The Viking exhibition provides an in-depth look at the Viking Age (750–1100 CE), challenging popular myths about these historical people. Key features include:

  • Over 4,000 artifacts showcasing Viking daily life, including jewelry, clothing, rune stones, and weapons
  • Interactive stations engaging all senses
  • Virtual reality experience of a 12th-century stave church

Thematic Explorations of Viking Society:
The exhibition delves deep into various aspects of Viking culture, including

  • Social structures and cultural exchanges
  • Craftsmanship
  • Trade and seafaring
  • Religious transitions

Unique artifacts and displays

The exhibition centers around Yggdrasil, the world tree from Viking mythology, which guides visitors through ten distinct thematic sections. Visitors can explore:

  • Authentic Viking weapons and tools
  • Religious artifacts
  • Objects from Viking expeditions
  • Artifacts from Birka, Sweden’s oldest city
  • Detailed insights into Viking art and decoration

The Mästermyr chest: 1,000-year-old tools

A remarkable collection of more than 200 Viking Age tools and artifacts can be found in the Mästermyr chest, which was found in 1936 on the Swedish island of Gotland. The chest includes tools for various trades, like hammers, pliers, saws, and much more. This discovery offers priceless insights into the daily activities and craftsmanship of Viking-era craftspeople.

The fact that many of these tools are familiar to contemporary artisans demonstrates the high degree of Viking craftsmanship. This varied toolkit indicates that the owner was a highly competent traveling craftsman who could do cooperage, carpentry, locksmithing, and blacksmithing. The Mästermyr find provides a unique window into the technological prowess of the time period and is the largest and most complete collection of Viking Age hand tools from a single location.

The spectacular Gold Room: A treasury of Swedish history

The Gold Room at the Swedish History Museum is a breathtaking underground vault that represents one of Europe’s most extraordinary precious metal collections. Blasted into the bedrock beneath the museum’s central courtyard, this 700-square-meter concrete vault is a true archaeological marvel.

Collection highlights

The Gold Room houses an incredible collection that includes:

  • Approximately 3,000 gold and silver objects
  • 52 kg of gold
  • Over 200 kg of silver
  • Unique artifacts spanning from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages

The collection includes:

  • Three incredibly detailed gold collars (the only three known in the world)
  • Viking silver jewelry
  • Bejeweled medieval reliquaries
  • Ceremonial swords
  • Coins and war spoils

Historical significance of the Gold Room

The vast collection exists due to a unique 17th-century Swedish law mandating that all gold and silver artifacts over 100 years old with no owner must be redeemed by the government and sent to the History Museum. This law continues to ensure the preservation of Sweden’s archaeological treasures.

Fascinating fact: Many of these precious items were discovered by ordinary people like servant girls, farmhands, and agricultural workers, often representing their unexpected escape from poverty.

Diverse historical collections

Visitors can explore medieval Swedish church art, artifacts from the 12th to post-Reformation periods, wooden sculptures, altarpieces, and famous religious artifacts like St. Elisabeth’s reliquary.

Location

Conveniently located within walking distance of Djurgårdsbron, Karlaplan, and Östermalmstorg. The nearest metro station is Östermalmstorg.

Places to stay in the area

Home Hotel Wellington
8.0

Home Hotel Wellington

⭐ 3.0 | 📈 8.0 | 🏨 Hotel | 📍 Storgatan 6, Östermalm

Home Hotel Wellington offers free Wi-Fi, car hire, and parking. Enjoy convenient amenities like room service, and relax in designated smoking areas. Unique room designs and a lively bar enhance your stay. Savor on-site dining and a tasty breakfast before visiting the sauna for ultimate relaxation.

Unique Hotel Jungfrugatan
8.5

Unique Hotel Jungfrugatan

⭐ 4.0 | 📈 8.5 | 🏨 Hotel | 📍 Jungfrugatan 7A, Östermalm

Unique Hotel Jungfrugatan ensures a comfortable stay with free Wi-Fi, parking, express check-in/out, and luggage storage. Smoke-free rooms offer relaxation with features like air conditioning, blackout curtains, and entertainment options. Enjoy convenient in-room amenities and start your day with a delicious breakfast on-site.

Hotel Diplomat Stockholm
9.1

Hotel Diplomat Stockholm

⭐ 5.0 | 📈 9.1 | 🏨 Hotel | 📍 Strandvägen 7c, Östermalm

Hotel Diplomat Stockholm offers free Wi-Fi and parking with concierge services. Enjoy ticket booking, laundry, and room service. Relax in cozy rooms with minibars and cable TV. Delight in breakfast and dining, plus a bar for entertainment. Pamper yourself with massages and exercise facilities.

Best Western Hotel Karlaplan
8.1

Best Western Hotel Karlaplan

⭐ 4.0 | 📈 8.1 | 🏨 Hotel | 📍 Skeppargatan 82, Östermalm

Best Western Hotel Karlaplan offers free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast, and a convenient cafe. Stay entertained with TV and access to vending machines. Enjoy relaxed dining and a smoke-free atmosphere. Benefit from concierge services and taxi availability for easy exploration of Stockholm.

Hotel Esplanade
8.6

Hotel Esplanade

⭐ 4.0 | 📈 8.6 | 🏨 Hotel | 📍 Strandvägen 7A, Östermalm

Nestled in the heart of the city, Hotel Esplanade seamlessly blends luxury and comfort. Enjoy elegantly furnished rooms, top-notch amenities, and exquisite dining options. Perfect for both business and leisure travelers, its prime location offers quick access to cultural landmarks and shopping districts.

Attraction Info

The Swedish History Museum
Historiska Museet

Address

Narvavägen 13–17
Östermalm, Stockholm

Contact

+46 (0)8 519 556 20
https://historiska.se/home/
info@historiska.se

Getting there

Karlaplan or Östermalmstorg.
67 (stop Historiska museet), 69 and 76 (stop Djurgårdsbron).
7 (stop Djurgårdsbron).
Parking facilities for cars are available along Narvavägen.

Hotels Nearby, Loved by Guests

Home Hotel Wellington
8.0

Home Hotel Wellington

⭐ 3.0 | 📈 8.0 | 🏨 Hotel | 📍 Storgatan 6, Östermalm

Home Hotel Wellington offers free Wi-Fi, car hire, and parking. Enjoy convenient amenities like room service, and relax in designated smoking areas. Unique room designs and a lively bar enhance your stay. Savor on-site dining and a tasty breakfast before visiting the sauna for ultimate relaxation.

Unique Hotel Jungfrugatan
8.5

Unique Hotel Jungfrugatan

⭐ 4.0 | 📈 8.5 | 🏨 Hotel | 📍 Jungfrugatan 7A, Östermalm

Unique Hotel Jungfrugatan ensures a comfortable stay with free Wi-Fi, parking, express check-in/out, and luggage storage. Smoke-free rooms offer relaxation with features like air conditioning, blackout curtains, and entertainment options. Enjoy convenient in-room amenities and start your day with a delicious breakfast on-site.

Hotel Diplomat Stockholm
9.1

Hotel Diplomat Stockholm

⭐ 5.0 | 📈 9.1 | 🏨 Hotel | 📍 Strandvägen 7c, Östermalm

Hotel Diplomat Stockholm offers free Wi-Fi and parking with concierge services. Enjoy ticket booking, laundry, and room service. Relax in cozy rooms with minibars and cable TV. Delight in breakfast and dining, plus a bar for entertainment. Pamper yourself with massages and exercise facilities.

Best Western Hotel Karlaplan
8.1

Best Western Hotel Karlaplan

⭐ 4.0 | 📈 8.1 | 🏨 Hotel | 📍 Skeppargatan 82, Östermalm

Best Western Hotel Karlaplan offers free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast, and a convenient cafe. Stay entertained with TV and access to vending machines. Enjoy relaxed dining and a smoke-free atmosphere. Benefit from concierge services and taxi availability for easy exploration of Stockholm.

Hotel Esplanade
8.6

Hotel Esplanade

⭐ 4.0 | 📈 8.6 | 🏨 Hotel | 📍 Strandvägen 7A, Östermalm

Nestled in the heart of the city, Hotel Esplanade seamlessly blends luxury and comfort. Enjoy elegantly furnished rooms, top-notch amenities, and exquisite dining options. Perfect for both business and leisure travelers, its prime location offers quick access to cultural landmarks and shopping districts.

StockholmMuseum Map

Related Content

Vitabergsparken

Discover Vitabergsparken in Stockholm's Södermalm district, a lush urban oasis perfect for picnics, play, and panoramic views. Enjoy the iconic Vita Bergen hill, open-air theater, and nearby attractions like Sofia Church and SoFo. Escape the city's hustle in this serene, cultural hub.

National Museum of Fine Arts

Explore the National Museum of Fine Arts in Stockholm, a treasure trove of art and history. Established in 1792, this premier museum showcases a stunning collection in a Renaissance-inspired building. Swedish and international art masterpieces and modern amenities make it a must-see for art lovers.

Museum of Science and Technology

Tekniska Museet in Stockholm, a century-old hub of innovation, offers interactive exhibits on Sweden's technological legacy. From model railways to AI art, it captivates over 300,000 visitors annually. Explore the ever-evolving world of science and technology on Djurgården Island.

Swedish drinks: Punsch

Swedish Punsch, a unique liqueur with roots in the 18th century, is a staple of Sweden's drinking culture. With its sweet, complex flavors of arrack, sugar, tea, citrus, and spices, it offers a taste of tradition. Once a luxury, it now enjoys a revival in modern cocktail culture.

Almstriden: The 1971 defense of Kungsträdgården’s elms

Travel back in time to 1971, when the people of Stockholm came together in Kungsträdgården to defend their beloved elm trees. Find out more about Almstriden, the demonstration that revolutionized Swedish environmental activism.

Norrmalmstorg: Birthplace of Stockholm Syndrome

Visit Norrmalmstorg in Stockholm to explore the origin of Stockholm Syndrome. Learn about the captivating event that coined the term and immerse yourself in the rich history of this iconic location.