The Nordic Museum (Nordiska Museet) building at Djurgarden Island.

© Kiev.Victor/Shutterstock


The epic Nordiska Museet is Sweden’s largest cultural-history museum and one of its largest indoor spaces. The building itself (from 1907) is an eclectic, Renaissance-style castle designed by Isak Gustav Clason, who also drew up Östermalms Saluhall; you'll notice a resemblance. Inside is a sprawling collection of all things Swedish, from sacred Sami objects to clothing and table settings. The museum boasts the world’s largest collection of paintings by August Strindberg, as well as a number of his personal possessions.

In all, there are over 1.5 million items in the museum's collection, dating from 1520 to the present day. Topping it off are the often dynamic temporary exhibitions. The insightful audio guide (free with admission) offers several hours of English commentary.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Vasamuseet

0.11 MILES

A good-humoured glorification of some dodgy calculations, Vasamuseet is the custom-built home of the massive warship Vasa; 69m long and 48.8m tall, it was…

2. Spritmuseum

0.16 MILES

The surprisingly entertaining Museum of Spirits is dedicated to Sweden's complicated relationship with alcohol, as mediated over the years by the state…

3. Junibacken

0.17 MILES

Junibacken whimsically recreates the fantasy scenes of Astrid Lindgren’s books for children. Catch the flying Story Train over Stockholm, shrink to the…

4. Biologiska Museet

0.2 MILES

As notable for its creaky wooden building as for its collection of critters, the 1893 Biologiska Museet charms visitors with two circular floors of…

5. Liljevalchs Konsthall

0.26 MILES

Opened in 1916, Liljevalchs is an all-purpose gallery space that puts on at least four major exhibitions a year of contemporary Swedish and international…

6. ABBA: The Museum

0.32 MILES

A sensory-overload experience that might appeal only to devoted ABBA fans, this long-awaited and wildly hyped cathedral to the demigods of Swedish pop is…

7. Gröna Lund Tivoli

0.35 MILES

Crowded Gröna Lund Tivoli has some 30 rides, ranging from the tame (a German circus carousel) to the terrifying (the Free Fall, where you drop from a…

8. Glassblowers' Workshop

0.35 MILES

The Glassblowers' hut, built in 1936, is one of the top attractions within Skansen. It's also possible to book your own glassblowing session – reserve…