115 21 Stockholm, Sweden
| Mon–Sun (Jun–Aug) | 08:30–18:00 |
| Mon–Sun (Sep–May) | 10:00–17:00 |
| Wednesdays | until 20:00 |
About the museum
The Vasa Museum (Vasamuseet) on the island of Djurgården is the most visited museum in Scandinavia. It was built around a single extraordinary object: the warship Vasa, which sank in Stockholm harbour on its maiden voyage on 10 August 1628, barely 1,300 metres from the shore.
Top-heavy and carrying too many cannon for its narrow hull, the ship heeled over in a gust of wind, took on water through its open gun ports and sank within minutes. It lay on the seabed for 333 years until it was salvaged, remarkably intact, in 1961. The cold, low-salt waters of the Baltic had protected the oak timbers from the shipworm that destroys wrecks in most other seas.
What it is famous for
- The only preserved 17th-century ship in the world, about 98% original.
- More than 700 carved sculptures and ornaments that once covered the ship.
- The dramatic story of its sinking, salvage and decades-long conservation.
- Exhibitions on life aboard, naval warfare and the people who sailed — and died — on her.
Good to know
The museum is part of Sweden's National Maritime and Transport Museums. Allow at least 90 minutes for a visit. It sits beside the open-air Skansen museum and other Djurgården attractions, making it easy to combine in one day.