Culture & Traditions

There are a few cultural pieces in Sweden celebrated for their history and significance to Swedes, and to the larger world.

The Viking Age is important in Swedish history. The Vasa Ship Museum is dedicated to a single ship, the Vasa, a huge 17th century sailing ship that sank in the middle of Stockholm’s harbour on its maiden voyage. It was dredged up from the floor of the harbour in 1961, 300 years after it sank, and restored to its original state. It’s now displayed in a large auditorium, decorated with hundreds of carved sculptures. The museum tells the story of the ship and life at the time of the sinking, and also about the people who lost their lives in the tragedy. 

The Nobel Museum offers an insight into the history and recipients of the Nobel Prize since the award’s inception in 1901. Exhibits tell the story of Alfred Nobel, who is known to have invented dynamite, and then spent his fortune on developing the Nobel prize to award those working to the benefit of humankind.

Pop House houses the ABBA Museum, which celebrates the band’s popular music and homegrown talents that burst into global popular culture. The museum is located on Djurgarden Island in Stockholm. Also on the island is Skansen, the oldest open-air museum in the world. Combined with a zoo featuring animals native to Scandinavia, Skansen features examples of dwellings and farms from across the country and from various time periods over the history of the nation. You’ll find dairies, bakeries, and handcraft centres here – it’s an excellent spot for families and offers great views of the harbour and city.

The IKEA Museum allows visitors to follow the development of IKEA showing how its furniture, products, and events became a desirable global series of products. Design and product development, sustainability, and the environment as well as communication and marketing are all included in a tour of the museum.