Historiska Museet: Making history relevant, with true life stories

By Malin Norman | Photos: Historiska Museet

At the Swedish History Museum, you will experience dramatic life stories including power struggles, love, celebration and everyday life, from the Stone Age to the present day.

Across 4,600 square metres, the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm showcases objects from the Stone Age until modern times – a period spanning more than ten thousand years. “We’re passionate about the history of Sweden and how history affects society,” says Åsa Marnell, museum director. “Knowledge of history provides keys to other worlds. Our aim is to provide new perspectives on history, to unite through time and space.”

The Swedish History Museum welcomes around 200,000 visitors per year. A must-see for many is the Viking World, one of the world’s largest Viking exhibitions. “The myth of the violent, plundering Vikings has spread around the world. But archaeological discoveries and research have changed our view of life in Scandinavia a thousand years ago,” explains Marnell. “With almost 1,000 square metres of thrilling stories, interactive stations for all the senses and 2,500 original objects, we delve into who the Vikings really were.”

Historiska Museet: Making history relevant, with true life stories

The vast collections at the museum also contain a total of 52 kilos of gold and over 200 kilos of silver – much of it on display in the Gold Room. “Sweden has one of Europe’s richest collections of prehistoric gold and silver. Nearly 3,000 gold objects are kept here, including gold collars from the migration period, silver pendants from the Viking period, reliquaries decorated with gemstones from the Middle Ages, and other amazing objects.”

Historiska Museet: Making history relevant, with true life stories

Last year, the Swedish History Museum opened Medieval Fashion in collaboration with the Medieval Museum. “Available to view until 1 November 2026, this not-to-be-missed exhibition showcases newly sewn women’s garments, recreated from the 1100s to the early 1500s, including both simpler garments and more elaborate ones,” says the museum director. There is plenty more going on, with a total of 12 exhibitions and events such as live music, after work events, and a language exchange café.

Historiska Museet: Making history relevant, with true life stories

If you are short on time, a handy highlights audio guide takes you through five of the Swedish History Museum’s must-see exhibitions in just one hour. Marnell adds; “With over ten million objects in our collections, we’ve handpicked 16 of our absolute favourites. Visitors at the museum can also check out our excellent souvenir shop and our fantastic restaurant, with a range of culinary experiences.”