Vasa Museum Stockholm

Located on Djurgården, in Stockholm,  Sweden, the Vasa Museum houses the world's best preserved 17th century war ship, the Vasa, which sank just minutes after it started sailing.

This museum which opened in 1990 is a popular attraction to see when visiting Stockholm. 

There is a movie in various languages that plays throughout the day that gives some background on the Vasa and also shows how they recovered it. 

If you are interested in a tour, the museum offers free museum tours (in English too) to join where a guide takes you around and talks about the ship. This tour is great for the grownups but a bit lengthy for kids. Toddlers are not recommended as they can be.

Of course, the museum also includes a restaurant, but strollers need to park outside the doors.

If you have allergies, it may be more difficult to find something you can have. You can ask what they have as a substitute or ask for a dish without that particular sauce.

There was also delicious bread and coffee included with the lunch.

We have visited the Vasa Museum twice with kids. It's nice to have a restaurant right inside, but if you prefer to eat something you've packed, there is also an area on the main floor near the entrance where you can sit with kids to have some snacks or drinks.

Depending on the age of the kids, the free tour offered by the museum, might not be a appropriate. With a toddler, I'd say don't bother taking them to the tour. My toddler preferred running around so I couldn't listen to anything on the tour. The tour guide actually got upset with the noise so we didn't continue the tour with the grandparents and instead walked around ourselves and found the kids area.

There is a small kids area that plays the movie about the Vasa through the eyes of a little piglet. It replays all day in different languages. There are also some kids books about the Vasa and the little piglet in different languages. 

If you have a stroller, it's ok to bring it around the museum with you. There are elevators (but sometimes take a while to arrive) Bringing a sleeping child or one who is happy sitting in stroller on the tour is probably OK. Strollers can also be parked by the lockers near the exit of the museum.

Note: You need to park the stroller if you are going into the restaurant as well. There is parking located to the left of the restaurant entrance.

There is a nice big gift shop before the exit (after the locker area) for those who like souvenirs. We have actually been gifted a Bamse and Vasa book in English! Bamse is a popular kid's cartoon character in Sweden.

The Vasa museum is a great place to spend the afternoon especially if it's chilly or rainy outdoors!

If you're in Stockholm on a visit or live here and haven't checked it out, definitely visit the Vasa Museum.

Don't forget your snacks!

Vasa Museum
Galärvarvsvägen 14, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden
Check out their website for opening hours and more info.