11 Of Stockholm's Lesser-Known Museums Worth A Visit

Stockholm is a city with a huge amount of cultural clout and that is reflected in the sheer volume of brilliant museums in the city. There are some classic museums that are in every guide book, listicle or tour brochure. However, there is also a number of smaller, often more niche, museums that are well worth checking out when visiting Sweden’s capital. Here are some of them.

1. Video Games Museum

Museum

Perfect for kids (and big kids alike) the Stockholm Spelmuseum is one of the city’s new museums and has a number of interactive exhibits that take you on a journey from some of the first video games to today’s high-tech immersive experiences. It gives adults the chance to relive games they may well have played during their childhood and children the chance to see what games used to be like, as well as what the future may hold for video games. There is a number of games on display that you can challenge your friends or family at, plus a number of different game-related events.

2. Army Museum

Building, Museum

The Stockholm Army Museum is housed in a beautiful building that was once used as the main depot for Swedish weaponry. It has been open since 1879 and charts the history of the Swedish army from the 16th century to the present day. It explores more than just war, also spotlighting the lives of women and children during wartime and has interactive exhibitions, so you can experience what conditions were like for Swedish soldiers. It has free admission, guided tours and a wonderful café that does an excellent, great-value-for-money lunch. A must for any military history buffs.

3. The National Sport Museum

Museum

Sweden has a very proud and storied sporting history and has hosted a number of world-famous events and competitions. In 1912, Stockholm was the site of the Olympics, in 1958 it was the choice city for the World Cup, and in 1992 for the UEFA European Championships, along with countless winter sports competitions, making the country a sporting powerhouse. This museum explores sport in Sweden, both at the elite and the amateur levels, with interactive exhibitions, activities and films of old sporting highlights.

4. Maritime Museum

Museum

Stockholm, and Sweden in general, has a very strong relationship with water. For Stockholm, one of the reasons it became such a Scandinavian powerhouse was because of its ease of access to the North Sea, while on the west coast, Gothenburg and Malmo grew and expanded owing to their coastal locations. This museum contains a number of fascinating items that reflect the importance and history of Sweden’s maritime links. One of the highlights is the preserved cabin and stern of the boat in which King Gustav III planned his strategy for attacking Russia during the war of 1788-90. It also has the largest nautical library in Scandinavia.