Vasa Museum

Overview

The Vasa Museum displays the world's only fully preserved 17th-century warship. The 69-metre Vasa sank on its maiden voyage in 1628, was salvaged in 1961, and now stands in a purpose-built hall—one of the most visited museums in Scandinavia.

Highlights

• The ship: 64 cannons, 700 wooden sculptures, and 95% original timber.
• Scale models: A 1:10 model shows the ship's original painted colours.
• Salvage story: The painstaking 1961 recovery and 17-year conservation.

History

Commissioned by King Gustav II Adolf, the Vasa was top-heavy and capsized just 1,300 metres into its maiden voyage on 10 August 1628. The cold, low-salinity Baltic preserved it for 333 years.

Visitor Tips

• Audio guide: Included; essential for understanding the ship's story.
• Arrive at opening: The museum fills up by late morning.
• Duration: 1.5–2 hours.