We spent 2 nights in Stockholm so that we could spend the day at 2 of the iconic museums in the city, the Vasa museum, and the Skansen Open Air Museum.

The Vasa Museum houses the best preserved historic shipwreck, the Vasa, which sank not far from birth on its maiden voyage. The harbour, being low in salinity, doesn’t provide the habitat for wood eating creatures that would normally destroy the ships structure. The lack of organisms means that after 333 years the ship is so well preserved, the bones of the crew, fabric of their clothes, and items in their chests and barrels, were very well preserved. The museum displays these alongside the ship, including the recoverable skeletons laid out in a display with facial recreations to humanise them. The sculptures, still with detail adorn the ship, and the ship is 98% original from the 15th century ship.

When entering the museum, there is an information rack with guidelines to download a free audio guide for the museum. English tours are every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour, and last 25 minutes. The exhibits are informative for adults, and interactive for the kids (or the kids within the adults.) The museum has 7 levels, with 3 housing exhibitions, 3 as galleries, and the main lobby/exit. I recommend planning 3-5 hours to looking around.

The Skansen Open Air Museum is a living museum, where buildings have been donated and kept running. Part living heritage, and part zoo, the museum covers how Swedes have lived since the Viking age, animals native to Scandinavia, and a slew of activities for all ages. In the center of the park, by a large red tower, is a restaurant/café with potato pancakes with a seafood salad (cream cheese with salmon and lobster,) I highly recommend it! It would be easy to spend a whole day wondering the park.

Both of these museums are about a 20 minute walk from the STF skepsholmen and af Chapman, an older square rig ship that has been converted into a hostel. There are rooms available on the shore, and the bar on the deck of the Chapman is open to the public. (Check the board for specials and deals!)