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Ten must-see Stockholm museums and galleries

The Local Sweden
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Ten must-see Stockholm museums and galleries

From photography and modern art to far eastern antiquities and ABBA artifacts, Stockholm's museums and galleries offer a wide and varied array of cultural goodies on which to feast, whatever the weather.

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1. Fotografiska                                                                                   

Stockholm's largest space for contemporary photography is housed in a former industrial Art Nouveau style building dating back to 1906, with stunning views over Djurgården island. Remodelled by Swedish architect Ferdinand Boberg, the huge gallery opened in 2010 and quickly became one of the city's hottest attractions.

It usually presents four exclusive exhibitions, which are updated every few months and also boasts an award-winning restaurant.

Opening hours: 9am - 11pm Monday to Sunday

Address: Stadsgårdshamnen 22, Stockholm

Website: www.fotografiska.eu

Price:  Children under the age of 12 go free / Groups (minimum 25 visitors) 90 kronor / Adults 120 kronor / Students and Seniors 90 kronor 

Photo: Fotografiska

2. Contemporary Art Galleries by Industricentralen

This complex of galleries at Industricentralen was designed in 1937 by Ragnar Östberg, who is also the architect behind Stockholm's City Hall. Internationally acclaimed contemporary artists regularly have their work displayed across the seven different gallery spaces.

This summer, Swedish artist Annika von Hausswolff’s fifth exhibition at Andréhn-Schiptjenko is a highlight. The artist is well-known internationally for her works revolving around staged photography and spatiality, combined with existential and psychoanalytical themes.

Opening hours: 12pm - 6pm Thursday and Friday, 12pm - 4pm Saturday and Sunday 

Address: Hudiksvallsgatan 8, Stockholm

Website: www.industricentralen.se

Price: See websites for details, costs vary for different galleries

Photo: Carl Henrik Tillberg

3. Moderna Museet

Moderna Museet is situated on the pretty island of Skeppsholmen and can be accessed via a ferry from Slussen or on foot from the swanky Östermalm district. The bright red museum attracts big names in contemporary art; it recently hosted work from one of the most important sculptors of the last few decades, Louise Bourgeois, who chose the space to exhibit several pieces never previously seen in public.

The museum also has collections from artistic legends including Picasso, Derkert and Matisse. Plus, don't miss Dali's painting The Enigma of Wilhelm Tell, from 1933. Moderna Museet attracts more than 500,000 people every year.

Opening hours: 10am - 8pm Tuesday and Friday 10am - 6pm Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 

Address: Exercisplan, Skeppsholmen, Stockholm

Website: www.modernamuseet.se

Price: Under 18s and members go free / Adults 120 kronor / Seniors 100 kronor / Combined ticket with Architecture & Design centre 180/160 kronor 

Photo: Moderna Museet

4. Magasin III Museum & Foundation for Contemporary Art

Magasin III, founded in 1987, has been loaning artworks to museums across the globe for more than 20 years and pledges to support artists that “influence, engage and question” through their art. After recently rebranding itself as Magasin III Museum & Foundation for Contemporary Art, this creative space is back open for business on September 11th.

The building is a former dockside warehouse and also hosts a huge library of exhibition catalogues and artists' books published since 1987. 

Opening hours: 11am – 7pm Thursday, 11am - 5pm Friday, 11am – 5pm Saturday,  11am - 5pm Sunday 

Address: Frihamnsgatan 28, Stockholm

Website: www.magasin3.se

Price: Under 20s go free / Students (20+) and Seniors (65+) 60 kronor / Adults 80 kronor / Magasin III Art Club members Free 

Photo: Magasin III Museum & Foundation for Contemporary Art

5. Arkdes

Sweden's largest architecture museum, Arkdes, was founded in 1962. The museum is currently exhibiting some forty projects looking at how it could be possible to “hack” Stockholm's design and infrastructure in order to develop new sustainable and visually stimulating solutions. 

Urban strategist Scott Burnham's 'reprogramming the city' projects highlights opportunities for creative new urban infrastructures including billboards that could produce water, rooftops that could become farms and garages which could become new homes. His exhibition has previously been shown at the BSA Space Gallery in Boston, Virgina Center for Architecture, Richmond and DAC in Copenhagen.

Opening Hours: 10am - 8pm Tuesday, 10am - 6pm Wednesday - Sunday

Address: Exercisplan 4, Skeppsholmen, Stockholm

Price: Adults 80 kronor / Combined ticket with Modern Art Museum 180 kronor 

Website: www.arkdes.se

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Photo: Arkdes

6. Skansen

Skansen was the world’s first open-air museum, founded by Artur Hazelius in 1891. Situated on the beautiful island of Djurgården, it introduces visitors to the houses and farmsteads Swedish people lived in between the 16th century and the first half of the 20th century. Wild Nordic animals such as bears, wolves and lynx can also be spotted in the museum's grounds.

The park is also worth a visit for its hilltop view over Stockholm’s city and boasts a popular shop selling traditional handicrafts and Swedish design products. 

Opening Hours: See website for details, hours vary for different parts of the park

Address: Djurgårdsslätten 49-51, Stockholm 

­­­­Website: www.skansen.se

Price: See website for details, costs vary for different parts of the park

Photo: Skansen

7. ABBA Museum

Here you can spend a day singing in a mocked-up Polar Studio, meeting ABBA holograms and dancing alongside the Swedish heroes on stage. You can also sneak a peak at plenty of ABBA's spectacular and eccentric stage costumes from the 1970s and 1980s.

Openings: 10am - 8pm. Monday to Sunday.

Address: Djurgården 68, Stockholm

Website: www.abbathemuseum.com

Price: Children age 7 to 15 65 kronor / Adults 195 kronor / Family ticket 52 kronor

Photo: ABBA Museum

8. Tekniska Museet

Teknska Museet opened in 1936 and ever since then it has played host to millions of people curious to know more about technology.

From September 6th 2015, a keynote exhibition entitled MEGA MIND is set to offer visitors the chance to "paint" with their eyes, make virtual sculptures or create music through the power of thought.

Another popular attraction is the '100 Innovations' exhibition, showcasing the most important inventions in history.

Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm Monday – Friday, 10am - 8pm Wednesday, 10am - 5pm Saturday – Sunday 

Address: Museivägen 7, Stockholm

Website: www.tekniskamuseet.se

Price:  Children aged 0 - 6 go free / 7-19 year-olds 50 kronor / Adults 150 kronor / Family ticket 400 kronor

Photo: Tekniska Museet

9. Östasiatiska museet - The Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities

Here you will find objects and artifacts encompassing thousands of years of human creativity and craftsmanship from Asia. Most items here hail from Japan and China, including teapots and bowls, Kokeshi handmade dolls, Chinese Jade and carnelian jewellery.

You can also feast at Café Kikusen, a new Asian restaurant that serves up a taste of Tokyo. Enjoy!

Opening Hours: 11am – 5pm Tuesday - Sunday 

Address: Skeppsholmen

Website: www.varldskulturmuseerna.se

Price: Children aged 0 - 6 go free/ 7-19 year-olds 50 kronor / Adults 150 kronor / Family ticket (2 adults and maximum 4 children) 400 kronor

Photo: Östasiatiska

10. Spirit Museum

Located in Stockholm’s two remaining 18th century naval buildings on the island of Djurgården, the Spirit Museum focuses on the history of colourful, bitter, sweet, strong, soft and bubbly types of alcohol. This is also where Sweden's annual drinking song contest is held. Skål!

Opening Hours: 10am - 6pm Monday – Sunday 

Address: Djurgårdsvägen 38, Djurgården, Stockholm

Website: www.spritmuseum.se

Price:  Children aged 0 - 6 go free, 12 – 18 year-olds and students 90 kronor / Adults 100 kronor / Seniors 90 kronor / Groups (of at least 10 people 80 kronor 


Photo: Spirit Museum

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