Visit the Stadsmuseum (City Museum) in Gothenburg to learn about the city and the surrounding region from the time of its earliest inhabitants to the present day. See an actual Viking ship and Chinese ornaments brought home by early Swedish travellers. The building itself is also one of the finest structures in the city.
Once the headquarters of the Swedish East India Company, this 18th-century building now holds one of the largest museums in the country. Navigate the 10 permanent galleries in addition to several temporary exhibitions.
Learn how humans have changed the land around Gothenburg over time in the exhibit The Traces Speak. Then, head over to the Viking exhibition to see a national treasure: the Äskeskärrsskeppet. This longboat, which was discovered nearby in the Göta River, is the only Viking vessel on display in Sweden.
Explore the collection of antique treasures from all over the continent in the Gate to the West exhibit. Here, you’ll discover a detailed account of Sweden’s trading history with the rest of Europe. Learn how Dutch immigrants contributed to the fortification of Gothenburg.
Sweden’s first travellers to Asia returned home with fine Chinese wares, many of which can be seen in an exhibit at the Stadsmuseum. Another exhibit deals with the Swedish East India Company. See portraits, diaries and artifacts belonging to the wealthy and powerful heads of this history-making trading company.
At the Children’s Museum, young visitors can build castles, play with cranes and crawl through tunnels, among other activities.
Sign up at the museum for a walking tour of the city for a small fee.
The Stadsmuseum is located next to the canal within easy walking distance of many of central Gothenburg’s attractions. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday. The on-site café serves meals on weekdays.Visitors under 25 get in free. Adults over 25 receive unlimited entry for a year after buying their first ticket.
