Getting to the Vasa Museum
The Vasa Museum is located on the island of Djurgården, where you can also find the ABBA Museum and other unique museums. From Gamla Stan (old town) you can take the Ferry Line 82 for a scenic 15 minute ride. It is also accessible via bus and metro, depending on where you are staying in the city.
About the Vasa
The Vasa is a recovered war ship that sank in the Baltic Sea in 1628. It is 225 feet long (69 meters) and more than 160 feet tall (50 meters) – including the mast. The ship weighed more than 1,200 tonnes with its sails, cannons & sculptures. It was truly one of a kind when it debuted in Sweden’s Royal Navy.
Vasa History
The story of the Vasa is what makes this ship truly incredible. In 1625, Swedish King Gustav II Adolf commissioned the most powerful warship to be built. Three years later, the Vasa was “ready” to make its debut on the world stage.
However – not everything was as perfect as the King would have hoped. The captain overseeing the construction of the ship brought Admiral Klas Fleming down to see the Vasa and voiced concern over its readiness to set sail. He did a demonstration of men running back and forth across the deck to show how dramatically the boat rocks. Despite the warning signs, the Admiral orders the Vasa to sail anyways.
What may be known as the shortest maiden voyage in maritime history, on August 10th, 1628 the Vasa begins departing Stockholm Harbor. It only makes it 4,300 feet (1,300 meters) before a gust of wind tips the ship and water begins rushing in through the open gun-ports. Within minutes, the ship is laying 100 feet (32 meters) at the bottom of the harbor. Thousands of people who gathered to watch the Vasa depart, witness its demise.
It is believed the Vasa had too little belly and not enough hull to carry the heavy upper portion of the ship. Since the original designer, Henrik Hybertsson, had passed away from an illness two years prior to the Vasa setting sail, there was no one to punish. Some may argue that Hybertsson was the perfect scapegoat!
Recovering the Vasa
In 1956, Anders Franzén thinks he has discovered the ruins of the Vasa and convinces the navy to send a diving team to investigate. By 1959, a project is underway to recover the mainly intact ship. Using a method of digging tunnels and passing cables under the ship, the Vasa is slowly lifted up by floating pontoons. By 1961 the ship breaks the surface of the water, after 333 years at the bottom of the harbor.
The real challenge was in preservation. When water logged wood dries out, it shrinks and cracks. To prevent this, the ship was continuously sprayed for the next 17 years while restoration work was happening. After that, it took decades worth of gradually drying the ship by lowering humidity levels in order to avoid destruction. It wasn’t until 1990 that the Vasa Museum was finally opened. Today, it is one of the most popular attractions in Sweden. Thanks to the climate of the Baltic Sea, more than 98% of the ship is original – how cool!
Ticket Information
It costs 170-190 SEK (~$15-$18) to visit the Vasa Museum, depending on the time of year. You can pre-purchase tickets online or at the door. Children under the age of 18 can enter for free! The hours of the museum vary depending on the time of year, but are normally 10:00am – 5:00pm. (The museum opens earlier & stays open later in the Summer months).
Review
The Vasa Museum was one of our favorite experiences while in Stockholm. We were blown away by the sheer might and detail of the ship. Guided tours are offered throughout the day, which we highly recommend joining. The guides are incredibly informative and fun while they bring you to different viewing points and tell you the story of this fateful ship. Definitely add this museum to your Stockholm bucketlist!
