Engage with a detailed history of Gothenburg at the Stadsmuseum (City Museum) housed in one of the city’s finest buildings. Delve deep into the area’s fascinating maritime-dominated past, with exhibits showcasing the earliest humans in Sweden, Viking ships and a collection of Chinese ornaments collected by the country’s first explorers.
The museum is housed in the historic former headquarters of the Swedish East India Company, which was founded in the 18th century. The building is today home to 10 permanent galleries and several temporary exhibits each year. Visit to enjoy one of the country’s most comprehensive museums.
Begin at the furthest reaches of known history, at The Traces Speak exhibit. Here, captivating discoveries made by archaeologists tell about the impact of the earliest humans on the Swedish environment. Continue on to the Viking exhibition and see the mighty Äskeskärrsskeppet. This war ship was discovered in the Swedish Göta River and is inscribed with mysterious letters of the ancient runic alphabet.
The Göta features prominently in the Gate to the West exhibit, which chronicles Sweden’s European trade history. See priceless items such as a wooden cabinet from the 1400s and learn about the formation of the Gothenburg bastion by Dutch immigrants.
Delight in preserved Chinese relics in the Far East exhibit, a memorial to some of Gothenburg’s first explorers. Another exhibit pays tribute to the building’s former occupants, the East India Company, with displays of portraits, diaries and porcelain objects from the company’s heyday. After some learning, let the kids enjoy a history-themed playground.
Stadsmuseum is situated by the Grand Harbour Canal and can be reached on foot from most locations in central Gothenburg. A café provides meals and refreshments in the museum on weekdays.
City Museum is open daily except for Mondays and public holidays. A small fee is charged for admission. This ticket permits unlimited entry to the museum and some other government-run buildings for up to a year.
