Of all the museums we have seen in Stockholm, I was most impressed with Vasa Museum and Swedish History Museum. Vasa is a Swedish warship built in 1626-1628, and sank on her maiden voyage on 10 August 1628 due to insufficient ballast. After resting at the bottom of the Baltic for 333 years, Vasa was lifted out of the sea in 1961 and restored. Vasa museum was officially opened to the public in 1990.

1. We went to Vasa Museum by taking T-bana + bus #44. This is Nordic Museum next to the bus stop. Vasa Museum is behind it, about 3 minutes’ walk.


2. Tram #7 also stopped in front of Nordic Museum.


3. The Vasa model, in full colorful glory, gives the visitor an idea of how the ship might have looked as she sailed out.


4. The back of the ship.


5. The side of the ship.


6. Vasa and the model.


After Vasa Museum, we popped in Nordic Museum real quick. That is one bad thing about the Stockholm Card. Because we could get in almost all museums for free for 72-hours, we ended up seeing a lot more museums than we planned to.

7. King Gustav Vasa's sculpture in Nordic Museum.


8. Christmas dinner in Sweden.


9. China display in Nordic Museum.


10. Serving dish?


11. Christmas feast in Sweden.


12. A chair with beautiful inlay.


After Nordic Museum, we went to Swedish History Museum. Stockholm Card also included a bike tour. One of the operators was located right in front of Swedish History Museum. Too bad they were sold out for the day, so we couldn't take the tour.

13. Looking from Swedish History Museum's entrance, the bike shop was on the right.


We went to Swedish History Museum mainly to see the gold room. But they had some Viking exhibition at the time, and the girl at the entrance told us a guided tour in English had just started, so we joined them. It was really good. It made the objects come alive. After that we went to the gold room. It was so good! Tons of gold, silver to see.

14. Gold.


15. Gold.


16. And more gold.


After Swedish History Museum, we went to Swedish Museum of Photography in Södermalm. Along the way, we happened to see ITU (International Triathlon Union) World Triathlon Stockholm bike stage.

17. ITU World Triathlon Stockholm bike stage.


18. From Södermalm looking at Gamla stan where ITU World Triathlon Stockholm bike stage was going on.


19. The Swedish Museum of Photography, a Viking ship was docked next to it.


20. Gröna Lund from the Swedish Museum of Photography.


21. By the time we left the museum, the old Viking ship had left, a new Viking ship was trying to turn around and dock at its port.


22. Gröna Lund and the Swedish Museum of Photography.


23. A cute little truck parked in Södermalm.


(To be continued)