Nationalmuseum

Museum Sweden's national art and historical museum in Stockholm

The Nationalmuseum on Stockholm’s Blasieholmen houses Sweden’s national collection of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts; visitors browse permanent galleries, special exhibitions and restored 19th‑century interiors.

Main image

Nationalmuseum is Sweden’s national museum for art and design located on the Blasieholmen peninsula in central Stockholm. The institution holds a wide-ranging collection of European and Swedish art, paintings, sculptures and applied arts spanning several centuries.

Galleries present Old Master paintings, 19th-century Nordic art and applied arts and design objects; temporary exhibitions rotate alongside the permanent displays. The museum building dates from the 19th century, and the institution itself traces its foundation to the late 18th century.

The modern museum reopened after a comprehensive renovation in 2018, which updated exhibition spaces, storage and visitor facilities while retaining the historic façade and main public rooms.

The museum sits on Blasieholmen close to the Royal Palace and other cultural institutions in central Stockholm, within easy walking distance of the waterfront and city centre.

  • Collections: Founded as an institution in 1792, the museum's collections cover painting, sculpture and applied arts with strong holdings from the 16th through the 20th centuries.
  • Recent renovation: Reopened to the public after extensive renovation in 2018, with reorganised permanent galleries and expanded display space for Swedish and European art.

What to See #

  • Main building: A 19th-century museum building on the Blasieholmen peninsula in central Stockholm, originally opened in 1866 and redeveloped and reopened after a major renovation in 2018.
Nationalmuseum
Södra Blasieholmshamnen 2, 111 48 Stockholm, Sweden
59.3283, 18.0787
Tue-Sun 11am-6pm, Wed 11am-8pm, closed Mondays
Free entry to permanent collection; special exhibitions typically 120-160 SEK (~$11-$16)

How to Get to Nationalmuseum #

From Stockholm Central Station, it’s a 10-12 minute walk across Norrmalm via Vasagatan and the bridge to Blasieholmshamnen. Several buses (lines 3, 53) stop nearby and there are multiple ferry routes along the waterfront in summer.

Tips for Visiting Nationalmuseum #

  • Visit on Wednesday evenings when the museum is often open late and quieter.
  • Head to the Swedish painting rooms to see Carl Larsson and Zorn without the densest crowds.
  • Skip the ground-floor shops-take the central stairwell to admire the 19th-century cast-iron balustrade.

Best Time to Visit Nationalmuseum #

Visit year-round; spring through autumn for waterfront strolls, winter for quieter galleries and shorter queues.

Late spring to early autumn
May-September · 10-22°C
Long daylight and pleasant walking weather for the Blasieholmshamnen waterfront.
Winter
November-March · -5-3°C
Fewer tourists; the museum provides warm refuge and dramatic indoor light.

Weather & Climate near Nationalmuseum #

Climate

Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from -5°C to 22°C. Moderate rainfall (572 mm/year).

Best Time to Visit
MayJuneJuly
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
32°
Warmest Month
-25°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is freezing with highs of 0°C and lows of -5°C. Moderate rainfall (38 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

37 Poor

Comfort

-2°
Feels Like Freezing
-2°C
Temperature
-5°
96%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

38 mm
Rainfall
4.8 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.0
UV Index
Low
6.7h daylight

February

February is the coldest month with highs of 0°C and lows of -5°C. The driest month with just 28 mm and mostly overcast skies.

39 Poor

Comfort

-3°
Feels Like Freezing
-3°C
Temperature
-5°
95%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

28 mm
Rainfall
4.6 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.1
UV Index
Low
9.0h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 3°C and lows of -3°C. Moderate rainfall (38 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

48 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-3°
89%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

38 mm
Rainfall
4.4 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.2
UV Index
Low
11.6h daylight

April

April is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 0°C. Moderate rainfall (40 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

62 Good

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
81%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

40 mm
Rainfall
4.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.6
UV Index
Moderate
14.3h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (30 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

72 Very Good

Comfort

10°
Feels Like Cool
10°C
Temperature
16°
77%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

30 mm
Rainfall
4.1 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.0
UV Index
High
16.8h daylight

June

June is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

70 Very Good

Comfort

15°
Feels Like Cool
15°C
Temperature
10° 20°
74%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

54 mm
Rainfall
4.1 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.3
UV Index
High
18.2h daylight

July

July is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 13°C. The wettest month with 70 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.

70 Very Good

Comfort

17°
Feels Like Cool
17°C
Temperature
13° 22°
73%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

70 mm
Rainfall
3.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.3
UV Index
High
17.5h daylight

August

August is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (63 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

70 Very Good

Comfort

17°
Feels Like Cool
17°C
Temperature
12° 21°
76%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

63 mm
Rainfall
3.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.9
UV Index
Moderate
15.3h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (55 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

66 Good

Comfort

12°
Feels Like Cool
12°C
Temperature
15°
82%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

55 mm
Rainfall
4.3 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.5
UV Index
Low
12.6h daylight

October

October is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (51 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

56 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
10°
89%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

51 mm
Rainfall
4.5 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.1
UV Index
Low
10.0h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of 0°C. Moderate rainfall (59 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

44 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
95%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

59 mm
Rainfall
4.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.0
UV Index
Low
7.4h daylight

December

December is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -3°C. Moderate rainfall (46 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

35 Poor

Comfort

-1°
Feels Like Freezing
-1°C
Temperature
-3°
97%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

46 mm
Rainfall
4.8 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.0
UV Index
Low
5.9h daylight

Nearby Attractions to Nationalmuseum