Birkamuseet

About the museum

Birka on Björkö in Lake Mälaren was established as a trading place in the mid-8th century and is often called Sweden’s first town. For about two hundred years it was a flourishing hub for trade in northern Europe, and at its peak around 700–1,000 people lived there. In 830 the missionary Ansgar came to Birka. After the 10th century the town was abandoned, and land uplift may have contributed to its loss of strategic position. Birka, together with Hovgården on Adelsö, has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1993.

The museum at Birka opened in summer 1996 and shows how the inhabitants lived in the 9th century. The basic exhibition has detailed models, archaeological finds and copies from the excavations, and the exhibition Begravd på Birka (Buried at Birka) presents, among others, Älgmannen (the Elk Man), Ynglingen (the Young Man), Kvinnan med den gröna bägaren (the Woman with the Green Beaker) and Krigarkvinnan (the Warrior Woman). The museum also shows maps from ground-penetrating radar surveys and a rune stone that was long considered lost.

Since 2008 Strömma has been responsible for Birka’s public activities on behalf of Riksantikvarieämbetet (the Swedish National Heritage Board). The site also includes a reconstructed Viking village, guided tours of the archaeological area, a restaurant and café and a guest harbour. Birka is reached by boat.

Highlights

• Basic exhibition with models of life in Birka during the Viking Age
• The exhibition Begravd på Birka with Älgmannen, Ynglingen and Krigarkvinnan
• Reconstructed Viking village and archaeological area, UNESCO World Heritage
• Maps from ground-penetrating radar surveys and a rediscovered rune stone
• Guided tours of Björkö

Permanent exhibitions

• Birkas basutställning – Models showing the life of Birka’s inhabitants during the Viking Age, together with archaeological finds and copies from the excavations.
• Begravd på Birka – The exhibition presents four people from Birka’s graves: Älgmannen and Ynglingen from the 8th century, Kvinnan med den gröna bägaren from the 9th century and Krigarkvinnan from the 10th century.

Founded

1996

Operated by

Strömma Turism & Sjöfart (på uppdrag av Riksantikvarieämbetet)

Admission & discounts

When travelling with Strömma, Ångfartyget Ejdern or Rederi Mälarstaden, a return boat trip, a guided tour of the archaeological area and admission to the museum are always included. Guest-harbour visitors receive a 20% discount on presentation of their receipt. The museum shop accepts Swish, card and cash.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Birka’s Viking school is new in 2026: children can try rune school, grind flour and bake bread, as well as take part in daily activities such as smithing, woodwork, textile crafts or archery. The island has a child-friendly bathing place.

Getting there & parking

The boat trip takes between 15 minutes and 2 hours, depending on the departure point. In high summer, booking tickets in advance is recommended.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Restaurant Särimner (Viking tavern on the shore of Lake Mälaren) and Café Eldrimner (open daily 22 June–9 August 2026). Museum shop. The island also has toilets, a bathing place and a guest harbour.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit