Göteborgs stadsmuseum

About the museum

Göteborgs stadsmuseum is housed in the Ostindiska huset (East India House), a building from the 1750s. In 1861 the Göteborgs museum was formed and given its place here; the idea was that it should hold everything from stone axes and art to the most modern agricultural machinery.

The museum has one of Sweden's oldest and most extensive cultural-history collections, with nearly a million objects, about two million images, around two million archive items and a library of 100,000 volumes. The collections are kept at Polstjärnegatan on Hisingen.

The permanent exhibitions cover about 12,000 years of the history of Gothenburg and western Sweden, from the Stone Age Rolfsåker Man and the Äskekärr ship, the only surviving Viking ship in Sweden, to Gothenburg in the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. The museum also runs the Barnens museum (Children's Museum) and has a shop in the building. Lilla Änggården, a cultural-history house with a park, belongs to the museum.

Highlights

• The Äskekärr ship, the only surviving Viking ship in Sweden
• The birth of Gothenburg and Gothenburg in the 18th century
• The Stone Age Rolfsåker Man
• The Barnens museum on floor 3
• Treasures in an 18th-century cellar vault

Permanent exhibitions

• vikingr – The Äskekärr ship, the only surviving Viking ship in Sweden, and the history of the Vikings.
• Göteborgs födelse – Everyday life in the 17th century and how Gothenburg became a major trading city.
• spåren talar – The Stone Age Rolfsåker Man and archaeological finds from the same period.

Founded

1861

Operated by

Göteborgs stad (Göteborgs stadsmuseum)

Admission & discounts

The day ticket is valid only for Göteborgs stadsmuseum. Payment by card or Swish; cash is not accepted.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The whole museum is reached by lift, but some lower thresholds have no ramp. Between 14 September and 3 April the lift to floor 3 is closed because of exhibition construction. An accessible toilet is in the entrance and a wheelchair can be borrowed. The lifts have Braille, and the large lecture hall has an induction loop. Sign-language interpretation can be booked via program.stadsmuseum@kultur.goteborg.se at least 14 days before the event. Assistance dogs are allowed; other pets are not.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

The Barnens museum is on floor 3. The museum arranges workshops, performances and holiday activities for children and adults. Prams are parked in the foyer. Changing rooms are at reception and on floor 3.

Getting there & parking

Bicycle racks are in front of the museum and at the back.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

The restaurant is currently closed; packed lunches may be brought in and heated on floor 3 in the Barnens museum. Seating is available in the foyer. Cloakroom at reception and storage lockers in the foyer.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit