Naturum Vattenriket
Visitor centre for the Kristianstads Vattenrike biosphere area, with an exhibition, an aquarium, the Opteryx simulator and free admission.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Naturum Vattenriket opened in 2010 as a visitor centre and showcase for the Kristianstads Vattenrike biosphere area. The wooden building stands on piles in the water by the river Helge å, near central Kristianstad, and is run by the biosphere office within Kristianstad Municipality. The activity follows the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's (Naturvårdsverket) guidelines for naturum and is built on the words accessible, welcoming and inspiring.
On the ground floor is the exhibition, which tells about Vattenriket as a biosphere area, about nature and about places to visit. It includes an aquarium with fish from the area, a small brook with small creatures, microscopes and the Opteryx simulator, which takes visitors on a film journey above and below the water surface. The exhibition is staffed by nature guides who show the way out into the landscape.
On the second floor is Bistro Årum, from where one reaches the roof terrace with a view over Naturumsjön, the shore meadows and the town. A boardwalk leads from the building to Utemuseum Årummet (open-air museum). Naturum also has a lecture hall for talks and meetings. It has been designated a Star Wetland Center by Wetland Link International and received almost 94,000 visitors in 2025.
Highlights
- Exhibition on the Vattenriket biosphere area
- Aquarium with fish from the area
- The Opteryx simulator with three film adventures
- Roof terrace with a view over the shore meadows and the town
- Boardwalk to the open-air museum Utemuseum Årummet
- Always free admission
Permanent exhibitions
- Utställningen om Vattenriket – The exhibition tells about the Vattenriket biosphere area, nature and places to visit, with a small brook with small creatures and microscopes.
- Opteryx – The simulator takes visitors on three film adventures above and below the surface in Vattenriket, each about six minutes long.
- Akvariet – Some of Vattenriket's fish swim in the aquarium, among them bream, bleak (björkna), perch and tench (sutare).
- Founded
- 2010
- Operated by
- Biosfärkontoret Kristianstads Vattenrike, Kristianstads kommun
- Visitors per year
- approx. 93,997 (2025)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Adults | free |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freeChildren are welcome in adult company. |
| Guided tour of the exhibition for a group, weekdays during the day (price excl. VAT, whole group, maximum 20 people) | SEK 60030 minutes; booked via bokningar.naturum@kristianstad.se |
| Guided tour of the exhibition for a group, evenings and weekends (price excl. VAT, whole group, maximum 20 people) | SEK 1,20030 minutes; booked via bokningar.naturum@kristianstad.se |
Admission is always free. Most programme activities are free, but some require advance booking. The shop only accepts card or Swish.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials
- Audio description: no information
The exhibition is on the ground floor with no level differences; a lift runs between the floors, and the entrance has a door opener. A wheelchair can be borrowed at reception. Ten disabled parking spaces are at the visitor car park, 50 metres from the entrance. The lecture hall has an induction loop, the exhibition has audio files via QR codes, and guided tours can be given in easy Swedish. Assistance dogs are welcome; other pets are not.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
Family activities and dip netting (håvning) are part of the programme. In the exhibition children can look for small creatures in a small brook, look through a microscope, and draw or craft at the craft table in the children's corner.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Kristianstad station · 500 m
Naturum is about 500 metres from Kristianstad station: walk south towards Tivoli park, across the railway tracks and then over the footbridge and cycle bridge across the river.
By car
Free parking · 50 m to the entrance
Large visitor car park on the west side of naturum and the river, with ten disabled parking spaces nearest the entrance. A motorhome pitch is nearby.
- Accessible parking
By car from the E22: take the exit at the Vilan junction, drive towards Högskolan and turn right after the Härlöv industrial area. Access is via Härlövsängaleden. By boat or canoe one can temporarily land at Kanalhuset.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
- Coat check
- Lockers
- Wi-Fi
Bistro Årum on the second floor serves food and fika, with a roof terrace. Free Wi-Fi throughout naturum (network Christianstad, no password). Storage boxes are lent out at reception. Shop with books and nature-related gifts. A defibrillator is at reception.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Corporate events
Up to 60 guests.
The lecture hall with a view over Naturumsjön can be rented for meetings and talks when it is not used by naturum; it holds up to 60 people. Booking via bokningar.naturum@kristianstad.se.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 30 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (SV, EN, DE) |
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography and filming in the exhibition are only permitted for private use. The films in Opteryx may not be photographed or filmed. |
| Good to know | Nature guides give guided tours in the exhibition and out in Vattenriket (boardwalk safari, dip netting, walks) for groups by booking. School classes from preschool to upper secondary school can book working sessions. Dogs may not be taken into the exhibition, except assistance dogs. |
