Sjöfartsmuseet Akvariet

About the museum

The Nautiska föreningen (Nautical Association) decided in 1913 to found a maritime museum in Gothenburg. It was not until 14 July 1933 that the museum building in Gamla Varvsparken could be inaugurated. Behind the museum stood great interest from the region’s business community, and the shipowner Dan Broström donated SEK 1 million in 1918 towards a permanent building. The building was designed by the architect Karl M Bengtsson.

The aquarium has its origin in the jubilee exhibition in Gothenburg in 1923, where animals from Västerhavet (the Swedish west coast) and inland lakes were shown with great public success. The Sjöfartsmuseet bought the aquarium after the exhibition, and it moved into the museum in 1933. Since then the building has been both museum and aquarium without interruption.

The museum has since been rebuilt and extended, and now has new exhibitions, a new aquarium and a new entrance. The collections focus on the history of seafaring, with many ship models and drawings. The museum belongs to Göteborgs Stads kulturförvaltning (Gothenburg City Cultural Administration) and is co-financed by Västra Götalandsregionen.

Highlights

• The aquarium with a living coral reef and reef sharks
• The basic exhibition Hav av historier (Sea of Stories) about people on the world’s oceans for 400 years
• The East Indiaman Finland, the museum’s largest ship model
• The figureheads in the Galjonshallen (figurehead hall)
• The children’s exhibitions Stora blå (Big Blue) and Knattegatt
• A ship simulator where visitors steer a ship into harbour

Permanent exhibitions

• Hav av historier – Basic exhibition on people on the world’s oceans over 400 years, with hundreds of objects, stories, pictures and archive films.
• Stora blå – Exhibition for children and their adults, in which the sea is discovered through play, exploration and cooperation.
• Vattenplaneten – Basic exhibition in the Akvariet on the world’s oceans and their significance for all life.

Founded

1913

Operated by

Göteborgs Stads kulturförvaltning

Admission & discounts

The day ticket of SEK 75 applies only to Sjöfartsmuseet Akvariet. The museum card (Museikortet) is valid for one calendar year at Göteborgs konstmuseum, Göteborgs stadsmuseum, Sjöfartsmuseet Akvariet and Röhsska museet. A special fee may apply to certain exhibitions and programme items, and an online purchase incurs a service fee. The museum does not accept cash, only card and Swish.

Accessibility

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

Exhibitions and public premises are accessible for wheelchairs and powered wheelchairs, with a few very low thresholds. In the exhibition Hav av historier on floor 2 some passages can feel narrow. A wheelchair can be borrowed. Spacious lifts go to all floors. There are two disabled parking spaces: one in front of the museum with a maximum of 30 minutes’ parking, and one by the old entrance with no time limit. Assistance dogs are allowed. Sign language interpreters can be booked for programme items if the museum is contacted at least 14 days in advance.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly: not available
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

The children’s exhibitions Knattegatt (ages 0–3) and Stora blå (ages 4–10) are at the top of the building. Pushchairs may not be taken into the museum for safety reasons, but there is a large covered pushchair park next to the museum, and a few pushchair locks and baby carriers can be borrowed at reception. Changing tables are by the café, in the cloakroom on the entrance level, in the Akvariet and at the eating area on floor 3.

Getting there & parking

The museum lies at Stigbergstorget in Majorna. Bicycles can be parked in front of the museum or at the back, where there are bicycle racks.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Café ONE serves food and pastries depending on the season, with vegan and gluten-free options. On floor 3 there are tables, chairs and a microwave oven for packed food. Cloakroom and lockers are on the entrance level and in the Akvariet; no tokens are needed. The museum shop sells maritime posters and prints, among other things.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The museum rents out premises for meetings and events.

Plan your visit