Vikingabyn Storholmen
Archaeological open-air museum by Lake Erken north of Norrtälje, with reconstructed Viking Age houses, a smithy and Viking ships.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Vikingabyn Storholmen grew out of the initiative of a small group of dedicated enthusiasts in 1995–1996 and has been run since 1996 by the Storholmen foundation, which leases the land from Norrtälje municipality. The museum is supported by the friends' association Storholmens Vikingaförening, which was started in 1994. The museum is non-profit and works to preserve the Viking Age and bring it to life in a hands-on way, with a particular focus on children and families.
The open-air museum has seven buildings constructed using various Viking Age building techniques. The largest is a long hall with a shingle roof, which was inaugurated in 2019. The site also has a smithy, a cooking house with a barbecue area, herb gardens, runestones and two reconstructed Viking ships.
Next to the museum is a nature reserve with an Iron Age burial field of 165 burial mounds. The activities are carried by volunteers, interns and the Viking association, and include school programmes, group tours, crafts, workshops and summer activities. Group visits can be booked all year round.
Highlights
- Reconstructed Viking houses, long hall and smithy
- Two reconstructed Viking ships and runestones
- Vikingasommar with crafts, storytelling and games
- Burial field with 165 burial mounds in the adjoining nature reserve
- Guided group tours in Viking costume
- Founded
- 1996
- Operated by
- Stiftelsen Storholmen Norden
Admission & discounts
| Group tour of the Viking village (about 1.5–2 hours, maximum 30 people) | SEK 2,500Price per group. |
|---|---|
| Add-on: walk among the Viking graves (about 30 minutes) | SEK 500Price per group. |
| Add-on: Viking Age mock combat games (kämpalekar, about 30 minutes) | SEK 500Price per group. |
Admission prices during Vikingasommar vary from year to year and are stated on the website before the season. Fika can be added after the guided tour for SEK 60–80 per person.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
The museum has a particular focus on children and families. During Vikingasommar visitors can try crafts such as smithing, wool and clay, take part in games and listen to stories, and Barnens vikingadag (Children's Viking Day) is held.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Svanberga affär
Bus 676 from Tekniska högskolan or bus 677 from Uppsala to Norrtälje; from there bus 636, 637 or 641 to the stop Svanberga affär (about 10 minutes), and then a path towards the village.
By car
Parking available
Parking on the field.
By car north on road 76, about a mil (a Swedish unit of distance) from Norrtälje, to the sign “Vikingaby”, then left towards the lake. The museum is in Svanberga by Lake Erken.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
Fika can be booked in a skiftesverk house (a traditional timber-frame building) in connection with a group tour.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | A group tour with a guide in Viking costume takes about 1.5–2 hours and ends at the open fire, where visitors can bake flatbread. School programmes and craft days are booked via bokning@storholmen.org. Spontaneous group visits can sometimes be arranged at short notice. |
