War is one of humanity’s oldest and most profound forces of change. It has shaped borders, societies, and cultures, leaving a lasting imprint on history. At the Swedish Army Museum (Armémuseum), you can explore this complex and often brutal legacy from a distinctly Swedish perspective.
The museum’s permanent exhibition traces the story of conflict from the 16th century to modern times, spanning the first and second floor of the museum. The top, third floor, houses a library and an auditorium, and on the bottom floor (entrance floor), you’ll find a space reserved for temporary exhibitions.
The best way to experience the permanent exhibition is chronologically – moving through history toward the present day – start at the second floor and work your way down. The displays include authentic weapons (safely and permanently disabled), life-sized dioramas, and military clothing and uniforms.
The museum exterior is an impressive sight in its own right. Its grand architecture is a striking landmark. The museum is located near the Östermalmstorg square, right next to the Hedvig Eleonora Church. When standing in front of the museum you can see the crown cupola of the church rising behind the museum building.
When you enter the first room of the permanent exhibition, you’re greeted by a dramatic scene: three life-sized models of chimpanzees savagely attacking an outsider. One bites the invader, who screams in pain as a chilling sound loop of their cries plays in the background. On the left wall there’s a large art reproduction of Pieter Bruegel’s The Triumph of Death – if you haven’t seen it, it’s a large painting depicting skeletons torturing and waging war on people – adding to the macabre atmosphere. This opening sets the stage for what’s to come: war, death, and brutality. A heavy, serious topic indeed.
Despite the serious subject matter, the museum is surprisingly family-friendly. There’s a small play area for children, and the exhibits – ironically, given their gravity – can also be engaging to young visitors. During our visit, we noticed a few parents with kids exploring the museum, and in case you’re wondering, the children seemed to be enjoying their visit, with elements of play and curiosity. Finding fun in engaging with a topic like this may seem inappropriate at first, but the best education is often the kind that captivates and inspires, after all.
The museum offers an audio guide app, together with free wifi. Unless you give the app permission to run in the background the audio stops playing when you lock your phone (both on Android and iOS). Aside from this detail, the app works fine and as expected.
At the entrance floor, there’s a museum shop right by the ticket desk. The shop features a selection of war vessel models and other related items. If you bring your own food, the museum offers a dedicated area for eating packed lunch. And if you’d rather have a restaurant experience, the on-site restaurant, Artilleriet, is a convenient option. The restaurant offers lunch, dinner, or just a Swedish fika. They also have a popular cocktail bar called Stjärttilleriet, with creative flavor combinations and inventive presentations.
Why you might like it
If you’re interested in military history, you will not be disappointed. The extensive collection of weapons, artifacts, and historical insights offers plenty to explore. All complemented with texts (in English and Swedish) as well as the audio guides. The temporary exhibitions give you an incentive to revisit.
Why You Might Not
If you’re not interested in the topic (Swedish military history) this is obviously not for you. Other than that, our personal pet peeve was the audio app – but this is not a show stopper. In general, we have little else to complain about.