Free Museums in Stockholm: What's Actually Free (and What Isn't) in 2026

⚡️ Quick Summary

• Stockholm ended universal free museum admission in January 2023.
• Kids under 19 still get free admission (under 20 at Nationalmuseum).
• Skansen is now free for ages 0-15 (new 2025 policy).
• Stockholm City Museum is completely free for everyone.

Free Evening Hours:

• 🗓️ Wednesday: Swedish History Museum > 17:00 – 20:00 | 90 SEK (Half-price)
• 🗓️ Thursday: Nationalmuseum > 17:00 – 20:00 | FREE
• 🗓️ Friday: Moderna Museet > 18:00 – 20:00 | FREE

What Changed in 2023

Adult admission fees returned to most national museums in 2023. If you're looking at older guides (or my own previous posts!), you likely saw “Free Entry” listed everywhere.

Here is the 2026 status:

• Adults: Now pay at most national sites, but specific “Free Windows” still exist.
• Under 19/20: Still free at almost every national museum.
• Skansen Update: As of late 2025, Skansen is now free for ages 0–15.
• City Museum: Remains completely free for everyone.

Museums That Are Completely Free for Everyone

Stockholm City Museum (Stadsmuseet)

• 💰 Cost: Free for all ages
• 📍 Location: Slussen
• 👀 What you'll see: Journey through Stockholm's history from medieval times to today

The museum occupies a beautifully renovated 17th-century palace and offers immersive exhibits on everyday Stockholm life through the ages. The interactive ground floor exhibits work well for both children and adults.

Tip: The City Museum extends its hours until 20:00 on Wednesdays—verify current hours on their official website.

Other Free Options

After the City Museum, consider visiting:

• National Sports Museum (Riksidrottsmuseet) — Free for all
• Living History Forum — Free for all

Free Evening Windows

Several major museums offer free admission during specific evening hours. Many locals visit this way by timing their trip for an 'after-work' session to bypass entrance fees entirely.

💡 Budget Tip: Download the SL app and buy a 24-hour travel card (180 SEK) on Thursday morning.

Your itinerary:

• 🗓️ Friday Afternoon: Stockholm City Museum > All Day | FREE
• 🗓️ Friday Afternoon: Stockholm City Museum > All Day | FREE
• 🗓️ Friday Evening: Moderna Museet > 18:00 – 20:00 | FREE

All on one transit pass! Most tourists buy single tickets (39 SEK each) and spend an extra 117 SEK on the same route.

📌 Moderna Museet: While the permanent collection is free on Fridays, the “Late Picasso” exhibition (running until April 5, 2026) is not included in the free window and requires a separate paid ticket.

Nationalmuseum: Free Thursday Evenings

• ⭐ Free window: Thursday 17:00–20:00
• 🚇 Transport: T-bana to Kungsträdgården (5-minute walk)
• 📌 Everyone under 20 is free at all times here (not just under 19)

Sweden's premier art museum opens free to everyone on Thursday evenings. During regular hours, adults pay 160 SEK, so this saves you the full admission.

What you'll see: Paintings, sculptures, and design from the Middle Ages to present day. Don't miss the Swedish masters like Carl Larsson and Anders Zorn on the top floor.

Tip: Arrive at 16:45 to be first in line when free admission begins at 17:00. This gives you the full 3 hours before the 20:00 closing.

🔗 Check for special Thursday evening events: nationalmuseum.se/en

Moderna Museet: Free Friday Evenings

• ⭐ Free window: Friday 18:00–20:00
• 🚌 Transport: Bus 65 to Skeppsholmen (10-minute ride from Centralen)

Stockholm's Museum of Modern Art offers free Friday evening admission. This is one of the best end-of-week traditions in the city. Since standard tickets cost 170 SEK at the door or 160 SEK online, visiting during this window is a significant budget win.

What you'll see: Works by Picasso, Matisse, and leading Nordic artists.

🔗 Check current special exhibitions and booking requirements: modernamuseet.se/en

Bonus: While at Moderna, check out ArkDes next door. They often have free architecture installations that do not require a ticket.

⚠️ Important: Special exhibitions usually require separate tickets, even during free hours. Budget roughly 120–150 SEK extra if you want to see these. Note that the 'Late Picasso' exhibition (closing April 5, 2026) always requires a paid ticket.

Swedish History Museum: Half-Price Wednesday Evenings

• ⭐ Discount window: Wednesday 17:00–20:00
• 💰 Cost: 90 SEK (50% off the standard 180 SEK fee)
• 🚌 Transport: Bus to Historiska museet

The Swedish History Museum offers half-price admission on Wednesday evenings year-round.

What you'll see:

• Scandinavia's largest gold collection
• Unparalleled Viking exhibit with original artifacts

Who gets in free: Everyone under 19 enters free at all times. Wednesday evenings are the budget option for adults.

💎 Your ticket to the Swedish History Museum is actually a “2-for-1” deal. It includes full access to the Economy Museum (Ekonomiska museet) located in the same building. Confirm this on their official website.

Family Access: Free Entry for Kids and Teens

While adult fees returned in 2023, Stockholm remains an incredibly affordable destination for families. Almost every national museum in the city is 100% free for everyone under 19 years old.

Some institutions go even further. For example, Nationalmuseum extends this free entry to all visitors under 20. This means that while parents might pay (unless timing their visit with a free evening window), children and teenagers can explore at no cost.

Skansen: Free for Ages 0–15

is part historical village and part Nordic zoo. While adults still require a paid ticket, a policy update from late 2025 makes it much more accessible for families.

2026 Pricing:

• Adult: 240 SEK (winter) to 305 SEK (peak summer 2026)
• Family savings: A family with 2 children under 16 saves 390 SEK compared to previous years

I liked the atmosphere here enough to keep an annual pass for a while. It’s one of the few places I think is worth the entry fee.

The Vasa Museum

Unlike the national art museums, the Vasa Museum does not offer free evening hours for adults. Because it's the city's most-visited site, it's best to budget both your time and money here in advance.

2026 Pricing:

• Adults (May–September): 240 SEK
• Adults (October–April): 195 SEK
• Under 19: Always Free

I still choose to pay to take my guests here. It is one of those sites that is simply much more memorable in person than it is in photos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Stockholm museums still free in 2026?Not for most adults. Stockholm ended universal free museum admission in January 2023. Who still gets in free:
- Visitors under 19 at all national museums (Nationalmuseum extends this to age 20.
- Everyone at Stockholm City Museum, National Sports Museum, and Living History Forum.

Which Stockholm museums offer free evening hours?Several major museums offer free or discounted entry windows:
- Swedish History Museum is discounted on Wednesdays from 17:00 to 20:00 at 90 SEK
- Nationalmuseum is free on Thursdays from 17:00 to 20:00
- Moderna Museet is free on Fridays from 18:00 to 20:00.

Is Skansen Zoo free for children?Yes. Skansen updated its policy in late 2025; admission is now free for all children aged 0–15. Adults still pay regular seasonal admission.

What's the best day to visit Stockholm museums on a budget?The best strategy is to time your visits for the evening windows:
- Wednesday visit the Swedish History Museum (half-price 17:00–20:00)
- Thursday go to the Nationalmuseum (free 17:00–20:00)
- Friday visit Moderna Museet (free 18:00–20:00). The Stockholm City Museum is free every day and is a great daytime option for any other day of the week.

Has the Medieval Museum reopened in a new location?The original Medieval Museum location is closed. The “Medieval Hub” is located specifically at Trångsund 3, in the courtyard of Storkyrkan (Stockholm Cathedral).

Note for 2026: The Hub is a summer-only pop-up (open June–August) offering a small exhibition and shop. Outside those months, the museum is closed to visitors, though they still run guided medieval walking tours that start from that same courtyard.

Can I still visit Stockholm museums for free as an adult?Yes, but you have to be selective.
- Always free: Stockholm City Museum, National Sports Museum, and the Living History Forum.
- Free evening windows: Nationalmuseum (Thursday) and Moderna Museet (Friday).
- Half-price: Swedish History Museum (Wednesday evening and the final hour of every other day).

A Few Last Tips for Your Trip

Stockholm’s museum landscape changed quite a bit after 2023, but it is still accessible if you’re intentional about when you go. By prioritizing the free evening windows and taking advantage of the “under 19” rules, you can see the city's main collections without spending much.

If you’re planning your week, I’d suggest checking the museum websites the morning of your visit. 2026 schedules occasionally shift for holiday events or staff training, and it’s always worth a quick look before you head across town.