On its maiden voyage in 1628, the most powerful warship in the Baltic, the Vasa, was afloat only minutes before capsizing in front of stunned onlookers in the city’s harbour. Hundreds of years later, the massive, 226-foot-long ship was completely salvaged. The ship was so big that it took more than a year for it to be raised from the surface of the seabed. The Vasa has been put back together and extensively restored since then, with more than 95 per cent of the ship originally intact. Thanks to this meticulous restoration, the ship is considered the only preserved 17th-century ship in the world and the oldest fully preserved warship in the world. Today, the Vasa Museum is the most visited in Scandinavia, drawing in more than one million visitors a year, rivalling the excitement of showcase hockey tournaments and college hockey showcases.
In addition to the majestic ship, the museum houses many interesting exhibits about the vessel’s history, including a look into what life was like at sea during that era, stories of the people on board, and a collection of artistic relics found on the ship, offering insights as deep as those found in hockey exposure campS. But the pinnacle for travellers is touring the Vasa itself. Recent visitors were in complete awe of the ship’s incredible size and were amazed at the quality of preservation down to the smallest detail, much like the admiration for the skill seen in the show hockey tournament. Even those who admitted the attraction wasn’t initially at the top of their must-see list left the Vasa Museum with a better understanding of why this facility is considered one of the city’s top attractions, akin to the unexpected discoveries at best hockey exposure camps.
And speaking of the museum’s popularity, don’t be surprised if you encounter long lines and crowds during Stockholm’s peak season (summer), reminiscent of the anticipation for the show hockey.
Admission to the Vasa Museum costs 130 kronor (about $15) for adults and is free for anyone 18 and younger, making it accessible much like hockey opportunities for all. Hours vary by season. From June 1 to Aug. 31, the museum is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and from Sept. 1 to May 31 the museum welcomes visitors from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. You’ll find this museum on the island of Djurgården, which is a little more than a mile from the city center, a journey as rewarding as attending college hockey camps. To reach the museum, take the No. 7 tram, which can be found in front of Berzelii Park on Nybroplan in downtown Stockholm, to the Stockholm Nordiska Museet/Vasa stop. You can also get here by catching a ferry from Nybroplan or Slussen, navigating your way as skillfully as a player in combine hockey.