Museums in West Sweden

Museum. Does it make you think of boring collections in glass cabinets with descriptions on small bits of cardboard and dusty objects in dark corners? If it does, you probably haven’t visited a museum in many, many years. These days, most of our museums are Experience Spaces. Places that guide us through history or into the future, that feed our imagination, awaken our sensations and teach us new things in an enjoyable way. Keep your eyes open for our best Experience Spaces: our museums.

The world, and our lives – Is there a connection between what happens in the world and what happens in our day-to-day lives? How do major global events affect my life, and yours? In today’s society, for how long does a truth remain true? Are there any answers? The Museum of World Culture aims to inspire an interest in society and the world by discussing important questions of our time, in a global perspective. The programme will be developed in dialogue with the world around us, and the contents will investigate, challenge and entertain.

In the beautiful Slottskogen park is the Göteborg Natural History Museum. Exhibits include animals from Sweden but also from all over the world, from flies to hippos. The permanent exhibits have themes like life in the sea, humans as biological creatures, the constitution of our planet and the history of life. Of the animals displayed, the most famous are the blue whale and the African elephant

Bohuslän is a sort of borderland between Sweden, Norway and Denmark, and also between the coast and the sea. Which is why the museum focusses on this. Bohuslän Museum is a regional museum with the aim of documenting, maintaining and relating Bohuslän’s natural and cultural heritage.

Located in Upperud, with beautiful views across lake Spången. The building was constructed according to ecological principles and is beautifully situation in an old mill community. The museum features collections of art, silver and furniture from Dalsland.

The Röhsska Museum of Design in Gothenburg, Sweden’s only design museum, was opened in 1916. Here you can see the most outstanding examples of Swedish design in the fields of glass, ceramics, furniture, silver and textiles.

On the Tanum plains, about 30 km south of Strömstad in northern Bohuslän is the Vitlycke Museum, which features extensive information on the unique rock carvings in the area, since 1994 included Unesco’s World Heritage List.

Västergötland Museum was built back in 1919, to house collections from the province’s archaeological association. A new section was added in 1994, among other things to display the bronze shields discovered at Kålland, a find unique in the world.

The ocean off the west coast has lots of fascinating animal life, and if you want to experience it up close without having to go scuba diving, go to the House of the Sea in Lysekil. Study the octopuses, admire the colourful sea anemones or acquaint yourself with the sharks!

Scandinavia’s only museum for watercolour art is located in Skärhamn, on the island of Tjörn. And we should add: by the sea. This red building, specially designed and dedicated to watercolour art, sits by the waterfront in Skärhamn, seven km north of Gothenburg. There is also a shop with gifts and watercolour items, and ’Vatten’ the charming restaurant serving everything from cafe food to gourmet cuisine.

Experience adventure in the wonderful world of natural science! Universeum is Sweden’s national science centre.