The National Museum of Stockholm

The impressive building in front of you, founded in 1792 , is one of Stockholm’s must-see landmarks. It’s grand Renaissance-style structure, is home to the National Museum of Stockholm, Sweden’s leading art and design museum since 1866. Spread across three floors, it showcases a rich collection of nearly half a million drawings, porcelain objects, paintings, sculptures, and design pieces, spanning from the late Middle Ages to the contemporary era. Most of the works were donated by members of the Swedish nobility, including King Gustav III and Count Carl Gustaf Tessin. The best part is that you don’t need to pay to admire masterpieces by Rembrandt, Goya, Renoir, or Gauguin. Take your time, there’s plenty to choose from! In front of the National Museum stands “Arch,” a monumental sculpture by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. Twelve meters high and made of polished steel, it depicts two figures embracing through an arch shaped like a cage. Created in 2017 and installed in Stockholm in 2022, the work symbolizes exile, borders, and the universal longing for freedom. Over time, its meaning has evolved, resonating in turn with the refugee crisis, the pandemic, and the war in Ukraine. True to its creator’s commitment, “Arch” transforms public space into a powerful call for solidarity and human rights.