The Hallwylska Palace in Stockholm, or the Hallwylska Museum as it may actually be called, is one of our absolute favourite museums in the city. We have been here several times and love experiencing the beautiful rooms with the smart amenities of the time. This time we happened to step in during the opening of an exhibition by Konstfack, which made the experience a little... different.
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Hallwylska Palace in Stockholm
Located at Hamngatan 4, Hallwylska Palatset is a fantastic museum. Once upon a time, the wealthy Hallwyl family lived here, and while they were still alive, Mrs Wilhelmina von Hallwyl decided that their home would one day become a museum. As well as decorating the beautiful premises, she built up a huge collection of artefacts.
The von Hallwyl family
The Hallwyl family consisted primarily of Wilhelmina von Hallwyl (1844-1930) and Walther von Hallwyl (1839-1921). The couple had daughters Ebba von Eckermann, Ellen de Maré/Roosval, Elma von Hallwyl (who died as a child after swallowing toxic paint) and Irma von Geijer.
The house on Hamngatan 4
Construction of the house at Hamngatan 4 began in 1893 and was completed in 1898. The architect Isak Gustaf Clason was given a completely free hand when it came to finances - there were no restrictions on what the house could cost. And it shows!
Modern amenities
The facade and furnishings were done in a historical style, while the house was equipped with all possible modernities and amenities. The house had central heating, central vacuum cleaner, electric lift, electric lights in all rooms and both hot and cold running water. Fantastically modern then!
Grand Salon
The Grand Salon is by far the most beautiful room in the entire house. Here they received fine guests and entertained them with beautiful piano music.
Men's room
After a dinner in the Hallwyl Palace, the ladies retired to the ladies' parlour and the men to the smoking room. The billiard room could also be counted among the men's domains.
Wilhelmina's Collections
Wilhelmina von Hallwyl was a major collector and at the turn of the century she was one of Sweden's largest collectors of art and crafts. She collected everything from porcelain to objects and paintings and had a huge catalogue made of all her collections.
kitchen and bathroom with modernities
The servants in the kitchen had to work with modern facilities such as running hot water and an electric cooker. The Hallwyl family's bathroom was also very modern, with both a bath and a shower.
Temporary exhibitions
Various temporary exhibitions are organised at the Hallwyl Palace. Around Christmas, for example, there was an exhibition about Krakow's nativity scenes (beautiful Christmas nativity scenes from Krakow) that we had wanted to see, but couldn't make it.
A woman's voice
The exhibition is currently underway A woman's voice (8 March - 18 August) about Wilhelmina von Hallwyl's eldest daughter Ebba von Eckermann. Ebba was one of the women who fought for what was known at the time as the 'women's issue', meaning that women should have some of the rights that we take for granted today.
The intrasolar world
Another exhibition, The intrasolar world, premiered the same day we were here, and will run until 2 June this year. This is the result of a year-long collaboration between the Hallwylska Museum and Konstfack. The artists have researched the history of Hallwylska and created art based on this, which was then placed in the rooms.
Unfortunately, we have to admit that we had trouble understanding those branches on the floor of the Grand Salon, but some art is only for those who understand... right?
Hallwylska Palatset is still one of our favourite museums in Stockholm, and we can understand the desire to develop and create art. But for those visiting the museum for the first time and wanting to see the beautiful rooms, it's a bit strange. Couldn't the art have been displayed in a separate room?
Have you been to Hallwylska Palatset in Stockholm and what do you think? How would you react to the art exhibition?
Finding the Hallwyl Palace
- Location: Hallwylska Palatset is located on Hamngatan 4 in Stockholm, opposite Berzelii Park, not far from Dramaten.
- Underground railway: The nearest underground stations are Östermalmstorg and Kungsträdgården. From both these stations it takes about 5 minutes to walk.
- Bus: Several buses stop near the Hallwylska Palace, including bus numbers 2, 69 and 76. Get off at Nybroplan, Hamngatan or Norrmalmstorg.
Guide: Opening hours and prices
- Opening hours: During the high season (July - August) the museum is open Tuesday to Sunday 10-19. During the rest of the year the museum is usually open Tuesday to Friday 12-16 (Wednesdays to 19) and Saturday to Sunday 11-17 (2019). Please note that there are days when the museum is closed or has modified opening hours, and that opening hours are subject to change. Check the museum's website for current opening hours.
- Prices: There is free entry to the parade floor. Guided tours cost 80 SEK per adult (2019). Guided tours are free for children under the age of 19. Current exhibitions may also cost extra. Borrowing an audio guide costs 40 SEK.
- Service: There is a small museum shop. There is also a catering facility in the courtyard which is due to open later in May.
- For children: There is a playroom and special activities are regularly organised for children. Pushchairs can be left in the doorway or entrance hall, but cannot be taken into the museum wings.
- Accessibility: The Hallwyl Palace has five floors and there is no lift, which means you have to climb stairs. The spaces are not wheelchair accessible. Guided tours are regularly organised in sign language, a guide for the visually impaired is available to download as an mp3 file and easy-to-read brochures are available in 10 different languages. A carer or assistant always has free entry to the museum.
- Read more: You can find more information at the museum's website.
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Visiting Skansen - open-air museum in Stockholm
Wrecks - Museum of Wrecks on Djurgården in Stockholm
What to do in Stockholm - 30 sights and experiences
The Historical Museum in Stockholm - from ancient to modern times
East Asian Museum in Stockholm - Japan, China, Korea
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Monet says:
Wonderful to be reminded of this amazing house again. I have been there many times and am always fascinated. Not least the modern features. I thought the branches on the floor were an abomination, that kind of "conceptual art" is just nonsense in my opinion. Funny that you go to such different places! We will soon make a road trip to Västergötland, drive the world's most beautiful road - Vallevägen - and visit Varnhem's monastery among many other things!
09 May 2019 - 7:30
Helena says:
What a fascinating house! Fun with a road trip! I haven't heard of Vallevägen. The monastery, on the other hand, I have heard of, but not visited.
09 May 2019 - 12:10
Ann says:
Wow, I was probably there maybe 15 years ago.
09 May 2019 - 7:48
Helena says:
Glad you have been here! Can be worth more than one visit, I think 🙂 .
09 May 2019 - 12:11
Anna / boihusbil.se says:
We have been told about it but never got round to seeing it. I'll make a note of it, again, so we can finally see it when we visit our customers in Stockholm in June. Thanks for the reminder!
09 May 2019 - 9:53
Helena says:
Definitely worth a visit!
09 May 2019 - 12:11
Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:
There are so many more museums to see. When I was in the oven and came to Stockholm, it was Tekniska that mattered.
09 May 2019 - 10:14
Helena says:
Stockholm is very dense with museums! I've been to Tekniska once, but that was a long time ago.
09 May 2019 - 12:59
Ama de casa says:
Have visited Hallwylska Palatset once, a whole lot of years ago. A fantastic place!
Art can be really weird sometimes. That's probably where the word comes from - art-ish. 😀
09 May 2019 - 11:20
Helena says:
Of course it's fantastic! And haha, well then that's enough, art or weird 😉.
09 May 2019 - 13:00
Maria/Magnolia Magis says:
Fun with museums! I think I prefer art exhibitions to be on their own. Then you can choose whether you want to see or not. If you go to this house, it's for the sake of it that you come.
09 May 2019 - 14:09
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
We have talked about visiting the Hallwylska Museum for many years, but never got there. This will change on our next visit to Stockholm.
09 May 2019 - 14:13
Maya Nordlund says:
Oh what a great guide! I love Hallwylska and am actually going there tomorrow! Wilhelmina seems to have been a really cool woman in her time! 🙂
09 May 2019 - 16:48
Lisbeth says:
Imagine that he died 18 years before he was born Walther von Hallwyl. Things were better in the past 🙂 .
09 May 2019 - 19:29
Helena says:
Haha, wow, that was perceptive! 😉 Thank you! Have fixed now!
10 May 2019 - 0:34
BP says:
That family was certainly ahead of its time. They must have been rolling in money, judging by the lavish décor.
There's already so much to see in that museum, so Konstfack's exhibition doesn't do justice to it or fit in. Ugh, I just say.
09 May 2019 - 20:30
Ann-Louise Paulsson says:
I have walked past Hallwylska so many times but never been inside. It looks very nice so I must try to go there. However, I agree that those branches on the floor look weird. I might go there when they have removed them. 🙂
09 May 2019 - 22:14
Johnny Friskilä says:
I must admit that I have never actually been to Hallwylska. So it was interesting to read your text. But the art exhibition in the same room as the regular objects, so to speak? That doesn't sound like much fun.
10 May 2019 - 8:36
Lena - good for the soul says:
Yes, oh that cool house. Have been there several times. Don't know why, but I love it!
Hug Lena
10 May 2019 - 17:46
Bertil Kall says:
Incredibly beautiful with all these collections, one visit is not enough as there is so much to see. There will be more visits as I will surely discover new things during the visits that enrich.
07 April 2022 - 15:17