Events at Birka

Things happening this year 2025

There is almost always something going on at Birka! In addition to our usual guided tours of the archaeological site and museum visits, you can also come here for family activities, themed tours, meet tattoo artists, show your strength, and much more. 

events at Birka – program 2025

May 3
Season opening

May 8 – June 13
Embrace the Spring at Birka

In May, the museum and the restaurant have opening hours while the the tour boats arrive to the Island – between Thursday-Sunday.

Here you can see updated opening hours for Restaurant Särimner

A Viking and our volunteers bring the Viking quarter to life with crafts and spontaneous guidance. Another Viking guides the real Birka, with burial grounds, the ruins of the ancient castle, and the landscape of ancient remains. The museum is open and the museum shop is filled with new products this year!

If you want to visit Birka when to queues are short, the weather is not to hot and explore the spring in open landscapes – this is the period for you!

May 29 – June 1
Birka Historical Tattoo Fest
Take the opportunity to get tattooed by talented tattoo artists specializing in historical ornamentation on the island!
You book your ticket to Birka as usual, and if you also want to get a tattoo, you book your appointment directly with the tattoo artist. 
This year’s tattoo artists and their contact information will be presented on the website during the winter. During these days, we will also offer several workshops on different themes, which you can book directly with the workshop leaders. Details about the workshops will be presented here on the website. 
While you’re here, visit the Viking market, where skilled artisans sell everything from jewelry and ceramics to wooden crafts and honey. Throughout the day, enjoy music and dance performances.

Read more about Birka Historical Tattoo Fest

June 14 – 15
Ancient Kings in History and Myth – Rediscovering a Lost Era
Once, they were known by everyone in Sweden—Ane the Old, who sacrificed his children for eternal life; Ingjald the Ill-Ruler, who unified the kingdom through deceit and violence; Erik Väderhatt; Björn at Haugi; Östen Bele; and the deified King Erik. Their tales were taught in schools, inspiring artists and poets alike.

Welcome to Birka this weekend, where our ancient kings are in focus! In addition to guided tours of Birka’s archaeological site and museum visits, author and professor Daniel Sävborg will deliver lectures in both Swedish and English on the subject, with a special focus on Birka and the surrounding Lake Mälaren area. He will share the stories of our ancient kings, how later traditions about them arose and developed, and how these figures and events inspired poetry and art. The lecture will conclude with a discussion about the relationship between stories, traditions, and reality.

More information will be updated continuously.

June 19 – 22
Museum closed, but the restaurant is open.

Here you can see updated opening hours for Restaurant Särimner

June 20
Midsummer celebration at Birka
Celebrate traditional midsummer at Birka – good food, games, and dancing around the midsummer pole.

Read more about Midsummar at Birka

June 23 – August 31
Summer at Birka
The high season is in full swing – the museum & restaurant are open daily. Café Eldrimner is open daily between June 24 and August 11. After Midsummer week several boats from various destinations arrive to Birka. This is the period for you that want to journey from other destinations than just Stockholm area, go swimming in the mythical lake Mälaren and extended opening hours for the flexible visitor.

June 23 – 29
Children’s Birka
Child- and family-friendly activities.

Read more about Children’s Birka

July 8 – 26
Vikings at Birka
Vikings, Vikings and more Vikings in the reconstructed village! The association Birka-Hovgårdens Gille has taken over the village during three weeks. Explore their daily tasks, talk to skilled craftsmen or explore the viking boats by the jetty.

Read more about Vikings at Birka

July 23 – 26
Strong Viking
Experience the success Strong Viking at Birka – a strength competition in harmony between past and present competition disciplines. Do you like carrying sticks and stones, do you want to join the competition? There are also try-on stations for everyone.

Read more about Strong Viking

New! Do you want to see the final of Starke Viking’s brutal four-day competition, Birkas Elddop on July 26? Book our special departure from Stockholm. The departure times are adapted so that you can see the entire final.

August 16 – 17
The Dog – The Viking’s Best Friend!
It will be a weekend filled with activities for those whose hearts beat for our four-legged friends. This event is organized in collaboration with the Swedish Icelandic Sheepdog Club.

The program includes herding demonstrations, a dog parade, cuddle and petting zones, a trivia walk for both humans and dogs, lectures about dogs in archaeological contexts and the Icelandic Sheepdog, and much more.

Of course, we also offer guided tours of Birka’s archaeological site and museum visits.

More information will be updated continuously.

August 30 – 31
Theme Ansgar – The Apostle of the North

The apostel of the north is back! Ansgar was a French monk who came to the pagan Birka in the 9th century to preach Christianity, but in the North, Odin and Thor were worshipped and resistance and conflicts arose. Listen to Ansgar himself talk about his dramatic journeys to Birka, stormy negotiations, and evil sudden death in a city far away in the wilderness.

Dramatized guided tour, visit to the Ansgar Chapel, activities with the Ekerö parish.

Read more about Ansgar – The Apostle of the North

September 4 – 21
Autumn at Birka
Do you want to enjoy autumn with open landscapes, warm weather, maybe some mushroom picking, and short restaurant queues on a small island surrounded by the waters of Mälaren? Then this is the period to visit Birka for you!

During this period, the museum and restaurant are open on weekends from 12:00 to 15:30.

Here you can see updated opening hours for Restaurant Särimner

September 27 – October 26
Birka is open on weekends in October
Do you want to experience Birka in its most beautiful autumn color in twilight light? Visit us this period!

At the end of the autumn, the museum and restaurant are open on weekends when the tour boat from Stockholm comes with guests.

Here you can see updated opening hours for Restaurant Särimner
Here you can see updated opening hours for the Museum.

October 25 – 26
Álfablót – the Halloween of the Vikings
This weekend magic and mythical beings are closer than ever. Enter haunted hills of the ancestors, admire or participate in the Álfablót (gift offering ritual) by the altar outside of the museum. This weekend, you’ll also have the chance to have your fortune read in runes, try archery, and explore crafts and activities in the Viking quarter—perfect for moderately brave families!

Read more abot Álfablót – the Halloween of the Vikings
Here you can 
book your boat ticket

BOOK YOUR TICKET

TICKETS AND TOURS BY STROMMA

In Strommas ticket booths you can get tourist information and buy tickets for our tours. The nearest is at our departure location at Klara Mälarstrand.

ABOUT STROMMA

Stromma boats have sailed to Birka since the late 1970s. In 2008 Stromma took over the responsibility for public activities on behalf of the National Heritage Board.
Stromma offers experiences and sightseeing with boat and bus. Today you can find Stromma represented in over 30 locations in Amsterdam, Stockholm, Gothenbug, Malmö, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Oslo, Stavanger, Bergen, GeirangerÅlesund and Berlin. 

Read more at Stromma.com