Birka – The Viking City

The boat is fully accessible to persons in wheelchair. The gangway is wide so you can easily get on and off the boat. Onboard, there is an accessible toilet and open spaces. Steps upstairs to reach the outer area on top deck.

Not wheelchair accessible. Steps on board.

Birka is partially accessible. There are graveled surfaces and roads in the museum area and flat walking paths on the island. You can visit the museum, shop, Viking Quarter, and restaurant. Accessible toilet is available at Birka. Please note that the guided tour includes steep slopes and natural terrain, which can make it difficult to fully participate.

Yes, dogs are welcome to sit outdoors. Please note that a leash is required on Birka.

Yes, preferably a foldable stroller. Can be taken on board but must be left in the lobby on main deck. Not allowed in the cafeteria or restaurant.

Birka is an open-air museum with natural surroundings, but you can visit the museum, shop, Viking Quarter, and restaurant with a stroller. Elsewhere, there is limited accessibility.

Yes. Available on main deck, one is accessible.

Yes, there are seats outside on the upper deck.

No, smoking is not allowed onboard our boats.

Guides and other staff are always dressed in Viking clothes. For three weeks in July, there is the program item Vikings at Birka. Then our reconstructed Viking quarter is populated with dressed-up Viking enthusiasts.

You are on the island for 3-3.5 hours and you choose in what order, and which places you want to experience at Birka. The guide on board the boat informs you about the times that apply to the day's guided tours at Birka.

The guided tour at Birka takes about 45-60 minutes. The museum takes between 20-60 minutes to explore. You'll visit the museum and the reconstructed Viking Quarter whenever you want. In the reconstructed Viking Quarter, there are reconstructed houses, Viking boats, goats, chickens, and cultivated herbs.

If you have extra time to spare, you can walk to Ansgar's Chapel which is always open during the season and is a 20-minute walk from the museum.

Yes, there is a beach and cliffs to swim from.

The boat from Stockholm offers coffee and light food. The boat that goes from Härjarö, Mariefred, Södertälje and Hovgården offers cafeteria.

Birka has Restaurant Särimner, which serves a Viking-inspired menu. On the lunch menu, there is always at least one meat, fish, and a vegetarian dish. The children's menu with meatballs and pancakes is always available.
Indoors in the restaurant, there are 80 seats and about the same on the outdoor terrace. No pre-booking is needed except for groups of over 20 people.

Café Eldrimner is open during the high season and serves coffee, ice cream, and good pirogues.

No, we only sell packages that include a round-trip boat ride, a guided tour of the archaeological site, and admission to the museum. We strongly recommend joining the guided tour, as the insights you gain will help you get much more out of your visit to the reconstructed Viking quarters and the museum.

Are you arriving with your own private boat? In that case, you can purchase the guided tour and museum admission separately.

The guided tour always starts in front of the museum and takes place outdoors. It takes you through a burial ground with classic Viking Age burial mounds, Birkas ancient castle, and ends near or next to the Ansgar cross.

Near the guided trail, you can see the Black Earth (the old city surface), the famous warrior woman's grave, and the site of Birka's garrison.

The guided tour takes about 45-60 minutes and is a walk of about 1-1,5 kilometers.

Yes, you are allowed to bring your own food to Birka. There are several cozy areas to have a picnic on the island, and outside the museum, there are tables and benches under the roof.

At the guest harbor and next to the museum there are barbecues to borrow, bring your own charcoal. Please note that there is a fire ban in other parts of the island. Do not leave garbage or leftover food in nature.

Onboard the boat from Stockholm, you can eat a packed lunch on the sun deck (upper deck) but not inside the boat.

Yes, the guided tour ends next to the Ansgar Cross or at a nearby distance. If you want to walk away to Ansgars Chapel (the church built in the 30s) you can walk there on your own, it takes about 15-25 minutes. If you cross the meadows, it will take less time. Remember to have plenty of time to get back to the boat.

There are free maps at the museum to pick up.

You can read more about Birka Vikingastaden on the website.

Stockholm: There are plenty of parking spaces along the waterfront at Norrmälarstrand. Our departure point is at Klara Mälarstrand. The walking distance to the departure point is at least 10 minutes.

Vårby: Parking spaces are available next to Vårby allé. Our departure point is located below the allotments at Vårby Herrgårdspark, approximately a 10-minute walk from the parking area.

Jungfrusund, Ekerö: Parking is available right at the ferry terminal. Our departure point is at Jungfrusunds Marina and Restaurant, about 200 meters from the ferry terminal. Please note that there may be bridge openings at Tappström (the bridge to Ekerö) which may cause waiting times of up to 15-20 minutes.

Rastaholm, Ekerö: Big and good parking area available. Our departure point is at the restaurant on a small island reached via a pontoon bridge from the parking area. Please note that there may be bridge openings at Tappström (the bridge to Ekerö) which may cause waiting times of up to 15-20 minutes.

Hovgården, Adelsö: Parking is available at Hembyggdsgården. The walking distance to the departure point is at least 15 minutes on a gravel road through a cow pasture. Not recommended for people with mobility impairments. Please note that you must take a road ferry from Ekerö (Munsö-Adelsö). The ferry takes about 5 minutes, and then it's about a 10-minute drive down to Hovgårdens Hembyggdsgård. Please check the road ferry's timetable and plan your route accordingly. Also, note that there may be bridge openings at Tappström (the bridge to Ekerö) which may cause waiting times of up to 15-20 minutes.

Mariefred: Parking is available, including at the harbor facing Gripsholm Castle. There is also parking by the Town Hall. Our departure point is at the far end of the pier east of the guest harbor. The walking distance from the harbor parking to the departure point is about 5 minutes.

Södertälje: Parking is available in Mälarhamnen, very close to the departure point. Our departure point is in front of Ad Astra by Elite Hotel. The walking distance from the parking area to the departure point is about 5 minutes.

Härjarö: Parking is available at the campground (Härjarö Nature Reserve). The walking distance from the parking area to the departure point is about 5 minutes.