The Nordic Museum, located in Seattle, Washington, is a cultural institution dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history, arts, and culture of the Nordic countries, including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. The museum aims to provide visitors with a comprehensive understanding of the Nordic region's heritage, from its ancient roots to the contemporary era. The museum building itself is an architectural marvel designed to evoke the rugged landscapes and natural elements of the Nordic countries. Its modern and sustainable design incorporates wood and glass, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The interior features spacious galleries, exhibition halls, a café, a museum store, and various event spaces. Among the many exhibitions hosted at the Nordic Museum, one notable exhibit is "Jónsi's Flóð." This exhibition is a unique collaboration between the Nordic Museum and Jónsi, an Icelandic musician and visual artist best known as the lead vocalist of the band Sigur Rós. Jónsi's Flóð combines his mesmerizing music with immersive visual installations to create a multisensory experience. Flóð, which means "flood" in Icelandic, represents a journey through the artist's imagination and emotional landscapes. The exhibit features a combination of soundscapes, projections, and interactive elements designed to transport visitors to a dreamlike realm. Jónsi's ethereal music, characterized by haunting vocals and atmospheric instrumentation, serves as the soundtrack to the exhibition, enhancing the immersive atmosphere. Visitors to Jónsi's Flóð can expect to encounter captivating visuals, ranging from large-scale projections to intimate, intimate installations. The exhibition aims to evoke a sense of wonder and introspection, inviting viewers to explore their own emotions and connections to the natural world. Through a combination of audiovisual artistry, Jónsi's Flóð aims to create a deeply personal and transformative experience for visitors. Overall, the Nordic Museum in Seattle provides a space for cultural exploration and understanding, while Jónsi's Flóð exhibit offers a unique opportunity to delve into the evocative artistry of an acclaimed Icelandic musician and visual artist.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$16–20

I enjoyed my visit to the Nordic Museum. It’s great that such a premier Nordic-American museum is located in Ballard. I don’t remember visiting the museum before the remodel, but the museum was designed with a lot of intention. The architecture evokes Nordic design in its beautiful simplicity and functionality. The exhibits were interesting and specifically the one about Nordic immigrants to the Pacific Northwest in particular. While it is a visually striking and overall good museum, I think it could be even better. While it a Nordic Museum in America, I hope down the road they could have an about face on how the Nordic countries were involved in the slave trade. A deeper dive into relations between Scandinavia and the Sami people would also be enlightening. While history is not always pleasant, I think reflecting on it and asking critical questions is extremely important. Overall, I do believe the museum is a great place to learn more about the Nordic people and their stories and do recommend people to visit.

If you’re interested in the Nordic heritage of the PNW this is a must see museum. Pros: -it’s new, the old one used to be in an old school so they have made it into world class level architecture and what you’d expect from a large museum. -It has a lot of information and covers the full history from 7000 BC in Scandinavia to present day Seattle -free admission on the first Thursday of the month Cons: -Location, limited immediate parking -Small exhibit, limited artifacts, takes about 2 hrs to see everything -the video media is more artistic than informative, instead of a continuous running short scenic clips of the various Nordic countries and a short race based film that is a bit touchy feely I would have rather seen a video about the history of Scandinavia -limited kid friendly area
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$16–20

Great collection of history. Beatiful balance of video, artifacts, interactive touch screen, text and art. A few kid areas which is great and the perfect size, not too overwhelming but definelty chalked full. The staff were good, lady at the front desk was having a day and could have been nicer. Gift shop is great. Both a permanent exhibit upstairs and a featured gallery downstairs. For November 2023 the show featured indigenous artists of the artic which was great. Well curated show, would have loved a chance to debrief, reflect or read what others felt from seeing and experiencing that show.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Not sure
Price for adult entry
$16–20

Went to the grand opening ceremony on May 5th and got to hear the President of Iceland, the Crown Princess of Denmark, the Seattle Mayor, among others speak. We had reserved tickets for the 3:00PM showing. The museum itself is very spacious and beautiful - definitely inspired by Scandinavian Design. The exhibits were very well done and give a good history of Scandinavia from stone age to present as well as displays on immigrants to the area and their impact on the region. Since it was the opening and fairly crowded, I want to go back and get a better look at the exhibits in the future when I have more time. This is great cultural addition to the Seattle and THE museum for Nordic history in North America.

Um Not much to see here if you’re looking for an exciting Museum. Came here without paying (Thank God for that!) cause first Thursdays are free! Otherwise it’s 20$ something I believe. I wouldn’t pay so much for this place with all honesty. There’s definitely a lot of information about the Nordic region areas and some outfits and lifestyle details, how it evolved etc. Nothing interactive. Plenty of grey statues here and there and idk what it has to do with Nordic Heritage as much but definitely gorgeous statues of art. They did have a very clean restroom! Also there was $5 on the special exhibit which I didn’t pay for after I saw what the rest of the place had to offer.

08/04/23: it is a historical, cultural, and amazing National Nordic Museum. I got the ticket through Seattle Library pass so it was free. You can also reserve a free ticket per month through Seattle Library or King County Library Card. The name is self-explanatory. It is about the history of Nordic people in the USA (how they immigrated, their struggles, histories, and emerging cultures). I learned a lot of things during my visit and I have empathy and understanding for any Nordic people nowadays. It is worth your visit and please enjoy the journey
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$16–20

I was initially warned that this museum leaned heavy on the Seattle migration side and that is true but it's balanced. There's a timeline of Nordic origins, religion, politics, trades. There's definitely a lot of reading but visual aids and displays help retain my interest. It is on the small side, but well laid out. I do think some of the exhibits could be expanded while others more tailored. Such as famous Nordic people and their contributions versus the massive room asking for people for their input regarding social issues. Staff was very pleasant and they have a pretty solid gift shop. Plenty of cheap parking located behind the building.

We just visited the Nordic museum at their new location. I have a convenient moment-priced parking. Admission is $15 per person, with special discounts for seniors and AAA. On the first floor is a state of the art presentation of the early history of the Scandinavian people. On the second floor is a large and well-organized historical presentation. There is a small restaurant featuring Scandinavian inspired meals. We ordered Scandinavian hotdog make some ground chicken served on a pretzel bun with cream cheese and pickled onions, delicious. The staff is very friendly and helpful.

Almost hate to "only" give it 4 stars as it is a very nice, well laid out museum with lots to explore. While, as the name implies, this is a museum focusing on the Nordic countries there are areas that also cover the Ballard / Seattle connections. I would have liked to have seen more artifacts as it feels like they tried to fill space with plaques and pictures. So there ends up being a lot of reading as opposed to looking. Having said all that, if you have a Nordic connection or interest I would highly recommend visiting here.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait

Tucked away on the far side of Ballard past all the noise and bars, this museum is a sweet little treat. Especially if on a hot summer's day, the air-conditioned space is a cool respite from the heat. When I visited there was a borrowed collection of paintings (1500-1900s) from Sweden's NationalMuseum, but otherwise the permanent collection includes artifacts and replicas throughout history in Scandinavia as well as from the Pacific Northwest. Free for NARM members.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

The museum parking system is horrible. It uses an archaic manual system where you need to pre pay for the hours you spend there and put a strip of receipt at your window—which meant you needed to exit the museum just to refill your time. We visited with our grandparents and went overtime for 20 mins. The ticket we received ended up being $90+. I’m pleading the museum to upgrade your parking system, because this really leaves a bad taste after a wonderful experience.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

This is a fairly small museum but there is a good amount to learn here. Most of what you're going to see is upstairs where there is a ton of history written out along with everything from historic artifacts to today's Ikea furniture. Small gift shop with neat gifts, but it's your average museum shop. Their parking lot is a pay lot and a little tight. It's a good visit if you're in the area, but not something I'd call a must when around Seattle.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Beautiful architecture surrounds this modern tribute to our local Nordic heritage. The structure is so thoughtfully designed with ample natural light that interacts with the space and the artifacts it contains, like the gorgeous glass birds soaring above you. The exhibits themselves are nicely curated and focus on each Nordic country (Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Norway). The cafe and gift shop on the first floor also do a nice job of giving guests a taste of a Scandinavia. Worth any visit!

We finally made it to check out the Nordic Museums new location and it was beautiful! They have an incredible collection of artifacts and the layout is very well thought out. Not to mention that we were there for the special Viking exhibit which was incredible to see. I also recommend checking out their cafe. I had the quinoa salad with their smoked tofu which was so so good as well as some french press coffee that served on a beautiful wooden block and with a fun textured mug.

We happened to be in the area and being that my wife has a good Nordic heritage we stopped in. Very nice, modern facility with most displays upstairs and some artwork on the stark downstairs. I am sure the space is used for various events due to its size and open spaces, but the museum section is good and informative. Love the addition of the troll out front too!
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Not sure
Price for adult entry
Free

Alright, I admit I went in expecting Vikings! Instead, I got quite a bit of prehistory and history beyond the Viking era and on Nordic settlement in the US. The museum is *gorgeous* - clean lines, well lit and attractive. The materials they have are interesting, though they do gloss over a few things (althing). I could do with coming back and poking through it again.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

My husband and I were visiting Ballard for the day and decided to walk from our hotel to the National Nordic Museum. The museum itself is beautifully designed and the exhibits are extremely informative. I enjoyed the video elements incorporated throughout the exhibits and the interactive elements. Overall it was a great way to spend an hour or two learning about the rich Nordic heritage in the area. I would highly recommend it to others to check out!

Visited the museum for free on first Thursday which I recommend since while beautiful, it isn't very big. There are about 4-5 rooms depending on how you count them and while they have a lot of stuff to look at and read, I would expect an average person to be able to get through it all reading most of the plaques in about 2 hours.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
Free

This was the first time I had visited the Nordic museum. I was there by invitation to a special event and tge opening of a new exhibit. I learned so much, and was so grateful for the invitation. I look forward to many visits in the future and recommend this as a cultural and learning experience for people of all ages.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
1 hr+
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
Free

A very interesting museum describing the backgrounds of the Nordic groups that moved to the Seattle area. Covers everything from shipping to logging to politics. It has a nice flow for a walk through some of Seattle’s history. When we went the first Thursday of the month admission was free however there is a fee for the special exhibit.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Price for adult entry
$16–20

Beautiful architecture and wonderful exhibits & programs. Not only focuses on the history of the Scandinavian immigrants & & their influence on America & Seattle. The museum addresses how Scandinavian values & ethics can help the US & the world address current & future issues, such as climate change, diversity, art, & the economy.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

Great museum with lots and lots of things to see Gift shop is stocked with lots of unique and interesting Nordic items We were able to go for free on a First Thursday promotion Did not purchase the interactive time immersive exhibit but it seemed very popular and did not cost much
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
Free

Great museum. Lots of artifacts and videos and art to teach people what Nordic culture is and how it’s values are reflected in our own community of the PNW. I guess if you don’t care about culture then I could see how you would probably not have a good time here.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$16–20

Very nice building. Attended a private event. It isn't huge and I wouldn't say it is especially kid friendly. One of the smaller museums I've been to, but we'll spaced exhibits, informative, and makes connections to northwest history. Cool projector area with screen, feels like you're in a forest.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Not sure

The Nordic Museum in Ballard is a great place to take the whole family, whether your family has Nordic roots or not. It is well done. I didn't have enough time to see it all, even though I was there for over two hours. I can hardly wait until I can go back again.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$16–20

Listen, I am only at N.N Museum when I am catering, hence my Amazing food pictures, but it has grown on me and makes for an amazing event space. Space is plentiful and staff is really friendly and professional. Someone is always available as soon as you walk in to help you as needed. I'm inspired to check it out of my own when I am not working. What do you recommend there!?

Went during their annual Julefest. Happy to see so many people but disappointed the lines for goodies and abelskivers were so so long. Definitely worth a visit. Also one of Thomas Dambo's Trolls is outside the entrance as an added bonus.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$16–20

Visited today and attended the authors/illustrators reading from their book, "The Whale Child". It was great! We appreciated the various exhibits and the historical information provided. Took a break in the cafe and enjoyed the lava hot chocolate and the cardamon babka. The gift shop had some interesting items for sale. Thanks!
Visited on
Weekday

Reserved a museum pass at the Seattle Public Library allowed us to visit for free before their mygration exhibit closed. A great collection connecting Nordic people’s to the United States. A lot to read. Great visit, would recommend.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
Free

What a neat place to learn about Nordic history! The museum is informative, organized, clean, and offers just enough to remain digestible instead of overwhelming. The immigration stories were very neat and helped connect a lot of dots for the Pacific North West's development. Overall, highly recommend visiting this museum - it's a Seattle gem.

We went on the first Thursday of the month, so it was free. The parking was $2 an hour. It's clean and minimalistic like an Ikea inside. I liked the carvings and the rune stone. But the videos didn't hold my attention.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Not sure
Price for adult entry
Free

This is a very good museum displaying Scandinavian art and culture. Entry Fee is Free on the first Thursday of every month. However, Entry Fee is $20 plus taxes on all other days for adults. This place is worth visiting.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
Free

They have an exceptionally curated Viking exhibit on display until April. Although it’s very small, its worth the $5. The museum itself has a very informative permanent exhibit. There are also replicas of boats isn’t the museum, which they allow you to touch, unless otherwise stated. It’s a neat addition to Ballard and worth the visit.

I spent like 2 hours here and found it is interesting. Even though the museum is not big (only like 4 to 5 exhibition hall), I had a good time here. It helps to give you a big picture about Nordic history.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$16–20

Admission is free on first Thursday of the month. Small but nice museum displaying the history of Nordic community in Seattle. It starts with general history of nordic countries, and some random items about everything nordic. Ballard lock is nearby which is fitting with nordic themes of boats and ships.

Amazing Nordic museum full of art and wonders. There are several exhibits and some changing. It's very safe, clean, and friendly. Now they have a new troll statue which is so cute!
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$1–5

The National Nordic Museum does an excellent job of presenting the history of the Scandinavian nations in Northern Europe and the immigrants that helped build America. There are temporary art installations as well as permanent exhibits. Also check out the gift shop for real Scandinavian items.

Relatively small museum compared to others in Seattle but still packed with artefacts and learnings in each of their exhibitions. Highly recommend a visit.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Not sure
Price for adult entry
$16–20

this was a nice, albeit small, museum. the collection is well organized and informative. if you plan far enough in advance, you can get free tickets through the seattle public library. otherwise, tickets were affordable and parking was some of the cheapest in ballard! More

A world-class museum. The exhibits are fully explained, many in multiple languages, the exhibits are interesting and many interactive. It's new and well-maintained, clean but comfortable.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

The museum frequently host events like an outdoor showing of Mamma Mia, which is what I went to. Very cute event with popcorn truck and snacks. Free and fun family activity. Trivia questions were super fun and super hard. Would definitely return.
Visited on
Weekday

It's a great place to learn a lot about nordic countries and how vikings played a role in their culture. The museum is brand new and was very clean. It's a great atmosphere and nice place to relax while exploring the nordic history and cultures.

Fabulous photography exhibition here in the Osho gallery. Entirely worth the general ticket price just for that, great museum. I mean, fish skin shoes with hand knitted insoles, yes please! Very good shop too. Catch the 40 bus to lovely Ballard.

Inspiring and minimalist, The Nordic Museum is not just a place to learn about Nordic life in yesteryear's, but a place to gather. The exhibits are thorough in past and contemporary life, from antique lace to ikea furniture. The Osberg hall

Very interesting museum of Scandinavian-American history. A gem in Seattle. The gift shop is nice too. Where else can you buy licorice sea salt from Iceland? Check out the surrounding Ballard neighborhood for quirky shops and restaurants.

Well worth the money. Great exhibits, even a kids' area to learn. Loved the bird and wayfarer installations.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$16–20

The Nordic Museum (previously Nordic Heritage Museum) is a museum dedicated to the heritage of Seattle's Nordic immigrants, Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian and Swedish Americans. It was founded in 1980 and is in

Beautiful, newly built Nordic museum. We stopped by on the first Thursday of the month, when they offer free entry and we were really glad we did. They have a nice little cafe and museum store as well.

glad to see troll Frankie itchy feet . after hours, no entry
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
Free

The design of this museum is beautiful and clean. A bit disappointing the little cafe was closed unexpectedly but the gift shop has a ton of souvenirs and some Nordic treats

Very well curated overview of the Nordic region and peoples. $20 for an adult, total time to experience between 1 and 2 hours, depending on how closely you read things. More

This is a beautiful museum with a well thought out layout. The exhibit presentations are amazing and rival larger museums. There is a lot to do and see at the museum.

Very well put together museum and exhibits! The museum had a great selection of artifacts and videos. Loved the admissions discount for AAA members. More

We went to see Frankie Feetsplinters, the Thomas Dambo troll. He was worth the drive. Finding parking was the hardest part!
Visited on
Weekday

We went there one evening after hours for a wedding reception. It turns out that the museum is an excellent place to host a wedding reception!

Great museum with tons of amazing art and history.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Not sure

Went for the Jónsi exhibition! Loved all 26 minutes of it! If you have time, watch it twice! The immersion needs time to soak in!

Frankie Feetsplinter watching over Ballard on this beautiful day.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait

Well laid-out and organized exhibits, interesting artifacts.