Vida Museum

The Vida Museum on Öland's west coast is the island's foremost art museum, devoted entirely to the work of two major names in Swedish glass art: Ulrica Hydman-Vallien and Bertil Vallien. Across roughly 2,000 square metres, this privately run house displays glass, ceramics, sculpture and painting spanning from the early 1960s to today.

What it is

The museum opened in 2001, founded originally by gallerists Barbro and Börge Kamras. Today it's run by Hampus and Emilia Vallien - Hampus is the son of the two artists whose work forms its centrepiece. The connection fits the region: the neighbouring Kingdom of Crystal (Glasriket) in Småland, on the Swedish mainland, is the home of the Swedish studio glass tradition the Valliens come from.

What to expect

The site is organised into two areas:

• Two permanent galleries, one wing for Ulrica Hydman-Vallien, one for Bertil Vallien, showing glass, ceramics, sculpture and painting spanning more than six decades.
• Changing exhibitions across three larger art halls and one smaller one, refreshed throughout the year.

There's also a shop with glass and design pieces, a café and a children's corner. Guided art tours can be booked in Swedish, English and Japanese, though as a separately paid group tour, not included with standard admission.

Getting there

The museum sits on Länsväg 136, the main road along the west coast, about 9 km south of Borgholm and roughly 100 metres north of Halltorps Gästgiveri.

• By car: via road 136; the drive is straightforward. On-site parking isn't officially confirmed, but a place to leave the car is usually available. More in the getting there guide.
• By bus: route 101 from Kalmar C to the Halltorps Gård stop (direction Ekerum), a journey of around 35 minutes. Kalmar, on the Swedish mainland, is the usual gateway to Öland for visitors arriving from abroad.

Visiting and practicalities

• Season: the museum is open only from around mid-May to early November, closed in winter. The 2026 season opens on 14 May with a private view at 11:00.
• Opening hours: in peak season (7 July to 16 August), Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:00; for the rest of the season, usually Thursday to Sunday 10:00-15:00, weekends only in autumn. Hours may vary on event days.
• Duration: allow 1 to 2 hours for the permanent and changing exhibitions plus the shop and café.
• Tickets: there's no online sale, admission is paid on-site.

Is it worth visiting?

For anyone interested in art and design, the Vida Museum is the highlight of the island and a reliable option even on a poor-weather day at the beach. If glass art isn't your thing, the collection may have less to offer, in that case, a detour to Borgholm Castle ruins or Ölands Djurpark is a better fit. The visit pairs well with Borgholm and the nearby Solliden Palace; more highlights are gathered in the Öland attractions overview.