Short answer
Universeum is one of the largest science centres in the Nordic countries, in the middle of Gothenburg. The building is designed as a journey through different worlds – a tropical rainforest, aquariums with a shark tunnel, exhibitions about technology, physics and the body, space and the Wisdome dome cinema. Unlike an ordinary museum, it is about experiencing, testing and exploring for yourself.
Universeum is not an ordinary museum. It is a science centre where nature, technology, animals and experiences come together in one and the same building, in the middle of Gothenburg.
Here you can go from tropical rainforest to space technology in just a few minutes – from coming face to face with sharks to trying experiments and interactive installations yourself. What our own day looked like is in Universeum with kids – our honest experience 2026, and there are more family trips among our adventures. You can find opening hours and tickets at Universeum.
What is Universeum?
Universeum is one of the largest science centres in the Nordic countries, where visitors experience science through real environments, animals and interactive experiments. Unlike traditional museums, it is not about looking – but about experiencing, testing and exploring. In short, Universeum is a place where learning happens through experience.
The experience is not linear. Visitors move between different themed floors, and every visit can look different depending on how you choose to explore.
How is Universeum laid out?
One of Universeum's greatest strengths is how the building is structured. It is not a random collection of exhibitions, but a well-thought-out journey through different worlds. The building is divided into several levels with their own themes:
- At the top: nature and rainforest.
- In the middle: sea and wildlife.
- Further down: technology, the body and experiments.
- Special experiences: space and the Wisdome dome cinema.
That makes the visit feel like a journey – not just a tour. Many people start at the top and work their way down.
What is there at Universeum?
The rainforest – a living environment
Universeum's rainforest is one of the most unique parts. Here you step straight into a tropical environment that recreates the Amazon, with warm air, high humidity and plants and animals on several levels. Birds move around freely, fish swim beneath you and suspension bridges take you up into the treetops. It is not an exhibition – it is an ecosystem.
Sea and aquariums – life below the surface
Another central part is the aquariums, with large fish, tropical species and the iconic shark tunnel. What makes it special is how close you get. Suddenly something big glides over your head – and the whole room stops.
Technology and experiments – learning in motion
Universeum is not only about nature. There are also large areas focusing on physics, technology and problem solving, where visitors test, build and experiment themselves. This is where many people get stuck for a long time.
The body and people
Another part is about the body – how we move, how we react and how the body works. It is often interactive and physical, which makes it stick in a completely different way than theory.
Wisdome – one of the most impressive experiences
One of the most unique parts of Universeum is Wisdome, a 360-degree dome where you don't just watch a film but are inside it. Image and sound surround you from every direction and give a feeling of travelling through space, nature or other environments. It works just as well for children as for adults. What it feels like and which films are shown is in Wisdome at Universeum.
Space and technology
Universeum also has parts about space and the technology behind it – how space works, how technology is used in practice and how we explore the world beyond Earth. It is a natural continuation of the rest of the building, where curiosity keeps growing.
Why Universeum stands out
What makes Universeum unique is not one single part, but the whole. Unlike many museums where you walk between display cases, here you move through living environments – from rainforest to sea, on to technology and space, without leaving the building. It is the variety that keeps both children and adults interested.
Who is Universeum for?
Universeum suits more people than many think – families, couples, adults with an interest in nature and technology, and tourists in Gothenburg. It works because the experience happens on several levels at once.
Plan a whole visit with our experience and tips for the day, and combine it with more activities in Gothenburg with Kids. There are more pictures from the rainforest and the aquariums in our photo story from Universeum.
Frequently asked questions
What is Universeum?
Universeum is a science centre in Gothenburg where visitors experience nature, animals, technology and science through living environments and interactive exhibitions. The focus is on exploring for yourself rather than just looking.
What is there to do at Universeum?
You can experience a tropical rainforest, aquariums with a shark tunnel, interactive experiments about technology and the body, space exhibitions and the Wisdome dome cinema.
How is Universeum laid out?
The building is divided into several levels with different themes – rainforest and nature at the top, sea and wildlife, and technology, the body and experiments further down – plus special experiences such as space and Wisdome.
Is Universeum a museum?
Not an ordinary museum. It is a science centre where you move through living environments and try things yourself, instead of walking between display cases.
