Stockholm

Only in Stockholm, a city celebrated for its meticulous efficiency and minimalist chic, would the most spectacular attraction be a monumentally bungled maritime failure. Welcome to the Vasa Museum, a lovingly maintained shrine to the Vasa, a 17th-century warship that capsized spectacularly on her maiden voyage, sailing just over a kilometer before promptly sinking-for no better reason than the Swedish royal ego outweighed Swedish naval know-how. Today, she's the best-preserved disaster you'll ever set eyes upon, housed within a cavernous, dimly lit hall on Djurgarden, an island oasis that's part posh neighborhood, part royal hunting ground turned leafy gentle playground. Arrive early-ideally when doors open at 10 am-to beat the hordes of dazzled, camera-snapping tourists, and budget about two hours and roughly 190 SEK (around $17 USD) for entry that's worth every krona. Bring along comfortable shoes, your sense of historical wonder, and perhaps a faint air of smug superiority-after all, your worst day at work probably didn't sink a national treasure. Ultimately, the Vasa Museum is less about glorifying maritime achievement and more about human fallibility, hubris, and the exquisitely Swedish art of celebrating their most impressive failures. Even if ships and history aren't your thing, it's worth coming just to see an entire country proudly display its most spectacular screw-up.