The Biology Museum is located at Karolinska High School, just a stone's throw from Örebro Castle. It is open to the public daily during the height of summer and the fall break.
When tickets are available, you can purchase them on this page. You can also buy your ticket on-site at the museum (using your phone) or at the Örebro Castle gift shop.
Hours of Operation 2026
Biologiska museet har öppet igen under höstlovet, vecka 44. Specifika öppettider kommer inom kort.
Ostriches, armadillos, and the occasional moose at the Museum of Biology
The moose. It’s hard to miss. From its slightly elevated spot in the center of the room, surrounded by an entourage of Nordic wildlife, it casts a challenging gaze your way as you step through the massive double doors. As if it wanted to tell you that if you’ve ever doubted who the king of the forest is, you can stop wondering now.
But the moose will have to excuse itself. Behind you, two seemingly angry ostriches are demanding your attention. Literally, birds out of place among bears, lynxes, and wolves.
The grand ground floor, with its marbled columns, focuses on Nordic fauna. Along the walls stand display cases upon display cases, filled with stuffed animals—both large and small, famous and obscure. The balcony, on the other hand, is far more varied. At times, it’s even a bit outlandish. Armadillos, crocodiles, insects, and birds from every corner of the world mingle with not-always-so-well-preserved fish and a curious collection of animals in glass jars filled with alcohol. You probably won’t forget the pufferfish with its marbles for eyes. And definitely not the dissected salamander.
An elephant head is one of the museum’s more unusual exhibits. To emphasize its exotic nature—as if that were necessary—someone has hung four African spears beneath its trunk. The fact that it is an Indian elephant does not seem to have bothered the museum’s management at the time.
The Final Resting Place of Bambina, the Circus Elephant
'The elephant was named Bambina and died suddenly while her circus was visiting Örebro in 1927. The German circus director, clearly a shrewd businessman, refused to be discouraged and quickly saw an opportunity to make a profit off his deceased star. The museum was offered the elephant’s carcass for the staggering sum of one thousand kronor—roughly thirty times that amount in today’s currency. The impoverished museum, whose collection otherwise consisted almost exclusively of donations, politely but firmly declined, and Bambina was laid to rest at the animal cemetery in Adolfsberg.
According to legend, some students secretly dug up the body, removed the head (it’s best not to dwell on the details here), and brought it to the school, where it was stuffed. Whether this is actually true, no one seems to know anymore. But somehow Bambina’s head ended up at the museum, where it has hung ever since.
When the museum opened in 1864, it was one of countless school museums. This was long before the combination of animals and nature was conveyed to students—hopefully eager to learn—through films and photographs. But times changed, and soon the Karolinska School was one of the few educational institutions where the museum remained. After being threatened with closure for a long time, the premises and collection were restored a few years ago and reopened to the public.
The museum isn't particularly large, but it's very extensive. There are over 1,000 birds alone. So take your time when exploring Örebro's most unusual tourist attraction. It's well worth it.
Reservations
If you’d like to explore the fascinating history of the Biological Museum as a group, you can book a guided tour. For more information, visit the Örebro Castle website.
Historical attractions and museums
