Skansen

Open air museum · Djurgården

Skansen

Open air museum · Djurgården

Djurgårdsslätten 49-51, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden

Highlights

Skansen is a sprawling open-air museum on Djurgården with historic Swedish homes, costumed guides, Nordic wildlife, and charming cafes to explore.

Djurgårdsslätten 49-51, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden Get directions

skansen.se

@skansen

@eater

What is the Swedish Christmas Drink, Glögg, and Why Is It Trending? - Eater

"Of course, glögg is still most commonly made at home, and one of the flashiest recipes — based solely on vodka, sugar, and spices — isn’t new at all. It comes from the world’s oldest open-air museum, Skansen, in Stockholm." - Per Styregård

https://www.eater.com/23991082/what-is-glogg-drink-swedish

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@afar

"A brief description of Skansen—a 75-acre open-air museum with historic buildings and a zoo—doesn’t convey just how much fun it is. You can easily spend a happy half-day here, looking at wolves, reindeer, moose, seals, and other Nordic creatures, then popping into old buildings that have been brought here from all over Scandinavia and reassembled. In some you can talk to people in costume who are playing the roles of the original inhabitants. Elsewhere you can watch glassblowers at work and visit old-fashioned stores. Open since 1891, it remains one of Sweden ’s top tourist draws."

The Best Things to Do in Sweden

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@afar

The Best Things to Do in Stockholm

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@afar

The Perfect Day in Stockholm

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@michelinguide

Swedish National Day – 6th June

"In an attempt to get the Swedes more involved and encourage National pride, it was then re-designated Swedish National Day in 1983. In a nod to the past, one of the biggest celebrations takes place at the Skansen open-air museum." - The MICHELIN Guide Nordic Editorial Team

https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/features/swedish-national-day-6th-june

View Postcard for Skansen

Eason Cai

Google

Very fun experience for the whole family! Must visit in Stockholm. Animals for kids to see and old buildings for adults. They have some wild red squirrels in the area that will let you feed them acorns! Very fun! Great place, worth a visit!

Oakfriend

Google

Another “must see” place in Stockholm. Seriously! Don’t miss this place, since you will find here everything! From quietness, to parks full of people, from old, wooden houses centuries ago to animals on the Skansen-zoo. You can rest here, grab something to eat, spend some time with children on the aquarium and so on. Wonderful place.

Nina Susanne Ofenloch

Google

A wonderful place, nature and history combined. Especially on warm sunny days, it's absolutely wonderful to come here. Lots of things to learn, nice views of the city, tranquil spots that make you feel like you're in the forest somewhere.

Jody King

Google

Brilliant place to spend the day. Great history and cultural learnings. Nice food options. (Reindeer burger was delicious!) Friendly staff who play their roles wonderfully. So much for kids to see and do too with all the animals and interactive museums on site. A really cool place indeed for people of all ages.

eman moh

Google

One of the most famous parks to visit in Stockholm. I went in September, and the weather was perfect. The park itself is huge, very green, and full of life, with beautiful small lakes where ducks were happily swimming. There were quite a few animals to see, and the atmosphere was peaceful, though a bit crowded. I did expect to see more animals and a bit more creativity in terms of attractions, but overall, it was an enjoyable visit.

Rand

Google

A zoo designed like a traditional Swedish village—it offers a unique and charming experience. What makes it special is that actual homes, a school, and other historical buildings were relocated from different regions of Sweden to create this village-like setting. The staff dressed in traditional Swedish clothing added a lovely cultural touch to the visit. It’s a beautiful place that combines history, nature, and family-friendly activities—definitely worth a visit.

Ali Aghajafari

Google

Skansen is an absolute must-visit! This open-air museum perfectly combines history, culture, and nature. Walking through the historical buildings feels like stepping back in time, and the staff in traditional clothing really bring it all to life. The zoo area was also a pleasant surprise—seeing Nordic animals like moose and lynx up close was a treat. Everything is beautifully maintained, and there’s something for all ages, from folk dancing and craft demonstrations to charming cafes and scenic views. A perfect way to spend a day in Stockholm—highly recommended for families, couples, or anyone curious about Swedish heritage!

Nina Neelran

Google

A beautiful, magical place- definitely a must see in Stockholm. Many activities for children, as well as adults. The animals look happy and well-cared-for and the staff is absolutely amazing.

Tabitha W.

Yelp

I really enjoyed my visit to Skansen. The views of the surrounding area are amazing. I absolutely loved viewing the animals, especially the bears!

Kathy X.

Yelp

This is an open air museum and zoo, which I thought was such a cool concept! The number 7 bus from the city center stops right by the place, so it's super convenient to get to. Admission price is under $20. Upon entering, there's an area that showcases a lovely vantage point of Stockholm. Such a great view of the city! The museum features the whole of Sweden with houses and farmsteads from every part of the country, and I got to learn so much about the history, customs, traditions, as well as every day life of previous times. There are also a bunch of little shops throughout, including a very nice Great Taste one with samples of breadsticks, spreads, balsamic vinegar and so on. As I continued exploring, I came across the Childrens Zoo, and Nordic wildlife, including rare breeds, pets, and exotic creatures. The Nordic wildlife all has habitats in the open so that they could enjoy the land and roam around. I saw bears, horses, bison, spotted pigs, and there were more, like lynx that I didn't spot. I enjoyed my time here and loved look of the buildings and the old time feel!

Tatiana W.

Yelp

One of my favorite places to visit in Stockholm. Great place to spend a day with kids and family. Love the heritage village, the Nordic animals zoo, and the botanical gardens. I loved the local celebrations and craft vendors! A great place to enjoy time locally.

Mallory C.

Yelp

I'm sure this spot is great to walk around in during the summer, but it was pretty dead when I went during November. The website told me I should take the funicular, meanwhile that wasn't necessarily and I bought those tickets for nothing (and it didn't seem like it was running, either). The aquarium is cool, though, but most of the animals weren't out. I wanted to give the experience 2 stars, but I upped it to 3 because the glass blowers were great and I enjoyed watching them. But otherwise there wasn't much else to see and I was very disappointed.

Alex P.

Yelp

They don't offer Wi-Fi, and force you to use your phone to see their programs, and don't offer paper versions, and don't offer a place to charge your phone. And if you want to see things in a proper way, you have to spend enough time there where your phone drains and dies. The ticket sellers are nice. But the woman at the info desk was not. She gave me completely wrong information, when I asked what programs were available for t the rest of the day for Midsummer. She made us miss so many things. It wasn't until I asked another person who worked there for help, and was given correct information, but too late. The info desk Person was not friendly. The museum has people dressed up in archaic clothing reenacting personalities of eras before, and many of them are grouchy, and push people out and say they're closed. Tons of food vendors. Is this really a place to see and learn new things, or to buy food because you're too desperate to go outside and come back and pay an extra fee?

Chun P.

Yelp

I hate to give one of Stockholm's top tourist attractions a mere 3 Stars...but this massive outdoor historical park is "Deadsville" in October. Its probably a 4 or 5 Star place May though early September. A few years back I went to Norway's equivalent of Skansen. It was in late May, the place was fully staffed, and it was awesome. Unfortunately... In October, its pretty darn cold and cloudy in Stockholm. 50% chance its raining to some degree. Skansen is running on a skeleton crew. Over 80% of the buildings are closed or unmanned. No actors. No music. No dances. No staff. No food except for one bakery that closes at 3:00pm. I can't blame them...there were very few customers walking around. The old vintage buildings are still somewhat interesting to see. Our favorite part was seeing the various Nordic animals...we're suckers for cute creatures, especially that giant owl that kept calling out to us "Whooo!?". I'll have to Skansen another try in a warmer summer month. Maybe.

Kali M.

Yelp

I found this to be a disappointment. I was here visiting from the states in October. The park is very big with spread out buildings. Arrive early if you plan on going - a lot of the shops/buildings close fairly early. However, even when the buildings were open, there wasn't much to actually do. It's mostly just empty buildings and some animals (but not enough to qualify as a zoo). Most of the buildings were closed. There's not really any good place to eat inside. There was a small cafe but they only seemed to sell a few desserts - no sandwiches or anything hearty. The old buildings are kind of cool if you're into that. My favorite part was definitely the animals they had: pigs, bears, owls, wolves. If given the chance again, I wouldn't pay for this. I read that this was part of the Stockholm Pass, so maybe worth it if you have bought that.

Elvira D.

Yelp

#QuarantinedReviews Long overdue and reminiscing about my trip to Sweden last August when I realized I hadn't reviewed a lot of public attractions that that Yelp pages--unbeknownst to me! Skansen is an open-air museum and zoo on the island Djurgården in Stockholm. As the pictures may show, everything was nothing short of scenic and breathtaking. Well, the zoos were literally pushing the breathtaking idea as we needed to hold our noses a bit, lol, however everything was a beautiful experience. We saw many types of animals, came across a small bazaar with booths selling jams, preserved meats, bread and more. I discovered the delicious cloudberry jan which was a topping on my gyro looking take-out food that I ordered there. As you can see, there's some mashed potatoes (probably one of the silkiest, delicious mashed potatoes I've had to date, something relevant to sour cream, cloudberry Jan to add sweetness to it....with moose meat. You read that correctly, and it was pretty darn delicious. All wrapped in a lightweight tortilla type of bread and that was quite a delicious meal on the go! I'd recommend visiting this if you're here in the summertime. The flowers, walkways, farms and entire scenery are quite a delight!

Peter W.

Yelp

Perfect for an outdoor stroll with kids. Plenty see and do and some basic food choices as well. Kids playgrounds and slides as well as indoor options. But the idea is to walk outside. Also know for good Pokémon hunting.

Charles S.

Yelp

I have always wanted to go to Skansen -- or at least since I first heard about it 40 years ago. It's supposed to be the first open air museum in the world where houses and farmsteads from around the country have been reassembled with people in costumes explaining how people lived. It's big. There's loads of stuff. But in the end I found it to be a bit of a disappointment. It was far from my favorite destination in Stockholm. It was A-OK in Yelp parlance. But it wasn't fun or gee whiz cool. If you live in Stockholm and have small children who need to be entertained, Skansen is certainly the place to go. But it's kind of a mix between a museum and an amusement park.

Judy S.

Yelp

Super cute and fun for all. - There's a "zoo" of Nordic animals. - There are houses with grass roofs. - There are windmills. - There are historic reenactments. - There is ligonberry juice. Highly recommend stopping by for a few hours to a day. It's a massive outdoor historical park. It does get hot though so keep that in mind to come when it's a nice day.

Sy W.

Yelp

I came there to see the house on the chicken feet (Sami food storage) and I was overjoyed. There are plenty of places to sit and ponder life. And if you need some additional prompt for wondering about the meaning and value of life, there is also a zoo with very miserable and depressed animals whose ill fate will definitely make help you appreciate yours more.

Robyn P.

Yelp

I read some Yelp reviews after going to Skansen today and was glad to know I wasn't the only one a bit disappointed. It was nearly 80 degrees during our visit today- so cold weather was certainly not a factor in the park feeling pretty empty and dull. Yes, we got to see a handful of actors in costumes, and a man blowing glass (by far the most interesting thing we saw) But, I asked myself "where are the the festive folk dancers and lively music?" That are portrayed in the advertising for the park? I walked passed a few empty stages and seating areas. What I did see were opportunities to buy products from the minute I entered the park. Hmmm, after paying the equivalent of $30 each, I expected more. The park is HUGE and there IS a lot to see, but mostly just empty buildings and some animals. The only peole observed who seemed to be having fun were small children.

Jacqueline T.

Yelp

We were a bit disappointed by Skansen. The idea sounded cool and from what we read it was supposed to be interesting for adults too, but we did not find that to be the case. It's a huge park. The scenery is really pretty and the architecture of the buildings is really interesting. Other than just walking around and looking at the buildings and gardens, we didn't really find much else to do. We weren't very interested in the Craftsmen inside of the buildings. There are quite a few animals you can see, but it's not anywhere near as big as a zoo. It was part of the Stockholm Pass, so we didn't have to pay extra for it. I'm glad we did it as part of the pass and didn't pay for it individually. I think this would be a great place to bring kids, but I wouldn't recommend it to adults.

Lisa H.

Yelp

Tar man sig tid är Skansen som att kliva in i en annan värld. Kan bara varmt rekommendera ett besök. Alla årstider är lika trevliga här. Och vid högtider är flertalet av husen öppna och pyntade. Älskar att strosa runt här!

Ed U.

Yelp

I'm guessing summer is the best time to visit this expansive park on the island of Djurgårdsvägen, the world's first open-air museum built in 1891 as it is proclaimed in the tour books. It is meant to evoke Sweden in miniature, and that it does with around 150 historic buildings recreated on various parcels throughout the park. However, even in mid-April, the weather was wintry still, and the place felt desolate for the most part. The admission price reflects that since it's 120 SEK versus 180 SEK during high season. While it's easy to take the 7 tram to Djurgården from downtown Stockholm, the comprehensive park map we received didn't give us a clue that it would be an uphill climb to see most of the attractions. Likely due to the cold weather, Jamie W. and I didn't see too many of the locals in native costumes, and they certainly weren't folk dancing, glass blowing or butter churning as you would expect. We did see one naked guy covering his incidentals with an odd-looking orange building he carried with suspenders (photo: http://bit.ly/1U9qEU4). Don't ask, don't tell. Other than that anomaly, Skansen reminded me of one of those 1970's-era Jan Troell frontier epics where Liv Ullmann would struggle to raise a family on a sad, infertile plot of land in the Swedish backwoods. Fortunately things get more interesting once you get past the main buildings and stroll through the zoo where you can see Nordic wildlife like big brown bears, reindeer, and red foxes (photo: http://bit.ly/1ZrtfZA). You can also see farm life with plenty of pigs, sheep and cows in various pens surrounded by fearless flamingos (photo: http://bit.ly/1Y3ciG6). Eventually we made our way back to the village setting where we stopped in a bakery cafe with all sorts of warm goodies on display on a table (photo: http://bit.ly/1RVmEAQ). We decided to park ourselves in that cafe sharing what was likely Sweden's largest coconut macaroon (photo: http://bit.ly/1PemGny). There was really no encore after that, so we left the park through a side entrance recognizing we had to trundle down another hill to get back to modern-day civilization. There's probably a good sci-fi thriller to be made in Skansen like "Westworld, Swedish Style", but I'll just wait for it on Netflix. In the meantime, come here if you think the neighboring ABBA Museum won't appeal to your kids.

Janice C.

Yelp

What a fantastic feel of Swedish culture! Let's make an "outdoor museum" and show how the Swedes lived in the 18th and 19th century. Authenthic farmsteads and historical houses (which were originals that were painstakingly moved piece by piece from all over Sweden) , a zoo, an ampitheater for concerts and classical performances and lots of green areas for play and picnicking. The staff are all in period dress and can explain in detail about their craft, whether it be pottery, baking (OMG, get the cinnamon bun!) or selling spices. When we visited the glass blowing workshop, there was a bachelorette party there! (I guess they don't do bachelorette parties Vegas style? LOL) It's a truly unique place that's worth about half a day of your time in Stockholm.

Tom E.

Yelp

Gee, I love the Swedes. You know why? They have a 121 year old open air museum/zoo/town/whoelseinthehellknowswhat spanned over 75 acres on a beautiful island, Djurgarden. Come here early, and plan to spend the day here. Hell, you could eaily spend 2-3 days here (do they allow camping?!)! I really can't even remember what the whole premise was, but I remember doing just about everything in the park, and seeing every building- as I wanted to see how life in Sweden in the 1880's was all about, so I woudln't have to steal Doc Brown's Delorean/time machine. I remember an open zoo- I saw animals I don't see every day- and real up close as well- I kept thinking to myself how many times that bear was sizing me up for a meal, or the family or lemurs- I bet they are tough in groups! I also remember going in a few buildings, including a biologicamuseet- which I had no idea what in the hell was in there- but I shit you not- there was a stuffed rabbit/bird that I have no idea to this day if that thing was legit- but it looked hellareal- I will look for pics of it online and upload it; frankly I was too scared to take a pic! The mini aquarium had your typical selection of marine life, but did have plenty of Poison Arrow Frogs- not something you see everyday (especially being that far from their native South America). I loved the mini villages, which all but 3 building are original- one included a glassblower (http://www.yelp.com/biz/ab-stockholms-glasbruk-stockholm), a tobacco museum (which also houses the world's largest cigar, it's like 30 ft long!), and many other cool knicks and knacks- everything is posted on the site with a decent amount of detail. There is also a tobacco field and plenty of green space- great for a picnic! This place almost reminds me of Stone Mountain in Atlanta- a great natural attraction with a lot of greenspace and a lot to offer for the family and history buff- this place is a surefire bet and worth every penny (maybe not the extra addons)! I wish I could go back to see that creepy bunny!

Jennifer K.

Yelp

Skansen is definitely worth a visit if you just finished visiting Nordic Museum and Vasa since it is located on the Island of Djungarden. If you are smart enough to get one of those The Stockholm Card, the admission to the Open Museum, Zoo and Aquarium are all included. The kids will enjoy the visit as there are petting zoo where they can be in close contact of the local farm animals. I even got into the cage of the zoo with a bunch of Ring Tailed Lemurs.. I think I am more scare of them when they looked at me with hungry eyes! If you are not into animals, crocodiles, fishes... there are also exhibition that includes a full replica of an average 19th century town of Sweden with all the character actors in costumes. Over 75 acre of fun for the whole family! And if you are visiting Skansen in December, make sure you visit their Christmas Market which had been held since 1903!

Jocelyn K.

Yelp

I definitely recommend to put Skansen on your list of places to visit in Stockholm. It is the oldest open air museum in the world and great for families and single travelers alike. The museum is huge and you could spend all day in there. We spent about 2-3 hours and still only saw about half of it. An adult ticket is 180 SEK (~$21 USD), no student discounts. For an extra 25 SEK, you can also take the funicular, which is a train that will take you around Skansen, but I think it's more fun to walk around. There is one initial large uphill climb, but now you can get some exercise. Don't forget the map to navigate the park! You'll feel immersed with all the recreated historical buildings and people dressed in traditional clothing. We were tired and missed out on the Scandinavian wild animals, but we did see a lot of farm animals, mainly cows, chickens, goats, and a random seal. We also saw wild peacocks walking around the park. Be careful of the goat. It's a curious fellow and tried to stick its whole head out of the pen to try to eat my bag of buns. Also stop by the herb and rose garden if you can. For a snack, we first stopped at Kafe Pettisan where along with an impressive display of baked goods, you can also get tea and coffee. We shared a Swedish almond sponge cake (Toscakaka), a chocolate ball (chokladboll), and a berry tart. I loved the chocolate ball, which is basically a large chocolate and oat ball covered in coconut flakes. The cake was also fluffy with a delicious almond topping. I recommend stopping by this cafe for some snacks. We also stopped by the Bakery because the line was so long. All their bread is freshly baked in a wood fired oven in the other room of the bakery. We tried a few of their buns which all seemed to have cardamon in it. Apparently cardamon is a base flavoring in Scandinavian countries like vanilla is in the US. I admit I didn't actually go see many of museums in Stockholm, but if you want a more interactive one I recommend going to Skansen.

Emily K.

Yelp

At just 150kr for entry, Skansen is a must visit when in Stockholm. You could easily spend the entire day here or at least half a day! We came specifically for the Christmas market they have during December weekends, but explored other areas of the open-air museum too, which were really nice/interesting. If you come for the Christmas market like I did, DEFINITELY get some Swedish meatballs and glogg (mulled wine) from the vendors. So, so good! The sides (mashed potatoes, lingonberry sauce & pickles) that came with the meatballs were DELICIOUS. The piping hot food & warm glogg were perfect in the cold weather. Food aside, I loved the gift shop and vendors selling Christmas items. So many nice knick knacks, chocolates, hand-crafted goodies to take back home as souvenirs! My friend got wool socks :) There's also an area to look at animals, which is probably something fun to do with kids. Lots of things to see, learn & do in Skansen. I definitely recommend coming here. The area surrounding Skansen is beautiful as well!

Schelly Y.

Yelp

The Skansen has a bit of everything. They have exhibits showing how people lived many years ago including the schools, churches, and houses people lived in. There are zoo animals for the kids to see and the views from the top are wonderful. You have the option to walk or take the gondola which is an extra fee going both up and down the hill. There is also an outdoor market where they sell random trinkets and snacks. I could see this place being really nice for the Christmas market.

Karen L.

Yelp

I came here with my family and it was fun! They accept discover/diner's club international which has no foreign transaction fees. I think our tickets were around $20 per person including the tram ride. We took the tram ride to the top and walked around the park and back down to the entrance. I would wear good walking shoes because everything is spread out. It took us about three hours to make our way around the park and we didn't see everything. The map they provide is detailed and fairly easy to follow. We got lost a few times but there are signs pointing to different exhibits which helped. A lot of the animals like ducks, chickens, squirrels and peacocks were just walking around which was cool. There were also some really nice views of Stockholm from Skansen. All the buildings looked pretty similar and I was more interested in the animals so we mapped out our route to find all the animals. My favorite thing was the Children's Zoo. All of the animals were so cute! There's a petting zoo with baby goats that you can play with. There were also a lot of pet animals including cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits here as well. We reached the restaurant area at around 6 and everything was closed. There was a pretty rose garden near the King Oscar's Terrace near the entrance. I would definitely check this place out if you're ever in Sweden!

David G.

Yelp

My wife enjoyed this much more than I did, but it was very interesting. If a lot of things are open one could easily spend a day here as its very expansive, but I think they open things differently each day as only certain things were open on our day there. There are interactive places to go into where you can see furniture being made, glass being made and old time swedish house, etc. Tip: If you are trying to see as much as possible of your stockholm pass this isn't an easy hit and run place. It will take at least a couple hours to see even part of it as its very spread out. It is reasonable in the same day though to be able to see it, vasa museum, nordic museum, the spirits museum and the aquarium if you are strategic about it.

Michael U.

Yelp

Dating back 100 years and encompassing everything from an amusement park to wild animals and cultural exhibitions it would be difficult to define Skansen as anything specific, the best way perhaps "Sweden Condensed" in which case the cost of admission is fair, though the fact that they charge extra for the aquarium and several additional experiences once inside seems somewhat disingenuous.

Shona N.

Yelp

I really enjoyed my visit to Skansen. It is an open air museum/zoo. They have buildings from Swedish history that have been brought in from all different parts of Sweden and put together into a park that gives you a bit of Sweden's history. There is a lot of walking involved, it's hilly and there are some stairs so be prepared with comfortable shoes. The park is clean. The map can get confusing and it's expansive so I would suggest picking a few places that you must see in the park and going to those first and then work your way around. I would say to allow yourself an entire day to be able to see everything there. Admission price is reasonable. Food inside the park is pricy but that's no different then any other park you go to.

Herbert E.

Yelp

'Ello chaps! Skansen is Sweden's first open-air museum and zoo, located on the island of Djurgarden. There are great trails to walk and places to explore here. Pigs, cows, ducks, reindeer, moose, bears, otters, my oh my and so much more. This is a great place to explore whether on your own, with a friend, or with your family. This is one of the main attractions of Djurgarden and a must not miss.

Stephanie L.

Yelp

This place was fine. When we went, it felt like a lot of the stuff was closed. It's nice to walk through the zoo and see some other attractions. It's not mind blowing, but somewhat cool.

Matt G.

Yelp

Nice open air museum in the city with a bit of everything, zoo animals, exhibits, play grounds, old traditional houses, work shops, folk dance, markets, cafes, concerts. A good spot to learn about Swedish history and traditions and get a feel for life before the modern industrial era kicked off. You can spend a whole day here with kids. Or even if you are just a nature lover. It's quite spacious to walk around and nice to just enjoy the scenery. You can see the old craft work displayed, like smiths, glass blowers, spinning (textiles that is, no gym classes going on here with instructors on headset shouting you're doing a great job!!). The zoo has mainly Scandinavian animals and farm animals, but also a few from other regions. Kids can ride the pony. There is a funicular railway to take you around some limited stretches. You can enter the aquarium to check out and touch some creepy spiders or snakes (I remember the guy who runs the aquarium would often be on local tv on those morning shows and put an anaconda around some totally terrified TV hosts's neck). Best to visit in the summer, some parts may be closed other times of year. I will say, I prefer going to the theme park across the road from Skansen, but Skansen is pretty nice too and obviously more educational.

Denice R.

Yelp

There's like 133 reviews about Skansen already so no need to reinvent the wheel. I'll just add my thoughts on Skansen as an American tour who was on my first European travels and taken to Skansen by my Swedish sister-in-law. First, I've never seen anything like Skansen (a living museum) so I have nothing to compare it to. I was blown away by the purpose of Skansen: to educate the public about Swedish cultural life and history in an interactive and live way. That homesteads and buildings were moved here to create an old Swedish village where you can walk from building to building and talk to actors portraying a shoe cobbler, or a pharmacist, baker, pottery, textiles, or wife and daughter spinning wool in their home, etc., but most significant for me are the Sami teepees. Enter the teepees and talk to a person of Sami ancestry about pioneer era life of the Sami as well as modern life of the Sami. The Sami people (also Sámi or Saami, traditionally known in English as Lapps or Laplanders) are an indigenous Finno-Ugric people inhabiting the Arctic area of Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Murmansk Oblast of Russia. The Sami are the only Indigenous people in Scandinavia that are recognized and protected under the international conventions of indigenous peoples, and are hence one of the northernmost indigenous people of Europe. Please, learn more about the Sami: https://sweden.se/society/sami-in-sweden/ as theirs is a little-known part of Swedish history. There are animals (some you can pet), a children's play area, places to eat, etc. Skansen is VERY child friendly.

Jasmine A.

Yelp

Skansen is an open-air museum with the primary attractions being a Swedish village and farmstead, and a Nordic animal zoo. The village and farmstead depict what life was like between the 16th and early 20th century and has various houses and buildings on display, as well as a recreation of a Sami camp. Reading about the Sami culture was quite interesting, as was the glassblowing demonstration in the glassworks building. The highlights of the zoo were the moose, a bear in a tree (while I have seen bears in zoos, I have never seen one up in a tree), a wolverine that was running about (didn't see the baby wolverines that had been born a few months prior, though), and the baby boars. The baby boars were so damn cute! They spent several minutes noisily tearing apart and shaking an empty paper bag (it had probably been full of food before we had arrived), and then one by one, each piglet ran out of the small pen to the larger enclosure. There is also an aquarium, but admission is extra. Admission to Skansen is expensive enough as is--between 100 SEK and 170 SEK for an adult ticket depending on the month--so we didn't bother going to the aquarium. While Skansen didn't wow me, it was still a fun attraction and worth seeing, but I wouldn't put it on the top of my list. And if you want your animal fix, go to Slottsskogen in Göteborg for free!

Anthony G.

Yelp

Had a wonderful time at this open air cultural museum/ zoo. As well as many animal exhibits featuring Nordic animals such as bears, elk, wolves and reindeer, this open air museum shows what life was like in Sweden in the 1700s to early 20th century. Take an escalator or cable car to the top of the steep hill and work your way around the many fantastic exhibits with live demonstrations from the knowledgeable staff dressed in classic costumes, take breaks in one of the many scattered gardens or even have a picnic. This park is really large so if the weather is good, plan on at least three hours plus here. Admission isn't cheap but it's worth it and included in the Stockholm Pass so pick one up to save some kronor. A must see and highly recommended.

Anastasia J.

Yelp

There is so much to do in Skansen, I could have spent my whole day there. If you have kids, this an especially great choice, but even as college students we spent a solid 5 hours here and could have stayed longer. The old town was really interesting and the animal exhibits were great and all of them looked very well cared for. The children's zoo was phenomenal! We had such a blast running around and playing with the animals. Skansen is definitely a must-see when visiting Stockholm.

Nickie C.

Yelp

A charming place, full of history and fun(and many, many children). We were pretty church/palace-ed out by this point and the open air museum was the perfect way to spend our few hours in Stockholm. It's reached by a ferry, which runs from Slussen and is included in the one-day travel pass. A short walk past the amusement park, a few minutes in the queue, £10 and we were in. We went straight up the escalator to the museum part. Skansen opens at 10am, so we were a bit annoyed that several of the buildings in the historic bit didn't open till 11am. We hung around and when it opened, watched the glass blowing, wandered around the buildings, interacted with the staff in character... It was lovely. In the 1930s house, the older Swedish gentleman was telling us that the house had running water and even proved it by turning on the tap, heehee! As we were early in the season, most of the food wasn't open but we enjoyed some popcorn and wandered around the barn shop. We walked through some other parts of the site but our time was limited, so we didn't do the zoo or the funicular. I bet that Skansen is HEAVING at the height of summer; today, a Tuesday in May, was pretty relaxed.

Anisha K.

Yelp

This place is a has many little exhibits to showcase Swedish culture. There is an area with old farm houses, animal petting zoo, people dressed in traditional garb, and of course many restaurants & gift shops. Lots of kids running around happily. Seemed to especially like the animals. Many ice cream and waffle stands but lines are super long. We waited over 20 minutes for ours. Food: Stopped at a little outdoor restaurant (Balderslundens Catering) near the tower. Has sandwiches, potato pancakes, pancakes, and baked goods. Would highly recommend the salmon salad potato pancake. Bottom Line: Allocate at least 2-3 hours if you actually want to see the exhibits in detail. Be prepared for long lines for food and restrooms. Great for kids!

John L.

Yelp

Having circled around Skansen on a jaunt around Djurgarden on my rented bike, it became more and more obvious that it was impossible to ignore what lay at the heart of the island - the enormous open-air museum known as Skansen. Having dropped off the bike down by Grona-Lund, it was easy enough to find the entrance to Skansen and pay the £13 fee, beginning the first stage of the ascent, up a long escalator. This brings you out into a collection of small buildings, each dedicated to one specialist skill or art from Sweden's rich cultural heritage. The highlight of these is undoubtedly the Glassworks, where you can sit and watch skilled artisans turning hot glass into all sorts of finished items, but there is also an ironmongers, a pottery hut, cobblers, tanners and much more. It's really quite a stroll through all sorts of trades and crafts and would easily fill a couple of hours, if you let it. Having taken a look at the map, I decided on a clockwise progression through the main attractions, which included an excellent viewing position at King Oscar's terrace, a Sami camp explaining more about that society and a funicular up into the centre of the park where music stages and market shops could be found, as well as a surprisingly well-stocked zoo. I'm not much of a fan of zoos, but an opportunity to see bears, wolves, elks and reindeers is rarely found, so I made some time for these - mostly, the occupants looked quite unhappy at their position, but that is to be expected. The remainder of the time spent at Skansen was used to drink in the excellent views it offers across from Djurgarden to Sodermalm and elsewhere - it is a truly gorgeous spot and one that the locals seem to appreciate as much as the visitors. There are a number of cafes and restaurants, but as I was due to have lunch elsewhere, I restricted myself to a brightly coloured ice cream instead. Highly recommended - a must see for any Stockholm visit. Unless it's raining.

Matt B.

Yelp

Skansen was my favourite place in Sweden. As a proud Welshman the place reminds me of St Fagan's just outside of Cardiff, and it turns out that Skansen inspired the Welsh version. Skansen is an imagining of historic Sweden with buildings from all over on the site from different eras. There is also a zoo at one end with bears, reindeer, wolverines, wolves etc in various enclosures. Well worth checking out.

Gary Y.

Yelp

At first I was a skeptic. Open air museum and touristy set ups seem a bit kitschy. Glad my expectation was completely shattered. It turned out to be a pretty fun experience. You definitely get to learn about the history of Sweden along with all of the relocated buildings to the park. The zoo was so-so; more less geared towards kids. Public buses are available and an Uber ride to here from city center will run you about 150-170 SEK.

Michael B.

Yelp

Would you believe that this review begins almost a hundred years ago? Way back in 1917, two kids separated by an ocean sent each other postcards in Swedish over the holidays. It was their only method of long distance communication. Now, in 2017, these postcards sit in a pouch on my backpack as we ride the funicular toward Skansen. A few minutes earlier, we were having some ice cream, and brought out a couple of cards for him to translate. He attempted to assist us, but the language was old Swedish. He pointed us in the direction of Skansen. As we step off, nothing seems amiss. We see a field with groups of people gathered, walking around and picnicking. We took a right and wound up in an old farm. Upon exploring the farm, we saw one of the inhabitants tending a fire. After she got it going, we presented the postcards. We all took a seat as she happily translated the postcards for us. A trip to Skansen for us was a step back through time. As we strolled through the preserved town, the workers portrayed daily life in the various eras of Swedish history. As we strolled through the park, we met an extremely friendly squirrel who tried to climb up our legs. We strolled through the rest of the zoo side before making out exit. On the other side of the park. Through a gate with no attendant. Quickly realizing our mistake, we had no choice but to walk around the outside of the park back to where we started, with the man at the ice cream stand greeting us. The walk was actually kind of nice. We were alongside the water, and the weather was warm. And now, we technically backpacked in Europe. My only regret visiting Skansen was not having enough time to dive into everything. But opening a window into our family history made the visit more than worthwhile.

Angela H.

Yelp

SUCH A FUN PLACE! For roughly 170kr or $20.50 you get to explore an entire space of traditional Swedish homes, farms, farmlands, bakeries, candy shops, food vendors, and animals, etc etc! This is one of the most creative concepts I have ever seen. When you first walk in, you enter the town center where there are workers dressed to the tee playing their parts either as the baker, making fresh delicious sweet Swedish treats for you to buy or sitting in their traditional homes teaching you how they boil tea or wash their clothes, to women walking around teaching you how to walk on wooden sticks. The workers are SO friendly and more than willing to teach you about the real Swedish culture and history. In addition, there was a small zoo with animals like seals, chickens, bears, reindeer, etc and the workers were also very interactive where i saw a worker feed baby chicks to lynx right next to me! What was EVEN better were the prices INSIDE the place! SO CHEAP and affordable! Burgers were sold for 30 kr, Deer and moose meet wraps and open faced sandwiches 30 - 80kr, which is unheard of in other swedish stands or American amusement parks. Plus, the vendors also offer you samples so I got to try Swedish jams, candies, and "wild meat" for free! Children under 16 are also allowed to ride ponies throughout the park for only 50kr. Everything and everyone in this open air museum was just PERFECT, FUN, AFFORDABLE, and INTERACTIVE. A MUST GO if you are in Stockholm!!

Christoffer F.

Yelp

Located on the beautiful island Djurgården in central Stockholm. Djurgården is also home to many more museums and the amusement park "Grönalund". Skansen was one of the first open air museums of it's kind and the idea with it was to experince the history yourself and not just look at some old clothes in a showcase! The founder Arthur Hazelius brought diffrent houses from before the industrial revolution from all around Sweden to Skansen. Later it also became a zoo with mostly nordic animals(protip: if you want to see the animals, don't come on the hottest day in the middle of the summer, come in the morning or evning on a cooler day the animals are more active then). One of the great things about Skansen is that you can come here anytime, it doesn't matter what age you are you will still enjoy yourself! It's a nice place for turists but I really think more people from Stockholm you visit here(not just for Allsången). It's simple just a beautiful place to take a walk in the middle of the summer/winter! Yes Skansen is open all year, it's only on christmas eve the close at 2pm so you can come home in time for "Kalle Anka"! Protips: Some things you don't want to miss, in the middle of the summer, they celebrate swedish midsumer here, the sing along program Allsång på Skansen, in the fall there is a farmersmarket(höstmarknaden) and one week in the fall the theme is folklore belief when you can here stories about trolls etc. and if your lucky you might catch a glimpse of one, lucia celebration and the christmas market in december! So come here if your young, in love, old or with your children there is always something to do here!

Katie E.

Yelp

I've been to a couple of open-air folk museum type-places in the U.S. and South Korea, but Skansen was by far the least kitschy and the most fun and interesting. Makes sense, I guess, since it's the first of its kind! We spent around 3-4 hours here looking at the farms from various time periods and regions, watching craft demonstrations (glassblowing, pottery, goldsmith work, etc), and seeing local wildlife. we also got to try out some folk games. all of the staff members spoke impeccable english and provided information that really brought the buildings alive. at least some were retired volunteers. may turned out to be a great time to come, because it was warm but just before the super busy season, some plants were starting to bloom, and, most importantly, there were baby animals EVERYWHERE. the wild ducks had ducklings, and the brown bears, boars, goats, sheep, cows, and chickens all had babies. we were allowed to pet the baby goats!! there were also chickens and peacocks that ran, unrestrained, throughout the grounds. I'm so glad we found the time in our trip to visit.

Eba' A.

Yelp

Garden museum. It shows Swedish life, houses, food, playing toys, cloth and many more. There are some animals. Many chairs to set with great sight seeing. I had many pictures for my self and the beautiful scene. It was clean. We really like it and will recommend it for friends with/without kids. We spent more than 3 hours!!

Kyle B.

Yelp

Such a great way to spend a day for only 150 kroner! Big zoo, lots of museum type things, the Christmas market is fantastic, great food (especially the elk wrap (see picture)). Christmas wonderland. Be sure to visit the bakery too and try some of the delicious goodies!

Yvonne L.

Yelp

I think I would have enjoyed Skansen more if a) I wasn't feeling nauseous and wanting to throw up all morning and b) if it wasn't raining off and on and having it ruin my mood. There was a lot of buildings you can go into and experience things first hand or trying those flat breads. We also stopped by a little cafe that was set back in the day for these chocolate balls rolled in coconut flakes! My friends and I also had an impromptu dance party underneath a tunnel and we brought out our own disco bar and speakers to pay jams. Lol it was the highlight of Skansen.

Jennie B.

Yelp

I bet Skansen is 5 stars in the spring and summer.....but in the winter, it's not so hot (literally). It is discounted to 100 crowns but that still seemed a bit much as all of the museum portion is basically closed (you can walk around but all of the buildings are locked and no one is in costume). So really you are just paying for the zoo and several of the animals were in hibernation since it was winter. I still enjoyed walking around some portions like the Sami tribe area and seeing some of the animals, but if you don't have much time in Stockholm and its anytime between January and March, then I would skip it and opt for some of the other museums in the area.

Louise C.

Yelp

I absolutely loved Skansen! We came here not really knowing what to expect, but when we arrived, we got given a map an saw that there was a zoo inside. so we went directly there! I got my closest ever encounter with the brown bear and Cubs! Absolutely amazing! I could have watched them for hours! We also got to see the seals up close and personal while they were being fed, rain deer, peacocks & squirrels running around all over the place!, bison, owls, rabbits, pigs. It was such a fun place to hang out for the day. We stopped for a bit of lunch at an outdoor BBQ, which was awesome! Seeing outside in the sun with a burger and hot dog, little animals running around, what more could you want! The facilities were great and there is an entire section dedicated to Swedish history which we didn't get to check out much of this time but had the opportunity to walk around the little villages. Really great place for any age! Cannot wait to come back!

Eric F.

Yelp

DON'T COME HERE IF YOU HATE HEIGHTS! This is an amazing place - but for some reason it has the longest - highest - most steep escalator on Earth. I came here with a girl who was afraid of heights and she almost passed out. That said - this is an amazing place. Not only is it beautiful - and filled with local animals in pens - but it is also an historic village with numerous sections all devoted to a single period in Swedish History. And there are docents in each section offering information and even sometimes reenacting the behavior of the period. When one woman showed me how the old starving Swedes used to mix wood bark powder into their limited rye flour to make hard tack - I was sold. Come here - its worth it.

Gemma G.

Yelp

Skansen is one of Stockholm's top attraction and it truly has something for everyone. I was a little skeptical at first, did I really want to visit a miniature village of Stockholm through the ages? All the guidebooks stipulated it as a must see though, so I decided to give it a whirl. And I was so pleased that I did. It really is a wonder, and even being there on my own it was a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a few hours. For families it would definitely be a great way to spend a day as there is so much to see and do. I was time limited so rushed my visit a bit, but would definitely return if I ever revisit Stockholm. It's fairly easy to get there. I walked from the city centre which took about 45 minutes, but public transport is readily available if required. Skansen is primarily an outside miniature village demonstrating the city through the ages. It has accomplished this by moving real houses to the site, or building life-like replicas complete with fixtures and fittings, and included actors playing roles of different professions and explaining what would have gone on in days gone by. There are over 150 dwelling in total and it's impossible to visit them all but amongst my favourites were the ironmongers house, the blacksmith and the glass blower. Along side the village there is also a zoo. I am not a massive fan of zoos under normal circumstances but this one is great. It focuses on animals that are native to Sweden and they all seem really well looked after with lots of space to roam. My favourite was the brown bear with her three little cubs. Who needs children to enjoy such sights! As well as all of this, there are numerous cafes and restaurants and a children's play area. I cannot recommend Skansen enough, what ever your age!

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A beautiful, magical place- definitely a must see in Stockholm. Many activities for children, as well as adults. The animals look happy and well-cared-for and the staff is absolutely amazing.

Tabitha W.

Yelp

I really enjoyed my visit to Skansen. The views of the surrounding area are amazing. I absolutely loved viewing the animals, especially the bears!

Kathy X.

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Tatiana W.

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Shona N.

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Stephanie L.

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This place was fine. When we went, it felt like a lot of the stuff was closed. It's nice to walk through the zoo and see some other attractions. It's not mind blowing, but somewhat cool.

Matt G.

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Denice R.

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Jasmine A.

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Nickie C.

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Anisha K.

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John L.

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Gary Y.

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Michael B.

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Angela H.

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Kyle B.

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Yvonne L.

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