Attraction: Skansen

Travel in Stockholm

Other Guides for Stockholm

Destinations Near Stockholm

Scandinavia Travel Countries

Other Travel Destinations

Address:
Djurgården 49-51
Stockholm
Sweden

Expert Reviews
Visitor Information

Ask a Question

Do you have a travel question about this destination or can you provide a tip to a fellow traveler?

Join the discussion with Away.com's in-house experts in our travel Q&A.

Expert Rating & Recommended:

	Family
	Gay and Lesbian

Expert Review of Skansen

Family Review of Skansen

By Away Travel Expert: Candyce H. Stapen

Family Expert Favorite
Family Expert Rating

Recommended for:
Children aged 0 - 2 , 3 - 5 and 6 - 12

Family Expert Tips & Helpful Hints

Living history, zoo, and park—this is arguably Stockholm's most engaging attraction for kids and families
The zoo has wolves, wolverines, wild boar, and reindeer, among other residents
Mid-summer is the best time to see the rose garden in bloom; there's also a garden that attracts butterflies

Visitor Information

Description:

This was the first open-air museum to open in the world, back in 1891—and it's still going strong. It's even better than when we first discovered it on visits to Stockholm as teenagers. Even if you can't escape into the Swedish countryside, head here for a look at how Swedes lived in the days of yore.

Often called "Old Sweden in a Nutshell," this open-air museum features more than 150 reconstructed dwellings scattered over some 30 hectares (74 acres) of parkland. They were originally erected in sites throughout Sweden, from the northern frontier of Lapland to the southern edges of Skåne. Most date from the 18th and 19th centuries, and each has benefited from the lavish attentions of scores of scholars, librarians, and craftspersons. The exhibits include windmills, manor houses, blacksmith shops—even a complete town quarter that was meticulously rebuilt in an optimum setting. Visitors can explore old workshops to see where book publishers, silversmiths, and druggists plied their trades in olden days. Many handicrafts for which Swedes later became noted (glass blowing, for example) are demonstrated, along with traditional peasant crafts, such as weaving and churning. For a tour of the buildings' interiors, arrive no later than 4pm.

On-site is a small zoo with 70 different animals, most of which are Swedish fauna, including wild animals from the cold north such as reindeer, seal, lynx, brown bear, and wolverine. Most impressive is the elk, the largest mammal in Sweden; the greatest predator is the fierce brown bear, considered the best "salmon fisherman" in the north.

Although it's hardly comparable to the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Skansen is also a summer playground for Stockholmers. Folk dancing and open-air concerts, in some cases featuring international stars, are occasionally scheduled during summertime. Check at the Tourist Center for information on special events.

Contact Frommers

Telephone Number: 08/442-80-00

Website: http://www.skansen.se

Transportation: Bus: 47 from central Stockholm. Ferry from Slussen

Price Information: Admission 50SEK-80SEK ($6.90-$11/£4-£6) adults, depending on time of day, day of week, and season; 20SEK-30SEK ($2.75-$4.15/£1-£2) children 6-15; free for children under 6

Hours: Historic buildings Oct-Apr daily 10am-4pm; May daily 10am-8pm; June-Aug daily 10am-10pm; Sept daily 10am-5pm

The details, dates, and prices mentioned here were accurate at the time of publication.