Skansen Museum is one of Stockholm’s biggest attractionsLocated just a short 30-minute walk from Stockholm‘s city center, on the island of Djurgården, Skansen is the oldest open-air museums, showcasing houses and farmsteads from every part of Sweden.
Table of Contents
A Brief History of Skansen Museum
Skansen Museum was Arthur Hazelius’s dream to show the way of life in Sweden before the industrial era. Between 1833 and 1901 he purchased 150 historical Swedish buildings and relocated them to Stockholm’s Djurgården Island.
The buildings came from all over Sweden and were carefully reconstructed to give visitors a good idea of how people used to live some centuries ago.
What to Expect at Skansen Museum
Inside the museum, you can see a full range of Swedish life from a manor house to a farm, a glass blowing shop, a blacksmiths shop, or a bakery.
This 75-acres park is basically a living village animated by real-life people reenacting the traditional household tasks, crafts and work in the Swedish villages.
Skansen also has a pretty large zoo where you can find around 75 Nordic animal species. Among these are brown bears, wolves, elk and native breeds of horses and sheep.
The enclosures are pretty big and try to imitate the animals’ natural habitat. Lots of tranquil spots to sit and enjoy the animals. There are many exotic animals, such as snakes, crocodiles, baboons and parrots.
Summer Celebrations at Skansen
In summer there are many Swedish traditions celebrated here, like Walpurgis Night, Midsummer, as well as folk dancing and concerts. In winter there they set up Christmas markets here, a tradition that has taken place annually since 1903.
Skansen open air museum was my favorite place in Stockholm. It is not only very diverse and entertaining, but it also has an incredible view of Stockholm. It’s a great for families as there are many attractions for children, but anyone interested in Swedish history, architecture arts and crafts can spend a beautiful day here too.
Practical Information for Visiting Skansen Museum
Skansen Museum is located on the Museum Island, the island of Djurgården, which you can access by bus(67), tram (7) or ferry. Skansen is close from the city center, getting there by foot is nice walk alongside Stockholm waterfront.
Skansen is a huge place, so make sure you take the entire day to enjoy everything. Also, bring comfortable shoes, lots of water if you visit it in summer.
There are a few restaurants and food stalls on the premises if you want to have some lunch, or you can bring a picnic.
READ NEXT: Day Trips from Stockholm
Admission Prices and Opening Hours
The Museum is open year round from 10 am to 5 pm. The hours of operations may change depending on the season, so for the most accurate information you should check their website.
Admission price is 220 SEK for adult ticket and 200 SEK for senior/students. Children under 4 years old are free.
10 Fantastic Things to Do in Stockholm in a Week
Jitaditya
Love the sheer medieval feel of this place. Those wooden structures… and teh domestic animals! It is like a real medieval village rather than a museum!
Tami
This is my preferred historic experience — touring actual preserved buildings in a natural setting with guides in costume. I’ve been to similar historic villages at Plymouth, Mass. and Ft Nisqually, WA. It makes history come to life, doesn’t it?
Nicole
This is a really unique thing to do. I haven’t been to the Skansen Open Air Museum but it looks like a fantastic place. I can’t believe some of those buildings are over 100 years old.
Chris Bloomfield
This looks really fun and educational. Our family loves visiting places where the history comes alive. Plus they allow you to bring in water or even a picnic, which we always prefer. I am going to add this to my world bucket list, thanks for sharing.
Medha Verma
Sounds like a great place to spend the day at. Skansen museum reminds me of this rural open air museum I visited in Romania (cannot remember the name right now) and I absolutely love such places that imitate the rustic life for people to understand and see what traditional lifestyle used to be like.
Christina
I was just reading about Skansen Open Air Museum last week and thought it sounded intriguing. Relocating 150 historical Swedish buildings would have been an enormous task, especially back then. Sounds like a fantastic place to soak up Swedish history.
sherianne
I decided not to visit Skansen Open Air Museum when I was in Stockholm because it was winter. I really wish I would have braved the cold and checked it out. That long-haired bunny is so cute!
Ibazela
OMG, Anda! I was just thinking about this place yesterday 🙂 It’s on my bucket list for 2017 for sure. Last week I’ve visited a Folk Open Air Museum in my hometown, and two weeks ago – Latvian Folk Open Air Museum in Riga 🙂
It’s funny, that in Polish language we call all folk open air museums “skansen”, and not many people know that in fact there’s such place like Skansen, where the first museum of this type was built 😉
Anda Galffy
Good to hear from you, Ibazela. I miss you at #TheWeeklyPostcard. It’s interesting to hear that ‘skansen’ means open air museum in Polish. I would have expected to bean that in Swedish. I didn’t know about the Folk Open Air Museum in Riga. I was there just a few months ago, but didn’t have enough time for the outskirts of the city.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
Hazelius had a great idea in bringing all this together in one spot. Whenever I do get around to visiting Sweden, I know that I’d have time for Stockholm, but traveling around the rest of the country might be unlikely. Glad to know I can see so much of historical life in one place, and it’s handy that it’s so kid friendly.
Anda Galffy
Skansen is the ideal place for families, Michele. Hope you’ll get to visit it someday.
Ahila
This was one of my favourite museums in Stockholm and I must have visited it several times. I used to especially love to visit it during summer, when there was folk dancing in the square, which you have captured beautifully through your photos.
Paula McInerney
Love outdoor museums and this one is delightful. Love the folk dancing.
Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields
We used to love living museums when we travelled with our boys. We spent a week in Stockholm once but I don’t rmember if we went to Skansen. It looks like a great place to spend a day.
Anda Galffy
I think you would remember Skansen if you ever visited it. Lyn. It’s quite unique.
Bryna | Dotted Line Travels
I love open air museums! You can learn so much about the way of life in historical times, and I always like to see the buildings. I love that Skansen has so many animals in it and folk dancing too! Seems like a great place to visit as a family.
Ruth
I can see why this was your favorite place! It is colorful, fun and lively. I am sure I would not be able to tour all Sweden, so, this will be a perfect place to get a taste of what the country has to offer in terms of architecture and tradition. Would like to visit. #TheWeeklyPostcard
Rhonda Albom
What a fantastic place, I see why it was your favourite. Amazing that they moved all those buildings over 100 years ago.
Lolo
What a unique outdoor museum! It’s a shame that over time, so many historic buildings disappear. Even the buildings in Europe, sometimes I feel like even though they are 100+ years old, sometimes they look brand new! I wouldn’t mind seeing something traditional Swedish dancing too! #TheWeeklyPostcard
Anda Galffy
Yea, if we don’t preserve the past it will disappear, Lolo. I agree.