Founded in 1891, Skansen is Stockholm´s largest and most popular outing destination and the world´s first open-air museum.
Solliden, Skansen´s highest point, offers one of the best views of Stockholm you can find, looking out over the Baltic and the seaway to the city. Some 150 historic buildings, houses, farms, working shops and other environments have been collected at Skansen and speak to us of how people lived in the past. It´s a Sweden in miniature, representing diverse periods and social circumstances from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century. The city blocks include residences and demonstrations of handicrafts in a glassworks, a print shop and a bakery.
Stockholm´s only zoo
Skansen has Scandinavian animals such as elk, wolves and bear, while exotic snakes and monkeys can be seen at Skansen-Akvariet. Skansen´s brown bears are the favourites of many, especially in April when the year´s new cubs are presented. Lill-Skansen is a zoo especially for children, with goat kids, hedgehogs, piglets, ducks and kittens.
Traditional entertainment
National holidays and festivals such as Walpurgis night, Sweden´s national day, Midsummer and the New Year are celebrated traditionally at Skansen. The autumn and Christmas markets are popular events, and concerts and community singing events draw crowds in the summer.
Skansen is open daily except Christmas Eve. Hours of opening vary depending on the season.
How to get there
Djurgården, buses 44 and 47 or the Djurgården ferry, +46 8 442 80 00, http://www.skansen.se
