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!! read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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! read more

Skansen is awash in Swedishness. Set on an island, and covered with greenery and winding hilly paths, the collection of houses, and buildings gives you a bit of history for the common (and not so common) folk. (as opposed to the impressive old buildings in Gamla Stan, which is also worth a visit) There are people dressed up in traditional garb, as well as working bakery, glass shop, etc. The American equivalent are historical sites where people dress up, and get into character, but not being Swedish, I wouldn't be able to tell if there was any play acting going on. The interesting thing is that it is also a zoo. It's not a zoo that's going to be counted among the top in the world, but it is a modest zoo, with indigenous animals. Why I was fascinated by them, especially the bears when I've been to many a zoo? I can't say, but I was. It's a great place for young and old. Excellent for a sunny, summer day. At the top, there's a performance area, and there are other events planned throughout the season, so it's a good idea to check. Or not. When I went there was some rehersal going on, and I got treated to 4 renditions of Dancing Queen, and a Mamma Mia or two thrown in. Now isn't that the full Swedish experience? read more

This is one of my favorite places in Stockholm. As other yelpers suggest, try to go early to spend the day and enjoy all the activities they have. The concept of this open museum is that one can learn a little about the Scandinavian culture and way of living of their people within the last four centuries (maybe five :P), so you can get to see staff disguised as workers from an specific time doing their every day shores the way they used to. You can speak with them and they can teach you more about how things were at their time and so on. It is pretty nice!! They also have activities for the kids, some places to eat, play, listed to life music, etc. and if you are lucky, you can actually get to see people getting married at the 400 -years Lutheran Church!!!. This is something very popular to do among some swedish couples during the summer and it needs to be booked with many time in advance... read more

When I think of Skansen I think of a comedy sketch that a famous comedian did. He talked about how you went here and walked from place to place to see the animals and that even thought it would say on a sign that there was such an animal in there - you never saw it! As true as this is sometimes (Has anyone really ever seen the wolverine??) it is still a favorite place to come to during the summer. I suggest to bring the map as it is very easy to get lost here. It's not a home to many animals but it is a big piece of land and has many roads and paths to walk on so keeping an eye on the map is almost a must. The animals that live on skansen are seals, wolves, foxes, bears, moose's, linxs, wolverine (if you can find it) and then horses, buffaloes, and pigs. Close to the entrance there is a place called "lill-skansen" which is for the kids. Here they have kittens and cats, birds and bats (not really ..) but they do have rabbits and rats. It's for kids but can also be entertaining for adults. They also have a aquarium which costs extra to enter but in here they have birds, monkeys, snakes, crocodiles, meerkats, to name many but not all. There are old houses and lots of history here. You really have to visit to understand the charm about this place. A little heads up! On Tuesdays (Only summer time) a big TV-show is being recorded here on the big stage. It is called "Allsang pa skansen" and is a show where people sing a-long to the music and get to see their favorite or not so favorite artists play. Skansen gets pretty crowded on these days so if you are not a fan of crowds I would suggest you go here on another day than Tuesdays, if you however would like to see a typical Swedish thing I would say stick around for the show and have a laugh. read more

This is the best museum in Sweden. It's an "outdoor museum" where you can see wild life native to Sweden - owls, bears, wolves, wolverines, lynxes, seals, moose and a lot more. They also preserve old buildings from all over Sweden, so you can see farms and churches from the 15th and 16th centuries and onward. There's plenty to do here both for kids and for curious adults who want to see a big part of Sweden although they only have time to visit Stockholm. The best thing is to get here during the day as the stores are well worth a visit. Watching the glass blowing is a great experience, and visiting the old bakery or the old grocery shop shows you what it was like in early 20th century Sweden. Get a cinnamon-cardamom bun, they're delicious. In some of the old houses and farmsteads you meet staff from Skansen, dressed up in typical attire for inhabitants of the house. They will be baking, spinning yarn or other chores that were typically done and be able to tell you all about the house and the life in it. The only bad thing is that it's no fun if it rains, as this really is an outdoor museum. But it is a whole day of fun just 10 minutes from central Stockholm. Do visit! read more

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. read more

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!! read more

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This is an amazing place.....I can spend hours/days there....especially on a nice summer day.... We especially love visiting all those houses they moved from different parts of the country. The staff is lovely....learned so much about how they lived at different time periods. Can't wait to go back. read more

It wasn't as cheesy as Tivoli in Copenhagen, but it certainly "pales" in comparison to an American bombastic themepark. But that's what we loved about it. It wasn't commercialized as hell. Lots of local flavor in terms of folk housing/dress and history, the zoo was pretty cool as it was sort of interspersed with other activities, and the glass-blowing was awesome to watch. We loved it. It's definitely worth a visit. read more

Excellent outdoor activity for the whole family! Lots to do, including visits to all the animals, a separate childrens play area with animals, tree houses, bridges, tunnels, etc. A separate monkey area with lots of different types of little monkeys - some that are not caged and literally walk up to your feet (this is an additional cost). There's a big activity center where they have kids singing sessions and the courtyard area with lots of concession stands, yummy food / snacks and games. The restaurant has great food for a good price as well. read more

An open air museum? Cool concept. Basically, houses from the old times around Stockholm were moved here to create a "mini" Stockholm from the past. I love the buildings here. There's also a zoo with a lot of different animals, including reindeer, goats, cows, owls, seals, and so on. Reindeer was definitely the coolest! Definitely come check this out; it's 100 kr to get in, and you could easily spend half a day here. There are restaurants inside too, as well as a pretty nice view! read more

The wonderful Skansen Museum is more like a giant open air film set than a museum. It is a sprawling collection of stunning, period buildings, that have been gathered from all over Sweden and rebuilt to create an idyllic and very authentic Swedish village. There is a town square and shops and cottages and farms. 'Residents' wander about their business in period costume. It's not DisneyLand. It is understated and sincere. At the far end of the park is a zoo where you can see many indigenous animals, such as wolves, bears and elks. I'd highly recommend a visit here to anyone. read more

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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. read more

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! read more

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I wouldn't say that Skansen is Stockhom's "top attraction," but it is definitely worth seeing. It would be good to pair this with the Vasa or the ABBA museum as they are fairly in close proximity of each other. This open air museum is quite big, and it will take you hours to be able to see everything, so use your time wisely (if you're crunched for time that is.) We loved seeing the different animals--lynxes, owls,moose, deer--it was like a mini zoo. The scenery is actually quite beautiful, and at times, it feels as though you've stepped back in time. The old churches/estate homes are worth seeing. The theme park would be great for kids, as well as the different play areas. I also had the best soft serve ice cream cone outside the theme park which is worth noting. read more

Skansen - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Stockholm, Alberta

Skansen is the whole Sweden squizzed in a several hundreds square meters. History, local crafts, bakery, zoo, petting zoo, traditional holiday celebrations, markets - everything you kids would like to see and to do. For elder generations, I would recommend to check there concert schedule. There are a lot of going on during summer. Not mentioning the very Swedish thing - Allsäng på Skansen. read more

We came here for a day last week and really enjoyed the open air museum. If you're from the east coast US, it's a little like colonial Williamsburg or Plymouth Plantation. We could walked into different eras of Sweden's history and talk with hardware store owners, bakers, farmers, glassblowers, etc. As you move through the park you will find the zoo that has brown bears (with two cubs), a lynx family, lions and seals. We also saw the reindeer (which may have been related to the Sami culture). We rented bicycles for a half hour and rode around the outskirts of Skansen-- there are a lot of fancy houses. It was pleasant to ride around since there was minimal traffic. We had purchased a 3-day subway pass, which included the short ferry ride from Gamla Stan area to Skansen. We were there on a Sunday right after the summer rush had ended, which made it pleasant to avoid crowds. Skansen is a really nice way to see another part of Stockholm and learn more about its history. read more

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! read more

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We went here on vacation in Stockholm. It was great for my 5 year old and he loved it. There was a lot to learn while walking around but it also gave a good area for a young child to run around and play. There are children-specific areas with slides and such, animals to see, and authentic Swedish village from the 18th and 19th century. read more

Skansen is not only a zoo, it's a concentration of Sweden and Swedish history. Historic buildings have been transported here from all over the country to give the visitors not only a comprehensive overview of different regions and their characteristics, but also many different periods in the Swedish history. The zoo focuses on Swedish wildlife even if there are also some more exotic animals and a nice aquarium. As most of the exhibitions are outside, Skansen is best enjoyed when the weather is good, but the "town" part with handcraft shops as well as the aquarium are inside and good to visit all year. You will also have a very nice view of Stockholm from Skansen. It's an excellent place no matter if you're there with kids or not and there's something for everyone. If you just have a day in Stockholm, I'd recommend Skansen - maybe combined with the Wasa museum, getting there with Djurgårdsfärjan. read more

Skansen is a very typical Scandinavian tourist attraction in the best possible sense: it doesn't feel touristy. As opposed to, say, Gamla Stan in Stockholm, Skansen is not littered with souvenir shops and caricatures of Nordic culture, instead you get authentic workshops in real buildings with friendly staff. For instance, the bakery uses traditional preparation and baking methods, which just makes the experience and food that much better. Even the Easter market booths with jewelry, pottery, metal workings and food oozed of authenticity. The products in many of the booths were made by the person standing in the booths and the pancake with elk meat, potato mash, creme fraiche and cloud berries was a refreshing change from the usual, boring food at similar places. And then you arrive at the animals. Never have I been to a zoo in which the animals seemed so happy. The brown bears, having just awakened from hibernation, ran around and played, peacocks roamed the area looking for mates and wild birds ate corns out of the hands of children. It was idyllic. read more

Being a new resident of Stockholm, all that I've heard since moving here two months ago is, "You have to go to Skansen!" I honestly didn't have much of an idea what it was and put it off until just yesterday. After thirty minutes inside, I couldn't believe I'd waited so long. The place is absolutely phenomenal for all ages. Combining animals, a theme park, history, beautiful scenery and more, Skansen is completely awesome. I wrote more about it on my blog with some pictures as well -- if anyone wants a look, Google, "expat tales a busy two weeks skansen". read more

Great place for history lessons, animal watching, and just strolling around. The grounds are well kept and the atmosphere is casual. I'd also highly recommend the cafe/bar below the Solliden restaurant. The best part is the way you can casually interact with the "actors", one of whom was a Sami woman making barley bread who told us a lot about Sami culture and the mining in her native land. read more

Really cool microcosm of Swedish culture! I came here late, after 17:00 or 18:00 most of the buildings close but the park itself is open until quite late. At the 2 entrances, there is a funicular or an escalator to the top of the hill, for those who can't walk. Highlights: - Skogaholm manor & estate is very beautiful - Town quarter is super cute. Very interesting to see how people lived back in the day - Nice views of the city from the terrace restaurant, Tre Byttor, as well as Cafe Flickorna on the NW side - Nordic animals! The lynx and the mini-pigs were particularly adorable The Skansen shop is also really cool, with lots of local-made crafts and sweets. I wish I had bought more souvenirs here! (Definitely better than a magnet) read more

You would need the whole day to cover this zoo, it has all kinds of Swedish animals and many more interesting stuff. A very nice outdoor fish restaurant and candy shops with the traditional live bread baking station read more

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I came here with my parents and I adored this place. We can during April and it was still freezing and had some light snowing. I can totally see this place during the summer being a hot attraction. There is an open air zI came here with my parents and I adored this place. We can during April and it was still freezing and had some light snowing. I can totally see this place during the summer being a hot attraction. There is an open air zoo, you can see animals, and also interact with a lot of them walking around such as peacocks, birds, etc. This is a beautiful place, tucked up on top of the mountain. Once you get your ticket at the entrance, you walk in, and there is a set of escalators that bring you up. I do have to say the map isn't the clearest piece of work that could help you navigate the area. Check the hours before coming! They also have tickets for this and the aquarium. I suggest going early, I came an hour before everything closed, so it was pretty dead. Its super fun because the people there are dressed up and theyre within their respectives houses/buildings so you seem like you walked into a new world. oo, you can see animals, and also interact with a lot of them walking around such as peacocks, birds, etc. This is a beautiful place, tucked up on top of the mountain. Once you get your ticket at the entrance, you walk in, and there is a set of escalators that bring you up. I do have to say the map isn't the clearest piece of work that could help you navigate the area. Check the hours before coming! They also have tickets for this and the aquarium. I suggest going early, I came an hour before everything closed, so it was pretty dead. Its super fun because the people there are dressed up and theyre within their respectives houses/buildings so you seem like you walked into a new world. read more

The best time of year to hit up Skansen is in December, in time for the Christmas market, otherwise I probably wouldn't find myself coming here. Skansen is a restored Swedish village built in the center of Stockholm. As Sweden is known for its modern design around the world, Skansen takes a piece of old traditional Sweden and presents it in a way that is charming, and very educational. The Christmas market is great as Skansen is very lively, and families walk around in the freezing cold, shop for traditional gifts, and dance to the traditional Swedish music. Around Lucia Day, you'll find the traditional processional taking place and the music to accompany it. Really a fantastic experience. A must for anyone visiting Stockholm. read more

Perhaps the best place to learn about rural Scandinavian life and history. From old bakeries, over farming to old crafts: it's all there. Enjoy the great view from the Same camp. read more

Skansen - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Stockholm, Alberta

Skansen is an amazing place to go to in Stockholm. I try to go and see it every time Im home in Sweden. When one sees it, its hard to believe that something this beautiful is actually in the middle of the capital. From having gone to Skansen in every season over the years, I have to say that I think the best times to enjoy Skansen is either in the middle of the summer or in winter, leading up to Christmas. Its great to experience during the summer because more often that not the weather during the summer is hot and sunny, and when the weather is good the views of stockholm from Skansen is breathtaking. What wins me over in the summer is the amount of people that come there to see it. In the summer every animal is out for the public to see (and you even have some of the animals such as the peacocks out walking among you), and the atmosphere is fantastic because you have people from all ages, families with their kids all loving what they see and laughing and havinga good time. As dunedonkey mentions, December is also a great time to go to Skansen. But in December you go there for the christmas markets and thats about it, because most of the animals are inside over the winter due to the cold winters that Sweden have almost every year. During the spring and the autumn there is no good reason to go to Skansen, as first of all most of the animals arent out in the open yet, and secondly the weather during these seasons are less than pleasant. One of the reasons why I like Skansen so much is that I learn something new about swedish culture every time I go home to Sweden and visit Skansen (I know I am Swedish, but I have lived in the United Kingdom for a long time). Skansen is suitable for all age groups and people, and especially family. As a Swedish person it is a place that I hope is around long enough for me to be able to take my kids to in the future when I have a wife and kids. read more

As part of my trip to Stockholm over New Year Skansen stood out as an adorable and interesting gem. The park was peaceful and well-tended, and the animals were utterly adorable. I would love to go back again in the summer and really recommend it for a lovely and silly day out. read more

What a great place for all the family to see Sweden and its' history read more

Skansen - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Stockholm, Alberta

This is an open air museum in Stockholm, with a lot of old wooden buildings that have been relocated onto this site over the course of the 20th century. Each one is beautifully presented, and there are attendants in contemporary costume explaining through the purpose and history of them (all will speak English if asked). Some even demonstrate the crafts of the period such as glass-blowing and spinning yarn. There is also a zoo near the back of the area with various examples of Swedish wildlife including bears, lynxes, wolves and wolverines. I'm often quite disappointed with zoos and their dull, overly cramped enclosures, but here I saw that these were large and naturalistic looking, and the animals looked happy. There are also restaurants which aren't cheap (as you might expect from a major tourist attraction in a city like Stockholm, which isn't a cheap destination at the best of times), however I tried some cake at one of them and thought it was delicious. Your visit to Stockholm isn't complete without devoting at least a half day to this wonderful museum. read more

I loved Skansen! It provides an excellent overview of the various regions of Sweden and eras of its history. It never felt crowded to me, although probably I went on a week day (in the summertime though). You will get a lot of exercise walking around, and be sure to bring your camera! Many of the best photos from my Sweden trip are from Skansen. Lovely folk architecture, costumed staff, gardens, animals, and food! read more

Beautiful open air museum, you really do not know what to expect when you get there. Try to keep aside a whole day so you can enjoy the place without feeling hurried. Its a sprawling wonderland of nordic experiences. They have mock ups of traditional artisan homes, sell a lot of handcrafts and such. The indoor zoo and aquarium are fun, they have train that takes you up to the main level. They also have an exhibit of reindeer, moose, bears, wolverine and other animals found in the Scandinavian regions. Get a map, you could get lost real easy, and make sure you enjoy every single bit of it. It is closely located to the Vasa museum and Djurgarden if you think you'd like to try and do one more attraction during your day there but really just spend the whole day leisurely and enjoy it all you can. read more