Skansen – Open-air museum
Location
Essentials
- Take a walk through Swedish history
- See Scandinavian domestic and wild animals
- Visit traditional crafts workshops
Practical info
Children
Child ticket for 4-15 year olds
Free entry for 0-3 year olds
Languages
Please be aware that the staff providing background information at each house is a volunteer and it can’t be guaranteed that all staff speak English
Opening hours
Monday - Friday: 10.00 - 15.00
Saturday & Sunday: 10.00 - 16.00
Ticket information
Ticket directly available on smartphone
Tickets can be rescheduled or cancelled up to 24 hours in advance
More information
For questions about the product, please contact [email protected]
Accessibility
Getting there
About
A personal experience with Swedish history
When you visit Skansen, which sits on the beautiful island of Djurgården, you can escape the confines of 21st-century life and explore a simpler life. As you step through the gates, you’re transported to pre-industrial Sweden, where you’ll find yourself surrounded by around 150 houses and farmsteads from every part of the country.
The world changed rapidly in the 19th-century and many feared that traditional live would disappear. That is why Skansen was created in 1891, to preserve traditional customs and occupations. At this unique museum in Stockholm, you can still see how the Swedes once lived according to the changing seasons and learn about the customs and traditions, work, celebrations and everyday life of times gone by. You can visit traditional crafts workshops like butter-churning, weaving, shoe making and glassblowing.
As the place where Swedish traditions are maintained, Skansen is also the place where traditional festive occasions are celebrated by many who live in Stockholm, including the Royal Family. For Easter, Midsummer, Lucia, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and all other Swedish holidays, people come here to celebrate.
Life amongst the native Nordic animals
Skansen is not only the home Swedish traditions, it is also the home of many wild Nordic animals, which makes Skansen both a zoo and a museum. As you walk through traditional rural Swedish life, you’ll find yourself face-to-face (at a safe distance) with brown bears, moose, wolves, reindeer and lynxes.
Your ticket to Skansen also gives you access to the Children’s Zoo – Lill Skansen- where you can introduce your kids to about thirty different animal species up close. There are mini pigs, roslag sheep, guinea pigs, rabbits, toads, lizards and even cats. There is also a playground and a small stage for theatre, music and lessons about animals.
Another site you can visit with your Skansen ticket is the Baltic Sea Center, where you can discover the underwater world from the Stockholm Archipelago to the open sea. The Center has multiple aquariums with different water systems and habitats that show the various Baltic Sea environments which make it unique. Your ticket does not give you access to the Skansen Aquarium.
Get your Skansen open-air museum tickets here
If you want to explore this one of a kind place, then get your tickets in advance. You can easily spend up to half a day in this great attraction, as there are several restaurants and cafés where you can buy a delicious meal to keep you going. Don’t forget to visit the museum shop on your way out to find traditional handicrafts and Swedish-designed items.
Reviews
228 reviews
Full day escape to SKANSEN!
Not my first time to Skansen and def not my last. It is perfect for a little escape with your family - specially if you have children! I remember a few years ago they had kittens that children could donate their pacifiers to (to help the child to transition from not using it they had to give it to the little kittens who needed them more- any parent understands). Adorable. The whole vibe is just so peaceful.
A different kind of zoo experience.
It’s more of a 4.5 review. Started by getting a ferry from Old Town and then it was around a 10 minute walk to Skansen. We booked tickets from our phones outside the resort , wasn’t too busy inside although large school groups turned up later in the day. A wide variety of stuff to do from viewing local wildlife (moose, bears etc) to pottery stores and kids playgrounds. The food was surprisingly affordable with a few options available. We decided to do basic hot dogs, kids loved them. There is an aquarium on site but this costs extra, it didn’t help that there was a baby lemur visible from the outside but within the aquarium site so my 6 year old daughter was begging me to pay for access. Overall a nice day out if the weather is good.
Our second visit to admire Vasa
Unusual museum. Focused on one object, the ship with most unusual and fascinating history. Created to exude Swedish maritime power, it sunk capsizing on its maiden voyage right outside the harbor. The recovered and restored vessel is viewed in a large hall. You can walk around it admiring every magnificent detail of this beautiful but apparently not seaworthy ship. The exhibits explain the elaborate renovation process. We have seen Vasa many years ago and it was great to see it again refreshing good memories of the museum.
Experience Review of Visiting Skansen with My Family
Visiting Skansen with my family was one of the most memorable experiences of our trip to Stockholm. Located on the beautiful island of Djurgården, Skansen is much more than a museum—it feels like stepping into a living piece of Swedish history. From the moment we entered, we were surrounded by charming historic buildings, friendly staff dressed in period clothing, and stunning views overlooking the city. One of the things we enjoyed most was exploring the traditional Swedish houses and farms that have been carefully preserved and relocated from different regions of the country. Walking from one area to another felt like traveling through time. Each building had its own story, and the demonstrations by craftspeople helped bring Swedish history and culture to life in an engaging way. The children particularly loved the animal section of Skansen. Seeing Nordic animals such as moose, bears, reindeer, and wolves up close was exciting and educational. It was wonderful to watch the kids' reactions as they learned about wildlife native to Scandinavia. The zoo areas were spacious and well maintained, making the experience enjoyable for both visitors and animals. Another highlight was simply strolling through the grounds together. Skansen is beautifully landscaped, with plenty of green spaces, gardens, and scenic paths. We frequently stopped to admire the views of Stockholm's waterfront and take family photos. Despite being a popular attraction, the atmosphere felt calm and relaxed, allowing us to enjoy the day at our own pace. We also appreciated the cafés and small shops scattered throughout the park. Taking a break for coffee and snacks while surrounded by historic surroundings made the experience even more pleasant. There was always something new to discover around the next corner, whether it was an old church, a traditional workshop, or a cultural demonstration. Overall, our visit to Skansen was a perfect combination of history, culture, nature, and family fun. It offered a unique opportunity to experience Sweden's heritage in an interactive and enjoyable setting. We left with a greater appreciation for Swedish traditions and many wonderful memories together. I would highly recommend Skansen to anyone visiting Stockholm, especially families looking for an attraction that is both entertaining and educational.
A must go
Such a lot to see here. A must go if you are on Stockholm. Extremely interesting.
Absolutely a highlight in Stockholm
An absolutely fantastic open air museum. I imagine that on weekends it would be even better with perhaps more buildings open, and more people present to tell about the buildings. As it was I heard some fascinating stories from a young man in a farmhouse, and two lovely ladies working hard in a manor kitchen. In spring it is just magic with the blossom everywhere.
Huge park - lots of fun
This was such a fun place to explore! You can easily spend a day here and I imagine it's great for kids and families. There's so much to see. There's a living museum, nordic animals, an aquarium, workshops, parks, gardens... Definitely come here on a nice day and bring a picnic! It's also very close to the ABBA museum and some other popular attractions.
Good but disappointing
We were really looking forward to visiting Skansen, being big fans of living museums, but we left disappointed. The positives were that it was a very pretty area and we were pleasantly surprised to see the animals, which we weren't expecting. The biggest negative though was that you can't go inside the vast majority of the buildings, which was a real shame. It was expensive, as is everywhere in Stockholm, but I would recommend a visit - just be aware of what it is, or more importantly, what it isn't!
A lot to see but not all buildings open
Skansen is huge and there is a lot to see. There isn’t a defined route so everyone spreads out which is quite good. Sadly not all buildings open today apart from larger farmsteads but the ones which were open had guides inside who were helpful. The best bit for us was the 1930s area as shops to explore and more to easily see. Not sure I’d rush back here but probably good to visit if you’re in Stockholm for more than a weekend
Skansen
Really enjoyed this. Would be good for adults and children alike. Plenty of animals and aquarium. Historical houses are good . Would be great in summer when the weather is better.
Walk around the Skanzen
It is pretty neat, there were parts closed during march. But my main feature I was missing is a recommended path through the part, or recommended places to visit.
Great place to visit
Loved our trip to Skansen! Really good value for money and due to time constraints didn't get to see all of it! We combined our trip with a visit to the Abba Museum and had a fantastic day. Will definitely visit again in the summer months when we go to Stockholm again. All staff really friendly, food not too expensive and so much to do and see. I came away with a much better knowledge about how Swedish people lived in the past - and how they dealt with the cold!
Great visit, learned a lot
We weren't sure what to expect since we were visiting in early January but we ended up having a wonderful time. It was definitely cold so we made sure we knew which buildings were open for visits rather than wandering aimlessly around the extensive grounds. We learned a lot from the various docents that staff each building; they don't pro-actively give talks but are extremely knowledgeable and friendly if you ask questions. According to the onsite tour guide, there are a selection of buildings open each day and there is never really a time when all buildings are open/staffed. I guess that's how they get people to keep coming back (plus there probably aren't enough experts and artisans with the skills and period knowledge)! I would definitely recommend taking one of the free tours offered as we learned a lot and were also able to access a room that was only available because of the tour.
I imagine this is better on a warm day!
We took the ferry across to Skansen, 5 adults and 2 kids. It wasn't all that busy when we visited but it was a cold day! Lots of interesting animals to see, although we were disappointed that most of the Christmas Market wasn't open when we visited. Surprised you have to pay extra to see the monkeys.
A Wonderful Visit
I have read a few of the Negative reviews which I don’t understand because this open air museum was everything and more. There are lots of examples of Skandic dwellings and life through the History of Sweden. Some of these had Period dresses guides and notators who were a friendly and knew their stuff , we were greeted as we entered each area. There is a small zoo area for the younger kids to enjoy. It’s not expensive at around £30 entrance , being from the UK it’s cheaper than some attractions such as Beamish. We loved the Christmas Market they had traditional Swedish music and Dancing. If you’re looking for a theme park with thrill rides this isn’t for you , but if you just love ambling about and learning something you will like it !
Gorgeous!
A beautiful outdoor museum with lots of historical buildings and wild animals. Lots of green space. So pretty to walk around!
Very Good Interactions with Staff
We walked over to Skansen after the Vasa Museum. The weather was quite nice and sunny which was perfect to enjoy this outdoor museum. After entering we decided to walk the path up to the park instead of buying a ticket for the funicular. It took roughly 10 minutes on a slight incline. Skansen was huge and does take time to go from place to place. Initially we wandered from building to building and many were not staffed or only viewable from the outside. While it was interesting to read the posted signs it wasn't too interesting. At the Oktorp farmstead, we finally found the first staffed location and got to see and learn about dying of yarn. Here we also learned which buildings were staffed and from that point forward gave us a plan of how to tackle Skansen and made the visit much more enjoyable. We had a great conversation about politics in the People's House which was very appropriate and compared it against present day in both our countries. Many parallels. We learned more about typical farm life in the Skane Farmstead while stooping low inside the house and that led to the Delsbo Farmstead. Delsbo was quite the opposite as it was ornately decorated with detailed wall paintings paid for by the well to do family per the staff. I highly encourage anyone visiting to engage with the staff as they were very enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge of the period or activities that went on in that particular farmstead, building, church, etc. We skipped seeing all the animals they kept towards the back of Skansen as well as the aquarium. Overall spent over 2 hours here and likely could've spent more if more buildings were staffed and open. Glad the weather held throughout our visit.
A large outdoor attraction
Could be much better but it was very spacious with lots of things to take a look at. It’s quite a sloped area so I imagine visitors with walking difficulties may struggle with the terrain. We did get to see the staff feeding the lynx which was pretty cool, a lot of the other animals were in hiding. The views were excellent.
Great way to spend the day.
We spent the whole day at Skansen. There is just so much history and things to see. Small zoo with local animals, a children’s zoo, and many houses form different periods. Lots is walking, which we enjoyed.
What a great family day out!
It was such a great experience wandering around the park seeing not just amazing animals (and stroking a tarantula!) but also learning so much about Swedish culture and the Baltic Sea! Fantastic place!
Brilliant
This is an old absolutely brilliant old outdoor museum with old buildings, swedish animals in all sizes, and some top class entertainment on special nights during summer. The views are spectacular so dont miss it
Full day to spend with kids!
Different kind of activities - aquarium, Baltic Sea science center (interactive), animals, workshops, playgrounds. It is really an amazing place for kids. We arrived 11, left 17.40 just because kid was already exhausted, at same point - we were short of time to enjoy everything.
More for families than couples but still a lot to see and do.
The funicular railway can be missed unless your legs are really tired of walking up steep climbs is a challenge. It was interesting to see the old buildings and learn more about early Scandinavian life. The story teller was amazing and brought the folk tales to life. The zoo element I was not so sure about, but the enclosures are not small. The cost felt high for the time we spent in there - if doing it for longer it may feel better value.
Nice Open Air Museum
Nice place to go with family. It’s an open air museum but built quite nicely. My family enjoyed the atmosphere and the past settings there. Also there is a small zoo and playground for kids which is good too.
A nice day out .. for the whole family
Having recently been to a similar ‘museum’ in Estonia that was terrible I was a bit put off going to Skansen but it was great ! There were many houses open with helpful and informative staff inside. There are many places to buy food and drinks and it’s great for children. There’s a playground and children’s farm for them as well as other animals. Easily accessible too. There are plenty of taps with cold fresh water around to refill drinking water bottles with too. If you don’t want to pay the extra to go up on the venicular there’s an elevator… A nice day out.
A must-see
A must-see if you have ever watched a Pippi or Michel film! If you are interested in history or farming or the Sami or the native animals of Sweden, I can highly recommend this museum which is still relevant to modern Swedish culture.
It's Wonderful in the Summer!
I hadn't planned to visit Skansen while in Stockholm, but I'm glad that I did! On a summer's day, it's so pleasant and lovely. It was a great way to learn more about Swedish history and culture. It's so expansive, and I only scratched the surface of everything there, so I'll certainly need to go back! The main gift shop at the entrance was really great, and a wonderful place for buying gifts that were culturally authentic and high-quality and not just tourist trap trinkets. When visiting Stockholm, I was a bit ill-prepared for how hilly the city would be, and Skansen is certainly no exception! However, the majority is free from cobblestones, so a bit easier for mobility purposes than some other main sites in the city. I definitely look forward to returning!
Interesting but fundamentally bizarre
This is a very strange place. Part zoo, part open-air museum, part funfair, this place does not really know what it is. It is huge and there is a lot to do and see, which makes it worth the price to get in. More general signage would be helpful, especially on a windy day when looking at the map is difficult! You just sort of stumble on buildings and animal enclosures. All very interesting, just a bit strange. More places to get food might be helpful. There was a young woman in a costume in the old farmer's house who was very friendly and told us a lot of information about the park(?) and the building itself. She told us to look out for the baby seal (very cute). An odd day out, but fun. Be prepared for lots of hilly walking. If you come in through the gate with the funicular, be smarter than us and pay extra for it - your calves will thank you.
Great history lesson, great learning experience as well as zoo of local animals
We enjoyed our visit to this open air museum. It's part of the city pass. We enjoyed visiting the animals we saw brown bear, seals, cows, goats, wild boar and bison. Give yourself couple of hours and wear good shoes. There is also an aquarium. We enjoyed walking around the olden style homes learning about their history. The old town with its glass blowing shop, wood work. There is entertainment in center of square with food and drinks. We really enjoyed our time.
Definitely worth a visit
I had read mixed reviews about Skansen but decided to go anyway. Wow, we were not disappointed at all. The buildings were fascinating. People have commented that not all of them were open and that is true but at the end of the day, these types of places are manned by volunteers who cant be there all the time. The glass workshop was both fascinating and had wonderful items for sale. There were a few more open, all with very knowledgeable guides. I wasn't expecting much from the animal side, but, again was not disappointed, saw a baby moose, and all the other animals listed, apart from reindeer who were having a new enclosure built. Several food outlets in the middle of the park, very nice welcoming hot chocolate. I thought we had been there about 2hours, turned out we'd been there 5.5 hours!! A definite if you are over on Djurgarten.
Kind people
We visited Skansen Thursday 12th June. I dropped my SL travel card and realised just before Skansen closed. Some wonderful person had handed it in. The ticket office returned it to me. Thank you all so much. It wasn't a huge amount of money on the card but it was lovely to have it returned.
A must see in Stockholm
This outdoor museum/zoo was amazing! My family and I truly enjoyed getting a taste of history in a unique way. Be prepared to do some walking. We could have spent a whole day here. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to see some of the animals: reindeer, otters, lynx, artic fox 😕
Great visit!
As Americans traveling for the first time to Stockholm we were very excited for this experience and it certainly did not disappoint. Today was a Swedish patriotic day so the venue was mainly local families. As many noted, lots of the houses on site were closed. Really didn’t bother us as we were able to also see incredible wildlife like seals, moose, wolverines, and lemurs. I also was able to try a reindeer burger (check that off the bucket list). If you are wondering, it is slightly gamey and tastes somewhat like New Zealand lamb. The food is quite expensive though. One reindeer burger, a sausage (long hot dog) and fries was $38 US Dollars. The people of Sweden are terrific and we had some great conversations with locals!! Only negative thing is that with this being a huge park with all of the walking (you will walk miles here often uphill), there are very very very few bathrooms. And the signage (throughout the park is exclusively in Swedish with exception of some exhibits) is pretty bad in directing you to bathrooms. And when they do get you to a bathroom sometimes they are closed and locked. Not sure what the solution is here because hydration is so important. Finally, as noted, it is somewhat strenuous with the walking and all along with the inclines. Be aware of that if you have endurance issues.
Excellent family (or couples day out)
Whatever you are into, there is something here whether it be Swedish history, animals, sideshows or just wandering around parkland. There is so much to see you can easily lose track of an entire day here. It's open all year but in winter, there are less attractions open and the reduced entry price reflects this. If you are going for an hour, it's expensive but for a family day, works out quite reasonable. If you want some of the hand made products, such as pottery or blown glass, there's very little for less than £20 so go with a big credit card if you are going to buy!
Cultural centre visit
What a fantastic place to visit! We only found out about the place while we were on a boat trip around some of the islands. We must have spent 4 hours here, it was a glorious sunny day but some of the attractions and animals were not available which was a shame but nevertheless we saw enough to get a feel of Swedish culture and learn a lot about the country. A great place for families to visit. It could be quite a challenge for people with mobility problems as there is a lot of walking and some of it quite steep
Hiding Wolverine
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit here. Plenty to see and do including Nordic animals (we saw arctic fox and moose, but the wolverine was hiding!). The staff were dressed up in several of the houses and told us about the history of the building or lifestyle of the worker. Some parts were being refurbished but this didn’t detract from the overall experience.
A lovely afternoon out which could easily turn in to all day
Really enjoyed our visit, sunny day probably helped! Loads to see and learn. Highlights were chips round a wood fire and the various handmade souvenirs available.
Skansen Open Air Museum
This is a large open air museum celebrating Swedish history. It is beautifully laid out and had a lot of things to see and do. Unfortunately for us, we'd been sightseeing all day and were becoming quite tired. We saw as much as we could before calling it quits. I'm sure if we had started our day here, it would've been more enjoyable. On our way out, we stopped at the aquarium and enjoyed the aquatic exhibits as well.
Fantastic even on a wintery date
Really enjoyed a day at Skansen museum. It was great to learn about the history and that the buildings has been preserved. Enjoyed an introductory talk from a lovely lady and a tour around the workshop which was really exciting. Many of the buildings were closed as it was a weekend day in Feb. But loved walking around. The animals were super cool as well and we learnt lots about the reindeer from a talk. Would love to return in the summer. Nice responsibly priced restaurant there to warm up in and some good gift shops. Highly recommend a visit.
Must see but allocate enough time - the museum is huge!
Skansen is a massive outdoor museum dedicated to Swedish history and life in Sweden. I’ll start with my regret of not researching this museum properly and not allocating enough time for the visit (I had less than 2 hours), I have visited off peak and it was beautiful and snowy, however many parts were closed (certain animals displays were not accessible) but regardless I had an amazing time and would go back in a heartbeat. Lots of interesting displays and family activities which can be done mainly outdoors so plan accordingly and dress properly. Highlight for me was seeing gorgeous reindeers and moose. The fish exhibit is also brilliant
So fun
Skansen is absolutely massive! It took me 3-4 hours exploring it all, and I learned so much about Sweden’s history and culture here!! There are some nice cafes/restaurants here, and I really liked the zoo as well :)
Unique open air museum in Stockholm
We visited Skansen Open Air Museum on a freezing cold day and the site was covered in snow. It was a magical showcase of Swedish culture, craft traditions, animals and architecture. The chapel on the site was interesting to look around as well as providing refuge from the cold.
Worth a visit if spending a few days in Stockholm
We visited this place with high hopes as we went at Christmas time and were hoping for a nice Christmas market. Unfortunately it was not as good as we hoped, as the place was quite muddy and due to the fault of our own we didn’t get to see much as we were there when it was dark. The Christmas market was good however it was not the best market I’ve ever been to.
Fantastic place!
Skansen is such a unique experience! It’s an open-air museum that showcases Swedish history, with traditional houses and people dressed in historical clothing. I loved learning about Swedish traditions and how life was like centuries ago. During December, they have Christmas markets and activities, which made it feel even more festive. The views from Skansen over Stockholm are also beautiful. It’s a great spot to visit, especially with the holiday spirit!
A lovely day out
We have a lovely day out at Skansen. We took our time visiting and spent 5 hours at the park. There is lots to see, old town, farms, school house, post office, zoo, aquarium, Nordic sea centre and of course the Christmas market in the centre. Staff in the houses, shops and businesses were in character and told us something about what life was life in the era. Very interesting chatting to the school teacher about life in 1910. Was market was lovely, a good mixture of food and trinkets stalls. Reasonable enter price. As most of the day is outside is good to dress well for the weather. Plenty of places to get snacks, meals or drinks.
Wonderful experience
We really enjoyed our visit. It may have helped that it was minus 5 and there was snow on the ground, but it is a beautiful setting. Some of the farmsteads have actors who tell you what life would have been like in the appropriate era. The zoo aspect was also really good (although the reindeers were sadly missing - urgent business at the North Pole perhaps). The signage is decent and we found a quirky old cafe for soup and a sandwich. We then visited the Baltic Sea Science Centre which was well designed and informative. Unfortunately we were too late to visit the aquarium. All in all a fantastic day out.
Worth a Full Day to Visit!
I only had 90 minutes here and only saw the 'Town Centre' area, which was crowded. Quite interesting how so many recreated homes and businesses sold items they made. Definitely we need half or a whole day to enjoy, and even then, we won't be able to properly see everything!
Skansen Srockholm
Very large area in the walking distance from historical City Centre, historical architecture and zoo. There are employees in historical costumes in the historical buildings. Very interesting, it is possilbe to spend whole dey there.
Great Views
I really enjoyed my visit to Skansen. The views of the surrounding area are amazing. I absolutely loved viewing the animals, especially the bears!
Loved it, even in winter
Great open-air museum that has something for all, it was like walking through the history of Swedish culture. Detail of buildings very impressive, located over a large area, you need many hours to see everything, think during summer it would have been a better vibe with tourist numbers and cafes and shops opened. Still loved it even in the cold and would highly recommend visiting, after Vasa Museum this was the next best thing to do in Stockholm.
Having doubts? You can cancel or reschedule this booking up to 24 hours in advance for free.
