Skansen

Skansen is the world's first open-air museum, founded in 1891. Here you can stroll through five centuries of Swedish history, from north to south, with a real sense of the past all around in the histori­cal buildings and dwellings, peop­led by characters in period dress.

Skansen was founded by Artur Hazelius in 1891. It is the world’s oldest open-air museum and is situated on the island of Djurgården within the city limits of Stockholm. The founder’s aims live on in the museum today. He wanted to bring the traditional rural culture to life by exhibiting furnished houses and farmsteads, cultivated plots and gardens and both domestic and wild animals. When Skansen started, its focus was on farming and Sami culture. Visitors to Skansen meet a miniature historical Sweden reflected both in the buildings and their surroundings – from the Skåne farmstead in the south to the Sami camp in the north. The venues illustrate the different social conditions in which people lived in Sweden between the 16th centure and the first half of the 20th century. The majority of houses and farmsteads are from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.

At Skansen there are both domestic and wild Nordic animals such as bears, wolves and lynx. Skansen also hold traditional celebrations to mark occasions such as Walpurgis Night, Christmas and Midsummer. Enjoy a delicious meal in one of our restaurants with breathtaking views over Stockholm. And don't miss our Museum shop, selling traditional handicrafts and Swedish design products. Skansen is open all year round.