Reviving 19th century in Stockholm's most famous open-air museum

Whether you want to immerse yourself into the Swedish customs and traditions when you visit Stockholm or just wander around a typical old Swedish village, then Skansen, Stockholm's open-air museum, should be definitely in your check box list.

The Location

Located on the island of Djurgården in Stockholm, Skansen is an open-air museum and zoo and the first of its kind in Sweden; as a result it became the model for other open-air museums and collections of historic structures.

The Story

While Skansen’s founder, Artur Hazelius, was witnessing the industrialization of the Western Europe and the dramatic crisis of the rural and agricultural life during the 19th century, he feared that his country’s customs and traditions would be lost to history. Therefore, he felt the urge to find a way to maintain and preserve the traditional Swedish way of life. He managed to collect and ship typical houses and structures from all over Sweden to Skansen creating in this way a unique place where everyone could witness the range of Swedish life.

Skansen is the replica of an average 19th-century town in Sweden where every visitor may experience the day-to-day life of the people living in that era including shoemakers, bakers and glass makers. You can also see traditional merchant houses and typical buildings from various areas of Sweden like the Seglora Church, a wooden church from the western Swedish province of Västergötland.

The day we spent in Skansen was perhaps the most interesting one during our stay in Stockholm. We had also the opportunity to see a wide range of Scandinavian animals including moose, bears, reindeers and bisons in their habitat as Skansen is also a wonderful open air zoo. An experience you shouldn't miss!