Skansen

Skansen and its collection

Skansen, opened in 1891, is a zoo in Stockholm, Sweden.

As of 2024 about 140 Scandinavian buildings stand on the site, the oldest of them Vastveitloftet, which dates from the 1300s. The name is taken from a redoubt that Karl XIV Johan had built as a playground for his son, Oscar I.

History

The founder, Artur Hazelius, grew anxious about the loss of older Swedish peasant culture after travelling in Dalarna, and the idea took shape as he watched industrialisation press on society. The result was inaugurated on 11 October 1891.

What the venue says

• Experience traditional Swedish festivities, including lively celebrations for Midsummer, Sweden's National Day, Lucia, and a popular historic Christmas market.
• Historic interpreters dressed in period costumes populate the houses and farmsteads, demonstrating traditional crafts like spinning, weaving, glassblowing, and baking.
• Visitors can choose from several sit-down restaurants and historic taverns—such as Solliden, Gubbhyllan, and Tre Byttor—serving traditional Swedish dishes with panoramic views over Stockholm.
• General parking directly on Djurgårdsslätten is extremely limited.
• Because the museum sits on a hilly park terrain, paths can feature steep slopes, uneven sections, and cobbled stretches.
• Step-free entries, a historic funicular (Bergbana) to reach the upper site, a heavy-duty lifting table at the main entrance, and accessible toilets across multiple zones (such as the main entrance, Hazelius Gate, and Hogloftet) help accommodate visitors with mobility needs.