Skansen
The World'S First Open Air Museum, Founded In 1891 By Artur Hazelius: About 150 Historic Buildings Moved From Across Sweden, With A Zoo Of Nordic Animals, On The Hill Above Djurgarden · Stockholm, Stockholm County
Skansen is the world's first open-air museum, founded in 1891 by Artur Hazelius on a hill on Djurgarden island in central Stockholm. Hazelius, who also founded the Nordic Museum, saw rural Sweden vanishing under industrialisation and began moving whole buildings here from every province: about 150 farmsteads, cottages, a manor house, a wooden church, workshops and a small town quarter, laid out roughly from south to north as a map of Sweden. In summer, staff in period costume keep the fires going, bake, spin and work as glassblowers, potters and printers. Skansen is also a zoo of Nordic animals: brown bears, moose, wolves, wolverines, lynx, reindeer and grey seals, along with old Swedish farm breeds. Swedes come for Midsummer, the Christmas market and the televised summer sing-along, and families come for the children's zoo. The honest caveat: in winter many buildings close and it can feel quiet, while summer weekends and holidays are packed.
Djurgardsslatten 49-51, Djurgarden, Stockholm, Stockholm, Stockholm County, Sweden
Open every day of the year, with longest hours in summer, roughly late June to August, when it often stays open into the evening, and much shorter hours from October to April, when it may close by mid afternoon - check the current schedule. In winter far fewer historic houses are staffed and open, and the bears den. The main entrance is on Djurgardsslatten; the Hazeliusporten entrance, reached from Hazeliusbacken, has a funicular up the hill. From central Stockholm take tram 7 from Sergels torg or Nybroplan to the Skansen stop, about 20 minutes, or the ferry from Slussen to Djurgarden, both on SL tickets; it is also a pleasant 30-40 minute walk along Strandvagen. No timed booking is normally needed, but tickets bought online skip the queue at summer weekends, Midsummer and Christmas.