Skansen in Stockholm

What are the highlights of Skansen?

The zoo at Skansen never fails to impress and is home to a wide range of different animal species. Little ones will love the Children's Zoo (Lill-Skansen) where they can get better acquainted with animals and nature. They can also help out around the houses and farmyards, watch as the animals are fed, experience some fantastic theatrical performances, play in the playground and maybe even celebrate a birthday.

Skansen is naturally also home to a number of Nordic wild animals, such as bears, moose, wolves and lynxes, as well as domestic animals such as Swedish breeds of sheep, horse, cow and hen. Plus there's the Skansen Aquarium where you'll not only find fish, crocodiles and frogs but even monkeys, birds and scorpions. Skansen Aquarium is under separate management, so you'll need to pay an extra admission charge to visit. However discounts are available if you buy a combi-ticket. What's more, 2019 saw the addition of the Baltic Sea Science Centre where you can experience different underwater environments from the archipelago to the open sea, not to mention a wide range of different habitats and species.

What else is there to do at Skansen?

Besides animals and history, Skansen also hosts lots of different events over the course of the year. There are celebrations on Walpurgis Night, Midsummer, the National Day of Sweden, Lucy's Day, Christmas and New Year's. The Christmas Market is well-known and has been held here since 1903, while New Year's Eve at Skansen dates all the way back to 1895. In addition to all the big holiday celebrations, concerts are also held regularly both at Seglora Church and on the Stora Scenen stage, as well as different varieties of dance performances. But no doubt the most popular of all the events held here is the Sing-Along at Skansen (Allsång på Skansen), with each edition attracting 20,000 attendees and more than one million TV viewers.

Once you've experienced all that Skansen has to offer, you'll most likely want to sit back, rest your feet, and recharge your batteries with something scrumptious to eat and drink. Skansen boasts a wide range of eateries serving everything from light bites and simple lunches to luxurious 3-course meals. The elegant Solliden Restaurant serves a popular buffet in the summer as well as special dinners and banquets on certain holidays.

Good to know about Skansen

Skansen is located on the island of Djurgården, which makes it easy to reach using most means of transportation, depending on where exactly you are coming from. Buses, trams and boats all stop close to Skansen, but it's usually also convenient to walk or cycle here. If you opt for one of the latter options, seize your chance to explore the islands of Gamla Stan and Skeppsholmen on the way. Taking the ferry there on a sunny summer's day is a memorable experience in its own right. If you haven't got the time to spend an entire day at Skansen, there is a practical guide you can download from the Skansen website which will take you through the most important sights in around 1 to 2 hours. It is also possible to buy an annual pass and come back in case you want to split your visit over several occasions.