By: Aastha Rohilla

As I moved to Sweden in August of 2019, there was much to explore, for it was the first time I was living on my own. With the buddy group that I got at Stockholm University; our buddy took us to Skansen for our first-ever Buddy Meet. And thus, my exploration about the touristy spots of Stockholm had begun.

World’s oldest

Skansen is the world’s oldest open-air museum on the island of Djurgården and it’s one of the most popular places in Stockholm. The area is jam-packed throughout the seasons. The trip also included my first ever tram journey, from T-Centralen to Skansen. Skansen showcases the Swedish countryside and history and also contains a zoo. Everything here is about color and culture. The tickets are a bit pricey during the summer as compared to the winter months. However, there are student discounts available on showing the valid student card.

Our first stop was the glassblower’s cottage watching the intricate art forms emerging from the glowing blob of liquid glass. There is a gift shop nearby to buy beautiful pieces for your home. Skansen has been around for more than 120 years. It was opened in 1891 by Artur Herzelius, who bought 150 houses from all around Sweden and had them transported to Skansen. Skansen is all about the Swedish countryside life from the 17^th, 18^th, and 19^th centuries. It boasts of an old school market area, wherein summers people gather to barbeque. We did a little one ourselves, with marshmallows and other things. The buildings at Skansen represent the various trade and cultural aspects of Sweden. The staff is lovely and answer all the visitor questions.

Another attraction at Skansen is the zoo. With the grizzly bears, seal, lynx, reindeer, moose, peacocks, red fox, wolverine, wolves, as well as other farm and non-Scandinavian animals. Other attractions included the Skansen Aquarium and Baltic Sea Science Center. Although we didn’t visit these two, there was still a lot to see at Skansen.

Apart from these major attractions, there are a lot of daily activities that take place at Skansen, including folk dancing, live music performances, and sometimes concerts. There are cafes, restaurants, hot dog stands and other food trucks. Skansen calls for a fun-filled day and an excellent introduction to the Swedish culture. Skansen is a delight for kids and adults alike. But our Skansen visit ended on a super Swedish note, with all of us trying the surströmming. It doesn’t smell nice but it that was a one-time experience and something very typical Swedish!

Skansen is a great place to visit all year round with special summer and winter markets, especially during Wulpurgis, St.Lucia Day, and Christmas. During Midsommer Skansen is buzzing with activities too. I hope you plan a visit to Skansen and that it is a beautiful delight!