If you want to read about Swedish culture, you should go to Your Living City. But if you want to live, breathe and feel it, you need to go to Skansen. That’s why we have teamed up with the best outdoor museum in the world for a reader giveaway!
Skansen is the place where traditions come alive, but it was a revolutionary act to create the first open air museum and zoo in Sweden. The idea then had been to preserve Swedish customs against the onslaught of industrialisation in the late 19th century. What the founder, Artur Hazelius, could not have known was the service he was providing for tourists and expats of the future, who want to see Sweden’s beautiful architecture and native animals in one place.
The attractions at Skansen abound. There is an entire replica of a 19th century town, complete with the workers in period dress. So you can watch the glass-blowers, bakers and shoe-makers using their crafts as they were over a hundred years ago. The zoo is another delight, with Scandinavian breeds of bears, bison, moose and other creatures to be seen. But an outdoor museum of all things Swedish doesn’t convey the living, breathing nature of Skansen; it’s simply THE place to experience and participate in customs that are happening all over the country.
Below is a taster of what you can expect from a visit to Skansen.
And Stockholmers know that Skansen is an all-year-round attraction. In the spring there is Walpurgis; in summer they flock to see the traditional Midsummer celebrations or participate in the widely popular singalong TV-show Allsång på Skansen, but the autumn and Christmas fairs are just as popular and there aren’t many Swedes who would miss Lucia or Christmas at Skansen or the New Year’s celebrations, whether in situ or on television.
That tourists love Skansen is not so surprising, but Stockholmers, young and old of all nationalities and backgrounds, keep returning there – to see the Scandinavian animals, share in the culture and traditions and to generate amazing memories for years to come.
Now – you can experience the joys of Skansen free with Your Living City!
We have 5 pairs of tickets to give away for you to enjoy a slice of Swedish life! All you need to do is to leave a comment in the box below on what Sweden means to you. It can range from a simple ‘meatballs’ to a longer piece on what you love about the traditions. We will pick the 5 answers we like best and the tickets are yours!This competition is now closed.
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Full Disclosure: This article is sponsored by Skansen. At Your Living City, we only choose to work with partners that we feel would help our readers; these select few are chosen for our sponsored articles.
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