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Island and urban district in Stockholm, Sweden
Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Djurgården, more properly Södra Djurgården, is a park island in the southern Östermalm borough in Stockholm. The island makes up much of the National City Park (Nationalstadsparken), and contains many museums and leisure venues, such as Skansen, the Vasa Museum and ABBA The Museum. It should not be confused with Norra Djurgården, a park in mainland Östermalm.
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Vasamuseet
This museum displays the Vasa, an original warship built for the Thirty Years War which sank in Stockholm Harbour on its maiden voyage in 1628, during the heyday of the Swedish Empire. Salvaged in 1961, the ship is almost wholly preserved, and is the only one of its kind and quality in the world. A must-see, especially since it is uncertain whether current methods of preservation will be able to maintain her condition in years to come. There are adequate lifts to enable travellers with motion disabilities to see all levels of the ship. The museum contains several side exhibitions: skeletons found in the ship hulk with full-scale models of the people who died, as well as wooden sculptures, the world's oldest preserved sail, computer simulations of the disastrous voyage, and other salvaged objects.
Virtual reality and other modern technologies present the shipwrecks of the Baltic Sea, of which many remains on the seafloor.
Founded in 1891, Skansen is the world's oldest open-air museum, containing a zoological garden specializing in Nordic fauna, such as moose, reindeer, bear, wolf, lynx and wolverine. It features over 150 historic buildings from previous centuries, relocated from all parts of Sweden. Museum guides in historic costumes further enhance this attraction, and demonstrate domestic crafts such as weaving, spinning, and glass blowing. The Skansen area is fairly large (700 metres across) with steep slopes and limited public transport (there is a funicular and an escalator to the upper area) so be prepared for long walks. 1-2 hours would allow a walk around the area; to see everything up close, a full day is needed. Skansen is one of few venues open during Christmas Eve, though just a few hours, with most attractions closed.
Displays tropical animals such as lemurs, monkeys, snakes, spiders, fish and Cuban crocodiles. The aquarium requires an extra cover charge.
Tobaks- och tändsticksmuseet, founded in 1938, with a restaurant named Gubbhyllan. Showcases the history of tobacco from a Swedish point of view, with prominent feature of snus, the smokeless tobacco typical to Sweden, as well as safety matches, one of Sweden's most successful inventions.
The Nordic Museum
A museum of cultural history from 1520 to our days, in an impressive 1907 cathedral-like building on Djurgården. Exhibitions focus on Swedish handicraft, customs and traditions. See Nordic folk culture for context.
Rosendals slott
Though the beautiful and central location, this Royal palace is little known. Guided tours during summer.
Rosendals trädgård
A historic free-entrance garden, worth a visit for travellers not in a hurry.
A museum of the Swedish pop band ABBA: their spectacular costumes, gold records and original items. In the same building you’ll find Pop House Hotel with 49 stylishly decorated hotel rooms and Pop House Hotel Food & Bar. It has a gift shop.
A Viking museum opened in 2017. The main attraction is Ragnfrids saga, an 11-minute ride through dioramas depicting a Viking adventure. The ride is a bit scary; children should be at least 7 years old, and accompanied by an adult. There is also an exhibition with replicas of Viking objects. Good for visitors who want a short introduction to the Vikings and are not bothered by the cover charge or the absence of genuine artifacts. See Vikings and the Old Norse for more real-life Viking experiences.
Spritmuseum
Displays the history of alcoholic beverages in Sweden with heavy drinking, heavy government control, and heavy taxation. The museum also contains the Absolut Art Collection, containing advertising for Absolut Vodka by Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and others.
Galley Shipyard Cemetery
Contains the memorial of the M/S Estonia (a Baltic Sea cruise ferry lost in 1994), as well as graves of prominent Swedes such as Stikkan Anderson (co-founder of ABBA, and founder of the Polar Music Award).
Handarbetets Vänner
A handicraft studio.
An archaeological site of a Viking Age farm. Very little to see; just a few stones and burial mounds are visible.
[ˈliljəˈvalks]
A contemporary art hall, in business since 1916.
[valdəmaʂˈɵdə]
Prince Eugen (1865-1947), son of King Oscar II, was a revered artistic painter, and an avid art collector. His palace is now a museum housing his enormous art collection spanning the 1880-1940 period.
Thielska Galleriet
An art gallery at the eastern edge of Djurgården, reached by bus 67.
[grønaˈlɵnd]
Djurgården has Stockholm's only amusement park, with more or less standard attractions and games. The restaurants in the park are expensive and generally far from a culinary experience. No rides are included in the entrance fee. Adults 80 kr (90 kr from mid-June to mid-August, 150 kr from 18:00 on concert nights), ages 0-7 and over 65 for free. Rides 20-60 kr with single tickets, day pass 289 kr.
[ˈjʉːniˈbakən]
Astrid Lindgren, author of Pippi Longstocking, Karlsson-on-the-Roof and numerous other children's books, is by far Sweden's most popular writer of children's books. Located on the island Djurgården, like many other child-friendly attractions, Junibacken could be described as an indoor theme-park dedicated to the world of her (and a few other Swedish authors') stories. Story train is a destination in itself here. The place also features several large playrooms; claims to have largest bookshop for kids in the country; has a restaurant. See Astrid Lindgren tourism for related destinations.
Among Stockholm's largest playhouses, with 1,650 seats. Features musicals and pop concerts.
A dinner, show and after-show party where you can sing and dance with the cast to the music of ABBA. The Greek taverna from the musical and its landlord, Nikos, have been recreated in Gröna Lund amusement park on Djurgården, near the ABBA Museum. Authentic three-course Mediterranean meal; vegetarian alternatives available by ordering ahead. Buy tickets online as it sells out weeks in advance.
Blå porten, hidden in the back yard of Liljevalchs konsthall, is the one exception. Delicious food in a lush garden makes the long queues worth it. The excellent cakes and pies also makes this a good choice for a coffee break.
In the same building as the visitor center, with indoor and outdoor seating.
An outdoor restaurant at Nordiska Museet.
On Skansen, with a classical Swedish smörgåsbord served in June, July and August, and an astounding view of the inner harbour.
A secluded restaurant.
One star in the 2014 edition of Guide Michelin.
A restaurant on Gröna Lund, which stages the Mamma Mia show during spring and autumn, and offers a Christmas buffet during December.
A classical hotel on Djurgården.
In the same building as the ABBA museum, opened in 2013. This hotel should not be confused with "the other ABBA Hotel": Hotel Rival in Södermalm.
A 1935 hotel ship with just six rooms, and catering from the Oaxen restaurant.
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