Djurgården is an island in central Stockholm, Sweden. Djurgården is home to historical buildings and monuments, museums, galleries, the amusement park Gröna Lund, the open-air museum Skansen, the small residential area Djurgårdsstaden, yacht harbours, and extensive stretches of forest and meadows. It is one of the Stockholmers’ favorite recreation areas and tourist destinations alike, attracting over 10 million visitors per year, of which some 5 million come to visit the museums and amusement park.[1] The island belongs to the National City park founded in 1995. Since the 15th century the Swedish monarch has owned or held the right of disposition of Royal Djurgården. Today, this right is exercised by the Royal Djurgården Administration which is a part of the Royal Court of Sweden.
A larger area of the city, separated from Djurgården proper by Djurgårdsbrunnsviken is Norra Djurgården (Northern Djurgården), including Gärdet.
Sights and monuments
Besides the list below, a big portion of Djurgården consists of green areas offering footpaths and water front promenades among present or historical upper class residences and old institutional buildings, many of which are regarded as historical monuments of national interest.
- ABBA: The Museum
- Aquaria Water Museum – A small museum displaying a salmon ladder, an artificial rainforest and Nordic environments.
- Beckholmen – historical maritime environment including several dry docks and historical buildings.
- Biological Museum – Built in 1893, displaying stuffed animals in artificial environments representing various typical Swedish landscapes.
- Cirkus – Originally a circus, it today offers concerts and musical comedies.
- Djurgården line – heritage tramway operating since 1991.
- Djurgårdsstaden – a neighbourhood of preserved wooden buildings from the 18th century.
- Galärvarvet – Formerly a naval dockyard, today transformed into a popular park area including the Vasa Museum and Junibacken.
- Gröna Lund – A relatively small amusement park founded in 1883, besides the typical merry-go-rounds and roller coasters, it also offers concerts featuring international stars such as Miyavi, Bob Marley, and Damian Marley.
- Isbladskärret – a scenic lake popular among bird-watchers.
- Junibacken – A small fairy-tale world based mostly on the novels of Astrid Lindgren
- Liljevalchs konsthall – An art gallery built in 1916, well known for its spring exposition Vårsalongen in January–March, and its café Blå Porten.
- Nordic Museum – Displaying the largest collection of social history items in Sweden, ranging from doll’s houses to fire engines.
- Rosendal Palace – Built in 1823-27 by Charles XIV John, renowned for its park.
- Rosendals Trädgård – public garden noted for its selection of roses.
- Skansen – World’s oldest open-air museum displaying traditional Swedish architecture, and also the only zoo in Stockholm containing wolves, lynxes, elks, polar bears, and many other wild animals. Its traditional Christmas market attracts tens of thousands of people annually.
- Thiel Gallery – a museum displaying the collection of late 19th-century and early 20th-century art and crafts, originally collected by the banker Ernest Thiel.
- Waldemarsudde – Former mansion of Prince Eugen, transformed into a museum displaying Swedish 19th- and early 20th-century paintings and sculptures.
- Vasa Museum – A maritime museum displaying the only intact 17th-century ship. One of the most visited museums in Scandinavia.
- “Villa Solbacken” – Prince Bertil’s former house, now owned by Prince Carl Philip.
- “Blockhusudden” – Prince Carl Philip’s current home.
Transport
Ways to get there include by foot, by tram from Sergels torg or by boat from Nybroplan, Skeppsholmen or Slussen. Nearby subway stations include Karlaplan metro station.
