Old Linköping - a charming open-air museum

Gamla Linköping is a charming open-air museum that shows Linköping from the past, with city blocks, houses, shops and farms. There is a wide range of museum environments that show how people lived and worked in the old days. There are also many cosy cafés and shops.

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Old Linköping Open Air Museum

Friluftsmuseet Gamla Linköping offers fantastic charming environments, and it is nice to just stroll around and take photos or get nostalgic. When the cafés and museum environments are open, it is also a lively environment with guided tours and activities for both children and adults.

Old Linköping is located about two kilometres west of the centre of Linköping.

Nostalgia and history

In Gamla Linköping you can experience both nostalgia and history: old urban environments as well as gadgets, signs and advertising posters from the past.

Urban neighbourhoods

The city centre is a large area of streets and squares from the past. Here you can stroll through winding alleys and find residential buildings, farms, shops, craftsmen's buildings and other important city facilities such as schools and banks.

Normally, many of the houses in Old Linköping are open inside, to showcase the different museum environments. When we were here, all museum environments were closed due to the pandemic, but it was still cosy to walk the streets and see the environments from the outside.

Perhaps most fascinating is entering the town square. When you come here, it really feels like you are stepping into another time. The shops are fantastic and it's fun to look at what advertising looked like in the past.

Museums, shops and cafés

There are many museums and museum environments in Old Linköping. Unfortunately, these were not open when we were here, but on the museum's website you can read that there is a graphic museum, painting museum, police museum, carriage museum and school museum.

There are also many shops selling things like arts and crafts, toys, gifts, soap and candy in cones in the old fashioned way. Some of the shops were open when we were here, and we checked out the Historiska Kompaniet where you can browse lots of stuff with an antique feel.

Old Linköping is also home to one of Cloetta's three Swedish stores (the others are in Ljungsbro and Malmö). Take the right thing - Take Cloetta!

Usually there are also plenty of cafés and other food outlets. Mostly you'll find things like pastries, ice cream and waffles, but also sandwiches and other food.

Tidstorp and Valla farm

When you feel satisfied with urban environments, you can walk past the equestrian centre Tidstorp and towards Valla gård. Tidstorp shows what life was like for an enlisted cavalry soldier and his family in the early 19th century. These soldiers were as much farmers as they were soldiers, and a small soldier's village with associated agriculture was part of their pay.

If you continue a little further you will come to Valla Farm. Here you can see the history of the countryside, including the railway and Halleby railway station. There is also the Lill-Valla playground, mini-golf, animals and the Tekniska verken museum.

Vallaskogen nature reserve

Near Old Linköping is the Vallaskogen nature reserve, with many different trails and footpaths. The nature reserve aims to showcase how farmers in the past managed their forest, so cows are sometimes allowed to graze in the forest. The forest also contains many remains from the ancient farming community, such as prehistoric barns and old burial cairns.

You can also take the opportunity to learn how to recognise the leaves of the forest. We are very bad at this ... can you do this?

Forest path

In Vallaskogen nature reserve there is also the experience trail Skogsstigen with "fun knowledge about animals and nature". The trail is around one kilometre long and is also adapted for people with disabilities.

Visiting Old Linköping

We can highly recommend a visit to Old Linköping - incredibly beautiful and charming, and also educational! When we were here, a lot of things were closed and it was yet nice. How nice is it when everything is open? But yes, the advantage we got in these times was that it was a quiet and peaceful visit.

More to do in the neighbourhood of Gamla Linköping

In Linköping, for example, you can visit the cathedral, the Linköping Garden Association and the Air Force Museum. It is also interesting to visit Ekenäs Castle, Vreta Abbey, Berg's locks and the aqueduct in Ljungsbro.

READ MORE: Things to do in Linköping - 13 sights and experiences
READ MORE: Ekenäs Castle in Linköping - ghost castle with 7 ghosts
READ MORE: Vreta Abbey - and Stjärnorps Castle ruins
READ MORE: Bergs locks - Göta Canal's mighty lock staircase

Have you visited Gamla Linköping

Have you visited Old Linköping? Have you been here when the museums and restaurants were open? Tell us about your experience!

Facts about Old Linköping

Landscape: Östergötland
Municipality: Linköping
Location: 2 kilometres west of the centre of Linköping
Address: Tunnbindarevägen 1
Parts: The city centre, Valla farm and Valla forest
Read more: You can find more information at Open air museum website.

Tours and activities

Historic environments: Houses and farms, the Folkpark theatre, the Folk School, Halleby railway station, blacksmith's shop, the historic gardens of the city quarters, etc.
Museums: Graphic Museum, School Museum, Railway Museum, Painting Museum, Police Museum, Odalman Museum, Westman Carriage Museum, Technical Works Museum, historical exhibitions, etc.
Activities for children: Animals at Valla Farm, the Phenomenon Magazine (with experiments), Bryggaregården, horse and carriage, the playground, Lill-Valla playground, pony rides, the forest trail, miniature golf and more.
Nature: Vallas forest

Services and practical information

Opening hours: The museum area is always open. Opening hours in museums, shops and restaurants vary. See the museum's website for current information.
Parking: Available in the city centre, on Valla farm and along Gästgivaregatan.
Food service: Wärdshuset, Wilhelminas frestelser, Skönfärgaregården Butik & Våffelstuga, Korvboden, Gelato house, Dahlbergs café and more.
Shops: Cloetta's shop, Handelsboden, Historiska Kompaniet and other shops selling handicrafts, toys, gifts, soap and much more.
Tourist information: During the summer, the Infomagasinet visitor centre is located at Tunnbindaregatan 8. During the winter, parts of the Infomagasinet are located in Handelsboden at Kryddbodtorget 2.
Accommodation: Hilma Winblad's Bed & Breakfast and Valla Folkhögskola's Bed & Breakfast.
Parking space: At Valla Farm there are also some pitches for motorhomes. Access to a toilet, but no other services.

Accessibility

Parking: Parking spaces for people with disabilities are available at the Wärdshuset, in the large car park in the city quarter and at Mjellerumsgården in Valla gård.
Toilets: Accessible toilets are available at Fenomenmagasinet, Wärdshuset, Dahlbergs café, Curmanska magasinet, Folkparksteatern, Smådjursanläggningen, Westmanska vagnmuseet, Vallastalllet and at Kapellplanen.
Outdoor environments: Most cobbled streets have specially paved footpaths to help people with walking difficulties.
Indoor environments: Some buildings have accessible entrances and lifts. Other buildings with museums or shops have mobile ramps. You may need to contact the museum in advance or be accompanied by someone who can ask staff to bring the ramp.
The forest path: This trail is adapted for people with disabilities.
The Experience Garden: An accessible garden that can be experienced with all the senses.
Transport in the area: You can travel between the city centre and Valla Farm on the tuff tuff train. You can also book a tour by horse and carriage. Wheelchair accessible carriages are available.

Find your way to Old Linköping

Car: Take Drottninggatan/Malmslättsvägen or Y-ring and follow the signs. From the E4 motorway find signs from exit 111.
Bus: Several buses leave from Resecentrum in Linköping. Check bus numbers and times at Östgötatrafiken.

All our top tips about Sweden! Click on the image

READ MORE: Things to do in Östergötland - sights and experiences
READ MORE: Open air museums in Sweden - list from north to south

Helena

08 May 2021 6:00

Sweden

history, Östergötland, attraction

Helena

Administrator

22 Comments

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Petra says:

Have visited Old Linköping many times... Cosy both in summer and winter and visit the small trading stalls etc. The bank even has a museum there.

//Petra

08 May 2021 - 6:59

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Can imagine that it is cosy in the winter too! Obviously a little different now that much was closed, but still nice!
  
  08 May 2021 - 8:49
  
  Reply
Nils-Åke+Hansson says:

Old Linköping is a favourite place to visit, so well maintained.

08 May 2021 - 8:46

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Agreed! Amazingly beautiful and well maintained!
  
  08 May 2021 - 8:50
  
  Reply
Ditte says:

Thank you for the visit! Very nice! Nice to come back. Have been here a few times in connection with visits to Linköping, before the pandemic times, and most of it has been open then,

08 May 2021 - 8:48

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Certainly a little different, and nice, when everything is open! But even though much was closed, it was cosy to stroll around even now!
  
  08 May 2021 - 8:50
  
  Reply
diana's dreams says:

Lovely pictures and charming city hugs

08 May 2021 - 8:49

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Truly charming! Grateful and fun to photograph here!
  
  08 May 2021 - 8:52
  
  Reply
Anette says:

Welcome to our city. It's a pity that you come to us at a time when there is a "personal lockdown". We're not even supposed to socialise outside, only with those in our own household. However, this does not apply at school or at work.
You, on the other hand, are left alone, can take pictures without other people and look at the city and our entire region in peace and quiet 😉.

08 May 2021 - 8:50

Reply
- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Thank you Anette! Yes, these are special times now. We considered not visiting Östergötland because of the location, but there was still a stop on the way to Småland (where we are now). With the motorhome and outdoors we don't need to get close to other people. Of course, it would have been fun to see Gamla Linlöping when it is buzzing with life, but that will have to be another time. And as I said, plenty of room to take pictures in peace 🙂
  
  08 May 2021 - 8:55
  
  Reply
Ninny says:

Old Linköping is really nice! I have been there at the Christmas market a few times. Fantastically nice and so much Christmas atmosphere! But that was before the pandemic. Then there was life and movement, all shops and eateries open, market stalls, music and lots of people ... think what a difference from now!
Hope it gets busy again soon, would love to visit it even in the summer sometime.

08 May 2021 - 9:09

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Christmas market here seems cosy! Everything was really different before the pandemic ... you are reminded of that!!! Can think that it opens more towards the summer, if it goes as you hope.
  
  08 May 2021 - 20:12
  
  Reply
Husis blog says:

Now the owners are reminiscing about their visit to Linköping and its old town. They really remember it as nice and cosy and you have captured it in a good way.
My owners also went to the aviation museum and got to fly fighter planes in a simulator. A great feeling.
Seeing the Berg locks, standing on the hill is also an experience.
Enjoy the rest of your journey.
All good

08 May 2021 - 10:31

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  The Air Force Museum seems interesting! We spent one night outside in the car park, but it was closed. Can imagine coming back at another time! We have tried a flight simulator in Norway once, fun but very difficult!!!
  
  08 May 2021 - 20:13
  
  Reply
BP says:

Incredibly cosy and charming. Fun with the shops that are still there and sell artefacts "from the past". Then I liked the woodcuts of the different leaves. Perfect for me who does not know which tree is which.

08 May 2021 - 19:36

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  You are just like us when it comes to leaves. I think I'll save that picture for posterity 😉.
  
  08 May 2021 - 20:14
  
  Reply
Grodan Boll says:

Haha, met the freedomtravel motorhome today on the way north between Ödeshög and Gränna if I remember correctly.

08 May 2021 - 19:56

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  What fun, that's right! 🙂 We are in beautiful Gränna right now! Our reports often fall 2-3 days behind (and sometimes more). It is difficult to write the same day when you want to make good reports 😉 It will be a few days before we write about Gränna as well. First we have some other things in the pipeline, but within a few days there will be reports on Huskvarna, Jönköping and Gränna! 🙂
  
  08 May 2021 - 20:17
  
  Reply
bmlarstravellingblog says:

Linköping is also one of those places we just whizz past on our way somewhere. We can only hope that this will change in the future. We really like these environments, a bit like Wadköping.

08 May 2021 - 22:52

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Lena - good for the soul says:

Oh, my God. Is it so big?! Have heard about Old Linköping, but I had no idea that it was so extensive. looks very cosy!

Hug Lena

09 May 2021 - 9:12

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Lena+in+Wales+and+Spain says:

What fun to come to Old Linköping!
Have been there once a long time ago. When I last visited Linköping, I had plans to visit Old Linköping again, but stayed at a hotel in the middle of the city and realised that I didn't have time to go there because it's a bit outside the city and I didn't have a car, which was boring.

11 May 2021 - 12:12

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Monica says:

Linköping is my "family town" where my parents and grandparents (and their families) came from. The older generation were also well-known entrepreneurs who at the beginning of the last century in the spirit of industrialism built up the modern city and there are both buildings and other memorials after them. In Old Linköping there is a large and unique skittle alley preserved in the garden of the Wärdshuset. It used to stand on the site of the mythical Drabbisdal on the road to Vreta Kloster. It was the family's summer residence for many years. We have a treasure trove of documents left behind, including private photographs, letters and family documents, as well as articles in "Corren" and films, pictures and vintage clothes and other items stored at the Linköping Museum. So next time you go there, I'll be happy to tell you more about the city's history if you want!

And don't miss the Air Force Museum! There is my father's French Alouette helicopter, the fighter plane he flew during the Second World War, but also the double-deckers my grandfather, one of Sweden's first pioneer pilots, flew at the beginning of the century. Plus there is a separate exhibition on the missing DC3 which is very interesting. The Musei collections are of international calibre!

16 May 2021 - 11:17

Reply

Old Linköping - a charming open-air museum

Old Linköping Open Air Museum

Nostalgia and history

Urban neighbourhoods

Museums, shops and cafés

Tidstorp and Valla farm

Vallaskogen nature reserve

Forest path

Visiting Old Linköping

More to do in the neighbourhood of Gamla Linköping

Have you visited Gamla Linköping

Facts about Old Linköping

Tours and activities

Services and practical information

Accessibility

Find your way to Old Linköping

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22 Comments

Petra says:

Helena says:

Nils-Åke+Hansson says:

Helena says:

Ditte says:

Helena says:

diana's dreams says:

Helena says:

Anette says:

Helena says:

Ninny says:

Helena says:

Husis blog says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Grodan Boll says:

Helena says:

bmlarstravellingblog says:

Lena - good for the soul says:

Lena+in+Wales+and+Spain says:

Monica says:

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