10 activities for the family in Gamla Linköping

Imagine traveling 100 years back in time! In Gamla Linköping, a summer full of adventures awaits the whole family. From the end of June to the middle of August, Time’s Summer offers an abundance of fun activities. And best of all – admission to the entire area is free!

Experience street theater

The schoolteacher, the tramp, and other characters from the past appear where you least expect it! If you stroll around the open-air museum during Time’s Summer, small theater scenes may appear right in front of your eyes, where you can learn more about historical events and people who lived in Linköping in the past.

Follow in the Footsteps of Rasmus on the Road Film Adaptation

Did you know that parts of the movie Rasmus on the Road were filmed in Gamla Linköping? The story of the orphanage boy who runs away to find a home of his own is part of Astrid Lindgren’s book treasure. Initially, the story was written as a script for a radio series before it was published as a novel in 1956.

In Gamla Linköping, you can discover the authentic settings from the 1981 film adaptation and wander between the locations where the city’s scenes were filmed. The story has actually been filmed twice in Sweden: first in 1955 (based on the radio script) and then the well-known version from 1981 with Allan Edwall as Paradise-Oskar.

Follow the film’s tracks and explore the General Store, peek into the Rope Yard (sheriff’s office), or have a coffee at Dahlberg’s café—just like the villains did. Don’t forget to stop by Mrs. Hedberg’s villa (Sundström estate) to sing a little tune!

Have you perhaps thought about becoming a vagabond yourself? Every day during the Summer of Times, from the week after Midsummer to mid-August, you can participate in the open-air museum’s vagabond school at Östra Torp in Valla Farm. There you will learn the vagrants’ secret language and get lots of clever vagrant tips. The vagabond school is also free!

Experience life in historical settings

What did it feel like to go to school in the 1910s? How did people get water before there were faucets inside houses, and how did they do laundry before washing machines existed? In Gamla Linköping, there are many historical settings where children can experience life in the past! They try on period-appropriate clothing and old tools while learning about how people lived, worked, and lived in both the city and the countryside.

Meet the animals at Valla Farm

Meet goats, rabbits, horses, and other farm animals just like Samir did when he visited the animals at Valla Farm. Check out the video below to see which animal he chose as the cutest in Old Linköping!

Ride the puff-puff train through history

Experience the open-air museum’s puff-puff train! The electric mini train takes you around the entire area, from the city quarters to Valla farm.

Shop candy in Cloetta’s store

Craving a nostalgic retro experience with Cloetta’s tastiest classics? Welcome to a unique, 50s-inspired grocery store in Old Linköping! If you feel like shopping more, of course, there are more cozy stores that you can read about a little further down on this page.

Play freely in Lill-Valla playground

The best remedy for restless legs is a visit to Linköping’s largest playground! You’ll find Lill-Valla at Valla Farm, the rural part of the open-air museum, just a stone’s throw (or a short ride on the puff-puff train) away.

Solve a Mystery in LasseMaja’s Detective House

Step into the world of books and help solve tricky cases! The Detective House is best suited for little detectives aged 4 – 14 years, but it’s at least a little exciting for adults. Lasse and Maja need your help to find all the clues and unravel the mystery!

Play a round of mini golf

Two 18-hole courses with a café at Valla gård. It’s perfect for the whole family – both beginners and competitors! Open every day from May to September, subject to bad weather.