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Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
National Day Celebration. Photo: Ola Ericson/imagebank.sweden.se
Much anticipated, here it comes... my annual calendar of fun events happening in Stockholm with special appeal for visitors. As usual, keep in mind that this is a work in progress and I often add new events as they become known (or I stumble upon them). Not all events are listed, just the larger ones. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel and are looking for more obscure happenings, smaller events or more information on the events listed here, contact me directly and I will see what I can find. While some events listed might not be of interest to you, it is good to know that they are going on as some of them can cause traffic problems (marathon), high occupancy rates at hotels (concerts & matches) and/or closures of businesses (bank holidays). As I write this, several of the event websites aren't up and running yet or haven't been adjusted for 2015. Just check back when we get closer to the actual date.
I have noted the larger arena concerts taking place. There are also many concerts going on all summer long at the Gröna Lund amusement park. Below you will find some of the international artists performing there... but you can check their whole concert schedule with 45+ shows by clicking here (lots of great Swedish artists).

April
May
June
July (generally a slower month event-wise as most Swedes have their vacation then and leave the city)
August
September
October
November
Kastellholmen. Photo by Ola Ericson/imagebank.sweden.se

Festivals & Events in Stockholm - Spring, Summer and Fall 2015

Posted by zlatin

National Day Celebration. Photo: Ola Ericson/imagebank.sweden.se
Much anticipated, here it comes... my annual calendar of fun events happening in Stockholm with special appeal for visitors. As usual, keep in mind that this is a work in progress and I often add new events as they become known (or I stumble upon them). Not all events are listed, just the larger ones. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel and are looking for more obscure happenings, smaller events or more information on the events listed here, contact me directly and I will see what I can find. While some events listed might not be of interest to you, it is good to know that they are going on as some of them can cause traffic problems (marathon), high occupancy rates at hotels (concerts & matches) and/or closures of businesses (bank holidays). As I write this, several of the event websites aren't up and running yet or haven't been adjusted for 2015. Just check back when we get closer to the actual date.
I have noted the larger arena concerts taking place. There are also many concerts going on all summer long at the Gröna Lund amusement park. Below you will find some of the international artists performing there... but you can check their whole concert schedule with 45+ shows by clicking here (lots of great Swedish artists).

April
May
June
July (generally a slower month event-wise as most Swedes have their vacation then and leave the city)
August
September
October
November
Kastellholmen. Photo by Ola Ericson/imagebank.sweden.se

And speaking of new museum exhibitions... I was invited yesterday to the grand unveiling of the new exhibition at ABBA the Museum. This is the biggest addition to the museum since they opened in May 2013. The museum has been a popular attraction in Stockholm and it is great with a new addition. Click here if you want to read my blog article about my original visit to the museum.
The figures arriving by helicopter...
Finally... together again! The new exhibition consists of life-size, silicon figures of the four ABBA members wearing exact replicas of their (Owe Sandström designed) stage costumes from 1979. In fact, the backdrop to the silicon figures is also a replica of part of their set decor from the 1979 North American tour. The idea for these figures has been around since 2011 when plans for the museum were being made. But it wasn't until the fall of 2013 that plans for the figurines started in earnest.
...before being unveiled to the international press.
Göran Lundström of EffektStudion was given the commission and it took him and a team of 35+ persons about a year to create the figures. I must say that they are eerily life-like... very impressive work. Though this is perhaps not surprising given that the four ABBA members actively participated in this project, helping with measurements, creative opinions and more.
So... another good reason to visit ABBA the Museum! Or revisit? The museum is located on the island of Djurgården, near other popular attractions like Vasa Museum, Skansen and Gröna Lund. It is quite easy to get to the museum from the Rival Hotel using the Djurgård Ferry. Entrance tickets for the museum can be purchased in advance (time allotments) on their website. If you are staying at the hotel, talk to me if you need help purchasing the tickets. And don't miss the fun museum gift shop when you are there...

Finally... New at ABBA the Museum!

Posted by zlatin

And speaking of new museum exhibitions... I was invited yesterday to the grand unveiling of the new exhibition at ABBA the Museum. This is the biggest addition to the museum since they opened in May 2013. The museum has been a popular attraction in Stockholm and it is great with a new addition. Click here if you want to read my blog article about my original visit to the museum.
The figures arriving by helicopter...
Finally... together again! The new exhibition consists of life-size, silicon figures of the four ABBA members wearing exact replicas of their (Owe Sandström designed) stage costumes from 1979. In fact, the backdrop to the silicon figures is also a replica of part of their set decor from the 1979 North American tour. The idea for these figures has been around since 2011 when plans for the museum were being made. But it wasn't until the fall of 2013 that plans for the figurines started in earnest.
...before being unveiled to the international press.
Göran Lundström of EffektStudion was given the commission and it took him and a team of 35+ persons about a year to create the figures. I must say that they are eerily life-like... very impressive work. Though this is perhaps not surprising given that the four ABBA members actively participated in this project, helping with measurements, creative opinions and more.
So... another good reason to visit ABBA the Museum! Or revisit? The museum is located on the island of Djurgården, near other popular attractions like Vasa Museum, Skansen and Gröna Lund. It is quite easy to get to the museum from the Rival Hotel using the Djurgård Ferry. Entrance tickets for the museum can be purchased in advance (time allotments) on their website. If you are staying at the hotel, talk to me if you need help purchasing the tickets. And don't miss the fun museum gift shop when you are there...

The Rival... Hotel & Theatre!
Not only do we have a great restaurant, café and several bars at the Rival Hotel ... we also have a theatre! Originally a cinema, it was built in 1937 and lovingly renovated in 2003. The hotel actually takes its name from the cinema. The theatre seats up to 700 persons (stalls & balcony). It has become quite a popular venue for entertainment in Stockholm. Generally, the shows tend to be for Swedish speaking audiences (theatre, stand-up comedy, etc.). However, this November & December we have several concerts which can be enjoyed whatever language you speak. Even if the lyrics are in Swedish, anyone can enjoy good music! Here you have the calendar:

  • Nov. 16th- Sophie Zelmani. Acoustic rock & folk. Popular Swedish singer & songwriter who sings in English. Several of her songs have been used by Hollywood (Independence Day, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawson's Creek, etc.).
  • Nov. 21st & 22nd- Thomas Andersson Wij. Pop/rock music. Another popular Swedish singer & songwriter... and good friend of the Rival. He has actually released an album called "Live på Rival (Live at the Rival)" in 2005.
  • Nov. 24th- Tommy Körberg. Pop/musical/schlager. Perhaps one of Sweden's most beloved and well known performers. Known by non Swedish speakers for his career in musical theatre (Chess) and collaborations with Benny Andersson. 
  • Nov. 27th- Owe Thörnqvist. Pop/rock/schlager. Sweden's #1 troubadour! Owe is on tour this year celebrating his 85th(!) birthday.
  • Nov. 29th- Nashville Country Music Night. Country. Featuring Caroline Larsson and the Music City Band. Concert featuring some of the greatest country songs of all time... Dolly Parton, Rascal Flatts, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Dixie Chicks, Taylor Swift and much more.
  • Dec. 1st- World AIDS Day Concert. December 1st is World AIDS Day. This charity concert features some of Sweden's most popular artists like Shirley Clamp, Peter Jöback, Cirkus Cirkör and Diamond Dogs and raises money for the HIV organization Noaks Ark.
  • Dec. 9th- Julen Är Här! (Christmas is Here!). Christmas concert with Peter Johansson, Matilda Grün and Jesper Sjöberg. Get into the holiday spirit...
  • Dec. 12th & 13th- Sarah Dawn Finer. Soul & pop. One of Sweden's best voices and known for both her work on stage and at the Melodifestival. This is part of her "Vinterland" tour... featuring songs with a winter theme.
  • Dec. 18th & 19th- P-Floyd. Rock. This is a popular Swedish Pink Floyd tribute band. Let them take you back in time with some of Pink Floyd's greatest hits.
Some great artists and a wide range of musical genre! More information, calendar and tickets can be found here. Advance tickets can't be purchased at the Rival. Instead they are sold online or you can also purchase them at Stockholm Visitor Center or other ticket outlet. If you are going to stay at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly for any extra assistance. 
A few of the artists performing at the Rival...

Upcoming Concerts & Shows at the Rival Theatre

Posted by zlatin

The Rival... Hotel & Theatre!
Not only do we have a great restaurant, café and several bars at the Rival Hotel ... we also have a theatre! Originally a cinema, it was built in 1937 and lovingly renovated in 2003. The hotel actually takes its name from the cinema. The theatre seats up to 700 persons (stalls & balcony). It has become quite a popular venue for entertainment in Stockholm. Generally, the shows tend to be for Swedish speaking audiences (theatre, stand-up comedy, etc.). However, this November & December we have several concerts which can be enjoyed whatever language you speak. Even if the lyrics are in Swedish, anyone can enjoy good music! Here you have the calendar:

  • Nov. 16th- Sophie Zelmani. Acoustic rock & folk. Popular Swedish singer & songwriter who sings in English. Several of her songs have been used by Hollywood (Independence Day, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawson's Creek, etc.).
  • Nov. 21st & 22nd- Thomas Andersson Wij. Pop/rock music. Another popular Swedish singer & songwriter... and good friend of the Rival. He has actually released an album called "Live på Rival (Live at the Rival)" in 2005.
  • Nov. 24th- Tommy Körberg. Pop/musical/schlager. Perhaps one of Sweden's most beloved and well known performers. Known by non Swedish speakers for his career in musical theatre (Chess) and collaborations with Benny Andersson. 
  • Nov. 27th- Owe Thörnqvist. Pop/rock/schlager. Sweden's #1 troubadour! Owe is on tour this year celebrating his 85th(!) birthday.
  • Nov. 29th- Nashville Country Music Night. Country. Featuring Caroline Larsson and the Music City Band. Concert featuring some of the greatest country songs of all time... Dolly Parton, Rascal Flatts, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Dixie Chicks, Taylor Swift and much more.
  • Dec. 1st- World AIDS Day Concert. December 1st is World AIDS Day. This charity concert features some of Sweden's most popular artists like Shirley Clamp, Peter Jöback, Cirkus Cirkör and Diamond Dogs and raises money for the HIV organization Noaks Ark.
  • Dec. 9th- Julen Är Här! (Christmas is Here!). Christmas concert with Peter Johansson, Matilda Grün and Jesper Sjöberg. Get into the holiday spirit...
  • Dec. 12th & 13th- Sarah Dawn Finer. Soul & pop. One of Sweden's best voices and known for both her work on stage and at the Melodifestival. This is part of her "Vinterland" tour... featuring songs with a winter theme.
  • Dec. 18th & 19th- P-Floyd. Rock. This is a popular Swedish Pink Floyd tribute band. Let them take you back in time with some of Pink Floyd's greatest hits.
Some great artists and a wide range of musical genre! More information, calendar and tickets can be found here. Advance tickets can't be purchased at the Rival. Instead they are sold online or you can also purchase them at Stockholm Visitor Center or other ticket outlet. If you are going to stay at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly for any extra assistance. 
A few of the artists performing at the Rival...

Exterior, photo by Mats Bäcker
Last week I was invited to a performance with the Royal Swedish Ballet at the Royal Opera (Kungliga Operan). The performance in question was "Bill", a modern dance performance in three acts. Each act choreographed by a different choreographer, featuring three of the world's most prominent choreographers: William Forsythe, Crystal Pite and Sharon Eyal. A very impressive performance by a great ensemble. I especially enjoyed "The Other You" (Pite).
Waiting for the royal family to take their seats...
This is a perfect opportunity to write a little about the Royal Opera in Stockholm. The current house is from the late 1800's and is built on the site of the old opera house. Both the Royal Swedish Ballet and Royal Opera Company were founded by King Gustav III in the late 1700's (making them some of the world's oldest companies).
Ceiling detail.
The Royal Opera House is the perfect venue for tourists who wish to see a show while visiting Stockholm. Visitors, I have noticed, are often surprised to find out that the vast majority of theatre in Sweden is performed in Swedish. But with opera, music and dance, language is really not an issue! The main calendar of regular performances extends normally from September through May. During the summer months there may be some special performances scheduled, but you also have the option of taking daytime tours of the opera house.
"The Other You - Anthony Lomuljo, Anton Valdbauer"
Photo by Urban Jörén.
This coming season, the Kungliga Operan have a lot of great shows in their calendar... including (the aforementioned) Bill, Don Giovanni, Madama Butterfly, Dialogues of the Carmelites, Raymonda and the Magic Flute as well as special lunch concerts and events. Check their calendar for exact dates. One thing that is a little troublesome for visitors is that their website is only in Swedish and you have to use the Google Translate option to get it in English or another language. It works, just not the optimal solution.
"Bill - Jérôme Marchand", photo by Urban Jörén.
Tickets can be purchased through their website, at their box office or by contacting them directly by phone during certain hours (hours and phone number on website linked here). If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, you can contact me directly for help in booking. The Royal Opera House is located just across the water from the Royal Palace in the downtown area. To get there from the Rival, it is either a 25-30 minute walk through Gamla Stan or else a short bus ride or 5 minute taxi ride.
Intermission in the "gold foyer".

Kungliga Operan - The Royal Opera House

Posted by zlatin

Exterior, photo by Mats Bäcker
Last week I was invited to a performance with the Royal Swedish Ballet at the Royal Opera (Kungliga Operan). The performance in question was "Bill", a modern dance performance in three acts. Each act choreographed by a different choreographer, featuring three of the world's most prominent choreographers: William Forsythe, Crystal Pite and Sharon Eyal. A very impressive performance by a great ensemble. I especially enjoyed "The Other You" (Pite).
Waiting for the royal family to take their seats...
This is a perfect opportunity to write a little about the Royal Opera in Stockholm. The current house is from the late 1800's and is built on the site of the old opera house. Both the Royal Swedish Ballet and Royal Opera Company were founded by King Gustav III in the late 1700's (making them some of the world's oldest companies).
Ceiling detail.
The Royal Opera House is the perfect venue for tourists who wish to see a show while visiting Stockholm. Visitors, I have noticed, are often surprised to find out that the vast majority of theatre in Sweden is performed in Swedish. But with opera, music and dance, language is really not an issue! The main calendar of regular performances extends normally from September through May. During the summer months there may be some special performances scheduled, but you also have the option of taking daytime tours of the opera house.
"The Other You - Anthony Lomuljo, Anton Valdbauer"
Photo by Urban Jörén.
This coming season, the Kungliga Operan have a lot of great shows in their calendar... including (the aforementioned) Bill, Don Giovanni, Madama Butterfly, Dialogues of the Carmelites, Raymonda and the Magic Flute as well as special lunch concerts and events. Check their calendar for exact dates. One thing that is a little troublesome for visitors is that their website is only in Swedish and you have to use the Google Translate option to get it in English or another language. It works, just not the optimal solution.
"Bill - Jérôme Marchand", photo by Urban Jörén.
Tickets can be purchased through their website, at their box office or by contacting them directly by phone during certain hours (hours and phone number on website linked here). If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, you can contact me directly for help in booking. The Royal Opera House is located just across the water from the Royal Palace in the downtown area. To get there from the Rival, it is either a 25-30 minute walk through Gamla Stan or else a short bus ride or 5 minute taxi ride.
Intermission in the "gold foyer".

Jazz Soppa with Anna Karin Westerlund.
Swedes have long had a special love for jazz music, so it shouldn't come as any surprise that Stockholm hosts a great jazz festival. Once upon a time, this festival was held outside at one venue during the summertime... these days the Stockholm Jazz Festival looks a bit different. The festival has moved indoors and takes place from the 10th through the 19th of October, spread out between 30 different venues in the city. Some venues, like Fasching and Kulturhuset will be hosting many of the concerts, but there are also a wide range of other venues to visit during the festival to enjoy some jazz. All in all, there will be around 130 concerts played during the festival and artists include some international big names like Jamie Cullum, Wayne Shorter and Angélique Kidjo as well as lots of up-and-coming talent!
Angélique Kidjo will perform at Kulturhuset.
There is no "festival pass" which gives you access to all of the concerts. Instead you need to purchase individual tickets to each concert. Many of the concerts, on the other hand, are free! You can find out more information regarding individual concerts (including ticket info) by visiting their program page. Unfortunately, the main program is in Swedish... but if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, stop by and talk to me and I can help you with finding some good concerts. Otherwise you can also contact them at festival@fasching.se with any questions. They do have a quick guide in English (with many program points/venues) on their website. It is in pdf form and the link can be found on the left side of the home page.
Carefree, photo by Martin Taesler.

Stockholm Jazz Festival 2014

Posted by zlatin

Jazz Soppa with Anna Karin Westerlund.
Swedes have long had a special love for jazz music, so it shouldn't come as any surprise that Stockholm hosts a great jazz festival. Once upon a time, this festival was held outside at one venue during the summertime... these days the Stockholm Jazz Festival looks a bit different. The festival has moved indoors and takes place from the 10th through the 19th of October, spread out between 30 different venues in the city. Some venues, like Fasching and Kulturhuset will be hosting many of the concerts, but there are also a wide range of other venues to visit during the festival to enjoy some jazz. All in all, there will be around 130 concerts played during the festival and artists include some international big names like Jamie Cullum, Wayne Shorter and Angélique Kidjo as well as lots of up-and-coming talent!
Angélique Kidjo will perform at Kulturhuset.
There is no "festival pass" which gives you access to all of the concerts. Instead you need to purchase individual tickets to each concert. Many of the concerts, on the other hand, are free! You can find out more information regarding individual concerts (including ticket info) by visiting their program page. Unfortunately, the main program is in Swedish... but if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, stop by and talk to me and I can help you with finding some good concerts. Otherwise you can also contact them at festival@fasching.se with any questions. They do have a quick guide in English (with many program points/venues) on their website. It is in pdf form and the link can be found on the left side of the home page.
Carefree, photo by Martin Taesler.

Concert venue GAT, photo by Emma Svensson
The next big festival is just around the corner... The Stockholm Culture Festival (Kulturfestivalen), August 12th to 17th. This is one of my favorite festivals. Not only are there lots of things to see/do/experience, but it is all free! The only exceptions are the walking tours which, due to limited availability, cost 20 SEK to reserve a spot. For 6 days and evenings, the parks and squares of downtown Stockholm transform into concert venues, outdoor cinemas, circus tents and playgrounds for children. Food & drink tents as well!
Swedish artist Edda Magnason, one of the many performers at Kulturfestivalen.
Photo courtesy of kulturfestivalen.se 
The theme for this year's festival is "Barcelona" with many of the artists, shows and events coming from the Catalonian city (as well as Swedish artists and shows, of course!). In fact the festival is presented in part with The City of Barcelona, Institute Ramon Llull and the Catalonian government. This is a celebration of the close & friendly relationship between the two cultural cities. As I mentioned earlier, there are hundreds of things to choose from... something for everyone, whatever your age or interests. Dance, theatre, art, film, circus, food, cultural walks and literature are all well represented at the festival. For an English program of the highlights, visit their website and scroll down a bit to find a downloadable program in PDF format. Otherwise, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, stop by and talk to me or my colleagues for more information.
Performance venue Sergels Torg, photo by Dennis Wernersson.
The festival is concentrated in the downtown area... in the squares Gustav Adolfs Torg (GAT), Sergels Torg, Brunkebergs Torg and Norrbro and the street Drottninggatan. All these squares and streets are within a 10-15 minute walk from each other so it is very easy to get around. They are also easy to get to from the Rival Hotel... 3 subway stops, a 10 minute bus ride or else a 30 minute walk through the old town. There is another festival going on at the same time in the park Kungsträdgården. This one is called We Are Sthlm and is aimed at youths between 13 and 19 years of age and features lots of music, culture, sports and entertainment. So if you are travelling with teen-agers, you can just drop them off at this festival before heading to the Culture Festival to enjoy yourselves.

Kulturfestivalen - Stockholm Culture Festival 2014

Posted by zlatin

Concert venue GAT, photo by Emma Svensson
The next big festival is just around the corner... The Stockholm Culture Festival (Kulturfestivalen), August 12th to 17th. This is one of my favorite festivals. Not only are there lots of things to see/do/experience, but it is all free! The only exceptions are the walking tours which, due to limited availability, cost 20 SEK to reserve a spot. For 6 days and evenings, the parks and squares of downtown Stockholm transform into concert venues, outdoor cinemas, circus tents and playgrounds for children. Food & drink tents as well!
Swedish artist Edda Magnason, one of the many performers at Kulturfestivalen.
Photo courtesy of kulturfestivalen.se 
The theme for this year's festival is "Barcelona" with many of the artists, shows and events coming from the Catalonian city (as well as Swedish artists and shows, of course!). In fact the festival is presented in part with The City of Barcelona, Institute Ramon Llull and the Catalonian government. This is a celebration of the close & friendly relationship between the two cultural cities. As I mentioned earlier, there are hundreds of things to choose from... something for everyone, whatever your age or interests. Dance, theatre, art, film, circus, food, cultural walks and literature are all well represented at the festival. For an English program of the highlights, visit their website and scroll down a bit to find a downloadable program in PDF format. Otherwise, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, stop by and talk to me or my colleagues for more information.
Performance venue Sergels Torg, photo by Dennis Wernersson.
The festival is concentrated in the downtown area... in the squares Gustav Adolfs Torg (GAT), Sergels Torg, Brunkebergs Torg and Norrbro and the street Drottninggatan. All these squares and streets are within a 10-15 minute walk from each other so it is very easy to get around. They are also easy to get to from the Rival Hotel... 3 subway stops, a 10 minute bus ride or else a 30 minute walk through the old town. There is another festival going on at the same time in the park Kungsträdgården. This one is called We Are Sthlm and is aimed at youths between 13 and 19 years of age and features lots of music, culture, sports and entertainment. So if you are travelling with teen-agers, you can just drop them off at this festival before heading to the Culture Festival to enjoy yourselves.

The Rival Teddy Björn...
It's that time of the year again! We have several big festivals in the beginning of August. Besides the Music & Arts Festival and Culture Festival, we have the biggest of all Scandinavian festivals: Stockholm Gay Pride! Pride Week is all of this week (July 28th to August 3rd), but with many of the main events happening later in the week (Wed-Sat). Not only is this a time for the LGBT community to party & demonstrate, it is also an opportunity for Stockholmers in general to celebrate the tolerance in Swedish society and the fact that the city has been named the gay friendliest city on the planet... not once, but twice in recent years!
Photo by Yanan Li, Stockholm Visitors Board
The festival runs until Sunday, August 3rd, and there are a ton of events each day... movies, seminars, workshops, concerts, performances, parties and (of course) the parade. I can't possibly list all of the happenings here, but you can check the Pride website to see the calendar of events (Park). It is good to know that most events are to be found either in the Pride House or the Pride Park (Östermalms IP). There is an entrance fee to the park and you can either buy a day pass or a week pass. Tickets can be purchased at the door, online, at the tourist information office or at a ticnet outlet. There are also a number of nightly parties at different venues throughout the city each evening... more information can be found in the calendar. QX.se also has a list of the parties on their website (use the calendar function). More info here!
Photo by Yanan Li, Stockholm Visitors Board
The Pride Parade happens on Saturday, starting at 1pm at Mariatorget/Hornsgatan and ending at approximately 3pm in Pride Park. This is a very popular event with over 500,000 spectators lining the streets in past years. The fact that it starts at Mariatorget makes it very special for the Rival Hotel... since that is where we are located! One thing our guests should think about, however, is that the main street Hornsgatan will be closed to traffic from 8am until about 3pm. This will make traveling to and from the hotel by car or taxi a little complicated on Saturday. So stick to walking and subways on this day. If you are checking in or out on Saturday, contact us for extra help. Happy Pride!

Stockholm Gay Pride 2014

Posted by zlatin

The Rival Teddy Björn...
It's that time of the year again! We have several big festivals in the beginning of August. Besides the Music & Arts Festival and Culture Festival, we have the biggest of all Scandinavian festivals: Stockholm Gay Pride! Pride Week is all of this week (July 28th to August 3rd), but with many of the main events happening later in the week (Wed-Sat). Not only is this a time for the LGBT community to party & demonstrate, it is also an opportunity for Stockholmers in general to celebrate the tolerance in Swedish society and the fact that the city has been named the gay friendliest city on the planet... not once, but twice in recent years!
Photo by Yanan Li, Stockholm Visitors Board
The festival runs until Sunday, August 3rd, and there are a ton of events each day... movies, seminars, workshops, concerts, performances, parties and (of course) the parade. I can't possibly list all of the happenings here, but you can check the Pride website to see the calendar of events (Park). It is good to know that most events are to be found either in the Pride House or the Pride Park (Östermalms IP). There is an entrance fee to the park and you can either buy a day pass or a week pass. Tickets can be purchased at the door, online, at the tourist information office or at a ticnet outlet. There are also a number of nightly parties at different venues throughout the city each evening... more information can be found in the calendar. QX.se also has a list of the parties on their website (use the calendar function). More info here!
Photo by Yanan Li, Stockholm Visitors Board
The Pride Parade happens on Saturday, starting at 1pm at Mariatorget/Hornsgatan and ending at approximately 3pm in Pride Park. This is a very popular event with over 500,000 spectators lining the streets in past years. The fact that it starts at Mariatorget makes it very special for the Rival Hotel... since that is where we are located! One thing our guests should think about, however, is that the main street Hornsgatan will be closed to traffic from 8am until about 3pm. This will make traveling to and from the hotel by car or taxi a little complicated on Saturday. So stick to walking and subways on this day. If you are checking in or out on Saturday, contact us for extra help. Happy Pride!

(EDIT: Click here for this year's information) This Saturday, April 26th, is the fifth annual Culture Night (Kulturnatt) in Stockholm. It has become quite popular! So, what exactly is a Culture Night? Well, it basically is an evening devoted to all things cultural... and FREE! Different cultural institutions in Stockholm are open during the evening (6pm to midnight), including museums, art galleries, libraries, churches, palaces, clubs, theatres, cinemas and more. To break it down in numbers, this festival will have almost 400 events taking place at over 1000 different locations throughout the city! And, as I mentioned earlier, admission is free... so this is a great opportunity to get cultural without damaging your wallet.
The After Party last year! Photo by Robert Höglund/Kulturnatt
There is a lot to choose from... art & museum exhibitions, concerts, guided tours, performances, viewings and parties. Something for every taste! You can find a list of venues, with a map, to download in English on their website (click here), just scroll down to "information". More detailed information in Swedish along with the full program with actual events can be found by clicking here.
The official After Party (live music, DJ's, dancing), with free admission of course, will take place at the iconic Stockholm City Hall (Stadshuset)... where the Nobel dinner/party takes place every year. It starts at 10:30pm and goes on to 3am. Last year they had over 7000 people at the party. The City Hall is located on Kungsholmen. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, stop by and talk to me and I can explain in more detail about the different events. Otherwise, stop by the Stockholm Visitor Center or Visit Djurgården for more detailed information about what is happening!

Culture Night (Kulturnatt) in Stockholm- 2014

Posted by zlatin

(EDIT: Click here for this year's information) This Saturday, April 26th, is the fifth annual Culture Night (Kulturnatt) in Stockholm. It has become quite popular! So, what exactly is a Culture Night? Well, it basically is an evening devoted to all things cultural... and FREE! Different cultural institutions in Stockholm are open during the evening (6pm to midnight), including museums, art galleries, libraries, churches, palaces, clubs, theatres, cinemas and more. To break it down in numbers, this festival will have almost 400 events taking place at over 1000 different locations throughout the city! And, as I mentioned earlier, admission is free... so this is a great opportunity to get cultural without damaging your wallet.
The After Party last year! Photo by Robert Höglund/Kulturnatt
There is a lot to choose from... art & museum exhibitions, concerts, guided tours, performances, viewings and parties. Something for every taste! You can find a list of venues, with a map, to download in English on their website (click here), just scroll down to "information". More detailed information in Swedish along with the full program with actual events can be found by clicking here.
The official After Party (live music, DJ's, dancing), with free admission of course, will take place at the iconic Stockholm City Hall (Stadshuset)... where the Nobel dinner/party takes place every year. It starts at 10:30pm and goes on to 3am. Last year they had over 7000 people at the party. The City Hall is located on Kungsholmen. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, stop by and talk to me and I can explain in more detail about the different events. Otherwise, stop by the Stockholm Visitor Center or Visit Djurgården for more detailed information about what is happening!

Photo by Jeppe Wikström, Stockholm Visitors Board.
Please keep in mind that this calendar is a work in progress... I will be adding new events as they are announced or I stumble upon them. Summer is a busy time in Stockholm with lots of different festivals, happenings, concerts and sporting events. I have added some happenings in April, May & September as well. Hopefully this calendar will help you plan your trip. Not all events are listed! I try to list events that the average Rival Hotel international guest would find of interest... but if you will be staying at the hotel and are interested in other, perhaps more obscure events, contact me and I will see what I can find! While some events that are going on while you are here might not be of interest to you personally, it is smart to keep in mind that the event might still affect your visit (lots of people in the city, bank holidays, traffic problems, etc;). The Stockholm Marathon is a good example of this. As I write this, a few of the festival websites aren't up and running yet or haven't been adjusted for 2014.

April

  • 12-13th- Medieval Market in Kungsträdgården.
  • 17th-21st- Easter holiday. Keep in mind that both Friday and Monday are bank holidays in Sweden.
  • 22nd- Street Food fair in Kungsträdgården.
  • 26th- Stockholm Culture Night. Over 300 free events throughout the city.
  • 26th- Season premiere for the amusement park Gröna Lund (weekends only in the beginning).
  • 26th- Cherry Blossoms Day in Kungsträdgården.
  • 30th- Walpurgis Eve (Valborgmässoafton) is celebrated throughout the city with bonfires. Skansen is a good place to go this evening.
May
Photo: Peter Backman, Smaka på Stockholm (Taste of Stockholm)

June
July (generally a slower month, event-wise, because many Swedes have vacation and leave the city)
August
September
October
November
December- I will be doing special articles about all of the Christmas and New Year events in the city, but here are some other dates to keep an eye on.
Click here for December dates om importance as well as here for Christmas markets dates. 
Stockholm Marathon. Photo: Martin Ekequist



Festivals & Events in Stockholm- Spring Summer Fall 2014

Posted by zlatin

Photo by Jeppe Wikström, Stockholm Visitors Board.
Please keep in mind that this calendar is a work in progress... I will be adding new events as they are announced or I stumble upon them. Summer is a busy time in Stockholm with lots of different festivals, happenings, concerts and sporting events. I have added some happenings in April, May & September as well. Hopefully this calendar will help you plan your trip. Not all events are listed! I try to list events that the average Rival Hotel international guest would find of interest... but if you will be staying at the hotel and are interested in other, perhaps more obscure events, contact me and I will see what I can find! While some events that are going on while you are here might not be of interest to you personally, it is smart to keep in mind that the event might still affect your visit (lots of people in the city, bank holidays, traffic problems, etc;). The Stockholm Marathon is a good example of this. As I write this, a few of the festival websites aren't up and running yet or haven't been adjusted for 2014.

April

  • 12-13th- Medieval Market in Kungsträdgården.
  • 17th-21st- Easter holiday. Keep in mind that both Friday and Monday are bank holidays in Sweden.
  • 22nd- Street Food fair in Kungsträdgården.
  • 26th- Stockholm Culture Night. Over 300 free events throughout the city.
  • 26th- Season premiere for the amusement park Gröna Lund (weekends only in the beginning).
  • 26th- Cherry Blossoms Day in Kungsträdgården.
  • 30th- Walpurgis Eve (Valborgmässoafton) is celebrated throughout the city with bonfires. Skansen is a good place to go this evening.
May
Photo: Peter Backman, Smaka på Stockholm (Taste of Stockholm)

June
July (generally a slower month, event-wise, because many Swedes have vacation and leave the city)
August
September
October
November
December- I will be doing special articles about all of the Christmas and New Year events in the city, but here are some other dates to keep an eye on.
Click here for December dates om importance as well as here for Christmas markets dates. 
Stockholm Marathon. Photo: Martin Ekequist



Photo by Henrik Trygg, Stockholm Visitors Board
(Edit: This is info for 2013, for updated info... click here!)
Lucia, the festival/celebration of St Lucia, happens on December 13th and is, along with Midsummer, the most Swedish of holidays and many of you have seen a picture of a young girl wearing a wreath of candles (Lucia). Basically, the celebration consists of a procession led by a candle wreathed young woman and followed by other young women (& men called stjärngossar) holding candles. Click here for video ("Lucia for Dummies"). They sing Lucia songs as well as other Christmas carols. The traditional places where this procession takes place is in Swedish homes on the morning of the 13th, where the procession is made up of the family's children, and during the evening in various churches. These days, however, you will find Lucia processions also at different businesses, shopping malls and retirement centers throughout the country. Because of the popularity of Lucia, you need to purchase tickets to see the procession in most churches. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, stop by and I will help you with tickets.
Lucia at Skansen www.sverigeslucia.se 
These church services, while traditional and beautiful, might be a little problematic for foreign visitors as there is often a church sermon included in the celebration which is in Swedish. Another option, and a good one at that, is to visit Skansen, the open-air museum dedicated to Swedish culture and traditions. Here they will be celebrating Lucia for three days (Dec 13th to the 15th) with processions, historical reenactments and concerts. The main Lucia concert at Skansen will be on the Solliden stage at 6:30pm. Skansen also has a great Christmas market on Saturday and Sunday which you can combine with a Lucia concert during weekend. Skansen is located on the island of Djurgården and easy to get to from the Rival Hotel... with regular ferries (10 min trip) going from nearby Slussen.

St Lucia Celebrations!

Posted by zlatin

Photo by Henrik Trygg, Stockholm Visitors Board
(Edit: This is info for 2013, for updated info... click here!)
Lucia, the festival/celebration of St Lucia, happens on December 13th and is, along with Midsummer, the most Swedish of holidays and many of you have seen a picture of a young girl wearing a wreath of candles (Lucia). Basically, the celebration consists of a procession led by a candle wreathed young woman and followed by other young women (& men called stjärngossar) holding candles. Click here for video ("Lucia for Dummies"). They sing Lucia songs as well as other Christmas carols. The traditional places where this procession takes place is in Swedish homes on the morning of the 13th, where the procession is made up of the family's children, and during the evening in various churches. These days, however, you will find Lucia processions also at different businesses, shopping malls and retirement centers throughout the country. Because of the popularity of Lucia, you need to purchase tickets to see the procession in most churches. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, stop by and I will help you with tickets.
Lucia at Skansen www.sverigeslucia.se 
These church services, while traditional and beautiful, might be a little problematic for foreign visitors as there is often a church sermon included in the celebration which is in Swedish. Another option, and a good one at that, is to visit Skansen, the open-air museum dedicated to Swedish culture and traditions. Here they will be celebrating Lucia for three days (Dec 13th to the 15th) with processions, historical reenactments and concerts. The main Lucia concert at Skansen will be on the Solliden stage at 6:30pm. Skansen also has a great Christmas market on Saturday and Sunday which you can combine with a Lucia concert during weekend. Skansen is located on the island of Djurgården and easy to get to from the Rival Hotel... with regular ferries (10 min trip) going from nearby Slussen.

Exterior of Tele2 Arena.
I was invited yesterday to the premiere of Tolv Stockholm, a collection of restaurants, bars and a nightclub. What makes it even more special is its location... under the newly built Tele2 Arena. Besides being the home arena to two local football/soccer teams (Djurgården & Hammarby), Tele2 will also host other sporting events and function as a concert venue (max capacity of 45,000). The roof of the arena can be closed, making it useable year-round. The arena is located next to the existing Globe Arena as well as the smaller Hovet, Annexet and Söder Stadion venues... creating a huge centre for sport, music and entertainment.
O'Leary's Sports Bar.
As I mentioned, Tolv Stockholm, is a collection of bars and restaurants which compliment the arenas as a place to have a meal or cocktail before or after a concert/match. It also stands alone as a place to visit. For example the sports bar O'Leary's is huge! Here you can eat & drink, watch sporting events as well as play some yourself... with bowling lanes, ping pong tables and (more sedate) racing car simulators in the bar. They even have a Stockholm themed mini-golf course!
Shark themed bowling lanes at O'Leary's.
Other restaurants include Enzo's (Italian), Printz (beer hall and home-made sausage restaurant), Davaj (deli) as well as an ecological salad bar and frozen yoghurt parlour. If you are attending a concert at the arena and feel inspired... try your hand at singing in their karaoke bar. The big news, for many, is the nightclub Solidaritet Arena. It will be able to take up to 1,500 persons with three dance floors and several bars. They will have big name DJ's as well as more intimate live music concerts. It wasn't open last night (premiere tomorrow) but we were given a tour of the locale.
Bar at Enzo's.
"Tolv" is the Swedish word for twelve and refers to the fact that it will be open 12 hours a day, 12 months a year. I am a little unsure of how this will work as it will be hard to fill restaurants on evenings when there aren't any matches or concerts. But I trust that they have that figured out. At any rate, well worth a visit! The Tele2 Arena and Twelve Stockholm are located in the suburb of Johanneshov, just south of Stockholm. It is easy to get there from the Rival Hotel... just take the subway (green line) from nearby Slussen going in the direction of Hagsätra. Exit the subway at the Globen station which is the fourth stop after Slussen.
Gold Bar at Solidaritet Arena Nightclub.
Solidaritet Nightclub... sans guests!

Tolv Stockholm- New Entertainment Centre

Posted by zlatin

Exterior of Tele2 Arena.
I was invited yesterday to the premiere of Tolv Stockholm, a collection of restaurants, bars and a nightclub. What makes it even more special is its location... under the newly built Tele2 Arena. Besides being the home arena to two local football/soccer teams (Djurgården & Hammarby), Tele2 will also host other sporting events and function as a concert venue (max capacity of 45,000). The roof of the arena can be closed, making it useable year-round. The arena is located next to the existing Globe Arena as well as the smaller Hovet, Annexet and Söder Stadion venues... creating a huge centre for sport, music and entertainment.
O'Leary's Sports Bar.
As I mentioned, Tolv Stockholm, is a collection of bars and restaurants which compliment the arenas as a place to have a meal or cocktail before or after a concert/match. It also stands alone as a place to visit. For example the sports bar O'Leary's is huge! Here you can eat & drink, watch sporting events as well as play some yourself... with bowling lanes, ping pong tables and (more sedate) racing car simulators in the bar. They even have a Stockholm themed mini-golf course!
Shark themed bowling lanes at O'Leary's.
Other restaurants include Enzo's (Italian), Printz (beer hall and home-made sausage restaurant), Davaj (deli) as well as an ecological salad bar and frozen yoghurt parlour. If you are attending a concert at the arena and feel inspired... try your hand at singing in their karaoke bar. The big news, for many, is the nightclub Solidaritet Arena. It will be able to take up to 1,500 persons with three dance floors and several bars. They will have big name DJ's as well as more intimate live music concerts. It wasn't open last night (premiere tomorrow) but we were given a tour of the locale.
Bar at Enzo's.
"Tolv" is the Swedish word for twelve and refers to the fact that it will be open 12 hours a day, 12 months a year. I am a little unsure of how this will work as it will be hard to fill restaurants on evenings when there aren't any matches or concerts. But I trust that they have that figured out. At any rate, well worth a visit! The Tele2 Arena and Twelve Stockholm are located in the suburb of Johanneshov, just south of Stockholm. It is easy to get there from the Rival Hotel... just take the subway (green line) from nearby Slussen going in the direction of Hagsätra. Exit the subway at the Globen station which is the fourth stop after Slussen.
Gold Bar at Solidaritet Arena Nightclub.
Solidaritet Nightclub... sans guests!

The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Photo by Micke Wiberg
More culture comes to Stockholm this weekend and coming week. Firstly, we have the annual Baltic Sea Festival... an annual music festival featuring world class singers and musicians from the world of opera and symphony music. The main artists are the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Royal Opera Orchestra and Royal Opera Chorus. The festival kicks off tonight (Friday, August 23rd) with a performance of "Romeo & Juliet" by Berlioz and ends on Friday, August 30th with an evening of Stravinsky (The Rite of Spring, Petruschka and Firebird) performed by the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Valery Gergiev. Plenty of great performances in the days inbetween as well... click here for the full program! The majority of the perfomances take place at Berwaldhallen, which is located on the outskirts of the Östermalm district (closest subway station is Karlaplan on the red line). There are two performances of Mozart's Magic Flute taking place at Drottningholm's Court Theatre (instead of Berwaldshallen)... these are sold out!
An earlier indoor performance of Giselle with Hampus Gauffin och Mayumi Yamaguchi
Photo by Carl Thorborg, Kungliga Operan
But... if you are thinking to yourself "I don't want to be inside on a beautiful summer evening", or perhaps you are on a budget, then we have some free perfomances taking place during the next two weekends under the stars. The Royal Opera will be performing in the Park Theatre (Parkteatern) in the park Vitabergsparken. On Friday & Saturday (Aug 23rd & 24th) the Royal Ballet will perform parts of the classic Giselle as well as the modern Time Themes. Performances start both evenings at 6pm and last 40 minutes. The following weekend (Aug 30th & 31st) it is time for opera... with pieces of classic opera performed by Royal Opera soloists accompanied by their Orchestra. Performances start both evenings at 6pm and last an hour and 10 minutes. Vitabergsparken is located on the island of Södermalm (home of the Rival Hotel) and the closest subway station is Skanstull on the green line.

Baltic Sea Festival and Free Ballet/Opera in the Park!

Posted by zlatin

The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Photo by Micke Wiberg
More culture comes to Stockholm this weekend and coming week. Firstly, we have the annual Baltic Sea Festival... an annual music festival featuring world class singers and musicians from the world of opera and symphony music. The main artists are the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Royal Opera Orchestra and Royal Opera Chorus. The festival kicks off tonight (Friday, August 23rd) with a performance of "Romeo & Juliet" by Berlioz and ends on Friday, August 30th with an evening of Stravinsky (The Rite of Spring, Petruschka and Firebird) performed by the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Valery Gergiev. Plenty of great performances in the days inbetween as well... click here for the full program! The majority of the perfomances take place at Berwaldhallen, which is located on the outskirts of the Östermalm district (closest subway station is Karlaplan on the red line). There are two performances of Mozart's Magic Flute taking place at Drottningholm's Court Theatre (instead of Berwaldshallen)... these are sold out!
An earlier indoor performance of Giselle with Hampus Gauffin och Mayumi Yamaguchi
Photo by Carl Thorborg, Kungliga Operan
But... if you are thinking to yourself "I don't want to be inside on a beautiful summer evening", or perhaps you are on a budget, then we have some free perfomances taking place during the next two weekends under the stars. The Royal Opera will be performing in the Park Theatre (Parkteatern) in the park Vitabergsparken. On Friday & Saturday (Aug 23rd & 24th) the Royal Ballet will perform parts of the classic Giselle as well as the modern Time Themes. Performances start both evenings at 6pm and last 40 minutes. The following weekend (Aug 30th & 31st) it is time for opera... with pieces of classic opera performed by Royal Opera soloists accompanied by their Orchestra. Performances start both evenings at 6pm and last an hour and 10 minutes. Vitabergsparken is located on the island of Södermalm (home of the Rival Hotel) and the closest subway station is Skanstull on the green line.

ABBA the Mueum has been in the works for years (rumours, change in venue, touring exhibition, etc;) so the opening on May 7th was greatly anticipated. You might wonder why I waited a couple of weeks to visit and report on such a popular new addition to Stockholm. Well, I wanted to let the opening hysteria die down a bit... plus, I was given a "special" tour by museum curator Ingmarie Halling (a perk of being the concierge at the Rival Hotel) which made the wait worthwhile.
"Walk in, dance out" is the tag line for the new museum, dedicated to the Swedish pop super-group ABBA, and it doesn't disappoint! To be honest, I had some concerns beforehand that the museum would only be of interest to hardcore ABBA fans. But it really is a lot of fun and everyone will be able to enjoy it... whether you are 7 or 77, a fan or just have fond memories of their music. 
Waterloo success at Eurovision
Entrance to the museum is through the gift shop, which is reason enough to visit. ABBA memorbilia like t-shirts, tote bags, posters, pins, magnets, postcards and jewellery fill the shop and it was fun to browse. Be aware that the museum does not accept any cash... just credit or debit cards! The museum itself is located underground, two floors down to be exact. Visitors are first shuttled through a room where they are introduced to the band in the form of an IMAX type theatre and bombarded with images, music and sound bytes. I imagine that this type of entrance is designed to space visitors out... dividing them up into smaller groups. 
If this telephone rings... answer it for a surprise!
Exiting the theatre, visitors move on into a room dedicated to the pre-ABBA careers of the four members. It is a nice window on Swedish music culture of the 1960's when folk and rock bands would tour the country and perform in folkparks. Moving on in the museum are rooms dedicated to the band's formation and early success in Eurovision. Visitors then get to see bits and pieces of the lives of the group members during ABBA's heyday. The museum accomplishes this by recreating rooms which were important to the group... like the recording studio, Björn's summer cottage, Agneta's kitchen, their dressing room when they were on tour and more.
Replica of Björn's summer cottage, where they wrote many of the songs.
Finally... the crown jewel of the museum (for many): the stage clothes! In a circular room, the clothes have been placed in curved cases in concentric circles with the outer walls covered with thousands of album covers from all over the world. The cases are quite narrow which means that you get very close to the clothes and can enjoy the amazing detail work. Even the most blasé visitors will recognize the outfits from their music videos and concert performances... very iconic!
Stage clothes on display.
The museum is very high-tech and interactive. Visitors get the opportunity to record a song, dance in a 70' discotheque, scroll through Björn's father's scrapbook (a treasure trove), be part of an ABBA video, perform on stage with the group (present in the form of holograms) and much more! Very hands-on and fun for the children as well. 
Perform on stage with the hologram ABBAs.
After the band's heyday? The break-up of the band and their marriages follows of course, after which visitors exit through a corridor that gives a nod to the Mamma Mia musical. But that isn't the end of the experience! After leaving the museum, visitors enter the Swedish Music Hall of Fame. Swedish popular music is much, much more than ABBA and visitors get to take an interactive tour through the music catalogue of the past 80+ years... truly remarkable how such a small country (population wise) has left such a large imprint on world music.
Album covers from around the world.
The museum is located on the island of Djurgården and is very easy to get to from the Rival Hotel. There are regular ferries (Djurgårdsfärjan) which travel between Slussen, a 10 minute walk from the hotel, and Djurgården... and the trip takes just 9 minutes. Tickets for the museum cost 195 SEK (90 SEK for children 8 and younger) and can & should be purchased in advance on their website. While this may sound like a lot of money, remember that the museum is a very interactive, high-tech experience and you definitely get your money's worth. As I mentioned before, the museum accepts no cash. If you don't have a credit or debit card, the best option is to purchase the tickets at the central train station ticket counter... which accepts cash.

ABBA the Museum!

Posted by zlatin

ABBA the Mueum has been in the works for years (rumours, change in venue, touring exhibition, etc;) so the opening on May 7th was greatly anticipated. You might wonder why I waited a couple of weeks to visit and report on such a popular new addition to Stockholm. Well, I wanted to let the opening hysteria die down a bit... plus, I was given a "special" tour by museum curator Ingmarie Halling (a perk of being the concierge at the Rival Hotel) which made the wait worthwhile.
"Walk in, dance out" is the tag line for the new museum, dedicated to the Swedish pop super-group ABBA, and it doesn't disappoint! To be honest, I had some concerns beforehand that the museum would only be of interest to hardcore ABBA fans. But it really is a lot of fun and everyone will be able to enjoy it... whether you are 7 or 77, a fan or just have fond memories of their music. 
Waterloo success at Eurovision
Entrance to the museum is through the gift shop, which is reason enough to visit. ABBA memorbilia like t-shirts, tote bags, posters, pins, magnets, postcards and jewellery fill the shop and it was fun to browse. Be aware that the museum does not accept any cash... just credit or debit cards! The museum itself is located underground, two floors down to be exact. Visitors are first shuttled through a room where they are introduced to the band in the form of an IMAX type theatre and bombarded with images, music and sound bytes. I imagine that this type of entrance is designed to space visitors out... dividing them up into smaller groups. 
If this telephone rings... answer it for a surprise!
Exiting the theatre, visitors move on into a room dedicated to the pre-ABBA careers of the four members. It is a nice window on Swedish music culture of the 1960's when folk and rock bands would tour the country and perform in folkparks. Moving on in the museum are rooms dedicated to the band's formation and early success in Eurovision. Visitors then get to see bits and pieces of the lives of the group members during ABBA's heyday. The museum accomplishes this by recreating rooms which were important to the group... like the recording studio, Björn's summer cottage, Agneta's kitchen, their dressing room when they were on tour and more.
Replica of Björn's summer cottage, where they wrote many of the songs.
Finally... the crown jewel of the museum (for many): the stage clothes! In a circular room, the clothes have been placed in curved cases in concentric circles with the outer walls covered with thousands of album covers from all over the world. The cases are quite narrow which means that you get very close to the clothes and can enjoy the amazing detail work. Even the most blasé visitors will recognize the outfits from their music videos and concert performances... very iconic!
Stage clothes on display.
The museum is very high-tech and interactive. Visitors get the opportunity to record a song, dance in a 70' discotheque, scroll through Björn's father's scrapbook (a treasure trove), be part of an ABBA video, perform on stage with the group (present in the form of holograms) and much more! Very hands-on and fun for the children as well. 
Perform on stage with the hologram ABBAs.
After the band's heyday? The break-up of the band and their marriages follows of course, after which visitors exit through a corridor that gives a nod to the Mamma Mia musical. But that isn't the end of the experience! After leaving the museum, visitors enter the Swedish Music Hall of Fame. Swedish popular music is much, much more than ABBA and visitors get to take an interactive tour through the music catalogue of the past 80+ years... truly remarkable how such a small country (population wise) has left such a large imprint on world music.
Album covers from around the world.
The museum is located on the island of Djurgården and is very easy to get to from the Rival Hotel. There are regular ferries (Djurgårdsfärjan) which travel between Slussen, a 10 minute walk from the hotel, and Djurgården... and the trip takes just 9 minutes. Tickets for the museum cost 195 SEK (90 SEK for children 8 and younger) and can & should be purchased in advance on their website. While this may sound like a lot of money, remember that the museum is a very interactive, high-tech experience and you definitely get your money's worth. As I mentioned before, the museum accepts no cash. If you don't have a credit or debit card, the best option is to purchase the tickets at the central train station ticket counter... which accepts cash.

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