ABBA The Museum: Gimme, Gimme, Gimme a Ticket!
Macie Cunningham
The Hill News
20 September 2024
It’s Friday night and the lights are low. Looking out for a place to go? Look no further than “ABBA The Museum” in Stockholm, Sweden! This interactive experience is a must-see for fans of the iconic Swedish pop group. I visited this past week with a friend, also studying in Stockholm, and it was a fun way to relieve some of the stress of our studies. The museum is a large, circular path, taking visitors from the very beginnings of the members’ lives to ABBA’s greatest modern successes, like their concert venue in London made especially for virtual “live” performances. The experience was full of karaoke opportunities, a chance to dance and sing on stage with holographic projections of the band, and tons of preserved outfits the group has worn throughout the years.
One of ABBA’s worldwide successes is the musical and film franchise “Mamma Mia!” and this was certainly not sold short in the museum. There was a whole section dedicated to the film, which included an original script and scaled-down model of the set. There were photo opportunities around the museum, and one of them was in the “Mamma Mia!” section: a replica of Donna’s Series III Land Rover.
The museum’s path also walked you through iconic locations, such as Polar Studios, where three of ABBA’s albums were recorded. Almost all items in the replica studio are authentic, including the microphones, guitars, and keyboard. The recording booth felt so real! It was hard to believe it was only an exhibition. There were plaques and informative labels on everything, so there was no question the exhibits were well-researched. There was a different song playing around every corner, and singing along was encouraged. A small room could be found near the end of the experience with wireless headphones tuned to different channels, all playing ABBA, of course. That’s right. A silent disco! It was so unique to dance with other ABBA fans. The tourists were from all over, which only proves ABBA is still popular in all corners of the world.
I cannot think of anything the museum could benefit from except for a lower price of admission. The student ticket was $25.50, which was somewhat of a tough pill to swallow, but I feel as though the experience was worth it. However, I think it is only necessary to visit once. It certainly would not have been as exciting or interesting the second time around.
There are unlimited things to see and visit in Stockholm, so I would reserve visits to “ABBA The Museum” for dedicated fans, especially since the building is out of the way from the city center. I love ABBA, though, so it was absolutely a valuable and fun experience.