What would happen if you hang out at a museum after it has officially closed? Who knows, it might just be like in the Night at the Museum films, where all the figures on display in the museum come alive and have a big, jolly party!
In July 2016, me and fellow Travel Bloggers were about to find out when we were treated to an exclusive evening museum visit at two of the most popular Stockholm museums: the VASA Museum and the ABBA museum. And here is what happened during our very own "Night at the museum"…
First Stop: The VASA Museum
What is it all about?
The Vasa Museum houses the only preserved seventeenth-century ship in the world and is therefore pretty unique! The Swedish King Gustav II Adolf (1594–1632), who by the way was the father of Queen Kristina of Sweden (the protagonist of the film The Girl King) had the Vasa built as a symbol for his power.
The Vasa ship
Sadly though, the Vasa sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 while still within the harbors of Stockholm. It took 333 years until the ship was salvaged in 1961 and consequently restored to its former glory.
What's there to see?
The ship is much bigger than it looks on photos, so you will most likely be amazed when you first enter the museum. I certainly was! In the museum, you can see the ship from all different sides and angles: from the ground floor as well as from several upper levels.
Exhibition about the Vasa and her times
Plus, there are a number of different exhibition areas – about the ship, the times in which it was built (17th century), the tragic sinking and the rediscovery in the 1960s. The introductory film in the museum's cinema is a good starting point to get an overview of everything there is to know about the Vasa.
With some fellow travel bloggers at the Vasa museum
Due to lack of time I only caught a small glimpse into the exhibitions. The Vasa really made an impression on me though and I definitely have to come back for more.
How much does it cost?
Entry to the museum is normally 130 SEK for an adult. Save this by getting a Stockholm Pass and you get free entry to the Vasa Museum as well as several other Stockholm museums.
How to get there?
The easiest way to the to the island of Djurgården is by tram number 7 from Stockholm's main station, which takes 10 min max. You'll find the tram stop if you walk straight on from Stockhom's Central Station behind you and you pass by the Stockholm Visitor Centre on your right.
Second Stop: A summer evening stroll in Stockholm
From the Vasa Museum, it's only a short walk to the ABBA museum, which hosted our second museum party for the night. On a lush summer evening when the sun only sets around 10.30 pm, this is a very beautiful walk indeed.
In-between the Vasa Museum and the Abba Museum are two further Stockholm museums: The Viking Museum and the Museum of Sprits, which are both included in the Stockholm Pass.
Third Stop: From ABBA to Avicii – The Pop House Museum
Inside the ABBA museum
What is it all about?
Aside from children's book author Astrid Lindgren, the four musicians of ABBA are probably the best known Swedes worldwide! After winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with their smash hit "Waterloo", the two, formerly married couples Björn & Agnetha and Benny & Anni-Frid, went on to become the most successful act in the history of popular music! Quite an achievement, isn't it?
The costumes from Waterloo!
The band decided to call it quits in 1982. But luckily for ABBA fans worldwide, their music lives on in the musical Mamma Mia! (in London's West End as well as several other cities worldwide), the musical films Mamma Mia! (2008) and Mamma Mia! Here we go again (2018) and of course, the ABBA museum in Stockholm, which opened its doors in 2013!
What's there to see?
ABBA The Museum will tell you all about the personalities behind the band's members, their music and their time. There are also many fun, interactive activities such as the "5th member" 3D illusion, where visitors can perform on stage with the four members of ABBA.
The "5th member" illusion
The Pop House also has two permanent and one temporary exhibition on show. The two permanent ones – the History of Swedish Popular Music and the Swedish Music Hall of Fame – let you discover how many of the world's biggest pop artists came from Sweden. Did you know, for example, that the band Europe, who landed a big international hit with "The Final Countdown" in 1986, was made up of five long-haired Swedish dudes?
Me and ABBA!
Meanwhile, the current temporary exception "GOOD EVENING EUROPE!" will transport you straight into the colourful world of the Eurovision Song Contest and 60 years of spectacular, but also shocking and hilarious performances as well as the pop world's most outrageous costumes!
Transsexual artist Conchita Wurst won 2014 for Austria. Here is her dress!
Heavy Metal band Lordi, Finland's funny-scary win in 2006
Sweden has actually done quite well in the contest! With with a total of six victories, it was only surpassed by Ireland, who won a seven times in total. Sweden's most recent wins were Måns Zelmerlöw with his smash hit "Heros" in 2015 and Loreen with "Euphoria" in 2012. You can see the outfits that both artists wore as well as videos of their cool stage performances right at the beginning of the exhibition.
Loreen's Eurovision outfit
How much does it cost?
This museum is not cheap. In fact, it's probably the most expensive of all Stockholm museums. It's also not included in the Stockholm Pass. Normally an adult ticket will set you back 250 SEK, but therefore all four exhibitions are already included.
How to get there?
As mentioned earlier, if you visit any of the other museums nearby just as the Nordisk Museum or the Vasa museum, you can just walk to ABBA. Otherwise, catch the tram No. 7 from Stockholm's main station. Or, if you happen to have the necessary spare cash at hand, you can stay in the Pop House Hotel, where they even recreated a Mamma Mia! inspired Greek island room!
Scene from "Mamma Mia!" © Universal Studios
Over to you: What are your favourite museums in Stockhholm? Let me know in the comments below!
Unless otherwise credited, all photos by © Sonja Irani | filmfantravel.com
Disclosure: As part of my participation at the TBEX Europe Travel Blogger Conference in Stockholm, I received free entry to the attractions mentioned in this post. The views expressed in this blog post, however, are entirely my own and therefore personal and unbiased. This post also includes affiliate links to the Stockholm Pass and Booking.com. If you click on any of these links and make a booking through them, I will receive a small commission fee.
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