Sweden Travel Forum

I have a soft spot in my heart for that greatest of '70s bands. I'm going to be in Sweden this summer, and am wondering if anyone has any tips for tourist spots related to ABBA. I'm looking for things like the old recording studios, locations of video shoots, possibly home-towns, that sort of thing. I'm not interested in stalking the former band members, just indulging in a little nostalgia.

I see that there's an ABBA museum being built in Stockholm, but sadly it won't open until 2009.

So does anyone have some inside tips?

I'm going to ask in a Swedish forum I frequent. The ABBA museum is scheduled to open Jun 3-7, 2009.

I personally don't know much about ABBA, but I had a quick look on the net and found the following:

Place of birth;
Agnetha: Jönköping (by lake Vättern)
Björn: Gothenburg (but grew up in Västervik (south east coast))
Benny: Stockholm (don't know which suburb though...)
Anni-Frid: Narvik, Norway (but grew up in Torshälla just outside Eskilstuna, about 1 hour west from Stockholm)

Björn and Agnetha got married in Verums' church down in Skåne.
Polar studios was located at St Eriksgatan 58 on Kungsholmen in Stockholm (don't know why it said "was" located, but I guess it means that it has moved...).

Well, it wasn't much I could help with but I hope it has given you a start in your search for ABBA places to visit!

There's one Polar Studios AB at S:t Göransgatan 153, Stockholm. I think it might be the same studio ABBA recorded at. If you wanna contact them, they have this e-mail address: info@polarstudios.se. Hope it helps.

A fairly recent TV program on Stockholm (I only caught part of it) featured an evening boat cruise with a look-alike ABBA band who plays their music. Perhaps a VT page has some info or Googling may produce some info. I'll try and find something.

(I have a soft spot for for ABBA too, and Stockholm, having spent a year there in 78/79.)

So far nothing but general info. on boat tours ... but the following link is for a blog by two Stockholm residents. It's interesting and you could contact them directly perhaps. Good luck.

http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Sweden/Stockholm/blog-188538.html

I have heard some fantastic things about the ABBA museum. If you are able to come back to Stockholm next summer to check it out, I would highly recommend it!

Quick suggestion that came to me: for next summer you could maybe go to Helsinki instead, so that way you get a whole new vacation. You could then do a two-night cruise from Helsinki. The two-night cruises (one night coming to Stockholm, one night going back) gives you something like eight hours in Stockholm. The ABBA museum is virtually right next to the cruise area as well, thus it would be really convenient a perfect day tour from Helsinki. :)

Amen to that suggestion!