We had another leisurely start to the day, thanks in part to a snowstorm that woke me in the night. By morning I decided I clearly needed to catch up on sleep, so we took things slowly before heading out.

A Slippery Start in Snowy Stockholm

Stepping into snowy Stockholm felt magical… right up until my feet went from under me. I slipped on the ice, banged my head on the ground and was left feeling a bit sore. My hat cushioned some of the blow but not fully, so I ended up with a rather impressive egg forming on the back of my head. Not the most graceful start to the day.

From that point on, I walked very tentatively, especially as the pavements were like skating rinks.

Crossing Strömbron and Finding Our Way

We carefully made our way across Strömbron bridge, passing the magnificent Grand Hôtel, and headed towards Skeppsholmsbron. I’d definitely lost some confidence after my fall, so every step felt like a mini adventure.

Thankfully, JC took charge of navigating and worked out that we needed to catch a ferry to Djurgården, the island where the ABBA Museum is located.

Ferry Confusion and an Unexpected Loop Back

As luck would have it, the ferry was just pulling away as we arrived, so we had to wait for the next one. They run every 20 minutes or so, so it wasn’t too bad.

When we eventually boarded, we set off… only to stop first at Slussen, which is the ferry stop at Gamla Stan and not where we wanted to be at all. Never mind — we’d basically gone in a big circle back to where our hotel was. On the plus side, we’d discovered a much quicker route for later.

Visiting the ABBA Museum on Djurgården

Once we finally reached Djurgården, it was less than a five-minute walk from the boat to the ABBA Museum. We went straight in using our pre-booked tickets, very grateful to be out of the cold.

The museum is spread over two floors. The first floor showcases some of the iconic costumes worn by Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid, along with an introduction to ABBA Voyage, the virtual concert experience currently running in London.

ABBA’s Story: From Stockholm to Global Fame

Upstairs, the focus shifts to the band’s history — how the members met, their early years in Sweden, and their eventual rise to worldwide fame.

ABBA formed in Stockholm in the early 1970s and went on to become one of the most successful pop groups of all time. Songs like Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia and Waterloo still fill dance floors decades later, and seeing their story told in their home city made the experience feel extra special.

Gift Shop Treats and a Much-Needed Lunch

Afterwards, we spent some hard-earned cash in the gift shop before heading to the café for lunch. It was very welcome, especially as we’d skipped breakfast. Warm food and resting our tired legs was exactly what we needed.

Back to Gamla Stan for a Rest

We walked back across Djurgården to catch the boat to Slussen, waiting about ten minutes in the cold before returning to Gamla Stan. Once back, we headed to the hotel for a well-earned rest.

Afternoon Tea at the Grand Hôtel Stockholm

At around 15:40, we wrapped up again and set off for our usual fifteen-minute walk to the Grand Hôtel, crossing Strömbron to Norrmalm. We were booked in for afternoon tea at 16:30 and wanted plenty of time due to the icy conditions.

We arrived just before 16:00 and were shown to a table in the verandah, which offered beautiful views across the Norrström river towards Gamla Stan.

A Touch of History at the Grand Hôtel

The Grand Hôtel Stockholm, opened in 1874, has hosted royalty, world leaders and celebrities for over a century. It also has close ties to ABBA, who celebrated their success here and have stayed at the hotel over the years, making it an understated but important part of ABBA history.

Our server welcomed us warmly, offering champagne and recommending the hotel’s speciality tea. The atmosphere was calm, elegant and indulgent — a perfect way to end the day.

A Snowy Walk Home and a Relaxed Evening

We spent a couple of hours enjoying afternoon tea before walking back to the hotel in the snowy darkness. After shedding our outdoor layers, we headed to the hotel bar for a few drinks before finally retiring for the evening.

A day of slips, songs, snow and Swedish elegance — very Stockholm indeed.