One of the cheapest accommodation options in Sweden are hostels. Near the center of Stockholm there are several places where tourists can sleep comfortably at a reasonable price. These accommodations can offer their services at a lower cost than hotels because they allow, if you so wish, to share a room with several people or even to stay with the family in one room. Sometimes they are cheaper because not being right in the heart of the city. Despite that, in Stockholm many of them are very well located.
These are some of the most popular hostels in town.
1. Castanea Old Town Hostel
If you are looking for a hostel in the center of Gamla Stan, two steps away from Stortorget Square and in a romantic corner, the Castanea Old Town Hostel is your placae to be. Located in a house from the late 1800s along a cobbled street and a small square with a huge chestnut tree Castanea Old Town has rooms for 2, 4 and 6 people and bedrooms with 16 bunk beds. The price starts at 60 € / $67 / £52 for a single room and 80 € / $89 / £69 for a double room. Bunk bed between 20 € / $22 / £17 and 35 € / $39 / £30 in a 16-bed shared room.
Gamla Stan’s Chestnut
Photo: Israel Ubeda / sweetsweden.com
Room at Castanea Old Town Hostel, Stockholm
The Royal Palace, the Nobel Museum, the narrowest alley in the city and many other iconic places in Stockholm will be a stone’s throw from this hostel. Next to the hostel you’ll find Under Kastanjen one of the restaurants that I recommend for the 2nd day on the Stockholm in three days article where I explain how to visit these places efficiently.
2. 2kronor Hostel Vasastan
As the name tells the 2kronor Hostel is located in the Vasastan area and served by the Odenplan metro stop which means a 7-minute-long subway journey to the city center. Prices from SEK 495 (46 € / $51 / £40) single, SEK 590 (55 € / $61 / £47) doubles) down to SEK 195 (18 € / $20 / £16) bed in room of 6 people.
2kronor hostel in Stockholm
The Two-Crown Hostel, as it is known in Swedish, occupies an old building from 1865. The Schönberg family is responsible for making you feel at home (in fact the building itself is a house). Near the hostel you’ll find the city library, one of the 24 free places to visit in Stockholm, and the Hard Rock Café Stockholm. Also the area surrounding the 2kronor hostel is very interesting gastronomically speaking since a large majority of the best cafés, bars and restaurants in Stockholm* are located in Vasastan.
3. M/S Birger Jarl Boat
The acronym M/S is an abbreviation of the English motor ship and already tell us something: we are facing one of those accommodations worth-trying in Stockholm. The M/S Birger Jarl is a 93-meter-long boat that after 60 years cruising has been transformed into a hostel. It is located near the Fotografiska museum (free entry buying the Stockholm Pass tourist card) on the northeast shore of Södermalm and has 177 cabins spread over six floors and all decorated in a marine style.
The rooms range from single cabins with shared bathroom to double rooms with private bathroom. On the top floor there is a solarium and space to relax. The Birger Jarl also has two restaurants and two bars, a barbecue and an outdoor bar and serves a continental breakfast.
MS Birger Jarl Hostel in a Boat in Stockholm
Cabin in the MS Birger Jarl
This is another great hostel with a good location in Stockholm (about 15 minutes from T-Centralen if you walk toward Slussen and take the subway). If you are looking for an extra touch in your stay in Stockholm this is the place to choose because sleeping on a boat is not an everyday thing. Bear in mind that Fotografiska, one of my five favorite museums in Stockholm*, can be visited until 1:00 am so when going back to the hostel at night you still can stop by and have your visit.
4. Stockholm Hostel
This hostel is on the island of Kungsholmen (where the Stockholm City Hall is located) but in the northern part. It is not a central area per se but the Stockholm Hostel is well served by the Odenplan metro stop and the Fridhemsgatan and Arbetargatan bus stops. Taking bus nr. 59 you can reach the center of Stockholm (T-Centralen) and even Slussen to explore Gamla Stan and Södermalm or Djurgården with the boats departing next to Slussen.
In the Stockholm Hostel there are rooms for 2, 4 and 6 people and WiFi is included. It also features a modern decoration and large common areas.
Reception at Stockholm Hostel
Large Common Areas and Tastefully Decorated at Stockholm Hostel
In the vicinity of the Stockholm Hostel besides the City Hall you can stroll along Rålambshovsparken to enjoy the sunset and also in summer have something to eat at Mälarpaviljongen, a restaurant located on a pier in the northern part of Norr Mälarstrand with good food and better music. Also Orangeriet a little closer to the City Hall is a great place to have a drink with good views, super nice decoration and that unique spirit of the Nordic nights.
… one last suggestion
I do not include it in the list of hostels because for me it is almost a hotel but if you are looking for a higher-category accomodation, although a little further away, check out Motel L in the sustainable neighborhood of Hammarby Sjöstad which always offers attractive prices. In addition, the motel has a focus on design and a pleasant, young and fresh atmosphere and as you can see in the photographs it is a somewhat superior quality. The price from 80 € / $89 / £69 per night.
Exterior View of Motel L, Stockholm
Photo: Philip Laurell
Design Room at Motel L, Stockholm
Photo: Philip Laurell
You can reach Motel L with the subway on Gullmarsplan station and then by tram to Mårtensdal. Another option is with the subway to Skanstull and from there with bus 74. It takes about 15 minutes. If you have the Stockholm public transport card it will not be a problem to use it as many times as you want for transfers.
I leave here a map with the location of the recommended hostels in Stockholm except Motel L which is located south of Södermalm island.
Map 4 +1 Well-Located and Cheap Hostels in Stockholm
sweetsweden.com
These are some hostels that work very well for tourists visiting main attractions in Stockholm and not looking for luxury accomodation*. Have you been in one of these? In some other hostel? What do you think? I have always considered hostels in Sweden to offer a great quality-for-price with good service, neat and clean and good atmosphere.
* Articles with this symbol are at the moment available in English with the help of Google Translate
