Where to Stay in Stockholm: Tips From a Former Local & Frequent Visitor

Figuring out where to stay in Stockholm is not easy if you’ve never visited before. I had the same struggles as you before my first trip to the Swedish capital: Uncertainty about where to stay, an abundance of choices that made it difficult to choose, and not knowing if what I was booking would meet my needs. 

That was back in 2017. Since then, I’ve visited Stockholm multiple times and stayed in 5+ hotels—along with hostels and apartments. I actually lived in the city at one point, and while I have since moved to Copenhagen, I still take at least one trip to Stockholm each year. 

Over those multiple visits and my stint living there, I’ve not only stayed in different types of accommodation. I have also explored most of the city’s main neighborhoods, along with areas further away from the tourist trail. As a result, I’ve got the knowledge needed to show you where to stay—both in terms of actual hotels and the like, and specific neighborhoods. 

In this comprehensive guide, for which I’ve spent multiple years doing first-hand research, you’ll get all the information you need for choosing the best place to stay in Stockholm. I’ve designed this article so that you can refer to it whenever needed, and you can use the table of contents if you’d like to skip to sections that are more relevant to you.

My Overall Favorite Hotels and Hostels in Stockholm (Based on My Real-Life Experiences)

If you’re short on time and want some specific places to stay in Stockholm, I’ve added my five top recommendations below. I’ll cover what I like about each one, along with what I don’t like. You’ll also find out which types of travelers I recommend staying in each place. 

1. Backstage Hotel Stockholm: My Top Overall Stay in Stockholm

I stayed at Stockholm’s Backstage Hotel on a trip to the Swedish capital in October 2025. So far, I haven’t found a hotel in the city that I’ve enjoyed staying at more. Almost everything about my stay was really enjoyable, but the breakfast was what stood out the most. 

The room itself was small, but the bed was super comfortable. The hotel itself is in a convenient location, too; it’s on the island of Djurgården and right next to the ABBA Museum. You’re also a short walk from the Gröna Lund amusement park, Vasa Museum, and Nordiska Museet. 

To get to other parts of Stockholm from this hotel, you can take the Number 7 tram—which stops close by. This is the best option when you arrive from the airport if you happen to find yourself at Stockholm Central Station. You’re also very close to a public transport ferry stop, and there are bus connections to other parts of Stockholm. 

When we stayed at the Backstage Hotel, the staff were super friendly and on hand to answer any questions we had. Now, back to the breakfast… We had the option of both a delicious buffet and a menu from which we could pick different dishes. The oatmeal was very *drool emoji*. Note that you do need to book a time slot for breakfast each day. 

The only thing I wasn’t happy about was that the toilet didn’t flush so well, and the shower was a weird design. However, these were minor annoyances for me. 

2. Clarion Hotel Amaranten: A Solid All-Rounder and Centrally-Located

Up until I stayed at the Backstage Hotel, I had listed Clarion Amaranten as my favorite hotel in Stockholm. And to be honest, it’s still an excellent hotel. I stayed here on a four-day trip to the Swedish capital in December 2021, just between Christmas and New Year. 

Though the hotel itself is great, the biggest perk of Clarion Amaranten itself is the location. It’s located right next to Rådhuset Metro Station, and you’re also a short walk away from Stockholm’s beautiful City Hall (which is where the station itself is named after). You can easily reach many of my top recommendations for things to do in Stockholm from this hotel. 

I slept like a baby at this hotel, and the shower was also very good—with the perfect water pressure. The breakfast was excellent, and just as important was how much seating space there was. One thing I’ve learned from staying at countless Clarion hotels throughout the Nordics is that you can always rely on them to offer a great breakfast. 

Besides being easy to reach the rest of Stockholm via public transport, I often actually walked around the city from here. You’ll find rooms of varying sizes here, making it a good option regardless of whether you travel solo, with a partner, or as a family. 

3. City Backpackers Stockholm: Best for Meeting Other Travelers

I used to travel solo quite a lot in my early twenties, and when doing so, I often stayed in hostels. I found these to be a great way to meet new people, though the quality in Scandinavia is hit and miss in this respect. City Backpackers Stockholm is one of those that is very much a “hit”. 

I met lots of cool people at this hostel, and there were lots of events held for us, too. It was super social, but you could also spend time on your own if you wanted to. The hostel is relatively close to Stockholm Central Station, too, making it easy to get around the city. 

The hostel has a decent kitchen if you want to make food yourself. Pasta is free, so you can save a bit of money if you’re on a budget. On top of that, it has a small café where you can get coffee and cinnamon buns. I hung out here for a bit before catching my flight home, and it was nice when I had no energy to go out and explore for the last few hours. 

The beds were admittedly not so comfortable, in my opinion. But at that time, I stayed out until late most nights—so it didn’t matter too much to me 😄. 

4. Generator Hostel Stockholm: Another Great Budget-Friendly Option

I’ve stayed at the Generator Hostel in Stockholm a few times, including on my first trip to the city back in 2017. It’s not as social as City Backpackers, which can be a pro or a con depending on your mood. The beds, however, are very comfortable—and the rooms felt more airy. 

Generator Stockholm is also centrally located, and when I stayed here, I basically just walked everywhere. On top of that, you’ll find a nice bar area downstairs. During the day, this is a good place to also get some work done if you need to work while you travel. 

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly and no-fuss option, Generator Stockholm is a smart choice. In addition to dorms, you’ll find rooms and suites with private bathrooms. For what it’s worth, I’ve also stayed in Generator in other cities—such as Hamburg—and it’s always a strong choice.  

5. ibis Styles Stockholm Odenplan: Another Good Option Close to the City Center

I spontaneously booked a solo trip to Stockholm in the summer of 2021, and since it was very last-minute, I just wanted somewhere central and reasonably priced. ibis is always a decent choice in this respect, and ibis Styles Stockholm Odenplan was a decent place to spend a night or two. 

It’s right next to Odenplan, making it easy to reach on the Metro and via commuter train from the airport. The hotel is in the Vasastan district, which has some lovely parks and is also home to the iconic Stockholm Public Library (which is currently undergoing renovations). 

The hotel itself has pretty basic rooms, with options for multiple kinds of travelers. Some of the rooms are triple rooms, making them ideal if more people are in your group. You can also get breakfast here; it’s basic but will do the job.

The Best Neighborhoods to Stay in Stockholm for Tourists

In addition to giving you my overall top recommendations for places to stay in Stockholm, I also wanted to help you assess each neighborhood. The city’s main districts all vary in terms of accommodation availability, things to do, and overall vibe. 

Where you choose will depend on your preferences. Below, I’ll cover my top suggestions for neighborhoods to stay—along with who I think each one is best for. 

Södermalm

Södermalm is one of my favorite places to hang out in Stockholm, and I come back to this district each time I visit. It’s the most trendy spot in the city, with all the artisan coffee shops, nice bakeries, and independent stores that come along with that. 

You’ll find Stockholm’s best nightlife in Södermalm, along with some pretty cool points of interest. For example, I recommend enjoying the views of the city from Monteliusvägen and Mariaberget.

Södermalm has a number of hotels, ranging from bigger chains to some more boutique options. The neighborhood is very well-connected to the rest of Stockholm via the Metro and bus; Slussen is one of the main transport hubs in the city. You can easily walk to Gamla Stan from here, too. 

Djurgården

Djurgården is another of my favorite neighborhoods in Stockholm, and it’s also home to the world’s first national urban park. This is the greenest of the city’s central districts; you’ll find plenty of running and cycling routes here. 

When on Djurgården, you’ll also be close to some of Stockholm’s best museums. For example, I loved visiting the Skansen Open Air Museum and Nordiska Museet in particular. If you’re interested in culture, it’s a perfect place to stay. 

Djurgården is a pretty big island, and I recommend staying closer to the main museums and Gröna Lund if you want to be more centrally located. These parts are well-connected by bus, tram, and ferry. You’ll find a handful of accommodation choices on Djurgården, but not as many as in other parts of the city.

Norrmalm

Norrmalm is one of the most central districts in Stockholm. To be totally honest, I actually find this part of the city quite boring. But at the same time, you will find a large number of Stockholm’s hotels here. 

Another advantage of Norrmalm is that you can easily get not just around the city, but also into Stockholm in the first place. You’ll find Stockholm Central Station here, which is where the Arlanda Express arrives. On top of that, you can get the bus to and from the airport from the main bus station. T-Centralen, meanwhile, connects you to every Metro line in the Swedish capital. 

I would stay in Norrmalm for the convenience, especially if you’re in Stockholm for a weekend city break. It’s also a good place to stay if you’re interested in shopping; Stockholm’s main shopping street and the Åhléns Department Store are both located here. You can easily walk to Gamla Stan, too.

Gamla Stan

Picturesque Gamla Stan is the first place that many people explore when they visit Stockholm. It’s the most touristy part of the city, which isn’t surprising, considering that it’s also one of the most beautiful.

Gamla Stan is a very small district, but it has a pretty good selection of places to stay. You’ll find a variety of hotels, including the Mälardrottningen Yacht Hotel. Moreover, the neighborhood has apartment-style accommodation and hostels.  

Since Gamla Stan is the historic heart of Stockholm, you cannot get more central than this. However, you will also need to deal with the crowds that are here throughout most of the day. There’s a lot of charm to this part of the city, though, so that’s a trade-off that might be worthwhile. 

In terms of transport links, you can basically walk everywhere in Stockholm from Gamla Stan. The neighborhood also has a Metro station, along with bus links and a ferry stop just outside of the Old Town. 

Vasastan

Vasastan is just north of Norrmalm, and it’s a relatively quiet neighborhood. It’s home to Lillebrors Bageri, which—in my opinion—is the best bakery in Stockholm. Whether you base your stay on that information or not is up to you 🙂. 

You’ll find a decent range of accommodation in Vasastan. While some of these are hotels, it’s also a solid neighborhood choice for apartment hotels. It’s very easy to get around other parts of Stockholm from here via the Metro and bus. 

Vasastan has some nice churches, along with a decent range of parks. It also has a handful of nice cafés, restaurants, and shops. 

Kungsholmen

I mainly go to Kungsholmen when I want to visit Stockholm’s City Hall, but I have also spent a bit of time exploring other parts of the neighborhood. It’s a very peaceful part of town, despite being a short distance from the main train station and other parts of Stockholm. 

Although Kungsholmen is primarily residential (or perhaps because it is), you’ll find a decent range of accommodation in this district. I mentioned Clarion Amaranten earlier, but it’s far from your only option. In addition to hotels, you can rent apartment-style places to stay for short-term trips. 

Besides the fact that you’ll have no issues reaching other parts of Stockholm, Kungsholmen has some beautiful waterfront areas. If you stay in this part of town, be sure to go for a morning stroll along some of them (especially if you want some great photos from your Stockholm trip). 

In terms of public transport, Rådhuset will most likely be your main Metro station. However, you’ll find a couple of others, too. 

Östermalm

Östermalm is Stockholm’s most upscale inner district, and it’s home to some of my favorite restaurants in the city. You’ll also find Östermalms Saluhall here, which is my top recommendation for food markets in the Swedish capital. It’s home to Stureplan, too, which is Stockholm’s fanciest corner (and to be honest, *too* fancy for me if we talk about spending any time around that square beyond staying in a hotel). 

You’ll find various hotels in this part of Stockholm, including the iconic Hotel Diplomat. This is one of the most popular luxury hotels in the city, and it’s set right across the street from what I think is one of the city’s most beautiful promenade areas. Many of the other hotels in the neighborhood also match Östermalm’s reputation as being Stockholm’s answer to “elegance”. 

Getting around Stockholm is very easy if you base yourself in Östermalm. You can easily walk across the bridge to Djurgården, and you’re connected to the main train station via the Number 7 tram. On top of that, Östermalm has a large number of Metro stations—including Stadion, which I personally think is the most photogenic. 

Bus connections are also abundant in this district, and on a good day, I recommend just walking to the likes of Gamla Stan along the waterfront. While you’re in Östermalm, be sure to also visit Engelbrektskyrkan and the pretty area(s) around this church. 

Top Tip: To get around Stockholm more easily, I recommend staying closer to the water on the side where Djurgården and the Number 7 tram are. However, you won’t have too many issues getting around the city from any part of Östermalm—albeit other areas are slightly less convenient. 

Skeppsholmen

Skeppsholmen is a tiny island in the center of Stockholm and somewhere I visit pretty much whenever I’m in the city. Despite being accessible from other parts of the center by footbridge and a short ferry ride from Djurgården, it feels miles away from Stockholm’s urban center. 

You can walk around Skeppsholmen within a few hours, and the main joy here is just being outside. However, you can also stay on the island if you’d like to at Hotel Skeppsholmen. On top of that, you can easily reach nearby Kastellholmen—a pretty islet with a nice small castle and good views of Gröna Lund. 

Skeppsholmen is reachable from both Djurgården and Gamla Stan via the public transport ferry. Otherwise, you can easily walk around Stockholm from here or take the Metro from Kungsträdgården on the other side of the footbridge. 

Other Areas in (& Around Stockholm) Worth Considering

In addition to the top districts in Stockholm that I’ve discussed, I can also recommend a handful of other areas in and around the city. I wouldn’t prioritize these as highly as the absolute musts, but they’re still worth considering. 

Hammarby Sjöstad

I stayed once in Hammarby Sjöstad, and it’s a pretty pleasant neighborhood. This modern district used to be a major industrial area, but now, you’ll find a number of new-build apartments. The main joy of staying here is that it’s so close to the water, and you can easily get into the city center by ferry. 

For the most part, you’ll find apartment-style rentals here. However, Scandic also has one of its many Stockholm hotels in Hammarby Sjöstad. Besides taking the ferry, you can use the tram to get around the city from here. It’s less convenient in terms of public transport, compared to other neighborhoods, but by no means unreachable. 

The Stockholm Archipelago

Stockholm has one of Sweden’s most beautiful archipelagos nearby, and it’s the perfect introduction to the country’s nature if you don’t want to stray too far from the capital. Many people live on these islands and commute into town, and if you want to combine a city visit with more rural living, you may well want to consider staying on an island here. 

The Stockholm Archipelago has over 20,000 islands, islets, and skerries. Naturally, some are closer and easier to access than others. If you plan to stay here, look for direct ferry connections to Stockholm and ideally, try not to stay too far out. 

Most of the places to stay on the Stockholm Archipelago are bed-and-breakfasts and cabins. Availability will be higher in the warmer months, so it’s worth considering if you plan to visit Stockholm in the summer. Vaxholm is the easiest town to base yourself in the Stockholm Archipelago; it has direct ferry links to the city center. Note that tickets will cost more than public transport within Stockholm. 

Uppsala (in *Some* Circumstances)

Uppsala is one of the prettiest cities in Sweden, and I definitely recommend visiting if you have some extra time to spare. It’s less than an hour by train and easy to reach from both Arlanda Airport and Stockholm’s city center. 

My girlfriend and I stayed in Uppsala on a summer 2024 trip through Sweden and Finland. We booked much of our accommodation late, and as a result, it was pretty expensive to stay in Stockholm. But beyond that, we actually wanted to stay somewhere else. I hadn’t been to Uppsala before that trip, and I wanted to explore the city properly. We did a few day trips into Stockholm, including when we took the train back to Copenhagen. 

I say Uppsala is worth staying in on some occasions because you’ll find some pretty good hotels here. Plus, the city itself is worth visiting. However, I’d only recommend staying in Uppsala if you’re in the Stockholm area for at least five days and want to also explore other nearby towns. 

If you do choose to stay here, you will pay more for train travel into Stockholm. Fortunately, though, there are plenty of connections throughout the day. 

Where I Don’t Recommend Staying, and Why

For the most part, I don’t recommend staying anywhere that’s away from public transport or simply far-ish from the city center. This includes many of the suburbs where you can take the bus into Stockholm, but for which the journey is too long. 

The simple reason why I don’t recommend those kinds of areas is that you’ll spend too much time commuting. This might be fine if you’re here for a month, but it’s not ideal if you’re only in town for a weekend.

Stockholm does have some “vulnerable areas”, “risk areas”, and “especially vulnerable areas”. These have higher crime rates than other parts of the city, though these crimes pretty much never concern tourists. 

I wouldn’t say they’re dangerous compared to a bad part of most major cities (I’m from London, for example), but I also don’t think you should stay in them as a tourist. Besides being isolated and too far away from the center, I just think there are better areas to stay if you have the choice to do so.

If you’re interested, Sweden’s main police website has listed what it considers to be vulnerable and especially vulnerable zones. The full list of these for 2025 (the most recent I could find at the time of my most recent update) is available here under the section “Utsatta områden Stockholms län”.

Essential Things to Consider When Booking a Place to Stay in Stockholm

Your Specific Style of Travel and the Reasons You’re in Stockholm

Your main reasons for visiting Stockholm will make a big difference in not only the accommodation you stay in, but also whether you want to pick a specific district. For example, Norrmalm is a good choice for general-purpose travelers who want somewhere central. However, Östermalm is often a better option if you want more of a special stay. 

I’ve always picked places to stay based on whether I’m traveling on my own or with others. On top of that, I’ve thought about whether I just want a place to sleep or something more elegant. Budget is also a big factor, but Stockholm has something regardless of how much you can spend. 

Proximity to Public Transport & Distance From the Main Sights

This is one that I really can’t stress enough. While the center of Stockholm is pretty compact, the city as a whole is surprisingly spread out. If you’re staying too far from the center, it can take 40+ minutes to get into town. 

That doesn’t sound like much, but when you’re only visiting as a tourist, it will eat into how much time you spend exploring. This is particularly true when, unlike much bigger cities (e.g., Tokyo), most of the main sights in Stockholm are close to each other. 

When looking for accommodation, make sure you’re at least close to some form of frequent public transport. The central districts I’ve mentioned in this guide have good links to other parts of Stockholm, so I’d recommend starting with these. 

Refund and Advance Payment Policies

When booking a hotel, hostel, or other form of accommodation, you’ll often have the option for a free refund if you change your mind. This, however, is not the case all of the time. So, if you want to keep your plans flexible, I strongly recommend checking to ensure that you have this option. It might be available for certain rooms, though you may also need to pay more than if you pay upfront.

Some hotels will also let you pay when you arrive. Whether you want this or not will depend on your own preferences, but it is a nice perk. Again, I recommend looking to ensure that you can do this if it’s what you’d like to do. 

The Level of Service You Want

Stockholm has a range of accommodation styles, from hotels to B&Bs and even campsites. The level of service will vary; some will be more transactional, whereas others will aim to give you a special experience. 

Most of the time, I’m not overly bothered about the service I receive when I visit Stockholm. I’m quite happy to check in and then contact the staff if I need something 🤣. Having said that, it’s certainly nice sometimes to have a higher level of attention. 

Again, this will depend on why you’re visiting—and how you usually like to travel. While it’s not usually a major problem for me, it could be for you.

What to Expect When Booking and Staying at Accommodation in Stockholm

To help you find the perfect accommodation for your Stockholm visit, I’ve added some more of my biggest tips for you in the subsections below. 

1. You Will Find a Mixture of Contactless Check-In and In-Person Options

You’ll quickly notice that Stockholm is a very tech-savvy city. Considering that the likes of Klarna and Spotify were born here, this isn’t surprising. Many things in the Swedish capital are digital, from payments to many public transport tickets. This also extends to a lot of accommodation. 

Some of the places you stay in Stockholm will have contactless check-in. You can fill in your reservation details and get the keys to your room that way, in these instances. 

However, this is not always the case. In other circumstances, you’ll check in like normal by going to the front desk. I personally prefer the latter, but your mileage may vary. 

2. The Quality of Budget Accommodation Can Vary Significantly

I’ve stayed in *a lot* of budget hotels and hostels in Stockholm, and I can tell you from my own experiences that the quality varies significantly. Some options, such as those I recommended earlier, are very good; others had me questioning whether I had any dignity left. 

The bad ones can be really bad, from uncomfortable beds to not being up to the cleanliness standards of many places in Stockholm. Some places also don’t have windows; this is a “perk”, if you can call it that, of many budget places I’ve stayed throughout Sweden. Definitely check that yours does if you’re visiting in the summer. 

To give you an example of one bad experience I had in Stockholm: My bed mattress felt like cardboard, and I was pretty relieved to only be there for a few nights. The bathroom also wasn’t particularly clean, and I felt just constantly in a bad mood when I was staying there. I forgot the name of it, as I tried my best to… rest assured that I haven’t included it in my suggestions. 🙂

My girlfriend taught me a trick that basically goes like this: Filter the review comments by worst and see what people are complaining about. If these aren’t big issues, go ahead and book. If they are deal breakers, you have your answer. I find that doing this is much better than looking at what people liked, personally. 

3. Stockholm Is Expensive, but You Will Find Something That Meets Your Budget

You’ve probably heard that Stockholm is an expensive city, and this is—to some extent—true. But to be honest, I also think it’s somewhat overblown. Maybe I’m now just used to living in Copenhagen and how much everything costs here…? 🤷🏾‍♂️

Stockholm is more expensive than most European cities, but it’s less pricey than all of the other Nordic capitals, in my opinion. Apart from Helsinki, perhaps, but I find accommodation in Helsinki to generally cost more than in Stockholm.

Regardless of your budget, you will still find something that meets your needs in Stockholm. There are a number of hotels that cost less than $60 per night and also hostels that cost less than $40 per night, on the cheaper side of things. The latter is admittedly still pricey for hostels compared to the rest of the world, but for Stockholm, it’s cheap for accommodation.

For most of the year, that is; summer is quite pricey, as I’ll talk more about soon. 

4. Breakfast Can be Great or Mediocre, Depending on Where You Stay

Yeah, I know… “This is surely the same as most cities?”, I hear you say. And you’d be right. But in the Nordics, I’ve found that you’re generally going to get a great breakfast in most places in Norway; the same is true for Finland, in my opinion. 

Hotel breakfasts in Stockholm vary in quality. Some will give you the freshest ingredients and delicious bread, while others will be more of a generic continental fare. As I’ve already mentioned, the Backstage Hotel is my top choice if you want a really good breakfast; Clarion is always a safe option, too. 

If you’re not so interested in your hotel breakfast, Stockholm has plenty of great brunch spots—so don’t worry. If you’re going to choose one, I’d recommend making it Pom & Flora. 🙂

5. Summer Is Super Expensive for Hotels in Stockholm

You know where I said earlier that Stockholm has something for all budgets? I stand by that, with the caveat that summer is often super expensive. When my girlfriend and I visited Sweden as part of our summer 2024 trip I spoke about, we literally could not find something for less than $150 per night. We also weren’t willing to stay in a hostel, so… yeah. (That’s the reason why we couldn’t find something, I guess.)  

You should also keep in mind that most Swedes go on vacation in July, which means that while Stockholmers leave town, people from other parts of the country will come to the capital. Naturally, as the most popular time of the year, prices will always increase during the summer. 

Summer in Stockholm has its perks, for sure, but you can always consider visiting in the winter if you’re more flexible. The colder months also have their charm. Otherwise, factor in the extra amount of money you’ll spend into your budget. 🤠

6. You’ll Find More Unique Hotels in Stockholm Compared to the Other Nordic Capitals

Besides living in Copenhagen (and visiting seven times before I moved there), I’ve visited the other four Nordic capitals at least six times each. From my own observations and trips, I’d say that Stockholm has more unique options to stay in. 

By this, I mean that you can find a good chunk of boutique hotels. Yes, the big chains—such as Radisson Blu, Scandic, and Clarion—have a number of places to stay here. However, you’re also not going to be short on more unique stays if you’re looking for something different. 

I have to say that writing this article made me realize that there are still at least a dozen places I’d love to stay at when I visit in the future 😄. But if you want a weekend with a boutique hotel, Stockholm is a great choice (well, there are plenty of other reasons to visit as well, but this is yet another one).

Here’s When You Should Book Your Accommodation in Stockholm…

As a general rule of thumb, I would say that you’re good to book your accommodation for the off-season one or two months in advance. This basically is any time after mid-September until around the middle of May. 

For the summer, however, you should book as early as possible. Stockholm is very popular during the warmer months, which is unsurprising. Besides being really nice, it’s also common for both Swedes to visit from other parts of the country *and* Finns to take a cruise from Turku or Åland. 

Stockholm is also popular during the summer with cruise ship passengers from other countries, along with people seeking cooler temperatures. For the summer, 3-4 months in advance is wise; six months before is even better. 

Final Thoughts

While deciding where to stay in Stockholm can be challenging, you’ve got countless options to choose from. The city has a number of accommodation choices for all travel types, and many of the central neighborhoods will have something that meets your needs. 

Having been to Stockholm multiple times and also living there in the past, I know all too well how difficult finding the right place to base yourself can be. But now that you’ve read this guide, you should have a much better idea and some options that appeal to you. 

You can always bookmark this guide for future reference if needed. If you have further questions, feel free to leave a comment. 

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