The Swedish capital offers several distinct areas for a perfect stay, all depending on your preferences for activities, food and atmosphere. Each district of the city has its own characteristic and atmosphere. The best neighborhood to stay at when visiting Stockholm are one of the seven districts in the inner city. This will give you the best access to public transport, cafés and restaurants, nightlife, nature and also the possibility to walk or take the public transport to different places within the city.
In this article we guide you to the best areas to stay at during your visit to Stockholm, and explain on what to expect from each inner city district.
Where to stay for historic sightseeing: Gamla stan (The old town)
Gamla Stan is Stockholm’s old town, built in the 13th century, though most of the buildings here today are from the 17th and 18th century. It is a charming and lively part of Stockholm, full of history, including the Royal Palace and The Royal Chapel (Storkyrkan). The district is full of small alleyways, cobbled streets and picturesque squares. Here you will find plenty of souvenir shops, cafés, restaurants, galleries and museums.
We recommend you to see this part of Stockholm at least once, since it differs so much from the rest of the city. It has some great places for eating Swedish cuisine and the district has good access to the rest of the city. This is a great location to stay at if you want to stay at a central location full of history.
The best places to stay in Gamla stan (The old town)
- Budget: Castanea Old Town Hostel – Thi is a cozy hostel in the middle of the Old Town. The rooms are small, but well kept, overlooking the quirky streets of Gamla Stan. You can choose from staying at a dorm room together with other guests or in a private room.
- Mid-range: Collector’s Victory Hotel – This is one of three hotels in the Collector’s branch. The interior is full of antiques and quirky items, all related to a marine theme. The Victory hotel is the flagship hotel, with larger rooms and conveniently located at one of the main streets in Gamla Stan.
- Luxury: Hotel Reisen – Located central in Gamla Stan, with a magnificent view of the waterfront, this is an upscale hotel, and a part of the Hyatt Hotels. There is a cozy spa, with an indoor pool and sauna, as well as a bar and restaurant serving classical Swedish cuisine.
Where to stay for first time visitors: Norrmalm
Norrmalm is in the heart of Stockholm, and is one of the city’s busiest areas. The locals usually call it just City, and this is right at the city center. It hosts the Central station as well as several of the central shopping streets, amongst other the Drottninggatan, a 1.5 km long shopping street.
As a first time visitor this is the perfect area to stay at, being in the heart of the city, and having many options for restaurants, cafés, and attractions nearby. This is a good place to start exploring Stockholm and for making day trips to the neighboring districts of the city.
The best places to stay in Norrmalm
- Budget: City Backpackers Hostel – Located in a 19th century building just a few minutes walk from the Central Station, this is an excellent pick for a central stay. The rooms are clean and they offer both dorms that are shared with other guests, twin bed rooms, and apartments if you are traveling with friends.
- Mid-range: Best western and hotel – A small, nice hotel in a very central location. It is reasonably priced and good value for the money.
- Luxury: Grand Hotel – This is an excellent five star hotel, with an incredible location in a historic building just on the opposite waterfront of the Royal Castle. The service at the hotel is impeccable and they have a great restaurant, bar as well as a spa.
Where to stay on a budget: Södermalm
Södermalm, or just Söder, as the locals call it, is both a district and an island in central Stockholm. There are several affordable options for hotels here and it is a good area for finding good and affordable restaurants.
Södermalm is the trendy and bohemian district in the city. Some of our favorites spots in Södermalm are Fjällgatan, a street located at a cliff and which gives a great panoramic view of the city, the museum of contemporary photography, Fotografiska and Tantolunden, which is a huge park with beaches, cafés and beautiful nature.
The best places to stay in Södermalm
- Budget: Långholmen Hotel – Before opening as a hotel in 1989 the building used to be a prison during the 18th and 19 centuries. The hotel offers a unique environment in some breathtaking surroundings at the lush Långholmen Island. The old prison cells have been remodeled into modern hotel rooms.
- Mid-range: Clarion Hotel Stockholm – A hotel near public transport in Södermalm. The hotel has a spa, and some restaurants, and there are plenty of cafés and restaurants to choose from nearby.
- Luxury: Hotel Frantz – A Charming design hotel with great views over the water at Slussen. The name is inspired by the tailor Frantz Bock, who commissioned the building in 1647. The hotel offers a cozy vibe with modern rooms, a great breakfast buffé, and some excellent service from all the staff. The location could not be better when living on Södermalm.
Where to stay with family and kids: Djurgården
Djurgården is an island of vast nature and a green oasis in the east part of Stockholm. It was originally founded as the royal hunting grounds, and is today an area with vast parks, museums, restaurants and cafés. The beautiful garden café Rosendals Trädgård is a lush garden and greenhouse is a gem perfect for an afternoon tea, coffee or a snack. Some of the popular museums on the island are the Vasa Museum, the Skansen open-air museum, Nordiska Museet, the ABBA museum and the Liljevalchs art gallery.
Djurgården also has some of the best places for a visit with children. The kids will love the open-air museum Skansen, the amusement park Gröna Lund and the fairy tale world of the Junibacken children’s museum.
The best places to stay in Djurgården
- Budget: There are not many budget options at Djurgården. Your best pick would be to search for something in the neighboring districts Norrmalm or Östermalm.
- Mid-range: Backstage Hotel – This is a designer hotel, with smartly furnished rooms, located just next to ABBA The Museum. The hotel has an excellent breakfast and a large variety of rooms.
- Luxury: Hotel Hasselbacken – A historic hotel building, just near the open-air museum Skansen at Djurgården. They are known for their restaurant and food, and offer a great view of Djurgården from the hotel. The rooms are charming and modern, and the hotel is located at a great location for proximity to things to do.
Where to stay for a quieter neighborhood: Vasastan
Vasastan is a more quiet area compared to several of the other inner city districts. It has some of Stockholms most popular parks and playgrounds, such as Vasaparken and Vanadislunden. It is also just nearby the huge park Hagaparken. In the summer the street Rörstrandsgatan is transformed into a pedestrian street, where cars are blocked off and the restaurants and cafés open their popup outdoor seating throughout the whole street.
There are several great restaurants in Vasastan, and it’s a good place to visit both for dinner and for lunch. Among the older traditional restaurants are among others Tennstopet, which opened in 1867, and Tranan, which has been serving food since 1929. Vasastan is also the home of some of the best fine dining options in Stockholm, such as Etoile, Sushi Sho and Agrikultur.
The best places to stay in Vasastan
- Budget: Ibis Styles Stockholm Odenplan – Located just by the Odenplan station, this is a modern hotel in a historical building. Breakfast is included, and there are numerous options for restaurants and café in the area. The rooms overlooking the inner courtyard are quiet and nice, and they also have the underground floor without windows.
- Mid-range: Freys Hotel Lilla Rådmannen – This is a small and charming hotel near the shopping street Drottninggatan. Breakfast is served at a joint restaurant Belgobaren Bakfickan.
- Luxury: Blique by Nobis – This is a chic hotel, near Stockholms new district Hagastaden. The interior boasts nordic minimalist aesthetics. The hotel offers some great views, and their rooftop bar and restaurant ARC is worth a visit if you choose to stay here.
Where to stay for high-end shopping and nightlife: Östermalm
Östermalm is the upscale district of Stockholm, offering shopping, restaurants and bars, and a vibrant nightlife. Bibliotekstan offers the perfect shopping experience, having both Swedish and international luxurious brands, and there is also the mall Sturegallerian. The street Strandvägen is a scenic part of Stockholm, which takes you along some of the best waterfronts in the city, full of cafe’s, restaurants and docked boats along the waterfront.
The best places to stay in Östermalm
- Budget: Hotel Birger Jarl – This is a hotel with great location and good value for the money. Offers modern and comfortable rooms with a Swedish design style. It is located in a quiet part of Östermalm, not far from the city center.
- Mid-range: Hotel Villa Dagmar – This is a small boutique hotel. It is located on Nybrogatan which is a street with restaurants and upscale shops, and close to the vibrant nightlife at Stureplan.The rooms are in a modern classic style, with marble bathrooms and views either towards the peaceful inner garden or towards the lively city.
- Luxury: Hotel Diplomat – Located on the street with some of Stockholms highest real estate prices, Hotel Diplomat is a luxury escape offering a magnificent view of the waterfront from the boulevard Strandvägen.
Where to stay for architecture and parks: Kungsholmen
Kungsholmen has many buildings from the late 19th century and early 20th century, among the more prominent builds are amongst others the City Hall, which opened in 1923, with its tower and Stockholms Court House, which opened in 1915, and was designed as a castle from the Vasa era.
Some of the best parks in Kungsholmen are the Rålambhovsparken, Kronobergsparken and Rudbecksparken. A popular waterfront park for walking, sunbathing or visiting one of the many restaurants is the Hornsberg strand, which takes you along the shoreline of the lake Ulvsundasjön. There are several options for taking a swim along the long bathing jetty following the whole of the shore.
The best places to stay in Kungsholmen
- Budget: Connect Hotel City – This is a modern, quiet and cozy hotel. It has decent sized rooms. It is close to public transport as well as to the mall Västermalmsgallerian. The breakfast options are good and is included.
- Mid-range: Clarion Hotel Amaranten – The hotel offers a restaurant and a bar, which has the quirky feature of serving cocktails on tap. The spa has an indoor pool and a sauna, as well as a gym. The rooms have a modern feel, with a Scandinavian minimalist design.
- Luxury: Courtyard by Marriott Stockholm Kungsholmen. This is a hotel located in the middle of Kungsholmen, just nearby Rålambhovsparken. The rooms are spacious and overlook either the park or the residential area. There are also bike rentals at the hotel for exploring the city on a bicycle, which is a great way of discovering the city.