Where to stay in Stockholm
Stockholm is built on islands, so the right area is partly a question of which bridge you want to be on the right side of. Stay in Gamla Stan, the old town, for atmosphere and the palace on your doorstep, or in Norrmalm for the trains and the shops. Södermalm has the cafes, bars and views, Östermalm is calm and dear, Djurgården is green and museum-heavy, and Vasastan and Kungsholmen are the quieter, more local bases. Sweden has no tourist tax on hotel stays, and the Arlanda Express takes about eighteen minutes from the airport to Central Station.
The short answer
- First trip
- In Gamla Stan for the old town, or Norrmalm for the station and shops.
- Cafes and views
- Södermalm, the hilly island south of the old town.
- Quiet and polished
- Östermalm, with the food hall and Strandvägen, or Skeppsholmen for the water.
- Green and museums
- Djurgården, beside Skansen, the Vasa Museum and ABBA The Museum.
- A local base
- Vasastan or Kungsholmen, a few metro stops from the center.
How we judge an area of Stockholm: walking time to the sights, noise at night, how quickly the metro gets you out, and price. Nothing on this page is paid for, and the hotels we choose will say who chose them and when they last stayed.
Stockholm's neighborhoods, side by side
| Area | Best for | At night | Royal Palace | Vasa Museum | Central station | Getting around | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gamla Stan, the old town | Atmosphere, a first visit | Quiet after eight, busy by day | 5 min | 20 min | 15 min | Metro: Gamla stan; Slussen nearby | €€€€ |
| Norrmalm, the city center | Trains, shops, a first visit | Lively near the station, quiet on office streets | 15 min | 30 min | 10 min | Metro T-Centralen, Hötorget; trains; Arlanda Express | €€€ |
| Södermalm | Cafes, nightlife, views | Lively around SoFo and Mariatorget | 20 min | 30 min | 25 min | Metro: Slussen, Mariatorget, Medborgarplatsen | €€€ |
| Östermalm | Calm, fish and shops | Quiet, except around Stureplan | 25 min | 20 min | 25 min | Metro: Östermalmstorg, Stadion; tram 7 | €€€€ |
| Djurgården | Museums, green space | Very quiet | 30 min | 15 min | 45 min | Tram 7; Djurgården ferry; buses | €€€ |
| Kungsholmen | A local base, calm | Quiet | 35 min | 50 min | 20 min | Metro: Rådhuset, Fridhemsplan | €€ |
| Vasastan | Cafes, value | Quiet | 35 min | 45 min | 25 min | Metro: Odenplan, S:t Eriksplan; commuter train | €€ |
| Skeppsholmen and Blasieholmen | Water views, museums | Very quiet | 10 min | 10 min | 25 min | Metro: Kungsträdgården; ferry; buses | €€€€ |
Walking times run from the middle of each area: the straight line plus a third for real streets, at an easy pace, rounded to five minutes. Stockholm is spread over islands, so some walks cross a bridge and climb a hill, and the metro does the rest. Price is our read of a standard double in the same week, from € (cheapest) to €€€€ (dearest), until booking-site prices replace it.
Where the neighborhoods are
Gamla Stan, for the old town
Cobbled lanes, the Royal Palace and the oldest streets in the city, on a small island with high prices.
Gamla Stan sits on its own island between Norrmalm and Södermalm. The Royal Palace, Stortorget and the cathedral are all within five minutes of the middle, Central Station is about ten to fifteen minutes' walk, and Slussen and Södermalm are next door. Many hotels are in old merchants' houses with low ceilings and thick walls.
The island is packed with day visitors from morning until early evening, and Västerlånggatan, the main street, is a corridor of souvenir shops and tourist restaurants. After about eight it empties out and becomes quiet. Rooms are dear for their size, lifts are rare, and the cobbles are a bore with a suitcase.
Good for
- Walking out of your door into the oldest part of the city
- The palace, the cathedral and Slussen within minutes
- Quiet evenings once the day trade leaves
Think twice if
- You want good value food: the main street is dear
- You have heavy bags or limited mobility: cobbles, steps and few lifts
- You'd like to feel like you live in a normal neighborhood
Staying in Gamla Stan, the old town: nearby sights, food and getting around
Norrmalm, for trains, shops and first visits
The modern center around Central Station, Sergels torg and Drottninggatan, with the widest choice of hotels.
Norrmalm is the grid of streets north of Gamla Stan, with Central Station, the T-Centralen metro hub, Sergels torg and the pedestrian street Drottninggatan. The Arlanda Express, the commuter trains and the airport coaches all arrive here. Gamla Stan is ten to fifteen minutes' walk, and Hötorgshallen market hall is five minutes from the middle.
It is a working city center, so it is less pretty than the old town and quiet at night on the office streets. The area around the station and the underpasses at Sergels torg can feel rough late in the evening, with some begging and drinking in the open. Most visitors have no trouble; choose a hotel on a busy street and walk with company after dark.
Good for
- Every train, coach and metro line in one place
- The widest choice of hotels and prices
- Hötorgshallen, shops and Drottninggatan on foot
Think twice if
- You want charm and old streets at the door
- You'd be uneasy near a big station late at night
- You sleep lightly and the room faces a main road
Staying in Norrmalm, the city center: nearby sights, food and getting around
Södermalm, for cafes, bars and views
A hilly island of independent shops, bars and cliff-top views, five minutes by metro from the old town.
Södermalm is the large island south of Gamla Stan, reached over the Slussen locks or by metro. Mariatorget and Hornstull have cafes and wine bars, SoFo, south of Folkungagatan, has small shops and restaurants, and Monteliusvägen offers the best free view of the old town. Slussen to Gamla Stan is about ten minutes on foot.
It is the main neighborhood for an evening out, with plenty of restaurants and bars, so the streets around them are loud on Friday and Saturday nights. It is hilly, and the north shore is steep. Hotels are fewer than in the center, and many visitors stay in apartments.
Good for
- Cafes, vintage shops and a big choice of restaurants
- Views from Monteliusvägen and Fotografiska
- Slussen and the metro in a few minutes
Think twice if
- You need quiet on a weekend night near the bars
- Hills and steps are hard for you
- You want the palace and the museums at your door
Staying in Södermalm: nearby sights, food and getting around
Östermalm, for quiet streets and good food
A smart, calm district of wide streets, Strandvägen and the Saluhall food hall, at a high price.
Östermalm lies east of Norrmalm, with Strandvägen along the waterfront, the Östermalms Saluhall food hall, the Nordic Museum and the road to Djurgården. Stureplan, the main square, is about fifteen minutes' walk from Central Station, and the metro stops at Östermalmstorg and Stadion.
It is a safe, quiet area with elegant apartment blocks, high-end shops and good restaurants, and the streets near Stureplan have clubs that are loud on weekends. Hotels are fewer and cost a lot. It is a short tram or walk to Djurgården.
Good for
- Calm, safe streets and the waterfront on Strandvägen
- The Saluhall for lunch and the museums toward Djurgården
- Tram 7 and the metro close by
Think twice if
- You want to save money: this is a dear part of the city
- You want a lively, mixed neighborhood
- You'd like a room near the clubs around Stureplan but need quiet
Staying in Östermalm: nearby sights, food and getting around
Djurgården, for parks and museums
A green island with Skansen, the Vasa Museum and ABBA The Museum, and almost no hotels.
Djurgården is a former royal hunting ground on the east side of the city, with woods, a funfair and most of the big museums. The Vasa Museum, ABBA The Museum and Skansen are all on the island, and the walk to Strandvägen is about twenty to thirty minutes. Tram 7 and the Slussen ferry connect it to the center.
There are only a few hotels, and rooms are dear. The island is peaceful in the evening and quiet in winter, with few restaurants open late. It is a very good base for a short stay if you want green space, but a poor one if you want to eat out.
Good for
- Parks, woods and waterfront paths
- Museums at your door
- A calm night after the day visitors leave
Think twice if
- You want a choice of restaurants and bars
- You'd rather not rely on tram 7 and the ferry
- You want a low price: there are few hotels
Staying in Djurgården: nearby sights, food and getting around
Kungsholmen, for a local base
A residential island west of Central Station with cafes, parks and City Hall on its edge.
Kungsholmen is the island west of Norrmalm, with City Hall at the southeast tip and the Norr Mälarstrand waterfront path. Fridhemsplan and Rådhuset are the main metro stops, and the walk from City Hall to Central Station takes about twenty minutes. Hantverkargatan and Scheelegatan have cafes and shops.
It is residential and mostly quiet, with fewer visitors than in the center. Hotels are modest in number, and prices run a little below Norrmalm. It is a short ride to the sights, but there are fewer places to eat late.
Good for
- Waterfront paths and calm streets
- City Hall and Norr Mälarstrand close by
- Lower prices than the center
Think twice if
- You want to walk to Gamla Stan: it is about thirty minutes
- You want nightlife nearby
- You'd like a choice of hotels
Staying in Kungsholmen: nearby sights, food and getting around
Vasastan, for cafes and a local feel
A residential district north of the center with cafes, Vasaparken and Odenplan, a few metro stops from the sights.
Vasastan is the district north of Norrmalm, around Odenplan and Vasaparken. Drottninggatan runs up from the center, the Stockholm Public Library is a short walk, and the cafes and restaurants along Odengatan, Rörstrandsgatan and Upplandsgatan suit locals. Central Station is about twenty to twenty-five minutes' walk, and Odenplan has metro and commuter train stops.
It is calm at night, with fewer hotels and more apartments, and prices are lower than in the center. It is a good base for a longer stay, and less useful if you want sights outside the door.
Good for
- Cafes, bakeries and a lived-in neighborhood
- Lower prices than the center
- Metro and commuter train at Odenplan
Think twice if
- You want to walk to the main sights
- You'd like a wide choice of hotels
- You want nightlife nearby
Skeppsholmen and Blasieholmen, for the water
Two small waterfront islands with Moderna Museet and a few grand hotels, close to the center.
Skeppsholmen is a car-free island of museums, with Moderna Museet and the Architecture and Design Centre, joined by a bridge to Blasieholmen, where several of the city's grand hotels stand. Kungsträdgården is about five to ten minutes' walk, Gamla Stan about fifteen, and the ferry to Djurgården calls nearby.
It is quiet in the evening and the views of the palace across the water are the best in the city. There are very few hotels, and those that exist are dear. The metro at Kungsträdgården is a short walk, and there are few restaurants on Skeppsholmen itself.
Good for
- Views across the water to the palace
- Moderna Museet next door
- Quiet nights close to the center
Think twice if
- You want a wide choice of hotels or prices
- You'd like many restaurants within a minute's walk
- You prefer a street that feels lived in
Staying in Skeppsholmen and Blasieholmen: nearby sights, food and getting around
Where not to stay in Stockholm, and what to do instead
Every booking site lists these places to stay in Stockholm. We would skip them, or at least choose with care. Nobody pays a commission on a warning.
- A room on Västerlånggatan in Gamla Stan, if you need sleep before eight
The main street is busy until late evening and the lanes echo. Ask for a courtyard room, or stay on Södermalm and walk over.
- A cheap room beside the station underpasses, if you'll be out late
The rate looks good until you walk home through Sergels torg after dark. Choose a hotel on a busy main street, or stay in Östermalm or Södermalm.
- A hotel at Arlanda Airport, for a city break
It saves a ride on the first and last day, but the airport is 40 km from the center. The express train takes eighteen minutes, so stay in town.
- A room above a Södermalm bar on a weekend
Great for the evening, and loud until the early hours. Ask for a room at the back, or on a high floor.
- A cheap stay far out in the suburbs
Rooms cost less, but you pay in time and fares. Vasastan or Kungsholmen keep the savings and the metro.
Which neighborhood suits you
First time in Stockholm
In Gamla Stan, or Norrmalm for the station and shops.
Couples
Gamla Stan for old streets, or Skeppsholmen for the water.
Families with children
Djurgården for Skansen and the parks, or Kungsholmen for calm.
A tight budget
Vasastan or Kungsholmen, a few metro stops out.
Restaurants and bars
Södermalm, with SoFo and Mariatorget on foot.
Sights on foot
Gamla Stan or Norrmalm, with the palace and the shops close.
Peace and quiet
A local feel
Vasastan, for cafes, bakeries and Vasaparken.
An early train or flight
Norrmalm, with Central Station and the Arlanda Express under one roof.
Before you book a room in Stockholm
The practical things that decide whether a good hotel in Stockholm makes a good stay.
- The tourist taxSweden has no tourist tax or overnight levy on hotel stays today, in Stockholm or elsewhere: municipalities are not allowed to add one. Politicians have debated allowing it, and some of the most visited municipalities say they would like it, so we'll update this page if the law changes.
- From Arlanda AirportArlanda is about 40 km north of the center. The Arlanda Express runs to Stockholm Central in about 18 minutes, with departures every 12 to 15 minutes. The SL commuter train takes about 40 minutes and costs less, and the Flygbussarna coach to Cityterminalen takes about 45 minutes. Fares change often, so check them on the operators' sites before you travel.
- Getting aroundThe metro (tunnelbana), buses, trams and the Djurgården ferries run on SL tickets, bought in the SL app. Tram 7 links the city center with Djurgården.
- CashlessCards and phones are accepted nearly everywhere, and some cafes and shops take no cash at all. Carry a card, not notes.
- Lifts and stairsMany old buildings in Gamla Stan and on Södermalm have steep stairs and small lifts, or none. If stairs are hard for you, check the floor and the lift before you book.
- Book early in summer and at ChristmasRooms are scarce and dear from June to August and in December. Book as soon as your dates are fixed.
Where to stay in Stockholm: questions people ask
What's the best area to stay in Stockholm for a first visit?
Gamla Stan or Norrmalm. Gamla Stan puts the palace and the old lanes at your door. Norrmalm has the station, the shops and the widest choice of hotels, and is cheaper.
Is Gamla Stan a good place to stay?
It is beautiful and central, but crowded by day, dear, and awkward with luggage. After about eight it is quiet. Södermalm is a good alternative a few minutes away.
Is Södermalm or Östermalm better?
Södermalm for cafes, bars and views, with more choice and lower prices. Östermalm for quiet streets, the Saluhall and a smarter feel, at a higher price.
Is Stockholm safe at night?
Mostly, yes. It is one of the safer capitals in Europe. Pickpockets work the tourist areas and the metro, and the area around Central Station and Sergels torg can be rough late at night, so choose a hotel on a busy, well-lit street there.
How do I get from Arlanda Airport to the center?
The Arlanda Express takes about 18 minutes to Central Station. The commuter train takes about 40 minutes and the Flygbussarna coach about 45. A taxi takes 35 to 50 minutes, and you should agree the fare before you go.
Do you need a car in Stockholm?
No. The metro, trams, buses and ferries cover the city, and the center is compact. Parking is dear, and you only need a car for a trip into the archipelago if you prefer not to use the boats.
Is there a tourist tax in Stockholm?
No. Sweden has no overnight tourist tax on hotel stays today. Ask your hotel if you're not sure.
How many nights should I stay in Stockholm?
Three nights cover Gamla Stan, the Vasa Museum, Skansen and Södermalm. A fourth night adds a day in the archipelago or at Drottningholm Palace.
