Hostels in Sweden – for a budget-friendly vacation

Hostels (‘vandrarhem’ in Swedish) and B&Bs can be found all over Sweden. They are not only for the youth; if you choose this kind of budget accommodation you will most likely meet backpackers, families and people of all ages during your stay. Many hostels offer both private rooms and dorms – some even have fully equipped apartments. Bed linen and towels are usually not included but can be rented for a small fee.

Many hostels in Sweden are run by the non-profit Swedish Tourist Association (STF). They offer all kinds of accommodations, basic and unique, from hotels to mountain stations. As for hostels, STF gathers 124 alternatives – from STF Pältsa Mountain Cabin, close to the borders of Finland and Norway in the very north,mini-suites to STF Smygehuk Lighthouse Hostel on the southernmost tip of Sweden. If you plan to stay at several hostels during your trip to Sweden, it can be worth becoming a member of STF to access the reduced member rates.

The hostels and B&Bs are listed by region, from north to south. Click on the city names to go directly to:

• Hostels in Stockholm
• Hostels in Gothenburg
• Hostels in Malmö

The following selection includes accommodations that can give your budget travel a silver lining. It’s mainly based on the Swedish regions’ recommendations. If you wish to browse even more budget accommodation alternatives, click on the hyperlinked hostels and B&B underneath each region or city.

Northern Sweden

Ski resorts and world heritage sites

The coastal city of Luleå is a good starting point when exploring the natural wonderland of Swedish Lapland. There are a few hostels in and around the city to choose from, including some situated in impressive cultural heritage settings:

• Ralph Lundstengården: B&B in an 18th-century farm where the famous composer Ralph Lundsten grew up. Two rooms for two persons each and an apartment for four. Bed linen and towels included.
• STF Gammelstads Hostel: Situated on the outskirts of Gammelstad Church Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to the 15th century. The hostel is from the 1950s with rooms for 1-6 people. Some rooms have a private restroom, some also have a shower.

Some 130 kilometres south of Luleå is Skellefteå, a small city named one of the “World’s 50 Greatest Places” in 2022 by Time Magazine. Skellefteå has a range of hostels and B&Bs for those who are looking for a vacation on a budget.

Another 130 kilometres further down the coast, you’ll find Umeå. Often referred to as the cultural capital of northern Sweden and the “City of Birches”, Umeå offers several affordable hostels and B&Bs in the centre and beyond.

• Norrland YMCA Hostel (also known as NY Hostel): Run by the association YMCA and located in the city centre. Rooms for 1-6 people. Breakfast, bed linen, towels and cleaning are included in all rooms.
• STF Berguddens Fyrvaktarbostäder: A collection of lighthouse keepers’ homes on the island of Holmön in the archipelago outside Umeå. Rooms for 2-6 people. An authentic and rustic experience – the accommodations have no running water or electricity.

Ski holidays can be expensive but staying at a hostel is one way to make the vacation less costly. In Åre, Sweden’s largest ski resort, there are a few hostels to choose from. You can also stay in Åre’s mountainous twin destination Östersund, which is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy and offers a selection of hostels in the town centre.

• Åre Bed & Breakfast: B&B within walking distance to the slopes and downtown Åre. 15 rooms for 2-4 people. Bed linen, towels, breakfast and cleaning included.
• Jamtli Hostel: Located in the historic open-air museum of Jamtli outside of Östersund. 36 beds spread over the main building, 1970s apartments and a turn-of-the-century farm.

The High Coast of Sweden is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with hardly any crowds. With the highest coastline in the world and breathtaking views at every turn, it’s a must-see for active outdoor enthusiasts. To make it even more attractive, there are some 50 hostels and B&Bs scattered around the region, including:

• Mannaminne: Open-air museum and one of the most popular attractions in the High Coast. It also has a B&B with three rooms in varied sizes in which breakfast, bed linen are towels are included. Another alternative is the three self-catering cabins for 3-4 people each. Entry to the museum is included in both accommodations.
• Vindarnas Hus: Hostel just outside Örnsköldsvik town, housed in a grand stone building from 1911. A total of 17 rooms for 1-4 people, pets are welcome too.

South of The High Coast, you’ll find the city of Sundsvall, which also offers a range of hostels and B&Bs.

The province of Hälsingland boasts another UNESCO World Heritage Site, namely the collection of Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland (‘Hälsingegårdar’). With their distinct wallpapers and elaborate wall art, these well-preserved farmhouses are among the province’s key attractions. Several of them are also among the listed hostels and B&Bs in Hälsingland, including these two ‘Hälsingegårdar’ from the 19th century:

• Erik-Anders: B&B outside Söderhamn, offering five double rooms with private bathrooms. Breakfast, bed linen and a guided tour of the farm are included.
• Frägsta Hälsingegård: B&B outside Hudiksvall, offering four double rooms. Breakfast is included and combined with storytelling about the history of the farm.

The province of Gästrikland, only two hours north of Stockholm, offers a range of budget accommodations. Many hostels and B&Bs come with a twist, from a former train station to a cottage from the 1700s.

• STF Jädraås Herrgård: Manor house from 1856 close to Kungsberget ski resort. All rooms have two beds, some have private bathrooms. Breakfast is included if you stay in the mansion building.
• Jägarstugan Wilderness Lodge: Also known as Sweden’s wildest youth hostel, located in the forest outside Åshammar, with no electricity or water. Four different accommodations with 2-18 beds each, where the charcoal hut is the simplest.

Middle Sweden

Urban youth hostels and cabins close to nature

Dalarna is a gold mine when it comes to hostels and B&Bs. The county is packed with budget accommodations, often housed in cosy wooden buildings. These two examples are ideally located when you want to enjoy some of Dalarna’s biggest draws:

• Kopparstugans Bed & Breakfast: Situated close to the Falun mine, this red wooden building from 1754 used to house mine workers. Five rooms, from singles to a family room. Bed linen, towel and cleaning included.
• Rättviksgården B&B and Hostel: Centrally located in Rättvik which makes it a good starting point for Vasaloppet ski race, Dalhalla concerts and Midsummer celebrations. 22 rooms spread over three houses.

In Västmanland, there are also numerous B&Bs and hostels. For example, the Baggå Skola Café and B&B, one of the first public schools built in Sweden in the mid-18th century. The accommodation is situated in the idyllic village of Baggå. Here, you can swim, fish, hike, or simply enjoy nature. The house's café not only offers its guests a delicious breakfast but also opens its doors for a well-deserved Fika and lunch break during the peak season.

Värmland county is also a haven for hostels and B&Bs close to nature. Whether you’re looking for accessible outdoor adventures or a laidback lake vacation, you’ll have plenty to choose from here.

• Långberget Hostel: Situated at the acclaimed cross-country ski resort, and Official Vasaloppet Centre, Långberget. 24 rooms with one bunk bed in each. Pets are welcome in most rooms.
• STF Lurö Hostel: Located in Europe’s largest freshwater archipelago. Offers a variety of accommodations – from the old lighthouse with seven double rooms to different cabins with up to eight beds.

Hostels in Stockholm. The capital of Sweden serves up a buffet of budget alternatives. The Stockholm region does not gather them on a site, but the following three are some of the most popular and highest-rated hostels in Stockholm, according to sites like Booking.com and Tripadvisor:

• Generator Stockholm: Vibrant design hostel close to the central station. The accommodation alternatives range from twin rooms to six-bed dorms. Onsite restaurant Hilma frequently serves burgers, house music – and tattoos.
• Skanstulls Hostel: Boutique hostel in the bustling Södermalm area in central Stockholm. Choose from single rooms to 12-bed dorms, some rooms come with private bathrooms. Bed linen and towels included.
• City Backpackers: Named best hostel in Stockholm 2020 and a part of Europe’s Famous Hostels network. The hostel is close to Stockholm Central Station and offers everything from private apartments to 12-bed dorms.

When it comes to STF hostels in Stockholm, the selection includes both affordable and unique accommodations:

• STF af Chapman & Skeppsholmen Hostel: Two hostels in one, centrally located on Skeppsholmen island. Af Chapman, a three-masted full-rigged ship, is currently under renovation. Skeppsholmen Hostel is housed in a craftmen’s building and offers superior rooms, family rooms and dorms. Bed linen, towels and cleaning are included.
• STF Långholmen Hostel: Stay behind bars on Långholmen island in the old prison from 1840. The prison cells have been transformed into double and quadruple rooms, some with private bathrooms.
• STF Jumbo Stay: Next to Stockholm-Arlanda Airport stands this rebuilt 747-200 jumbo jet. Stay in two- our four-bed rooms or dorms. Bed linen, towels and cleaning included.

If you wish to get away from the city life for a night or two, the Stockholm archipelago is just a boat ride away. And its 30,000 islands, islets and rocks are scattered with hostels and B&Bs.

• Kastellet Vaxholm: B&B in the inner archipelago, housed in a citadel dating from the 1500s. Single, double, triple and family rooms with bed linen, towels and breakfast included.
• Grinda Wärdshus: Guesthouse on the island of Grinda in the middle archipelago. The hostel part consists of sea lodges with two- and four-bed rooms (bunk beds). All rooms have a sink with cold running water.
• STF Möja Hostel: Award-winning hostel on Möja, one of the larger islands in the outer archipelago. Eight rooms with two or four beds each. The hostel is family-owned, and the building is a former Post Office.

Southern Sweden

Affordable city stays and royal rests

Southern Sweden is home to one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, Göta Canal. The 190 kilometres long waterway stretches over Sweden like a blue ribbon and is dotted with landmarks, cafés and accommodations. Two examples of genuine hostels along the way are:

• Hajstorp Slusscafé & Vandrarhem: Well-known café and hostel next to one of the locks on the western part of the canal. The youth hostel offers four double rooms that can be upgraded into a B&B. There are also cottages with bunk beds for rent.
• Brådtom Slusscafé & Stugor: Farm, hostel and café next to a lock on the eastern side of Göta Canal. The different cottages have room for 2-5 persons, and overnight guests can pick their own breakfast eggs in the henhouse.

Hostels in Gothenburg. As Sweden’s second largest city, Gothenburg serves up a range of hostels in and around the city. These four are centrally located and highly rated on sites like Booking.com and Tripadvisor:

• STF Stigbergsliden Hostel: Housed in a building from 1854 that used to be for Gothenburg’s sailors, located in Majorna district. Rooms for 1-5 people and dorms with up to eight beds.
• Slottsskogens Hostel (also known as Backpackers Göteborg): Hip hostel next to Gothenburg’s largest park. Rooms for 1-6 people, apartments and dorms with 8 beds.
• Göteborg Hostel: Located close to many of Gothenburg’s amusement attractions, like Liseberg. 47 rooms with 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 beds. Dorms with 8 beds. Some rooms have private bathrooms.
• Linnéplatsens Hotel and Hostel: Accommodation in Scandinavian styled rooms, centrally located in Linnéstan. Economy rooms for 1-6 persons and dorms with 6 beds.

Beyond Gothenburg city, West Sweden offers a large selection of youth hostels and B&Bs. Many are found in nature surroundings, with seaside access. Several budget accommodations are also a part of Stepping up Sustainability (‘Hållbarhetsklivet’), a regional initiative for a sustainable tourist industry. The following three tips are for conscious and active travellers:

• Kroppefjäll B&B: A former rest and recovery sanatorium for people suffering from tuberculosis. Located in Dalsland, two hours by car from Gothenburg. Double and family rooms with private bathrooms. Bed linen, towels and breakfast are included. Kroppefjäll B&B is close to Kroppefjällsleden hiking trail and Vänerleden national bicycling trail.
• STF Lugnåsbergets Ekohotell: Affordable eco-hotel in Västergötland, just over two hours north-east of Gothenburg. 23 beds spread over six rooms and one apartment, all with private bathrooms. Bed linen, towels, cleaning and breakfast are included. Lugnåsberget is situated on Biosfärsleden hiking trail, which is a part of Sweden’s first UNESCO Global Geopark, Platåbergen.
• Havskatten: Hotel and hostel on Hönö island in the Bohuslän archipelago, one hour west of Gothenburg. Havskatten is run by a fisherman and a carpenter and offers 12 rooms with 2-4 beds in each, some rooms have private bathrooms. It’s situated next to the sea and the new hiking trail Göteborgs Skärgårdsled, a part of Kuststigen Coastal Path.

Sweden’s largest island, Gotland, is a popular travel destination for Swedes and international travellers alike. If you’re looking for a budget vacation, there are several hostels and B&Bs to choose from, from farms to lighthouses.

• Fridhem: Built as a summer residence for Princess Eugénie in 1862, this villa in Swiss chalet style overlooks the sea just south of Visby town. Accommodation ranges from single, double and triple rooms in the main villa to surrounding cabins with several rooms for 1-4 people. Bed linen, towels, cleaning and breakfast included.
• STF Närsholmen Fyr & Logi: An old lighthouse keeper’s house, now a hostel, located on a peninsula in south-eastern Gotland. The well-preserved lighthouse was built in 1872 and surrounded by a savannah-like nature reserve. Twin and quadruple rooms.

The province of Småland is scattered with nearly 100 youth hostels, of which many are connected to STF. Choose from historical buildings in the middle of nature to urban budget accommodations. A few hostels are situated in the Kingdom of Crystal, a destination in its own right:

• STF Långasjö Hostel: Close to several glassworks, hiking trail and a lake. The hostel is housed in farm stables from the 19th century. Choose between rooms with 2-5 beds and private cabins. Cleaning is included.
• STF Korrö Hostel: Red wooden manor house located on an island in the Ronnebyån. Close to Korrö Nature Reserve, hiking trails and glassworks. 22 rooms of various sizes, spread over four buildings.

Småland’s neighbouring island, Öland, also serves up a range of affordable places to stay. Many of the hostels and the B&Bs are situated in large wooden villas, including these two gems by the sea:

• StrandNära: Summer guesthouse from 1926 turned into an award-winning organic B&B. All rooms feature a private bathroom, bed linen, towels and an organic Scandinavian breakfast.
• Villa Sol: B&B in a sun-yellow villa with lush garden. Stay in a double rooms upstairs or, if you prefer bed linen, towels, cleaning and a breakfast basket to be included, book one of the five garden rooms.

Even though Blekinge is the smallest mainland county in Sweden, it boasts an archipelago with 47 nature reserves and a large selection of both affordable hostels and cosy B&Bs. Karlskrona, the capital of the region and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a good starting point when exploring the county.

• STF Kronohäktet: Hostel in a former military prison from 1910. In 2018, the old cells were renovated and turned into bedrooms. The 32 cells are small but have room for 1-4 people in each.
• Fregatten B&B: Old wooden house that burned to the ground in 2020 and was rebuilt in the exact same way the year after. Offers four double rooms with marine theme.

Hostels in Malmö. Sweden’s third largest city doesn’t have the same range of hostels as Stockholm and Gothenburg. However, there are a few budget accommodations worth mentioning. Even if they aren’t as priceworthy as hostels, they are among the top budget hostels mentioned on Tripadvisor and one is connected to STF.

• STF Ohboy Hotel: Urban hotel with 31 loft apartments with kitchenette and private street entrance. One double bed and one single bed in every apartment. Ohboy is located in the Västra Hamnen area and known as the world’s first bicycle hotel, as a bike is included during the stay.
• Mayfair Hotel Tunneln: Centrally located hotel in a cultural heritage building dating back to the 14th century. Offers single and double rooms as well as family rooms and mini suites.
• ProfilHotels Garden: Colourful hotel in Malmö city centre. Offering single and double rooms, family rooms and junior suites. ProfilHotels Garden also has some dog-friendly rooms.

Now, with some 45 suggestions on hostels, B&Bs and other budget accommodations spread over Sweden, all you have to do is decide: where to go first?