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Planning a trip to Stockholm? Here are my top 12 hotels split into luxury, mid-range and budget picks, with the best areas to stay in too.
I love Stockholm. Genuinely, properly love it. There’s something about a city built across 14 islands that just gets me, especially one with cobbled old town streets, colourful waterfront buildings, and more design flair than pretty much anywhere else I’ve visited in Scandinavia.
I’ve stayed all over the city over the years, from swanky five-star spots overlooking the water to cheap and cheerful budget rooms tucked down side streets in Södermalm. And honestly, Stockholm does hotels brilliantly at every single price point. Whether you’re treating yourself for a special occasion, or just after somewhere comfortable to rest your head between exploring Gamla Stan and island-hopping the archipelago, there’s a hotel here for you.
In this post, I’m rounding up the 12 coolest hotels in Stockholm, split into luxury 5-star, mid-range 4-star and budget 3-star picks, all chosen based on genuinely brilliant guest ratings. I’ve also popped in a quick guide to the best neighbourhoods to base yourself in, depending on what you’re after from your trip.
Contents:
Where to Stay in Stockholm
Before we get into the hotels themselves, it helps to know where you’re actually booking. Here’s a quick rundown of my favourite Stockholm neighbourhoods.
Gamla Stan: Stockholm’s postcard-pretty old town, all cobbled lanes and colourful buildings. Stay here for the classic Stockholm experience, right on top of the main sights.
Östermalm: The city’s smartest, most upscale district, full of boutiques, embassies and leafy streets. Stay in Östermalm if you want a quieter, more refined base with easy access to the water.
Södermalm: Trendy, arty and endlessly cool, this is where Stockholm’s creatives and food lovers hang out. Stay in Söder for the best cafés, vintage shops and nightlife.
Norrmalm: The modern city centre, home to Stockholm Central Station and the main shopping streets. Stay here for pure convenience, especially if you’re arriving by train.
Kungsholmen: A quieter, more residential island with lovely waterside walks. Stay in Kungsholmen if you want a slightly calmer base without straying too far from the centre.
Vasastan: Elegant, leafy and full of charm, this is one of Stockholm’s most liveable neighbourhoods. Stay here for a more local feel, with excellent restaurants and easy transport links.
Luxury 5-Star Hotels
Grand Hôtel Stockholm
If you’re going to splash out anywhere in Stockholm, make it here. Grand Hôtel Stockholm sits right on the waterfront directly opposite the Royal Palace and Gamla Stan, and the views alone justify the price tag. It’s one of the most iconic hotels in the city, having hosted Nobel Prize laureates for over a century.
Inside, you’ll find elegant, classic interiors, a spa, and some of the best fine dining in Stockholm. It’s traditional in the best possible sense, formal without ever feeling stuffy. If you want to feel genuinely spoiled for a night or two, this is the one.
Ett Hem
Ett Hem translates to “a home,” and that’s exactly the feeling this boutique five-star nails. Set in a beautiful Arts and Crafts-style townhouse in Östermalm, it only has a handful of rooms, which makes for an intimate, almost residential stay rather than a typical hotel experience.
I love that it comes with an indoor pool, sauna and even a private chef’s table. Everything here feels curated and personal, right down to the antique furnishings dotted throughout. If you want luxury that feels understated rather than flashy, Ett Hem is hard to beat.
Nobis Hotel
Nobis Hotel sits in two beautifully restored 19th-century buildings right in the heart of the city, and the design here is genuinely stunning. Think soaring ceilings, marble details and a real sense of Scandinavian elegance throughout the public spaces and rooms alike.
It’s part of the Design Hotels collection, so you know style is a big focus, but it doesn’t come at the expense of comfort. The location couldn’t be better either, just steps from Kungsträdgården park and the main shopping streets. A brilliant base if you want luxury with a genuinely central address.
Hotel Diplomat
Set inside a striking 1911 Art Nouveau building on the smart Strandvägen boulevard, Hotel Diplomat is one of the most elegant places to stay in Stockholm. The waterfront views over Nybroviken Bay are stunning, especially from the higher floors, and the whole hotel has a wonderfully old-world charm.
There’s a lovely spa on site, along with a restaurant that’s popular with locals as well as guests. It’s a touch quieter than some of the bigger five-star names in the city, which I actually think works in its favour. A proper treat of a stay.
Mid-Range 4-Star Hotels
Hotel Skeppsholmen
Hotel Skeppsholmen is one of my favourite mid-range picks in the whole city, purely for its setting. It’s tucked away on the small island of Skeppsholmen, surrounded by museums and water, yet still an easy walk from central Stockholm. The building itself dates back to the 17th century and was once a naval barracks.
The design inside blends historic character with clean, contemporary Scandinavian style, and there’s a lovely garden to relax in when the weather’s kind. It’s peaceful, characterful, and a genuinely lovely spot to come back to after a day of sightseeing.
Hotel Rival
Hotel Rival is co-owned by ABBA’s Benny Andersson, and that creative pedigree runs right through the place. Set in Södermalm, one of Stockholm’s coolest neighbourhoods, it’s got a proper art deco cinema-turned-hotel feel, with quirky touches and a genuinely fun atmosphere throughout.
The rooms are stylish without being over the top, and the on-site bakery and bar are both excellent. I’d recommend this one if you want somewhere with personality, right in the middle of Söder’s best cafés, vintage shops and nightlife.
Miss Clara by Nobis
Miss Clara by Nobis is set inside a beautiful early 1900s Art Nouveau schoolhouse, just a short walk from Kungsträdgården. It’s got that same design-led feel as its sister hotel, Nobis, but at a slightly more accessible price point, which makes it a brilliant mid-range choice.
I really like the rooftop bar here, especially on a warm evening, and the rooms themselves are sleek and comfortable with a real design edge. Location-wise, you’re right in the thick of it, so it’s ideal if you want to walk pretty much everywhere.
Downtown Camper by Scandic
Downtown Camper is one of the more unique mid-range hotels in Stockholm, built around the idea of feeling at home whether you’re travelling for business or leisure. It’s got co-working spaces, bike hire, and even a rooftop running track, alongside genuinely comfortable, well-designed rooms.
The location is excellent too, just steps from Kungsträdgården park in the heart of the city. It’s a great choice if you want somewhere modern and a little different, with plenty of extras thrown in that you wouldn’t expect at this price point.
Budget 3-Star Hotels
Mälardrottningen Yacht Hotel
This has to be one of the most unusual hotels in Stockholm, and I mean that in the best way. Mälardrottningen is a converted 1920s luxury yacht, once owned by Barbara Hutton, permanently moored in Gamla Stan. You genuinely sleep in a cabin on board a boat, right in the middle of the old town.
It’s a brilliant budget option if you want something memorable rather than just functional. The rooms are compact, as you’d expect on a yacht, but the novelty and location more than make up for it.
Långholmen Hotell
Långholmen Hotell has one of the most fascinating backstories of any hotel in the city: it’s set inside a former prison on the peaceful island of Långholmen. Don’t let that put you off though, the rooms are simple, comfortable and genuinely good value, and the setting is surprisingly lovely.
You’re surrounded by parkland and beaches, yet still close enough to hop into the centre easily. It’s a brilliant choice if you want a quieter, budget-friendly base with a proper story to tell when you get home.
Castle House Inn
Castle House Inn is a solid, no-frills budget choice right in central Stockholm, close to the Royal Palace and Gamla Stan. It won’t wow you with design flourishes, but it does exactly what you need it to: clean, comfortable rooms in a genuinely excellent location.
I’d recommend this one if you’re prioritising location and value over extras, since you’re within easy walking distance of pretty much all the major sights from here. A great, dependable base for a short city break.
Hotel Hellstens Malmgård
Hotel Hellstens Malmgård is a real hidden gem for budget travellers who still want a bit of character. Set in a beautifully restored 18th-century manor house, every room is individually decorated, so no two stays feel quite the same.
It’s got a quirky, antique-filled charm that you don’t often find at this price point, along with a genuinely warm, personal atmosphere. It’s a little further from the absolute centre, but that trade-off is well worth it if you want somewhere with real personality.
So there you have it, my pick of the best hotels in Stockholm, whatever your budget. Have you stayed at any of these? Or is there a Stockholm hotel you think deserves a spot on this list? Let me know in the comments below!
