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 amusem*nt 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?
