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At the recommendation of a friend, I stayed at the City Backpackers Hostel Stockholm in November 2015 for two nights while traveling solo through Scandinavia. As an avid hostel stayer with both positive and negative experiences, I would highly recommend City Backpackers Hostel Stockholm to anyone traveling to Stockholm, but especially for solo travelers, as it is clean, comfortable, well-staffed, and a great place to meet other travelers.
Location
City Backpackers Hostel is located a short 5-10 minute walk from the main train station in Stockholm. There are plenty of places to eat nearby, varying from quick, affordable cafes to high-end restaurants. Although the hostel is located near public transportation, it is also possible to walk to popular neighborhoods such as Gamla Stan (Old Town) and Sodermalm, and to popular sights such as the Royal Palace, City Hall, Monteliusvagen, and Vasa Museum. There is also a pedestrian area located a few blocks from the hostel where you can find plenty of shopping, restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops.
Staff
When I arrived at the hostel, there were quite a few travelers waiting at the reception desk ahead of me. However, the wait did not feel long at all as I admired the unique art and decorations in the lobby area. I was then greeted by a Hungarian girl who had recently moved to Stockholm from Hungary, and she proceeded to check me into my room. She was very friendly and immediately made me feel at home. She provided me with bed sheets and towels and even walked me all the way to my room.
Lobby/reception area of City Backpackers Hostel Stockholm (photo taken from hostelworld.com)
After dropping off my backpack in my dorm room, I went back to the reception desk to ask for recommendations for a quick dinner and some sightseeing as it was already evening, and I was not sure which sights were still open to the public or worth seeing at night. The girl at the reception desk directed me to a cute cafe around the corner and recommended that I visit Fotografiska, a photography museum that’s open late. I enjoyed both greatly.
Throughout my stay, I always felt comfortable chatting with the staff at the hostel and never hesitated to ask for directions or recommendations, as the staff always had such cheerful dispositions and seemed to genuinely enjoy assisting the guests.
Rooms
I stayed in a spacious 7-person co-ed dorm near the main living room and kitchen area. The beds were located along the walls of the room, creating an open layout that better facilitated conversation amongst travelers. Six of the seven beds were filled, and on my second night there, all six of us decided to go out and grab some beers together. The group consisted of one other American, one Canadian, and three Australian travelers. The other American happened to be from Chicago, like myself, but the dorm provided a great opportunity to bond with people from all over the world.
Clean, open, spacious rooms (photo taken from hostelworld.com)
The rooms at City Backpackers Hostel are available in a variety of configurations. In addition to the 7-person co-ed dorm I stayed in, the hostel provides 4-, 6-, 8-, and 12-person co-ed rooms, as well as 4- and 8-person female dorms. There are also private rooms available (singles and doubles), as well as 6- and 8-person private apartments.
My room at City Backpackers Hostel Stockholm was clean, the beds were comfortable and quiet, and my dorm mates were friendly and considerate. I could not have asked for a better dorm room experience.
Amenities
City Backpackers Hostel comes fully equipped with a full kitchen, living room area with computers for hostel guests to use, public as well as private bathrooms, showers, a sauna, and a breakfast cafe. The kitchen comes fully stocked with dry pasta that is free for hostel guests. In an expensive city like Stockholm, having free pasta at the hostel every day can save you a substantial amount of money, especially if you plan to stay in Stockholm for a longer period of time. Cooking in the kitchen is also a great way to meet fellow travelers. Most hostel guests would much prefer to chat with a fellow traveler while waiting for their pasta to cook rather than stand in silence.
The sociable atmosphere in the kitchen at City Backpackers Hostel Stockholm (photo taken from the hostel’s website)
In addition to these amenities, City Backpackers Hostel also provides services such as organized tours and bike rentals. Unfortunately I was not able to take advantage of any of the tours due to my short amount of time in the city.
Interested in exploring more of Scandinavia? Then you might want to check out these posts:
I usually hesitate to stay in hostels due to a bad experience. But this place looks so clean, refreshing, friendly and nice. I would love to stay here, I like the dry pasta option. Great post, I would definitely consider this hostel as an option when visiting the area.
I’ve had some negative hostel experiences as well, but I really can’t think of any complaints with this one. Part of the reason the dorms are all so clean is because you’re required to take off your shoes when you enter the building, so a lot of the dirt or snow that you might otherwise track inside won’t be there. At first it felt weird to not have my shoes while walking around, but I very quickly started to feel more at home that way since I usually don’t wear shoes in my own home.
Sounds like a great hostel. I plan on visiting Stockholm next summer. Have bookmarked for then 🙂
I’m a huge hostel fan but agree that they can really be hit or miss. This one seems to be a hit! This looks like the perfect place to explore Stockholm from. I’ve heard that scandinavian hostels tended to be clean but kinda of stark and boring but this one seems very lively and fun!
I agree about the stereotype you described, but the staff at this hostel were some of the most lively individuals I encountered in Scandinavia. Part of it may be because a lot of the staff hail from other parts of the world. For instance, the girl who helped me check in was from Hungary and had just moved to Stockholm less than a year prior. I love that as it creates a more international atmosphere.
This place looks great. And a sauna?! I like how they do things in Sweden! Love sociable hostels that try to look a bit different. Sounds like a really cool trip ?
Scandinavians love their saunas! If you have the chance to go in the winter, I’d recommend doing a Viking sauna tour, which this hostel can help organize for you 🙂
Hey Diana, Thanks for this post bursting with information as per usual. I haven’t yet been to Stockholm but when I do, I will def check out this social and cool hostel. Thanks for sharing it with me.
Glad to hear it! Let me know when you go to Stockholm and I can send you some more tips 🙂
I’m not a hostel fan, but this one looks great! The kitchen looks awesome, so spacious. Looks like a great place to socialize with fellow travelers!
The kitchen was very spacious, and I would say it was the best area in the hostel to meet people.
Although I have largely (never say never!) moved on from backpacking I have stayed at many in Europe over the years. This looks nothing like many of the dingy cramped places I rolled out my sleeping bag. Great job finding this little gem!
This was so spacious, bright, and clean! Hostels often get a bad rap, but this one was nicer than some hotels I’ve stayed in, and a lot more lively and easy to meet people as well.
Wow that is so much cleaner and prettier than some of the hostels I’ve stayed at!! But then again, I wouldn’t expect anything less from Stockholm haha. I love it when hostels are able to provide both clean facilities and a social vibe. Happy that you found a good place to stay! Sometimes that makes all the difference.
I think it really does make a big difference. This hostel had the best of both worlds, and I would not hesitate to stay there again!
I’ve only stayed in a hostel twice. One experience was positive, the other one pretty negative. However, I would never say no to trying again, especially in a nordic country where everything is clean and nice :). At least that’s what I think. Great review!
Happy travels!
Looks like a great place to stay! I’ve also stayed in many hostels, slept in dorms and cooked in hostels’ kitchens, so I understand the importance of having a dorm room with enough space, friendly advice form the hostel and a fully equipped kitchen. From the photos looks new and clean, very welcoming. And the free pasta is definitely a plus!
I think for people like us who have stayed in lots of hostels, we really know what makes a good hostel. Many hostels have a few great qualities but are lacking in other areas, but this hostel really does have it all!
I love the way you’ve mentioned the details here, I prefer to stay at hostels all the time and its fun to meet people all over the world. Adding this to my list in case I go to Stockholm anytime soon 🙂
Definitely do, Seema! I love staying at hostels as well, especially when I’m traveling by myself. Some hostels are better environments for meeting people than others, and I have to say City Backpackers Stockholm was a fantastic place to meet fellow travelers. Would highly recommend staying here when you make it to Stockholm. 🙂
I have stayed there for 2 days. Its a home away from home! Perfect youth hostel and friendly environment