Hostel Review: City Backpackers Hostel Stockholm

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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.

Hostel Review: City Backpackers Hostel Stockholm

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.

Hostel Review: City Backpackers Hostel Stockholm

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.

Hostel Review: City Backpackers Hostel Stockholm

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.

Hostel Review: City Backpackers Hostel Stockholm

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: 

Hostel Review: City Backpackers Hostel Stockholm