The Best Hostel in Sweden – City Backpackers
City Backpackers Hostel Stockholm Review
We’ve traveled a LOT and it’s not very often we come across a hostel that blows us away quite like this place did. In fact, during our visit to Stockholm in Winter, we actually ended up finding the best hostel we’ve ever visited.
City Backpackers Hostel in Sweden’s hip capital has everything a backpacker could wish for and we can’t imagine another hostel in the world that’s as efficient, fun and backpacker friendly.
Picture a maze of wonderful social areas, quirky murals and a clean design combined with free WiFi, free pasta, free ice skate hire and a traditional Swedish sauna.
City Backpackers was born in 1994 and they’re located in a building that was formerly used for worker unions.
The hostel has a total of 26 rooms ranging from private bedrooms with and without en-suite, dormitories and apartments.
Location
City Backpackers hostel is located in the center of Stockholm to the North of the Old town.
The hostel is within walkable distance to the following attractions:
Stockholm Central Station – 8 mins
Stockholm Palace – 20 mins
Stockholm City Hall – 20 mins
Nobel Museum – 20 mins
Gamla Stan – 20 mins
Stockholm City Museum – 30 mins
Vasa Museum – 35 mins
ABBA museum – 40 mins
Free Sauna
City backpackers offer FREE sauna times to all guests in the evenings, every single day!
The time slots for the sauna are divided by gender and private showers are located in the same vicinity for the upmost comfortable and traditional experience.
If guests want to book the sauna for themselves, it’s 50 SEK start off fee for one person and then depending on the number of extra people wanting to join, then it’s an extra 20 SEK per person. This is a unique bargain and perfect for a warm up with friends in the harsh Swedish winters (and sometimes summers!).
UPDATE
Since our stay at City Backpackers, they have now renovated the Sauna and they have increased the Free Sauna times so that allowing a mix of both men and ladies from 3-5 PM, Men only 5-7 PM and Ladies only 7-9 PM.
Shoe free zone
The City Backpackers hostel is the only hostel we have encountered that has a shoe free zone policy, and it makes complete sense!
Guests remove their shoes by the entrance to the main building and there are shoe cupboards provided for storage as well as convenient seating.
The shoe free zone allows the hostel to remain clean, particularly in the wet weather often experienced in Stockholm. The hostel does recommend that guests take shoes to their room for reassurance and peace of mind.
Free Ice Skating
That’s right, City Backpackers offer FREE ice skating hire to all guests. Is this hostel too good to be true?
All sizes of skates are available, you just have to rummage in the box a little.
Simply help yourself to a pair of boots in the box by reception and head to one of the local free ice skating rinks (season dependant).
The popular Kungsträdgården is only a 20 minute walk from the hostel, the rink is open weekdays 9am-9pm and weekends 10am-9pm which may be subject to change.
During the summer months, City Backpackers offer bike tours. For more information on seasonal facilities and tours, you can contact them directly here.
Kitchen and Dining
City Backpackers has a huge fully stocked kitchen. It has everything a traveler would need from utensils and pans to free food shelves and free pasta.
That’s right, City Backpackers offer FREE PASTA to all guests 24/7. Simply scoop it up from the container in the main kitchen.
There’s not only a free food cupboard, but a leftover food fridge too.
The kitchen doubles up as a lively social area too, guests gather and cook for one another at peak times making a homely environment and the perfect spot to meet people from all over the world.
Bedrooms
City Backpackers hostel has 26 rooms and they offer 4, 6, 7, 8 and 12 bed mixed dorms as well as 4 and 8 bed female dorms, private rooms and an apartment.
They also cater for large groups if you contact them via their website.
All rooms are locked securely by a pass code system and the doors are all clearly numbered and labelled.
Each bed has it’s own removable retro lamp and a power socket. This is a rare find, we’ve all been there, walking into a dorm late at night, while using our phone as a flashlight to try and find somewhere to plug it in and charge it up.
Each room comes with secure lockers (padlock required) and a super comfortable chair.
Bathrooms
There are many bathrooms dotted across the hostel and these are located conveniently near to the social areas.
Hot showers are available mostly throughout the basement and they’re always super clean.
Check in/Check out
Guests can check-in from when Reception is open at 8 AM and leave luggage in the luggage room until their room is available (dependent on how fast the cleaners get round to cleaning the rooms).
Rooms are gradually available, latest at 2 PM.
Checkout is at 10 AM. Reception hours are from 8 AM until 10 PM (during Winter time) – during high season reception is usually open until midnight.
City Backpackers can also arrange a late check-in for guests if they are arriving after Reception open hours. Please contact the hostel in advance if you are arriving late.
Social Areas
The best part about the City Backpackers hostel in Stockholm is the vast amount of social areas.
Guests can find them everywhere, literally, and each area has its own vibe. Whether you’re there to party or relax, there are ample chairs, loungers, tables and sofas in the reception area, basement, internet room, outside and in the kitchen.
Power sockets are also widely available for those wishing to use electronic devices.
The hostel have provided Macs that guests can use for free throughout the day and night.
The decor is very unique at City Backpackers Hostel, from the LIFE magazine mural to the random bicycles on the ceiling and traffic lights!
There’s even a social area outside with perfect seating and lighting for a gathering with friends.
The internet room is free to use and high speed WiFi is free across the whole hostel.
The reception area of the hotel sets the tone right away, there’s a relaxed vibe, comfortable seating, discounted food, free coffee (after 11am).
All sorts of quirky props scattered across the area like a retro yard sale.
There’s a real clean Scandinavian feel to City Backpackers and the staff are very knowledgeable on the surrounding area.
Join the staff and other guests in regular trivia and movie nights hosted in the reception area.
There are many unique sociable spaces located in the hostel, allowing you to mingle with other travelers from all over the world, so pull up a seat and soak up the friendly atmosphere.
Have a good look around at the unique features of the hostel because you probably wont find a quirkier collection anywhere else in the world.
Tours and Events
Trivia nights and movies nights are a regular occurrence at City Backpackers, bring guests together in a fun and relaxing environment. City Backpackers also offer their very own Viking Sauna Tour which is a fantastic Swedish experience. A local guide takes guests out into the woods on the outskirts of Stockholm. They then warm you up in the sauna which is situated at the waterfront, then you are encouraged to do this the Swedish way, by taking a dip in the Baltic Sea!
The Nomad Restaurant
The Nomad restaurant is attached to City Backpackers hostel.
They’re famous for their Swedish entrees including their popular baked cabbage, which is vegan (always check with the server).
Rated 4.5 on Trip Advisor, the Nomad restaurant offers an elegant and hip dining spot for all kinds of customer.
The staff at the Nomad Restaurant are super helpful and offer a friendly welcome as soon as you enter.
Stop by for a glass of wine, a cocktail and check out the live music line up on the Nomad website.
Facilities
As if the free ice skating, pasta and a traditional Swedish sauna weren’t enough, City Backpackers also have a laundry service and free secure luggage storage for guests.
Book your stay at City Backpackers on their website here and we promise you’ll leave with a heart full of wonderful memories from Stockholm.
Video Review
See the hostel for yourself in our video review:
Round the World Magazine Star Rating
We have no choice but to give City Backpackers Hostel in Stockholm our full 6 star rating. This means they’re above 5 star in terms of value, facilities, staff, location and cleanliness. There really is nowhere else we would choose to stay in Stockholm. Thank you for an amazing stay.
Book direct with City Backpackers and we promise you won’t be disappointed!
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