Crazy places to stay in Stockholm

For a relatively small city, Stockholm has a surprisingly high number of crazy, unique and downright weird places to stay.

Want to sleep on a yacht in the city centre? Stay the night on a jumbo jet? Bed down in a “sleep box”? Or even sleep in a cell in a former prison?

If you’re tired of yawn-inducing hotel rooms and want to stay somewhere really imaginative and different, check out our top crazy places to stay in Stockholm.

Långholmen Prison Hotel

Staying in a converted cell in a 19th-century prison might not seem that appealing, but you can rest assured that the rooms here are cosy with comfortable beds, good quality linen and private bathrooms. 

The double cells are light and airy with big windows, though the compact doubles and singles have more a cell-like air about them!

There are also hostel rooms with bunk beds in them for a more authentic prison experience.

Why we recommend the Långholmen Prison Hotel

There’s nothing prison-like about the excellent buffet breakfast that’s included in the room price – homemade granola, freshly baked baked bread, eggs and cold meats – though you can opt for plain-old porridge if you want! 

We also really like the location. On leafy Långholmen island, the hotel is surrounded by parkland with a beach nearby, but is still close to the city centre.

Malardrottningen Yacht Hotel

Stockholm is a city of waterways, islands and nautical museums so sleeping on a yacht makes perfect sense.

The 23-metre long Malardrottningen Yacht Hotel has cabins of various sizes, from bunk bed rooms to luxury double cabins, all with portholes and views of the sea or the quay.

Given to Barbara Hutton, the Woolworth heiress, for her 18th birthday, the yacht has an air of faded glamour, with a teak-panelled lounge and a deck looking out over the city.

Why we recommend the Malardrottningen Yacht Hotel

We love the views of Lake Mälaren from the restaurant – even if you don’t eat here, stop by for a drink to watch the sun set.

We also love the fact that there’s a sauna on-board – it doesn’t get much more Swedish than having a sauna at sea!

Jumbo Stay Hotel

If you’ve got an early morning flight or a short stopover in Stockholm, why not stay the night in Jumbo Stay, a converted Boeing 747 at Stockholm’s Arlanda airport?

You can sleep in the engine room (yes, it is actually inside a converted engine!) or the flight deck. There are also wheelhouse rooms (beneath the plane) or you can stay in the actual fuselage itself.

And there’s a choice of rooms, from en-suite doubles to dorm rooms with bunk beds and communal bathrooms. 

There’s a lounge in the main body of the plane, where breakfast is served, and a roof terrace on one of the wings with views of the airport and runways.

Why we recommend the Jumbo Stay Hotel

The accommodation isn’t exactly luxurious, but we think this place is a serious bargain!

If you need to stay near the airport, we love that you can get a clean, comfortable dorm bed for just 450 SEK (£34; $43), with linen and towels included and a free bus shuttle to the airport terminal.

Bo Hotel

Stockholm’s first capsule hotel, the Bo Hotel has cosy “sleep boxes”, which are designed like a sleeper train carriage with bunk beds and light wood Scandi-style decor. 

It also has more conventional en-suite doubles, twins and spacious family rooms, some of which look out into the attached Torv shopping mall.

The hotel is right next to the Tele2 and Avicii Arenas, where big sporting events, concerts and shows are held, so is a good cheap place to sleep after a big night out.

For more on this hotel, check out our review of the Bo Hotel.

Why we recommend the Bo Hotel

The capsule rooms may be cheap, but they come with good soundproofing and air-con – and the rate includes a decent buffet breakfast.

Backstage Hotel

Do you love a bit of drama in your life? Well, you’ll probably love Backstage, a theatrical-themed hotel in a beautiful building dating from 1880.

You can sleep in the ABBA Gold suite, surrounded by genuine gold and platinum records from the band’s private collection, or opt for a smaller studio with views over the neighbouring rollercoasters.

Or splash out on the huge Veranda suite, where you can relax over coffee on your own private terrace.

Why we recommend the Backstage Hotel

We love its location in Djurgården, which is perfect for visiting museums and sightseeing.

The hotel is right behind the ABBA Museum, next door to the Gröna Lund (Sweden’s oldest amusement park) and just a short walk from Skansen and the Vasa Ships Museum.

Den Röda Båten

As its name suggests, Den Röda Båten is a large red boat moored alongside the Södermälarstrand, just a stone’s throw from Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s beautiful old town.

There are single rooms, cosy cabins for two with portholes looking over her sea, and bunk rooms for 3–4 people.

Why we recommend Den Röda Båten

At this place, you get nautical charm and character for a bargain price.

We love the wooden lounge area with a real brass ship’s bell and a cosy pub-like atmosphere, plus the outdoor deck where you can have a drink in summer and soak up the views. You can see more of Stockholm’s boat hotels in this guide.

Lord Nelson Hotel

Right in the middle of beautiful Gamla Stan, the Lord Nelson hotel has atmospheric Nelson-themed rooms in a narrow 17th-century building, whose facade even looks a bit like an old wooden ship.

The hotel is chock-full of marine antiques and curios that have been collected by the owners of the hotel, the Bengtsson family. 

There are wooden ships’ wheels, antique clocks and ships’ instruments dotted around the hotel, and the walls are adorned with nautical paintings and models of ships in cabinets.

The building was originally home to the printer Ignatius Meurer, who printed the Karl X Bible, one of which is also on display in the hotel lobby.

Why we recommend the Lord Nelson

We like the history and quirkiness of this place – and the fact that it’s reasonably priced for such a good location right in the centre of the historic old town.

Af Chapman

Lord Nelson not nautical enough for you? Why not stay on a real sailboat at the Af Chapman? 

This traditional three-masted tall ship was built in England in the 1800s and sailed to Australia before ending up as a hostel in Stockholm, with dorm beds and a wooden sun deck.

You can either stay in cabins with wooden bunk beds and portholes on the boat itself or in the adjacent hostel in a former naval barracks on land, the Hantverkarhuset. 

Guests staying on the boat can also use the lounge and reception area and have breakfast in the nearby Hantverkarhuset (former workshop). 

Why we recommend the Af Chapman

We thinks life on the water is that bit more fun – and the location on leafy Skeppsholmen is great too.

It’s close to Moderna Museet, with good views over the water to the Gamla Stan. 

Ett Hem

Originally three private town houses built in 1910 in the Arts and Crafts style, Ett Hem has been beautifully restored and converted into a stylish boutique hotel. 

Comfort is the watchword here, with light and airy rooms, elegant decor, and original artworks on the walls.  

Designer Ilse Crawford has melded retro furnishings – think bakelite dial phones, roll-top baths and heritage colours – with a relaxed vibe and, of course, modern wellness facilities, a sauna, gym and yoga room.

Why we recommend Ett Hem

Its name means “A home”, and it really does have a comfortable homely feel. We particularly love the pretty walled garden and the cosy conservatory. Chilling out here, you’ll feel a world away from the busy downtown area.

See also:
The best boat trips in Stockholm
Amazing places to stay in Sweden
Is the Stockholm Pass worth it?