Where To Stay In Stockholm: The Top 6 Areas

Right in the heart of the Stockholm waterways, Gamla Stan is nestled between Norrmalm and Södermalm. With beautiful views of the harbour, you’ll be in one of Europe’s oldest preserved medieval cities. You can walk to Kungliga Slot (Royal Palace), the Nobel Museum and Stockholm Cathedral (National cathedral of Sweden). And because you are so central, you’ll have easy access to other parts of the city, by ferry or by metro (Tunnelbana). The area is extremely well catered for tourists, with plenty of restaurants and shops.

Norrmalm is right in the centre of the Stockholm mainland, just north of Gamla Stan. In easy distance are the Royal Opera House, the National Museum of Sweden, Oceanbus and the Centre of culture. From nearby Stockholm C Station, you can get easily to and from Arlanda Airport, and hop on all metro lines. This central location makes getting in and out of the city very convenient, and therefore one of the top places to stay in Stockholm. But be aware that the great transport links tend to make this area a little more pricey than Gamla Stan.

As its name suggests, Södermalm is south of the centre and Gamla Stan. From here, you can easily get to the City Museum, Tantolunden Park and Långholmen Island. This area is very hip and trendy, and popular with young Stockholmers and weekend visitors. There are lots of accommodation options to choose from, ranging from couches and apartments, to luxury and boutique hotels. There are also plenty of restaurants and cafes, as well as cool shops, bars and art galleries. If you don’t fancy staying in this area, we recommend a visit nonetheless to soak up some modern Stockholm culture.

Where to stay in Stockholm is an easier decision to make, if you’re travelling with your family. Djurgårde is east of the city centre and one of the quieter places to stay in Stockholm. It’s perfect if you want to visit the ABBA Museum, Skansen, Vasa Warship or the Nordic Museum, as they are all a short distance away. A lot of families choose this area, not only because of the fabulous and fun museums, but because of its open spaces and opportunities to walk, relax, play games and picnic in the summer. There are relatively good ferry and tram connections, but please note that there is no metro station.

North East of Gamla Stan, therefore slightly east of centre, Östermalm is the most elegant and exclusive part of Stockholm. As well as many parks and museums (including The Army Museum, Royal Mews and The Swedish History Museum) it is known for shopping, eating and entertainment, with a range of shops (from high street to luxury), restaurants (seafood and Swedish delicacies) and entertainment (Stureplan Nightclub district). You will also find the Östermalmshallen food market here, that is often likened to the food hall at Harrods.

North-west of the centre, Vasastan is another top area to stay in Stockholm. It has a lively bar and restaurant scene, but also opportunities to escape from it all in beautiful open spaces like Vasaparken. You can stroll around antique shops, bargain hunt in second-hand stores, or (if you fancy some art, history and culture visit the City library, Bonniers Konsthall-Contemporary Art Gallery, the Observatory, Jewish museum or Carl Eldh studio.