Stockholm in three days Part 1

I love travelling and I always regret that I was not brave enough to go solo travelling in my student days. However its never too late to do the things you have always wanted, so when my daughter asked me to go to Stockholm for a long weekend city break in March 2020, I jumped at the chance.

Stockholm

Stockholm is the capital of Sweden, it is a very cosmopolitan city. The city stretches over 14 islands, it has many universities, shopping plazas. There is plenty of Scandinavian history with the Royal palace situated in the city centre. There is lots to see and do and the plan was to discover all  these amazing  places during our three day city break.

The weather in Stockholm in March is between -1 to +5 degrees C, so it is good to go well prepared with warm clothes that you can layer, take a hat and scarf and gloves and good shoes if you planning on exploring the city on foot.

Flights to Stockholm

We flew to Stockholm from Heathrow Airport. Since were were only away for three days we opted to just take a carry on to keep the cost down.

Morning flights mean you get a chance to enjoy breakfast at the airport and get an early start to your vacation. To make the most of a short city break it’s a good idea to set off early and return late, that way you make the most of your time especially for short breaks.

Transport from the airport to Stockholm city centre

Stockholm is a beautiful city and the airport is only 25 miles away. At the airport, it is really easy to buy tickets for the Flygbussarna airport coaches which run every 15 minutes to the Stockholm City Terminal, the journey takes only 45 minutes and costs approximately £10.00 one way.

This was no luxury five star hotel break, it was going to be a Stockholm city break on a budget. What I mean by that is that we had booked a hostel for our accommodation and lots of free walking tours to explore the city. It is possible to travel on a budget and still have a great experience.

City Hostel Stockholm

We had booked our two-night stay at City Hostel. It is in a central location and it is only 15 minutes walk from the city bus station and Stockholm city centre. To enter the hostel there is a flight of stairs, this may pose a problem for someone with a disability.

My student days experience of hostels was cold dormitories with shared bathrooms and toilets and freezing communal kitchens. However when we arrived at the City hostel we were staying at I was pleasantly surprised. The reception is manned between 9 am and 6 pm. It is not necessary to pre reserve the rooms however it is advisable to do so during peak season and if you want a private room.

Our flight was early in the morning so that we could take advantage of our Stockholm City Break. You can store your luggage in City Hostels’ locked secure area on arrival if you arrive early, and you can also store luggage on check-out days if you want to explore before your return flight or onward journey. Due to our return flights being in the evening, we found this facility to be very useful.

After dropping off our bags, we explored the town and picked up groceries for our breakfast for the next two days. Living standards in Sweden are high. Food, drinks, and other things are expensive in the city.

We checked into the hostel after exploring the town and enjoying a late lunch. The check-in process was easy and we were in our room enjoying coffee and cinnamon buns in no time. 

Facilities at City Hostel Stockholm

The hostel can accommodate up to 79 guests per night. There are options of 6,8,10 and 12 bed dormitories, and also private rooms for two persons that have a tv.

Private rooms at City Hostel

We had booked a private room which had bunk beds, the bottom being a double bed and top bunk being a single bed. The rooms are compact but very clean. There was a small hanging rail, a desk and a chair in the room and a TV . There were usb charging ports, plenty of sockets and bed linen was provided. As we were travelling light we rented the bath towels at a very reasonable rate of £ 1.50 each. 

The communal space and corridors were well lit and there were security cameras for safety. Modern wall art graced the corridor walls, the decor was clean and minimalist giving the hostel a very sleek feel.

Hostel facilities

The hostel has male and female showers and toilets which were immaculately clean and all had hair dryers. The sharing kitchen is well equipped and the lounge area had sofas with plenty of books and board games. In the kitchen there is free tea and coffee which is an added bonus. There is a laundry room and a quiet working station area equipped with computers. WiFi was readily available too. 

Private rooms cost approximately £ 50.00 a night, so £25.00 per person, which is reasonable for the location. City Hostel is conveniently located next to a 7 Eleven mini market. It sells all essentials, coffee, food, and household items and is open till late. Nearby you can find a large supermarket and a number of coffee shops, bars, and restaurants.

Kitchen Facilities at City Hostel

The kitchen was extremely well equipped with crockery, plenty of storage for food and also had an oven and microwave. Although we did not cook, we did have breakfast at the hostel and enjoyed chatting with other travellers. As an alternative to throwing away non-perishable surplus food, I liked the idea of leaving it in the pantry for others to use. 

My experience of a hostel stay was very pleasant and comfortable. If you are looking for clean basic accommodation with no frills I would highly recommend City Hostel. In my next post, I will present a Stockholm City Break Guide. During this post, I’ll also share things to do on a budget.

You can watch the you tube videos of our Stockholm trip below:Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Have you ever stayed in a hostel in recent times? Do share your experience in the comments below.You can also read all about my Peak District Hostel stay at Castleton

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