Where to stay in Stockholm depends on what you want from the trip. We spent five days there in October 2026, and we slept in one area and spent whole days in two others, so this guide shares what each one felt like on a day visit and what a night in Norrmalm was like.
In this guide we cover the three areas we’d consider: Norrmalm, where we stayed, Södermalm and Gamla Stan. For each one we explain who it suits and give three hotels. We stayed at one of them, Scandic Go Upplandsgatan 4. The other eight are picked for their location and type, and we say so each time.
If you’re still planning the days, our 5-day Stockholm itinerary shows how we moved between these three areas.
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In this article
Best Areas to Stay in Stockholm
- Norrmalm
- Södermalm and SoFo
- Gamla Stan
Stockholm is spread across islands, but the three areas below are close to each other. We walked between them and used the metro and the SL app for longer trips.
- Norrmalm: the most practical base, close to the central station and the main shopping streets.
- Södermalm: the creative, independent side of the city, with cafés, bookshops and wine bars.
- Gamla Stan: the Old Town, for history and a walk out of your door onto cobbled lanes.
Norrmalm: Central and Practical
Best for: first-time visitors, short trips, anyone who wants easy transport and everything within walking distance.
Norrmalm is where we stayed, and it worked well. Our hotel was within walking distance of the main shopping streets and of public transport, and the central station is close, which also made the day trip to Uppsala easy. We reached the other areas in this guide on foot or by metro.
We paid about €100 a night at Scandic Go Upplandsgatan 4 in October 2026, and the room was small but practical. Norrmalm is the commercial heart of Stockholm, so it is busy, and that suited us for a base.
Who it doesn’t suit: if you want old streets and cafés right at your door, you’ll find more of that in Södermalm or Gamla Stan.
Best Hotels in Norrmalm
- Where we stayed: Scandic Go, Upplandsgatan 4. A 3-star chain hotel near the central station. We stayed five nights.
- Design hotel: Hobo Stockholm. A 4-star hotel at Brunkebergstorg with an industrial look and its own restaurant. We haven’t stayed here.
- Art deco hotel: Haymarket by Scandic. A 4-star hotel on Hötorget with a cocktail bar and a small cinema. We haven’t stayed here.
Scandic Go Upplandsgatan 4
Hobo Stockholm
Haymarket by Scandic
Södermalm and SoFo: Creative and Independent
Best for: couples, coffee and wine lovers, and anyone who prefers independent shops to big shopping streets.
We spent a day in Södermalm. SoFo, the part south of Folkungagatan, is where we found boutiques, vintage and design shops. We had coffee at Drop Coffee near Mariatorget, browsed Bokslukaren, an independent bookshop nearby, and stopped for a glass of wine at NOFO Wine Bar.
We haven’t slept here, so we can’t say how quiet the nights are. But if your trip is about cafés, bookshops and wine, this is where we found them.
Who it doesn’t suit: it is a little further from the central station, so you’ll take the metro or a longer walk when you arrive or leave.
Best Hotels in Södermalm
- Next to a park: STF Hotel Zinkensdamm. A 3-star hotel beside Tantolunden Park. We haven’t stayed here.
- In SoFo: NOFO Hotel, WorldHotels Crafted. A 4-star boutique hotel in an 18th-century building. We haven’t stayed here.
- On Mariatorget: Hotel Rival. A 4-star hotel in an Art Déco building, on Mariatorget. We haven’t stayed here.
STF Hotel Zinkensdamm
NOFO Hotel, WorldHotels Crafted
Hotel Rival
Gamla Stan: Historic Stockholm
Best for: history lovers and a short, atmospheric stay, especially if you want to walk to Stortorget, the Royal Palace and Stockholm Cathedral without taking any transport.
We spent a day in Gamla Stan, and it feels very different from the other two areas. It sits on the island of Stadsholmen, with narrow cobbled lanes, coloured façades and small squares. We explored it on foot, without a plan, and it is where we saw the most history on foot.
We haven’t stayed here either, so we can’t speak for the rooms. Booking describes Lady Hamilton as a listed 15th-century building, so read the room descriptions before you book.
Who it doesn’t suit: if you’d rather have a modern base close to the central station, Norrmalm is easier.
Best Hotels in Gamla Stan
- Maritime theme: Victory Hotel. A 4-star hotel on Lilla Nygatan. We haven’t stayed here.
- Historic building: Lady Hamilton Hotel. A 4-star hotel by the Royal Palace. We haven’t stayed here.
- Waterfront: Hôtel Reisen, Unbound Collection by Hyatt. A 5-star hotel on Skeppsbron. We haven’t stayed here.
Victory Hotel
Lady Hamilton Hotel
Hôtel Reisen, Unbound Collection by Hyatt
We checked on 7 November 2026 that all nine hotels are listed on Booking.com, and the details come from their Booking pages. The Scandic Go price is what we paid in October 2026. For the other eight, the price is the lowest rate Booking showed for two adults on 12 to 14 October 2027, per night, taxes included; some include breakfast, and a few are for rooms without a window. Prices change every day, so check your own dates.
Tips for Choosing Where to Stay in Stockholm
- Choose location over room size. The centre is very walkable, and a well-connected hotel saves you time every day.
- Think about day trips. Norrmalm is close to the central station, which made our Uppsala day trip easy: the train took about 40 minutes and cost about €20 return per person (October 2026).
- Plan for the cost. Stockholm is not cheap. In October 2026 we paid about €100 a night, about €30 per person for a meal and about €4 for a coffee on average.
- Get a transport app. We used single tickets in the SL app.
- Sort your mobile data and insurance before you go. See our guide to the best eSIM for travel and our post on whether you need travel insurance.
- Check your dates. Compare prices for the nights you want on Booking.com.
FAQs: Where to Stay in Stockholm
What Is the Best Area to Stay in Stockholm for First-Time Visitors?
Norrmalm, in our experience. It is central, close to the central station and the main shopping streets, and well connected by metro and bus. We stayed there for five nights and walked or took public transport everywhere.
Is Stockholm Walkable?
Yes. The central areas are very walkable, and we mixed walking with public transport, using single tickets in the SL app.
Do You Need a Car in Stockholm?
Not in our experience. Walking, the metro and buses covered everything, and the train took us to Uppsala for the day trip.
How Many Days Do You Need in Stockholm?
We’d say at least four or five full days. Five days gave us time for several neighbourhoods, museums, good food and the Uppsala day trip without rushing.
Which Area Is Best for Food and Drinks?
We had our coffee, bookshop and wine stops in Södermalm. The restaurants and wine bars we liked are in our 5-day itinerary.
Where Can You Find a Good-Value Hotel in Stockholm?
We paid about €100 a night at Scandic Go Upplandsgatan 4 in Norrmalm in October 2026, which worked well for us as a central base. The other cards use different dates, so the prices are not directly comparable. Compare your own dates on Booking.com.
Final Thoughts: Where Should You Stay in Stockholm?
If you only pick one area, pick Norrmalm for practicality. It’s where we stayed, and it made every other day easy. If you have time, spend a day in Södermalm for coffee, bookshops and wine, and a day in Gamla Stan for the history, even if you don’t sleep there.
Before you go, have a look at our post on whether you need travel insurance.
