Hotels in Stockholm

By the standards of many U.S. or Canadian cities, hotels in Stockholm are very expensive. If the high prices make you want to cancel your trip, read on. Dozens of hotels in Stockholm offer reduced rates on weekends all year, and daily from around mid-June to mid-August. For further information, inquire at a travel agency or the tourist center. In summer, it's best to make reservations in advance, just to be on the safe side.

Most of the city's medium-priced hotels are in Norrmalm, north of the Old Town, and many of the least-expensive lodgings are near the Central Station. There are comparably priced inexpensive accommodations within 10 to 20 minutes of the city, easily reached by subway, streetcar, or bus. We'll suggest a few hotels in the Old Town, but these choices are limited and more expensive.

Note: In most cases, a service charge ranging from 10% to 15% is added to the bill, plus the inevitable 21% MOMS (value-added tax). Unless otherwise indicated, all of our recommended accommodations come with a private bathroom.

Booking Services -- Hotell Centralen, Vasagatan (tel. 08/508-285-08; www.stockholmtown.com), on the street level of the Central Station, is the city's official housing bureau; it can arrange accommodations in hotels, pensions (boarding houses), and youth hostels -- but not in private homes. There is no booking fee. It's open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm, and Sunday 10am to 4pm.

Inexpensive -- Inexpensive is a relative term when applied to Stockholm hotels. What might be considered inexpensive in Stockholm would be superpricey in western Kansas.

Family-Friendly Hotels

Scandic Sergel Plaza -- At "Siggie's Castle," kids can play with toy cars, construct brick buildings, watch videos, and even read books.

Hotel Tegnérlunden -- Twenty big, airy rooms are ideal for families on a budget.

Sheraton Stockholm Hotel & Towers -- This well-run chain has always pampered children. The spacious rooms are comfortably shared with parents.