Archipelago Hostel Old Town

It's easy to walk here from Central, and the location makes it simple to get to the tourist spots. The metro is nearby if you need transit. For the price, it's decent, but this is mostly a place to sleep, not a hostel for meeting people. The rooms are tight but have big windows. There are two rooms in the bathroom area, which I can't imagine being ideal. Linen is mandatory and automatically charged on top of the booking fee. There's little common space, just a kitchen where you can't cook, so I don't see much point to it. I guess you have to be under 40 for a 'safer' experience, though every room is mixed, so I'm not sure what the age limit is for. In a four-person room there were just two small lockers, maybe big enough for a laptop bag. They had no locks, and the hostel had none to rent. The shower area is mixed too. Each stall has a door, but some people might find that off-putting.

We had a good evening chat with two Canadian ladies, even though the hostel doesn't have a big common area, so it is possible to meet people there. The place was quiet, and guests respected the rules. The rooms were nice and fairly spacious, and I don't think you could find the same comfort for the price anywhere in Gamla Stan. Check-in over the intercom was seamless, the person who answered was friendly, and the instructions were clear and simple. Bathrooms and showers were clean and in good condition. The beds were comfortable enough, and sheets and towels were provided in the room.

The reception staff were welcoming and happy to share all kinds of information. The hotel was very clean and tidy, and did a good job of giving guests personal space compared with ordinary cheap hostels. The shared area is limited to a kitchen on the third floor. There's no common space on the second floor, so meeting travelers from around the world is basically impossible unless they share your room.

For a weekend in Stockholm, this simple hostel on Gamla Stan worked fine for us. It's not especially comfortable or special, but it was enough. There's a small shared kitchen and a shared bathroom. An extra toilet would be useful, since no one can use the toilet while somebody's showering.