City BackPackers Hostel

Affordable and close to the central station, with a great location. My bed in the 8-bed dorm was against an exterior wall by the street, and it wasn't soundproof at all. The hostel had quiet hours, but street noise and drunk men talking loudly outside around midnight kept me from sleeping well. I was only there one night and didn't explore much of the communal areas beyond the kitchen and common rooms. What I saw was nice and well maintained.

The staff were kind and attentive, and had plans and recommendations to help guests experience Stockholm. The people staying there were friendly, so it was easy to make new friends. The bedrooms were nice and clean, and there were several common rooms for socializing, games, or dinner. The kitchen was big and had basic food available for free to cook with. They even lent out ice skates for free!

The staff were generally helpful, which is the only reason I'm giving two stars. Everything else felt like an extra charge. You have to bring your own toiletries, since there's no shampoo or shower gel. Laundry costs a steep 50 SEK, and luggage storage is an outrageous 98 SEK. The hidden costs and lack of basic amenities ruined the stay. Look elsewhere if you don't want to keep paying fees.

I've stayed here several times over the past year, and it's one of the best hostels I've visited. The kitchen is spacious and well equipped, and everything is clean and tidy. Staff are kind and usually sort things out within minutes. Even after reception closes, there's usually someone available. The friendly atmosphere helped me meet quite a few good people. They sometimes organize group events, quizzes, and pub crawls, and there's a sauna too. Worth every penny!