Sirened

If you’re visiting Stockholm, staying on a boat is the way to go. When I was there in 2001 I stayed in 2 different boat hostels, the Red Boat Malaren and the af Chapman. Both of which are still in operation.

The af Chapman is an HI Hostel (which sometimes includes very annoying rules like curfews, lockouts and genuine bullshit). But at the af Chapman there is no curfew and no lockout, and best of all the location is phenomenal. From the front of the ship you can see the royal palace, yachts randomly docked in front of buildings and the national gallery.

If you’re traveling on a budget (and single) the af Chapman is a great way to go. Just make sure to book ahead if you want to stay on the boat because they also have rooms in the adjacent building where reception is located. Apparently they just renovated the boat so the inside must be really nice. The only problem is that they don’t have private rooms; dorm beds currently start at around $30.

A better option for budget minded couples is the Red Boat Malaren hotel and hostel. The boat’s interior has a lovely decor and you can go to sleep looking out a small window, watching the beautiful city of Stockholm rest along with you. Private rooms run about $140 per night. My wife and I were going to stay there but there was no availability in the private rooms.

So instead we are staying on a different boat called the Rygerfjord Hotel and Hostel. Look for a review with pictures when I return!

photo credit: flickr

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