The grand hotels of Stockholm: the back story

About The grand hotels of Stockholm: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Stockholm Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Stockholm’s grand hotels line the water. The Grand Hôtel, opened by Régis Cadier in 1874, faces the Royal Palace and Gamla Stan across the harbour; Hotel Diplomat has stood on Strandvägen since 1911; Berns, by Berzelii Park, opened its doors in 1863. Around them, a newer generation has turned old houses into hotels with the feel of a private home: Ett Hem on Sköldungagatan, Villa Dagmar on Nybrogatan, Villa Dahlia on Tegnérlunden and Ruth in Vasastan.

On the waterfront

The Grand Hôtel, at Stallgatan 4 on Blasieholmen, has looked across to the Royal Palace and Gamla Stan since 1874; its Veranda serves the smörgåsbord, and its Cadier Bar is named after the founder. Lydmar Hotel is next door, with art and live music, and Nationalmuseum beyond. Across the bay, Hotel Diplomat on Strandvägen dates from 1911, and the Radisson Collection, Strand Hotel faces the boats at Nybrokajen.

Norrmalm and the city

Berns, a Belle Époque house of entertainment since 1863, Nobis Hotel on Norrmalmstorg with its Gold Bar, and Bank Hotel in a former bank on Arsenalsgatan are a few steps apart; Hotel At Six and Hobo share Brunkebergstorg.

Book a room facing the water: the light on the harbour is the point of staying on Blasieholmen or Strandvägen.

Östermalm

Ett Hem, on Sköldungagatan, is a house hotel “for people looking for something more personal than the luxury hotel”, in its own words; Villa Dagmar is on Nybrogatan, near Östermalms Saluhall, and Story Hotel on Riddargatan, by Stureplan.

Vasastan, Södermalm and Gamla Stan

Villa Dahlia overlooks the leafy square of Tegnérlunden, and Ruth stands on Döbelnsgatan; on Södermalm, Stockholm Stadshotell and Hotel Frantz are by Mariatorget and Slussen; in Gamla Stan, Hôtel Reisen faces the water on Skeppsbron.

By the water, out of town

Hotel J, a seaside hotel at Nacka Strand, and Stallmästaregården, an inn and boutique hotel by Haga Park in Solna, are both in MICHELIN’s 2026 hotel selection.

Our advice: in summer, choose the waterfront; in winter, a house hotel with a fireplace and a sauna.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The grand hotels of Stockholm: the back story before you go.