Långholmen Hotell Stockholm

The decor and the setting of the former prison are excellent, great value for money. Well equipped kitchen for guests. Yes, the rooms are confined, but that's the charm. There's a public beach just by the gate, and a large parking area.nP.S. If anyone needed that information, the bathrooms have hair dryers, which is not mentioned in the facilities part of the hotel description.

A sick and disgusting concept: to make fun of the prisoners who were detained here for years in inhumane conditions and for reasons that were at that time considered as crimes but are actually basic human rights, like being homosexual, having an abortion, etc.nWould you imagine an hotel in an old concentration camp that would make fun of the people who were imprisoned in the exact bed you are sleeping in?nThere is even a fake and supposedly cute guillotine in the mirror of each bedroom: how nice to make fun of people who were literally beheaded!

Ok by now you should have read this is a converted old Prison, so rooms are cell size. However the design is really good with our room using one and a half cells, also had a large window.nIt is very clean and we saw plenty of staff keeping up the standard. Bathroom well equipped. The hotel is a bit of a walk from the nearest metro, there are a few bars on route to the metro.nnThe bar in the hotel are hotel prices but nice place.nBreakfast was very nice, lots of choices with some different flavours too. Breakfast was very nice. Eat what you want and when done Return your tray/plates, this seems common in Sweden, or well the ones we went too.nnThere is a nice quite feel to the hotel and the Christmas decorations really made this place lovely.nnThe in house museum you can past away the time for an hour or so, quite small ask the receptionist for the door code.nnBring your OWN KETTLE and brew kit as none in room

Given the convenient location, it is excellent value for money; just a ten minute walk to the Tunnelban underground metro station at Hornstull Lines13/14 where there is also a bus stop for the express coach to Arlanda Airport. Alternatively, it is a picturesque 30min waterside stroll to Gamla stan old town. Being a former prison, the hotel itself is quirky and unsurprisingly the rooms cells are 'compact' but spotlessly clean and well thought out. All staff are extremely helpful and attentive to needs. There is a small lounge area at reception where drinks and snacks can be purchased, or a 2 minute walk through the complex to the main bar and restaurant. The buffet breakfasts are to die for for me, the highlight!; a wide selection of cooked bacon, eggs, pancakes, yogurts, fruit, cereals etc and Scandinavian pickled herring, cold meats, cheeses etc plus different breads and even homemade Nutella! There is also a small museum free about the history of the prison. If you are arriving early/departing late in the day, secure baggage storage is willingly provided.

Winter in Stockholm is rarely super great - wet snow or freezing rain is definitely not uncommon - but the former prison island of Långholmen delivers regardless of the season. During the summer the island is a green oasis and you can go swimming basically just by stepping out through the main 'prison' doors! The hotel and the hostel retain the old prison interior but, of course, everything is tastefully modernized.nnOur hotel 'prison cell' double compact was tiny but neat and spotless, including the surprisingly spacious bathroom. Complimentary wifi worked mostly ok but the TV remote batteries were pretty much flat didn't matter for us enough to ask for replacement. No facilities to make coffee or tea in the room but there's a communal kitchen available. Breakfast was included in the price and boy, some breakfast it is. Top notch, with extra super yummy stuff like almond butter and Långholmen special hazelnut spread! Attentive and kind staff all the way, too, so our winter stay was excellent value for the money.nnThe prison theme is obviously very noticeable understatement but it has not been maxed out into a freak show. Much of the very dark history of the island is well documented and available to the guests today. There is also a small museum opposite the reception that's worth taking a look at.