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Castanea Old Town Hostel Reviews

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Castanea Old Town Hostel has a very friendly, home-like atmosphere. The building is quite old, but in very good condition, and the other floors apart from the hostel's are populated by various companies. When you enter the lobby it feels as if you've stepped in a friend's house, as the reception office is decorated with lovely accessories and everything feels warm and comfortable.

The Location

Castanea Old Town Hostel is located quite close to Gamla Stan Tunnelbana Station, and is surrounded by a lot of interesting shops and restaurants. It is very easy to find, since you only need to make two turns from the Tunnelbana. The neighborhood is quiet enough, as neither the road nor the restaurants and stores are crowded at any time.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The hostel is located on two different floors. On each floor, the main door is locked all day long, and you need a code to open it. The rooms all have stable locks on the doors and are small but comfortable. Size doesn't really matter, as the common rooms are spacious enough and are right next to the rooms. There are private rooms on both of the floors -- all are about the same. The bathrooms are small to medium size, but in great condition, and contain liquid soap and some random hair and body care products staff and former guests left there. There's always fresh supply of toilet paper. On the lower floor, the bathrooms and toilets are much less regularly occupied.

Common Spaces

This hostel seems calm and less party oriented, although the common spaces are full of people during daytime and quite empty at evenings. Guests are not allowed to sit there during late-night time. There are plenty of books to read, both in English and Swedish. There are good recommendations of places to go and eat on the notice board. The kitchen is well equipped with cutlery, dishes, fridge, and stove. You can store your food and also enjoy things former guests left there (marked with the date, as requested by the hostel in a funny little note).

Summary

Castanea Old Town Hotel is a great place to be if you're planning a trip in Stockholm that includes a lot of wandering around the city, because this is a nice, welcoming place to come back to at night. The great location, just in the center of the old town, and quite close to the Tunnelbana, also makes it ideal for this purpose.

Oron London

2016-03-21

Modern and stylish

Nice hostel located in the heart of Gamla Stan, the old city. It's a bit like living inside an Ikea store -- everything was modern, clean, and stylish. The dorms were fourteen bunk beds in a large room with heaps of space to put your stuff, with wooden floors, white washed walls, huge windows, and plenty of ledges to store any other stuff you might need. I think some other people had smaller rooms (twin bed, four-bed) as well. My only gripe was there weren't enough bathrooms for everyone -- three toilets and three showers, so you have to get up early to beat the rush.

Roger

2007-08-19

Australia

Castanea Old Town Hostel is located in the heart of Gamla Stan (old town Stockholm, where the "original" Royal Palace is located), minutes away from the main shopping street and Stortorget, but in a quiet, residential area. There are several small businesses on the street where the hostel is, but it is amazingly quiet and peaceful while being a stone's throw away from the action.

The walk from the Tunnelbana (underground) is about an eight-minute walk and relatively easy (except if you have too much stuff to lug up the somewhat steep inclined street and/or are jet-lagged!). Just follow the directions given on their website as to how to find the hostel. Nothing marks the hostel other than a very small, brown metal plaque next to the door. The hostel is on the second floor of the building. There is an elevator, which is a welcome sight for some after a long day of lugging stuff around!

The hostel is owned by two sisters, who are friendly and are more than willing to answer any questions asked of them. They walked us through the hostel personally on arrival and gave us a hearty welcome. We got great recommendations for restaurants and places to have "fika" (afternoon coffee break of sorts). They have only been running it since the last year -- the hostel had been a one-star hotel in its previous life.

Staff are only there between 9 and 11 and 3 and 6 everyday. In between those hours, there are no staff members present -- however, we never found this to be a problem. While there is no locked luggage room, there is no problem leaving luggage at the front desk. There aren't any lock-out hours or curfew. Access is gained by punching a code in the front door of the building and again at the front door of the hostel. If you are staying in a dorm, you will also receive an access code to the dorm door instead of a key.

The hostel has a truly "bare-bones" decor. All walls and floors are white, and with the exception of the bright accents in the common room, kitchen, and eating area, decor isn't interesting -- but then again, why should that matter? We stayed in a two-bed, private room which was surprisingly cozy (not big, but definitely not too small) where we could lay out our two packs almost comfortably and almost walk around -- definitely one of the bigger private rooms we'd seen in a hostel anywhere. Beds are actually quite comfortable and there are large picture windows that open. The best "European moment" at this hostel is listening to the church bells chime while laying in bed with a nice spring breeze! Linens are for rent and the towels are huge, beach-sized -- super!

The common areas are not anything exciting. There is not a television or any Internet access. There are, however, ports for connection in the rooms -- but we're not sure if they worked or how much they cost. Kitchen is well-equipped and has a nice eating area. A 7-11 is a five-minute walk away. There are three toilets for the whole hostel. There are four showers. We never had a problem getting hot water or waiting any more than five minutes, but we weren't there in summer. There are some notices posted, reminding others to save on hot water, so it may be a problem at times.

We stayed at the hostel for five nights in late spring and didn't really see any social activities or connections being made while we were there -- in fact, there were two Swedish families and a school group lodging with us in the hostel. We didn't really see too many other "non-local" types -- which can be good or bad, depending upon the experience you're looking to have! If you're a young single, we'd look elsewhere. If you're with someone else and/or don't care about a social atmosphere and are looking to be as close as possible to the major sights, this is your place.

Bottom line on this hostel is that the location is absolutely perfect for sightseeing and eating/drinking. The hostel is clean -- we had no problems with cleanliness save a few overflowing trashcans -- and the staff is friendly. The only downside apparent would be that there is no social life or TV/net.

Bonnie Sarnoff

2007-06-09

USA

Castanea Old Town Hostel Reviews from the Web

I loved my stay there! As soon as I arrived there was someone vacuuming the carpets, which is always a good sign. Their reception desk is not open all the time but they emailed me to arrange a time and they were there. I stayed in the 16 bed mixed room which can be a little too much. Some of the youngsters stayed up super late and opened and closed the door several times which makes it hard to sleep. Also some of them dont respect the locker assignment but this is not the staffs fault.

goyesjohana3015

2022-08-05

THE LOCATION IS AMAZING!!

Cannot get over our stay in Stockholm. The staff were great, facility was lovely, and our experience was fantastic. We loved it.

elizabethsegura

2022-08-03

I think it is nice location, nice building and cute interior, BUT I came after midnight and found my envelope with all information and code to get in to the room. Code didn't worked, I spend night trying to get in, eventually didin't manage to get to my room. Basicaly I paid for possibility to went to wc and to sit in lobey. In the morning really nice guy in reception said that the code which I got was wrong, that's all. Oh, and the I paid for sheets, but no bed. Really upset expeirience.

GalAlice

2022-07-28

Great hostel overall!

The location is perfect, especially for people who never visited Stockholm before :)

Staff are all super friendly and help you out if you need anything; def. recommend

paulinepeikert7655

2022-07-27

really enjoyed my stay here! great location, friendly helpful staff and spacious 16 bed room. Windows opened nicely so could get lots of air.

My only minor complaint is that the locker wasn't quite big enough for my duffel bag!

am0EG5kyRtlWrWln

2022-07-27

Very nice and friendly staff. They are willing to help you in anything you need. Although the registration hours are very restricted, they send you an email with all the information you need to check in by your own

jordiizquierdo315153

2022-07-21

Lovely hostel and the location cannot be beat! The downside was that the rooms are all operated by key so if your roomates do not lock the door after them the room can be opened at any point in time & reception is only there a few hours in the morning and a few in the afternoon so not the safest or most secure of places. They also only had a few bathrooms and showers for the size of the hostel which can be an issue.

Other than that, amazing stay!

heather1980

2022-07-20

The location is the absolute best oossible. In the middle of and at the top of Gamla Stan, the walk to and from the hostel was always a real joy. The part of town was so beautiful, and the hostel was perfectly placed to see it all. Lounge was nice, kitchen lacked an oven but had a microwave. One of the shower head holders were broken but the shower worked fine other than that - just a few small things like that cant take away from my overall impression. Would come back!

eclbirkeland

2022-07-15

Amazing stay! Perfect location, hostel is really cute with a friendly, cosy atmosphere. Facilities in room are great, they have a few benches and a mirror which is very helpful. Lots of helpful information about the city in the common room and strong wifi. Loved my stay and would definitely go back!

katiehelprin6548

2022-07-13

Ive never been to a hostel with clean showers, and this was no exception, but apart from that I really enjoyed staying here! Its in the middle of Gamla Stan and yet really quiet and cozy, small compared to other hostels. Thanks to the luggage room and door codes its easy to check in and out at any time which is also a huge plus!

jessieschwarz8041

2022-07-06

Really good location, super clean and great showers.

ae5xKdhqSnkiaSqM

2022-07-04

We had a great stay! The metro was close, staff treatment was exemplary, friendly people were staying at the hostel.

However, the entrance staircase had a poor smell, one of the bathrooms smelled a little, the kitchen and a lot of the inventory seemed a little... old.

Otherwise great stay, thanks

DRAGONSLAYERIRL

2022-07-01

Decent hostel in Old Town. Reception is only open a few hours a day so that can be an issue, and they have a weird check in and bed assignment system. Bathrooms are pretty clean. Not much of a social vibe.

donegansavannah7504

2022-07-01

Perfect stay for a long weekend whilst at lollapallooza festival. Great location within the old town. Great facilities, showers, kitchen area and common area all had no faults.

Would stay again.

hollyp0pz

2022-06-30

The place was very nice, with such a good location.

Staff were so helpful and keen on helping you with whatever issues you have.

endigjeta239404

2022-06-28

Absolutely loved our stay at Castanea - the location is perfect in the heart of Old Town Stockholm, in a quieter area away from the most touristy & loud streets. Gamla Stan has a wonderful cobblestone & narrow street feel and is so central to everything in Stockholm. Staff are friendly & helpful, plenty of clean showers & bathrooms - never experienced any wait times, and this was during a busy/full summer period. Kitchen well equipped. Overall great experience!

vpoag1231157

2022-06-25

Lovely hostel with a quiet chill vibe in the centre of Old Town. The location was great to reach all the main sites in Stockholm and it was right near some lovely restaurants and cafes in Old Town. The staff were very friendly and helpful and the facilities were very clean.

maritafegan2981

2022-06-23

It gets hot in the room! Need to add fans! Otherwise it was fine for a bed to sleep on!

elviscandy3799

2022-06-17

Excellent old town location, helpful staff, clean. Not a party hostel, quiet hours from 11pm, mix of ages staying, good facilities

Anonymous

2022-06-13

Great location and friendly staff. Couldnt recommend it enough.

isaka43215051

2022-06-11

Description

Welcome to Castanea Old Town Hostel, one of the most central hostel in Stockholm.

Castanea is a small, personal hostel, located in the middle of the Old Town (Gamla Stan), one of the best preserved medieval city center in the world. We are a modern hostel in a charming building from 1747 with a beautiful horse chestnut tree at the square just outside. A fantastic location in the heart of Stockholm and at the same time our street is quiet and calm. It couldn't be better.

We would like you to experience a homely and friendly atmosphere and hope you can feel at home away from home.

Stay in dorm or a private room. We have single, twin, 4-bed and 6-bed private rooms and dorm with 4, 6 or 16 beds. All our rooms have big beautiful windows and comfortable beds with reading lights. The rooms are facing a small street, square or the tranquil backyard.

Bring your own bed-linen or rent from us. Sleeping bags are not allowed.
All rooms have shared shower and toilet. Separate showers so you can lock the door.

In our popular guest kitchen you can prepare your own meals. Why not start your day with making breakfast in our kitchen and buy some lovely fresh bread from the bakery just around the corner.

Relax in our common room with maps, books and homemade tips about Stockholm. Our guests come from Sweden and around the world. You will find backpackers, families, couples or just friends looking for a comfortable stay.

Free Wifi.

Yes - we are Eco friendly and are active with saving energy, waste recycling among other things.

When you stay at Castanea you are only 200 meters from the Royal Palace, Stockholm Cathedral, Nobel museum and of course in the middle of a lot of great cafÃ©s, restaurants, bars and shopping.

A short walk will take you to the City hall or to the local ferry to Djurgården, Skansen and the Vasamuseum. Just minutes from the boats to Stockholm's famous Archipelago. Castanea is also close to Central Station, only one stop with the underground. What can we say - just in the middle of everything!

Welcome to Castanea and Stockholm!
Lotta, Cecilia, Fredrik och Jenna

Location and Contact

Location

• Castanea Old Town Hostel is situated in Stockholm city center, the Old Town.
• Address: Kindstugatan 1
• From Arlanda, Skavsta and Bromma Airport:
• The easiest way is to take airport shuttle. It starts just outside the airport terminal and drops you off at Cityterminal, the main bus terminal in Stockholm city. Please notice that they only accept card-payments onboard the bus, no cash. Buy tickets online, also cheaper.
• From Arlanda Airport you can also choose to take the high-speed train, Arlanda Express. The train is more expensive than the bus, but it gets you into the city in 20 minutes instead of 40 minutes.
• From Cityterminal take the escalator and follow the signs down to the Underground. The station is T-Centralen. Take the southbound green or red line for one stop to Gamla Stan station. Choose the exit Gamla Stan.
• Turn right and walk one block, then turn left into the street Tyska Brinken. Walk 300 meters and you will arrive at Kindstugatan 1.
• Please note that Tyska Brinken will change name after 200 meters to Kindstugatan.
• From Central station (train):
• When you arrive at the Central Station follow the signs and take escalators down to the Underground. The station is T-centralen. Take the southbound green or red line one stop to Gamla Stan station. Choose the exit Gamla Stan.
• Turn right and walk one block, then turn left into the street Tyska Brinken. Walk 300 meters and you will arrive at Kindstugatan 1.
• Please note that Tyska Brinken will change name after 200 meters to Kindstugatan.
• Bus or walk from the Cityterminal/Central Station:
• Take bus nr 53 to station Mälartorget. The stop is about the same place as the Metro station.
• Walking distance is about 20 minutes. From City Terminal follow the signs to Central station and turn to right onto the street Vasagatan. Walk across the bridge (Vasabron) and then straight on to the street RiddarhusgrÃänd which changes name to Stora Nygatan. Now you are in the Old Town. When you see an intersecting street with the name Tyska Brinken turn left. Walk about 200 meters and you are at Kindstugatan 1.

Map

Address: Kindstugatan 1, Old Town, Stockholm, Sweden

Castanea Old Town Hostel is listed on the following booking sites:

Hostelworld Booking.com Not listed at HostelsClub

Website

www.castaneahostel.com

Phone Number: 46 8 223551

To add or correct information for this listing, please use the Listing Correction Form.

Facilities and Amenities

+50 Traveller

Digital Nomads

Family-Friendly Hostel

Quiet Rest

Solo Traveller

Luggage Storage

Wi-Fi in Lobby/Commons

Wi-Fi in Rooms

Bedsheets

Bike Rental

Lockers in Rooms

Towels

Book Collection/Exchange

Credit Card Payments

Elevator/Lift

Entirely Non-Smoking

Hair Dryers

Hot Showers

Kitchen

Laundry

Lounge Area

Movie Library/Rental

Power Point/Sockets in Rooms

Airport Pickup

Breakfast

Parking

Wheelchair Accessible

Pet-Friendly

Service Animals

Genders: Males & Females

Max. Age: All Ages

Min. Age with Parent (dorms): All Ages

Min. Age with Parent (private room): All Ages

Min. Age without Parent: 18

Note: No use of the common area after 23:00

Checkout: 11:00 (11 AM)

Curfew: No Curfew

Lockout: No

Minimum Stay: 1 night

Open Dates: All Year

Reception Hours: Limited Hours

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Castanea Old Town Hostel, Stockholm

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