Wanna spend a night in a jail cell?

Sidestep to Stockholm

The other hostel where you can “do hard time” is in Stockholm on the Langholmen island to be precise, connected by bridges with the very heart of the charming Swedish capital.

I started breading rather heavily in front of the huge yellow building. Will I really sleep in a prison? Leave all your doubts outside, ye who enter. The reception desk is very pleasant even though behind bars! You enter the large hall with metal stairs on several floors, which uncomfortably reminds us too much of Hollywood movies – but it is a jail! It wasn’t until 1975 the last inmates left the building, built in the long forgotten year of 1840. After many years of restoration it was reopened as a hostel in 1989. Well actually it’s two in one, for there are also more luxurious and expensive hotel cells. The less luxurious part is a hostel of HI standards, with smaller private cells to multi-bedded cells (must budget friendly). Most cells feature their own facilities, telephone and television. There are altogether 89 single cells, 13 twin cells and several multi-bedded cells. The entrance to a cell is very much still the same as it was in the past, but you do get your own key to get out (let’s say to breakfast which is not just bread and water). The only real restriction in the cells today is the absolute no smoking policy.

How to break out of the Big House?

The hostel owners really are trying to get as much out of the tourists as possible. That’s why they offer clever souvenirs, such as prison clothing, hats, balls with chains (plastic) and T-shirts with the jail drawn on it. Weekends are the times to take the tour of the jailhouse – including the jail museum, which really tells you about the horrific stories that took place here.

The island of Langholmen is really close to the centre of the city, but is still an oasis of tranquillity. It’s well connected to the centre by bus or subway and even if you come by your own car, they have many parking places ready for you.