Hostels in Småland 
You are looking for hostels in Småland? Good news, you have come to the right place.
On this page we list every single city with hostels and other budget accommodations. Hostelz.com helps you to find your Småland hostel and compare its prices on the major booking sites such as Hostelworld, Hostelsclub and Booking.com. So you can sleep on a budget and save money while backpacking Småland.
All Cities in Småland
We list every single hostel in Småland and the world. In total, we have 2 cities in Småland for you. Please note that not all cities actually have a hostel to stay in. Below you can filter for cities with hostels and with no hostels-type accommodation, but guesthouses and budget hotels. This will help your planning.
All Småland hostels on a map
Alright, you are more the visual type? Planning your trip with a map is always handy.
Therefore, this map shows you all cities with hostels in Småland. It will help you to plan your trip. Just zoom in the map and click your destination for more details. Just so you know: If we do not have a hostel in a city, it is likely that there is no hostel in that city.
Our handwritten guide on Backpacking Småland
Smaland is a historical province in southern Sweden. Smaland borders the provinces of Blekinge, Scania (Skane,) Halland, Vastergotland, Ostergotland and the Baltic Sea. Oland Island, just off the east coast, is also considered part of the province. The traditional Swedish provinces serve no administrative purpose; it is a historical designation only. The three largest cities in Smaland are Jonkoping (northwest), Vaxjo (south), and Kalmar (east coast).
Travellers can fly direct into Jonkoping from Stockholm or Frankfurt, Germany. Vaxjo also has a small airport, but they only have flights from Stockholm and other small Swedish towns. For travellers in Copenhagen, the train is faster. Around the region, buses run regularly between towns, but for further exploring you may want your own vehicle.
Budget hostel accommodation in Smaland can be found along the coast in Kalmar, Vaxjo, and Oland Island, as well as in Jonkoping. Look for the word “vandrarhem,” as that translates directly to “hostel.” Many Swedes do speak English, so you can always ask for a hostel as well. Outside of the main cities, hostels are rare. Consider a guesthouse (“gasthus”) or bed and breakfast instead.
Once you have your accommodation sorted, you can explore Smaland. The South Swedish Highlands run through the province, and as a result much of the province is heavily forested, with a sandy, rocky soil unsuitable for agriculture. But, that means that there is good hiking, especially in the national parks: Store Mosse, Norra Kvill, and Bla Jungfrun. The province is also rich in lakes and bogs; kayak, canoe, or fish at many of them but check local regulations for fishing permits.
Art and architecture enthusiasts will enjoy the towns, where the traditional Swedish architecture dominates. Kalmar Slott is one of the most important Swedish Renaissance castles and also boasts one of the best preserved interiors. There are several art and history museums in the province, from the Smalands Museum in Vaxjo, to the award-winning Eksjo Museum in Eksjo, and the Kalmar Konstmuseum, with modern art. Anyone travelling with kids (or kids at heart) shouldn’t miss Astrid Lindgren Nas and Astrid Lindgren Varld (the author of Pippi Longstocking.) Smaland is also known as the Kingdom of Crystal, where traditional glassmaking has been going on for centuries.
Whatever you choose to do in Smaland, you will enjoy it!
Handwritten by local expert for Småland hostels Jakob Lombardi
Travel Tips for Småland - from the Community
Hey fam! Here are a few more tips from the community, from them to you, and you to them. This space is dedicated for travellers to share their best tips on backpacking Småland. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Småland. Everyone is welcome to add something useful, funny, unexpected and the "absolutely necessary to know before you go" - share, share and then share a little more!
FAQ on Hostels in Småland
There is a lot of travel planning to do. So let us help you once again by putting together the frequently asked questions:
Finding Hostels and Prices
What hostel booking sites are best to use?
There is several hostel booking sites, such as Hostelworld.com, Hostelsclub.com and Booking.com. While every platform has its pros and cons, there is a universal truth you as a traveler should be aware of: Not a single booking site can always offer the best prices.
This is where Hostelz.com comes in. You can compare all major booking portals with one click.
For you as a traveler, Hostelz.com is the best booking site to actually save money.
How much are hostels in Småland?
Prices always vary, depending on various factors. Weekends tend to be more expensive, same goes for special holidays. Please also take into account local vaction time.
You can search for exacty hostel prices in Småland here on Hostelz.com. Pick your destination and pick a date. The system will track down the prices to give an idea of what budget and prices you can expect.
When to book hostels?
If you want to stay at the best hostels, it is a good idea to have your hostel booked around 1 month before you travel. For the regular hostels, booking one week before should be okay. Yet again, this always depends.
We dedicated a full article to the topic of when to book hostels.
Safety and Packing
Are hostels in Småland safe?
Generally speaking, hostels are as safe as you make them. We highly recommend always to bring your own padlock, using the lockers and taking care of your belongings. Make sure you pick a safe hostel, offering lockers and a safe location. Please always pay attention to the reviews; they can give you a great insight on what to expect and safety tips.
What to pack when staying in hostels?
There is a few basics you should always pack when staying in hostels.
There is more actually. We wrote a complete guide with more details. Read our full hostel packing list.