Best Kid-Friendly Hotels in Stockholm

The 403-room Scandic Sergel Plaza is popular with families due to its colorful kids' club, baby strollers that can be rented by the day, and great location just off Sergels Torg, the most central public square in downtown Stockholm. The hotel is a leisurely 10-minute walk from Gamla Stan, the old town, and a five-minute walk from T-Centralen, the main metro station that connects to all parts of Stockholm. The Scandic is rather dated in its design, and could benefit from a refresh, but its sound-proofed rooms feature flat-screen TVs with Disney channels. The mid-range hotel also has a popular restaurant, free Wi-Fi, and a kids' playroom off the lobby with a huge blackboard and a kiddy kitchen.

In terms of decor, the Radisson Blu Royal Viking Hotel is predictable, but its central location -- right by the main train station -- can't be beat. The upscale chain's 459 rooms are equipped with flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, though some are small and due for an update. The hotel's on-site restaurant serves fresh seafood and Swedish cuisine; a children's menu is available and the restaurant provides 24-hour room service. The hotel's “Super Breakfast Buffet” is popular with guests (it's an extra charge, but free for guests staying in Business Rooms) and features hot and cold options, including Scandinavian specialties, pastries, French cheeses, and seasonal fruit. Other facilities include a small swimming pool, hot tub, and sauna.

Located in central Stockholm, at the major Kungsgatan-Vasagatan intersection in the Norrmalm neighborhood, this stylish 391-room hotel -- set in a 19th-century schoolhouse and former theater -- puts guests in the heart of the action. The upscale hotel offers a welcome gifts for kids, free bicycle rentals, and an extensive (free) daily breakfast with organic and gluten-free options, as well as free Wi-Fi and live music in the lobby on certain nights. It's also home to several popular bars and restaurants and a well-equipped gym with sauna. Note that some of the rooms in the basement do not have windows, but this is reflected in the lower rates.

The mid-range Motel L is located in Stockholm's Hammarby Sjostad district, 10 minutes from the city center. The 226 guest rooms are decorated in a modern, vibrant style, and equipped with flat-screen TVs and rainfall showerheads in the bathrooms. The Family Rooms are slightly larger and have two bunk beds that fold down from the wall or sofa beds instead of bunk beds. The floors are covered in colorful carpets, and wall murals are a fun accent. Features include a spacious restaurant and bar area, and there's also an on-site gym. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, but breakfast is an extra charge.

Children are especially welcome at the 34-story Scandic Victoria Tower, and are greeted with a gift upon arrival. The glass high-rise's 299 rooms are modern and minimalist with a typical Scandinavian style and all the requisite amenities for a comfortable stay. All rooms have flat-screen TVs and triangular windows; higher-floor rooms have impressive views over the city. A sprawling restaurant and bar serves an extensive free breakfast daily.

The Clarion Collection Tapto is an upper-middle-range located in the middle of the Ostermalm district of Stockholm, in a relatively leafy and upmarket residential neighborhood with children's playgrounds and not a great deal of traffic. The 140 rooms are clean and sleek (if simple) with free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs with cable channels; some have balconies. Breakfast, afternoon snacks, and dinner all included in rates -- a real bonus -- and the fitness facilities are impressively modern.