Långholmen Hotel
A former 19th-century central prison on Stockholm’s Långholmen island, now transformed into a quirky hotel and museum where guests can literally sleep in cells with history.
Långholmen Hotel occupies the old Kronohäktet prison built between 1874 and 1880 on the island of Långholmen—Stockholm’s historic penal hub until its closure in 1975. Once Sweden’s largest prison, it housed up to 500 inmates and even witnessed the nation’s only guillotine execution (of Johan Alfred Ander in 1910).
Since 1989, the prison has operated as a hotel and hostel with 112 renovated "cells" offering modern amenities—from private baths and keycards to Wi-Fi and cable TV. Guests awaken daily surrounded by iron bars, arched cell doors, and corridors once patrolled by guards.
The site also includes the small museum “From Crime to Chains,” highlighting the building’s 250‑year history—from a spinning house to exile centre, jail, and now cultural venue. Visitors can explore original cells, read former inmate stories, try on prison uniforms, and learn about notable prisoners like journalist Jan Guillou, artist Isaac Grünewald, and the executed Johan Alfred Ander.
The island setting is peaceful—lush with trees, gardens, paths, and a small beach—providing a stark contrast to the building’s dark past. Visitors can also enjoy an on-site pub, café, and guided activities themed around prison escapes and history.
Location: Located on Långholmen island, Stockholm, Sweden.
Address: Långholmsmuren 20, 117 33 Stockholm, Sweden
Category: prison, museum, hotel, penal history, immersive experience
Tags: hotel, prison, Kronohäktet, prison museum, From Crime to Chains, guillotine, immersion stay
Darkness Level: ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠
Homepage: langholmen.com
Map: Open in Google Maps
Gallery