Sweden Guide
Stockholm
Långholmen
The name translates as "long island" and Långholmen is just that, a skinny finger of land off the northwestern tip of Södermalm, spanned by the mighty Västerbron bridge which links Södermalm with Kungsholmen. There are a couple of popular beaches here: Långholmens strandbad to the west of the bridge and rocky Klippbadet to the east; if you don't fancy swimming, take a leisurely stroll through the trees instead for some stunning views over the water towards the City Hall and Gamla Stan.
You may well find yourself staying on Långholmen, as the island's large prison building has been converted into one of the better hostels in Sweden. There's a café here in the summer, and you can sit outside and have a drink in what used to be the prison's exercise yard – narrow, bricked-up runs with iron gates at one end.
Långholmen is best reached by taking the T-bana to Hornstull and then following the signs to the youth hostel; bus #4 is also handy as it crosses Västerbron on its way between Södermalm, Kungsholmen, Vasastaden and Östermalm – a good budget way of seeing much of the city.