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lack charm. Sure, I've stayed at some that were very fun (City Backpackers in Stockholm is very good), but
overall, they lack the charm and charisma you find elsewhere in Europe.
Hostel prices range from $25 USD to $50 USD for a dorm room (the most expensive country in the re-
gion, Norway, costs the most). Private double rooms with a shared bathroom cost $80-100 USD per night.
In short, even these aren't a real “budget” deal. They are just the cheapest option.
Furthermore, hostels in this region don't offer free breakfast the way hostels do in the rest of Europe,
though all the ones I've stayed at have a large kitchen to compensate. In Sweden, you will also need to have
your own sheets, as they aren't provided free by hostels. They usually cost $3 USD per night.
Budget Hotels
Budget hotels are widespread throughout the region, and their prices are on par with a hostel's private room.
You get a little more for your money—a private bathroom, breakfast, and a TV. Rooms generally start at $70
USD on the cheaper end and go up from there.
Apartment Rentals
Apartment rentals cost $70-100 USD for a private apartment. If you are just looking for a single room in
someone's apartment, you can find rooms for as little as $40 USD. I think this is a better option than hotels
(and even some hostels) if you are looking to have your own room or accommodation near the city center.
You'll pay less than for a hostel or hotel, most hosts provide breakfast, there is a kitchen to cook your own
food, and you get more privacy. If you are in a group, the costs of splitting an apartment are much cheaper
than the price of a dorm bed. I don't use apartment rental websites often, but in Scandinavia, I think they
offer the best value in the region.
Camping
Camping is the cheapest option in the region. Because of the long winter, campsites are generally open only
from April to October. Camping is usually free in Scandinavia due to open public land laws. You are al-
lowed to camp at designated campsites and on public lands. Make sure you visit the country's tourist board,
as laws change all the time.
You can also stay at camping sites costing from $8 USD to $14 USD per night. To stay at any campsite
in the region, you will need the Camping Card Scandinavia. The card is free, but you need a validity sticker
for the current year, for $21 USD. You can buy the card online at camping.se or at the first campsite you get
to in Scandinavia. This card is good for all campsites in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland.
Camping sites require you to have your own tent, as they don't rent them out. If you don't have your
own tent, you can stay in a cottage fitted as a dormitory, where a bed is the same price as a hostel.
In expensive Scandinavia, camping is one of the cheapest ways to lower your accommodation costs.
Given the public access laws, it's an option that should be used often, especially in Norway where
everything costs you your kidney!
Hospitality Exchange
If you truly want to save the most money possible in Scandinavia and don't mind where you sleep, Couch-
surfing is the only way to save big. Couchsurfing is very popular among locals, and you'll find a lot of
hosts, even in small rural communities up near the Arctic. However, because Scandinavia is so expensive,
travelers rely heavily on Couchsurfing (or other hospitality exchanges) to save money, and most hosts get
inundated with requests. As a consequence, you will get a low response rate to your inquiries. People simply
