The Accommodation in Sweden – 2025 Update features a diverse range of accommodation options for individuals who have applied for or received a residence permit under the Temporary Protection Directive, as well as for holidaymakers.
While hotels maintain a strong presence year-round, other accommodation types show distinct seasonal patterns. Camping sites, for instance, experience a significant surge during the summer months, with the southernmost province of Scania boasting the highest number of campgrounds, at 74, as of October 2024.
Expats can find accommodation in Sweden through various channels, including online rental platforms such as Blocket.se, Samtrygg. se, and BostadDirekt.com, which often feature short-term rentals, and by applying for long-term first-hand leases through municipal housing companies. Subletting is a standard option, though competitive, and securing a first-hand lease often requires a Swedish personal ID number, proof of income, and an employment contract.
Once you have applied for protection under the Temporary Protection Directive, you can choose to arrange accommodation on your own or be offered a place at one of the Swedish Migration Agency’s accommodations. If you are listed in the Swedish Population Register, you are responsible for arranging your own accommodation.
The quality and affordability of housing in Sweden vary widely. While expats may struggle to find spacious, high-quality accommodation that doesn’t break the bank in notoriously expensive Stockholm, there are many areas in Sweden where it’s much easier to find appropriate housing at a decent price.
Living in Swedish Migration Agency accommodation
If you do not have your own accommodation, the Swedish Migration Agency can offer you a place in a temporary accommodation. You do not get to choose where you will live. You will be assigned accommodation where there are places available. You will then be assigned to an accommodation in a municipality. This may mean that you need to move to another municipality.
First-hand leases (Førstahandsuthyrning) are a long-term option
Contact municipal housing companies: Many municipalities have their own housing companies where you can join a waiting list for a first-hand lease, though waiting times can be long.
Requirements: You will likely need a Swedish personal ID number (personnummer), proof of income, and an employment contract.
Types of accommodation
- Apartments: Available as short-term sublets or long-term first-hand leases. You can find furnished apartments or studios that are often ready for immediate occupancy.
- Rooms: It’s also possible to rent a private room in a shared flat or house, often called lodging.
- Student housing: If you are a student, consider student residences or flats, which can be a good way to socialize and find a room in a shared apartment with other students.
Subletting
Subletting (Andrahandsuthyrning) is a widespread and often more accessible option for newcomers, though it may be short-term and competitive, so be cautious. Always confirm the landlord approves the subletting to avoid fraud, and never transfer money before viewing the apartment in person.
If you choose to arrange accommodation on your own, you will need to pay the accommodation costs yourself.
You must notify the Swedish Migration Agency of your address if you arrange your accommodation on your own. To do so, send the “Adressanmälan eller adressändring” [Notification of address or change of address] form to the nearest Unit for Reception:
How to fill in the Notification of address or change of address form (Mot93).
Hotels
Sweden offers a diverse array of accommodation options that reflect its varied landscapes, ranging from coastal archipelagos with seaside cottages to mountain ranges featuring cozy lodges and hotels. However, for their domestic trips, Swedes tend to prefer mid-priced hotels in larger cities, such as Stockholm, which has the highest accommodation revenue in the country. Overall, the revenue of hotels in Sweden peaked with 32.5 billion Swedish kronor in 2024.
If there is one thing that has gained momentum in recent years, it is unique accommodations that stand out from ordinary hotel rooms.
Hotels remained the preferred accommodation choice for tourists, as more than half of the available establishment types consist of hotels.
Leading companies
The leading hotel company in Sweden is Scandic Hotels Aktiebolag, which has the highest revenue in the market, with nearly 6.7 billion Swedish kronor as of March 2025. It had 87 hotels in the country, out of a total of 263 establishments in the Nordic region. The Swedish company has approximately 18,600 hotel rooms in the country. Additionally, the second-leading company is SkiStar, which accumulated around 2.9 billion Swedish kronor. It focuses on alpine tourism and generates revenue from, among other things, ski passes, slope maintenance, and its accommodation properties. It manages a noteworthy number of establishments, with over 36,100 bed places in ski lodges or flats and 4,200 beds across seven hotels in Sweden and Norway.
Moreover, the fourth-leading hotel company is Elite Hotels, which had a revenue of 903 million Swedish kronor. Its net sales reached 888 million Swedish kronor.
Sweden’s accommodation industry is diverse and adaptable, offering a range of establishments catering to various types of leisure and outdoor travel. The cities feature a range of hotels that cater to varying preferences.
Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in this text.
Accommodation in Sweden – 2025 Update, compiled by Tor Kjolberg.
Feature image (top): Harbor of Malmö. Photo © Aline Lessner/imagebank.sweden.se