Stockholm is a watery heaven with a boat at every turn. Why not stay at the 19th-century full-rigged steel ship af Chapman which has been turned into a youth hostel?
The beautiful capital of Sweden is composed of a panoply of islands, separated by winding canals and seaways. Docked on the banks of grassy Skeppsholmen Island, opposite the Swedish capital’s medieval old town, the af Chapman is a gleaming white, full-rigged steel ship dating from the 1800s.
The majestic full-rigged steel-ship is named for the famed Swedish shipbuilder Fredrik Henrik af Chapman. The ship offers 124 cozy, nautical themed rooms complete with porthole views across the water. In the warm Stockholm summer months there’s a lively on-board bar (which closes down during the winter months).
The boat has come a long way from its days braving the mighty Atlantic, when it served as a training crucible for Swedish naval officers. Today it is managed by the Swedish Tourist Association.
Sleeping on a 19th-century boat doesn’t necessarily appeal to everyone, but once you’re on board with a glass of wine in hand and watching the sun set across Stockholm’s coral-colored rooftops, it’s easy to see the allure.
The hostel also owns the on-land adjacent building, which has a nautical link of its own: a former navy barracks, now sleeping 150 and hosting the hostel’s dining and lounging facilities.
Cabins at the full-rigged steel-ship af Chapman:
“Just being on the ship is a special feeling,” long-time af Chapman employee Magnus Frymark told CNN of this ship-turned-hostel. “You can sense her history.”
Tourists line up to photograph the af Chapman., one of the most photographed objects in Stockholm, and native Stockholmers see her as a city landmark.
Stay at a Full-rigged Steel Ship in Stockholm, written by Tor Kjolberg