For members living outside of Sweden we have a post and package fee of 140 SEK for residents in Europe and 185 SEK for non-European residents. You cannot join the STF online if you do not have a Swedish civic registration number. Please contact STF Members’ Services at medlemskap@stfturist.se Do you know that a membership in your own country’s hostelling organisation is valid in Sweden as well?

You must cancel your reservation no later than 18.00 the day before the planned date of arrival; otherwise you will be charged for one night. This also applies if you make your reservation on the arrival day and then do not come to the hostel. You should therefore make a special agreement on the cancellation rules if you book on the same day as you plan to arrive. If the hostel has had specific costs in connection to your booking you must pay for this too if you cancel. Deviations from these rules may occur; and the hostel then announces what rules apply when you make your reservation. Any special cancellation rules for online reservations will be easily found when you make your reservation.

You can download our hostel guide here

When demand is high you may stay up to 5 nights.

If you want to be sure of a place at the hostel, or require a certain type of room at the mountain station, we recommend that you book your accommodation in advance.

If I want a room to myself, but there are only 2-bed rooms, must I pay for the other bed too?

A number of hostels and mountain stations have rooms with a shower and a toilet. Those that do display a symbol on the homepage and in “Discover Sweden”.

Mountain stations and most hostels offer private rooms. In mountain cabins, however, you do share a room with other guests.

Yes. There are self-catering facilities at some hostels, mountain stations and mountain cabins.

Yes. At all STF’s mountain stations and mountain cabins, and at most hostels, you can pay with most commonly-accepted bank- and credit cards, e.g., VISA and Eurocard (not Diners). Those places that accept cards display a symbol on the homepage and in “Discover

At many hostels this is fine, as long as you have a bottom-sheet with you. It is, however, up to the hostel’s warden to decide whether it’s OK or not. At mountain lodges and mountain cabins it’s not a problem.

Some of STF’s mountain stations and most hostels have sheets available for rent. If you’re staying in a mountain cabin, though, you must take your own sheets or sleeping bag.

At hostels children born in, or after, 2007 stay free, as long as they don’t occupy a bed. Children born in 2005 or 2006 pay the same price as a child member if the parents are members. Children who aren’t STF-members pay 25 kr extra per night.

No, but it does make it cheaper. You can pay for your membership on the spot at hostels, mountain stations and mountain cabins.

At hostels and mountain stations, yes, that’s fine. We don’t accept advance bookings at mountain cabins, but everyone is always welcome. The cabin wardens make sure that everyone has a place to sleep, even when it’s getting full. During peak-season weeks, at the end of July and beginning of August, this could mean a mattress on the floor. Usually there’s plenty of room. If you’re a group of ten or more people, it’s probably a good idea to let them know you’re coming.

Many hostels accept pets, and these display a dog symbol on the webpage and in the “Discover Sweden” book. At some hostels you pay a charge for the pet’s accommodation. Pets are welcome free of charge at STF’s mountain stations and mountain cabins

Yes. As a member of Hostelling International you pay members’ prices at STF.

Visit the website of the international hostelling organisation, Hostelling International at www.hihostels.com.

No. STF doesn’t run distance learning courses any longer. The Mountain Safety Council has brought out a standard course for guides. You can find these at the website www.fjallsaker.nu. You’ll also find there the Council’s contact details, for advice on who currently runs courses.

Yes. All mountain stations and mountain cabins accept credit and bank cards.

No. You can’t book a bed in a mountain cabin, but you will be guaranteed a roof over your head. There are extra mattresses for those days when all the beds are taken. Larger groups should ring in advance so that the cabin warden can prepare for your arrival.

No. There’s relatively good coverage in the vicinity of the mountain stations, but don’t count on being contactable at all times. The further into the mountains you venture, the worse the coverage becomes.

Jämtland’s mountains (Jämtlandsfjällen), for example the so-called Jämtland’s Triangle (Storulvån, Sylarna, Blåhammaren), is suitable for beginners.

No. Maps of the mountains are available for purchase at the Lantmäteriet´s website or from good bookshops.

Yes, but parts of it are very stony.

In the cabin you’ll find a payment slip that you can take home and use to pay for your stay. You can even pay the money into the Post Giro account Pg 517-3: with the payment you must include your name, which cabin you stayed at, and the date of your stay.

Yes, but only in emergencies. There’s a safety room in some mountain cabins and mountain stations that are off the beaten track.

You go first to Kebnekaise’s mountain station, 19 km from Nikkaluokta, a bus journey from Kiruna. Then you spend the night at the mountain station and set out with the STF guide to reach the summit. You ought to allow a couple of extra days - depending on the weather it might not be possible to make the trip some days. The hike to the summit is tough, but most people can make it with moderate effort.

No, absolutely not. There are plenty of ways to enjoy Swedish mountain life without great hardship. Many people enjoy just walking or skiing in the vicinity of the mountain lodge or mountain cabin. Those planning to make longer excursions will, of course, feel better if they’re not completely out of condition.

Yes. STF’s mountain stations and most cabins have a good range of provisions for sale.

Yes, it’s true - but it’s worst in late spring/early summer, in mountain birch forests and beside boggy areas. Later in the summer there are few mosquitoes - sometimes none!

Between 12 and 25 km. A good day’s journey for most people.

Yes, you can. If you choose to camp by one of STF’s mountain cabins or mountain stations there’s a service charge, for which you get access to the services the cabin or station provides.

In the very far north of Sweden, north of the Arctic Circle. At Nuolja in Abisko you can see the midnight sun between 27 May and 18 July.

Yes, of course! Make short trips of a varied nature so that they don’t get tired. It can take half a day before they’ve finished playing beside a stream - so take it slowly. A good idea with young children is to have a base (tent or mountain cabin) from which to make trips, so you don’t have to carry too much.

Yes. According to the Rights of Public Access dogs must be kept on a lead from 1 March-20 August. Animal life is at its most sensitive to disturbance just then from even the most peaceful pet dog. Outside these times you must keep close watch over your dog, so that it doesn’t scare the wildlife. Special rules apply, according to the Nature Conservation Act, when taking your dog into a national park area. These rules can be found on the website for the respective county’s administration committee (länsstyrelse). For Norrbotten you can find the information at www.fjallen.nu

The Nature Conservation Authority is responsible for the public pathway system. In Norrland’s county they’re maintained by the county’s administration committee (länsstyrelse). Upkeep of local pathways is the responsibility of a local-authority leader.

No, you may not. It is, however, possible to purchase a fishing permit for a large number of lakes and stretches of water. Several of our mountain stations and mountain cabins sell these fishing permits. A county’s administrative committee (länsstyrelse) has information about its permitted waters.

Yes - there’s nothing better! The water should be running and clear. You can even drink the lake water in the mountains.

The season starts at midsummer and keeps on through into September. High season is between about 20 July and 10 August. There are a lot of people in the cabins then, and in some places it can get a bit crowded. Winter season begins at New Year. Most mountain stations, however, open in February and remain open until the beginning of May. Mountain cabins open in late February/early March and are open until the beginning of May.