If "hotel hopping" sounds annoying to you, that's because it kind of is. When I traveled to Stockholm for the first time, I was determined to touch every inch of the Scandinavian city. I wanted to immerse myself in the culture by eating, drinking, and fika-ing as many times as my caffeine-induced anxiety would allow. (Fika is a Swedish coffee-and-pastry break that happens among friends, family, and co-workers throughout the day.)
But because Stockholm is the largest city in Sweden, connected by more than 50 bridges and home to nearly 1 million people, exploring all of its wildly different neighborhoods would have been impossible had I not hotel hopped.
According to Expedia Group's annual travel trends report, hotel hopping is one of the most efficient ways to explore a new city. In the Unpack '26 report, the agency found that 54 percent of travelers are down to hotel hop, something they define as "booking multiple hotels within a single destination."
Though the reasoning varies for each traveler, 50 percent say they hotel hop to explore different neighborhoods, 35 percent say they do it to maximize deals and discounts, and the rest cite reasons around flexibility, value, and discovery.
To be honest, I hated repacking my carry-on halfway through the trip, and I dreaded having to lug my baggage up and down broken escalators just to get from one hotel to the other. But by the end of it all, I hadn't just visited Stockholm, I felt like I actually lived Stockholm. And yes, it was absolutely worth it.
What Is Hotel Hopping?
Hotel hopping is what happens when travelers stay at multiple hotels within a single destination. Though most people do this in order to explore more parts of a city, it also helps people if they want to save some money. For example, they may splurge on one hotel for part of the trip and then choose to stay at a more affordable option for the other part.
This is the case for Gen Z and millennials in particular, according to the travel trends report: "The most popular pairing for Gen Z and millenials is an all-inclusive stay plus a budget-friendly option, allowing them to experience diverse accommodation types in trending destinations."
My Experience Hotel Hopping in Stockholm
When my fiancé and I first arrived in Stockholm, we checked into Bank Hotel - a landmark property that, you guessed it, was once a functioning bank. Perfectly located between the Östermalm and Norrmalm neighborhoods, this hotel offered easy access to the best parts of Stockholm. We chose to start our trip here knowing the vibe would be urban, buzzy, and lively.
Our first two days in these neighborhoods were packed: we explored Kungliga Slottet, the Royal Palace and official residence of the Swedish monarch; Biblioteksgatan, one of Stockholm's best shopping streets; and Stadshuset, Stockholm's City Hall. We stopped for some traditional fika - one time at Vete-Katten, a café known for its kanelbullar (a Swedish cinnamon roll) - and booked Swedish massages at Centralbadet, a historic spa and wellness center.
At night, we browsed the many 7-Elevens and ate at lively neighborhood bistros filled with laidback locals. At these places, my fiancé and I split some fresh fish and the most delicious Swedish meatballs we've ever had.
However, even with 25,000 steps logged each day, it still felt like we'd only scratched the surface of Stockholm. But fortunately, staying at Bank Hotel meant we were within walking distance of nearly everything, which offered a kind of convenience that made it hard to leave.
After our second day, we packed our bags and traded the bustling city center for Södermalm, a neighborhood that immediately felt quieter, cozier, and more residential. Checking into our second hotel, the Stockholm Stadshotell, felt like stepping into a completely different version of the city.
At Bank Hotel, we were surrounded by perfectly (yet effortlessly) dressed 20- and 30-somethings on their way to a restaurant or bar at all hours of the night. In Södermalm, we walked past parents walking their children to school and residents walking or biking to and from work. As it seemed to my fiancé and I, this was where the locals lived.
During our stay at the Stockholm Stadshotell, we matched the pace of the locals and slowed down (literally and figuratively). We took our time exploring this neighborhood, popping into nearby grocery stores to check out the famous Swedish candy options, and we even booked a walking tour around Gamla Stan, Stockholm's "Old Town."
After a busy first couple of days in Stockholm, the new environment was exactly what we needed. If it weren't for hotel hopping, we likely never would have made it over to explore this part of the city, nor felt the need to.
Is Hotel Hopping Worth It?
If you're going to hotel hop, you have to go into it knowing how inconvenient it really is. For me, the hardest part was repacking my suitcase after settling into Bank Hotel. By that point, I had already claimed a chair for my dirty clothes pile, unpacked my makeup bag across the entirety of the bathroom counter, and lined up my shoes in the closet.
Because I had severely overpacked my carry-on to begin with, I also had to wrestle it shut for a second time, which was not an easy feat, considering I added even more clothes to the pile after shopping in Biblioteksgatan. (H&M in Sweden really does hit different.)
The travel between hotels wasn't exactly glamorous, either. My partner and I took public transportation, and hauling our luggage up and down broken escalators and endless stairs quickly became a workout. (If you're carrying more than a small bag or just want to save yourself from the sweat and stress, take a cab instead.)
But that's not all: hotel hopping means you also have to factor in the check-in and check-out times at every hotel. At Bank Hotel, we had to check out by 12 p.m., but we couldn't check into Stockholm Stadshotell until 2 p.m. Fortunately, I was able to use the gap to book our Swedish massages, leaving our luggage with the front desk at Bank Hotel, but it's something to keep in mind if you're planning a similar trip.
All that said, hotel hopping is actually worth it if you want to truly see a city beyond its postcard landmarks. Because my fiancé and I were only in Sweden for four days, switching hotels gave us the chance to experience two entirely different sides of Stockholm: the lively urban pulse of the city center and the slower, more local rhythm of Södermalm.
Could we have stayed at Bank Hotel the entire trip and still had a great time? Absolutely. But we never would've experienced the cozy, lived-in charm of Södermalm (. . . or the grocery store candy).
Of course, whether or not hotel hopping is for you depends on your travel style and destination. But if you can handle a little chaos, it might just be one of the travel industry's best kept hidden secrets.
Travel and expenses for the author were provided by Expedia Group for the purpose of writing this story.
Related: This Private Jet Has a 360 Wellness Program. Got $20K to Spare? Taylor Andrews is the senior balance editor at Popsugar, specializing in topics relating to sex, relationships, dating, sexual health, mental health, travel, and more. With eight years of editorial experience, Taylor has a strong background in content creation and storytelling. Prior to joining PS in 2021, she worked at Cosmopolitan.Hence then, the article about i tried hotel hopping the new travel trend that s both fun and annoying was published today ( ) and is available on popsugar ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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