By Katie Watson
In early August, I stayed at Hagastrand with my family and came away feeling that it is a hotel well worth having on your radar.
Set beside the calm waters of Brunnsviken in Stockholm’s Royal Haga Park, Hagastrand offers a peaceful, wellness-focused experience while remaining only around ten minutes by taxi from central Stockholm. It feels wonderfully removed from the pace of the city, without actually being far away.
Part of the Nobis Hospitality Group and Marriott’s Autograph Collection, the hotel brings together contemporary Nordic design, generous social spaces and an impressive approach to well-being. With 215 rooms and suites, it is a substantial property, but its waterside setting and connection to the surrounding park create a surprisingly calm and relaxed atmosphere.
Close to Stockholm, surrounded by nature
What struck me most about Hagastrand’s location was the balance it offers. Guests can enjoy the restaurants, culture and sights of central Stockholm, then return to a much quieter setting beside the water.
Rather than feeling like a conventional city hotel, Hagastrand has the atmosphere of a destination in its own right. There is space to slow down, use the spa, walk around Hagaparken and enjoy time by Brunnsviken. Yet with the city centre just a short taxi journey away, guests do not have to choose between relaxation and sightseeing.
Depending on the client and the pace of their itinerary, Hagastrand could work as their sole Stockholm base, or be paired with a central hotel to give them two complementary perspectives on the city.
Wellness is at the heart of the experience
The main selling point for me is undoubtedly Hagastrand Spa. Spanning approximately 2,500 square metres, it is an extensive wellness environment designed around the Nordic relationship between warmth and cold, movement and rest, and sociability and solitude.
The thermal journey includes a hammam, herbal sauna, Nordic sauna and a snow room kept at approximately –10°C. Guests can also experience guided sauna rituals, sensory showers, red-light therapy and innovative relaxation spaces using sound, light and vibration.
The 18-metre pool features underwater music, while the Frequency Room combines neuroacoustic loungers with sound and light to encourage deeper relaxation. The Gongmatic Room offers another unusual experience, with guests resting on warm ceramic beds while the sound and vibrations of a self-playing gong move through the space.
I particularly liked that the spa allows guests to shape the experience around their own needs. There are social areas for spending time together, alongside quieter spaces for those who simply want to retreat and switch off.
For guests seeking greater privacy, there is also a Wellness Suite with its own lounge, sauna, steam room, changing facilities and contrast therapy. It could work particularly well for a small private group, celebration or more exclusive spa experience.
It is worth noting that entry to the main spa is for guests aged 16 and over, which should be considered when arranging family stays.
A gentle beginning or ending to a Nordic journey
I think Hagastrand could be particularly valuable at the beginning of a longer Nordic itinerary.
For guests arriving on a long-haul flight, spending their first night or two here would allow them to recover from jet lag, enjoy the spa and ease into their holiday before exploring Stockholm or continuing onwards through Sweden and the wider Nordic region.
It could work equally well as the final stop of a journey. After an itinerary filled with experiences, activities and changing destinations, a night or two beside the water would give guests time to unwind before flying home.
Of course, Hagastrand does not need to be limited to a stopover. For clients interested in wellness, Nordic design and a more considered pace of travel, it could become one of the defining parts of their time in Stockholm.
Nordic design and seasonal dining
The hotel was created by acclaimed Swedish architecture practice Wingårdhs. Its interiors draw on the surrounding landscape, using natural materials, tactile finishes, warm woods and understated colours to establish a strong sense of place.
Restaurant Njord continues the Nordic connection through seasonal ingredients inspired by the forest, sea and land, combined with broader global influences and techniques.
There is also a cocktail bar, spa lounge and games lounge, creating a choice of spaces for dining, relaxing or spending time together. This variety contributes to the feeling that Hagastrand is somewhere guests can settle into rather than simply use as a base for sleeping.
A strong option for groups and corporate travel
The size of Hagastrand also makes it an interesting option for larger groups, incentives and corporate programmes.
The hotel has 12 flexible meeting rooms, modern conference facilities and a ballroom accommodating up to 300 guests. Its combination of generous event spaces, waterside surroundings, dining and wellness facilities creates opportunities to build a varied programme within one property.
For corporate groups, the spa and wider wellbeing concept could provide a valuable counterbalance to meetings and structured activities. It offers the chance to combine productivity with genuine downtime, which feels very much in keeping with the Nordic approach to balance.
My verdict
Hagastrand gives us another way to experience Stockholm. It combines easy access to the city with the space, nature and tranquillity that guests might normally expect to find much farther away.
Having stayed there with my family, I found it relaxed, spacious and very easy to enjoy. I would particularly consider it for guests arriving after a long-haul flight, those finishing a longer Nordic journey, wellness-focused travellers, groups and clients who appreciate having enough time to enjoy a hotel as part of the experience.
If you are interested in discovering more about Hagastrand, the All Nordics team is ready to help. Drawing on our wealth of local knowledge and personal experience, we can guide you on whether the hotel aligns with your guests’ individual requirements and how it could best complement their wider Nordic itinerary.
