Published May 12, 2026 03:05AM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Sweden has a secret that even many of its residents don\u2019t know. Hidden throughout the countryside, there are more than 200 cabins and cottages where you can stay for a night for free. These dwellings range from primitive forest huts in sun-dappled glades to quintessentially Scandi-designed 19th-century cottages\u2014think red-painted timber, wool rugs, and walls etched with botanical designs. Formerly used as logging cabins, hunting lodges, or summer retreats, they are now preserved as cultural monuments to a simpler way of life. With some newer ones recently purpose-built to encourage people to spend more time outdoors, they\u2019re all available to anyone on a first-come, first-served basis.<\/p>\n
Before two Swedes, writer Kjell Vowles and photographer Moa Karlberg, compiled the first comprehensive guide to many of them in their book Stuglandet<\/i><\/a> or \u201cthe Country of Cabins,\u201d (currently only available in Swedish), there was no formal compilation of their histories or whereabouts.<\/p>\n \u201cQuite a few of them were places that had been abandoned or donated to local organizations, which then decided to keep them open for visitors,\u201d Vowles tells Outside <\/i>about the uninhabited cabins. \u201cOften these [dwellings] were in quite remote places and had never been modernized,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n Some are owned and maintained by the regional County Administrative Board, L\u00e4nsstyrelsen<\/a>, while others belong to local history societies, sports organizations, or private citizens. Some are kept exactly as they were left by their last residents. \u201cMoa and I spent a lot of time on the phone, calling different societies and Googling, trying to follow any lead that we got about where these places could be,\u201d says Vowles.<\/p>\n Erika \u00c5hlund, a nurse based in the coastal city of\u00a0 Hudiksvall, Sweden, <\/strong>bought the guide when it was first released in 2017 and made a hobby of visiting as many cabins as she could find with her partner. To date, they\u2019ve stayed at\u00a0more than 50 cabins, some more than once.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is often a story behind a cabin,\u201d \u00c5hlund tells Outside<\/i>. \u201cThere can be newspaper clippings or carvings in the walls. One of the cabins we visited, in the Saint Anna archipelago, was a gift to the current Swedish king for his fiftieth birthday. [Now] ordinary people are allowed to stay there for free.\u201d<\/p>\n Allemansr\u00e4tten,<\/i> or Sweden\u2019s right of public access<\/a>, is an inherent part of the nation\u2019s culture, after all. \u201cIt allows everyone to freely explore nature, whether hiking, picking berries, swimming, or pitching a tent in the countryside,\u201d explains Josefin Haraldsson of Visit Sweden, the country\u2019s official tourism board. The idea is simple: everyone should have access to the outdoors and share responsibility for \u00a0respecting and preserving the landscape.<\/p>\n The cabins can\u2019t be booked in advance, which means there\u2019s no guarantee you\u2019ll have the place to yourself. You simply show up and stay, or negotiate with whoever might have arrived before you to share the space.<\/p>\n This is why the \u201cone night only rule\u201d applies: so everyone has a chance to experience nature this way. Amenities can vary from scant to cozy. Some, for instance, provide beds, fireplaces, and firewood. Most don\u2019t have running water. You are always expected to bring your own food, sleeping bag, and clean up after yourself, taking your trash with you when you leave. No matter the level of rusticity, each cabin will give you inside access to\u00a0 Sweden\u2019s natural and cultural history. And they won\u2019t cost a thing.<\/p>\n Here are some of the best places to find free cabins across Sweden.<\/p>\n In Kalmar County, in the G\u00f6taland region of southern Sweden, this simple red timber hut located off several popular hiking trails, is a favorite among visitors. Named for Anders Blomma, the boatman it once belonged to, the house was relocated from its original location in the late 19th century to its current spot in the forest. A young couple took it over in the early 1900s, living with their sons, one of whom stayed until his death in 1987, after which it was taken over by the local historic society of the\u00a0<\/strong>nearby village of\u00a0<\/strong>Gullabo. A complete renovation followed<\/a>, and the group continues to care for it voluntarily. Its welcoming interior features colorful patterned wallpaper, white lace curtains, a large fireplace and propane stove, two sofas and beds, a dining table with chairs, and a selection of crockery, all of which feel very much like a home. \u201cThe books are still there, the bedding and clothes and textiles,\u201d details Vowles, \u201ceverything has been kept, but everything is also very well maintained.\u201d<\/p>\n How to Stay: <\/b>Located between Degerhyltan and T\u00f6rnem\u00e5la in Tors\u00e5s municipality in Kalmar county, this historic cabin is open in spring, summer, and autumn. A key hangs to the left of the door. It sleeps two with an outhouse and can be found along the Gullaboleden cycling and hiking trail which starts and ends in Gullabo. From the bus stop in Tors\u00e5s, it is about a 5-km (3.1-mile) walk.<\/p>\n There are seven overnight cabins in Skuleskogen National Park<\/a> on Sweden\u2019s UNESCO-listed High Coast. Famed for its ancient pine forests and rugged coastline, the national park is also home to some of the country\u2019s most striking landscapes,\u00a0 including Sl\u00e5ttdalsskrevan crevice, a more than 650-foot-long and nearly 100-foot-high slash through Sl\u00e5ttdalsberget mountain. Open year-round, the cabins can get very busy during the summer months as they provide welcome accommodation to those traversing the long-distance H\u00f6ga Kusten Trail<\/a>. Managed by the V\u00e4sternorrland County Administrative Board, which provides firewood, these are simple accommodations equipped with a table, chairs, a\u00a0<\/strong>wood burner, and mattresses. Despite the lack of kitchen items or a stove, they offer a truly immersive experience of High Coast nature, from its tall mountains and deep caves to the vast views of the Baltic Sea.<\/p>\n How to Stay: <\/b>Search \u201covernight cabins\u201d on the Skuleskogen National Park<\/a>\u2019s interactive map<\/a> for a detailed list of where to find them and additional info like the number of beds and amenities for each.<\/p>\n Roughly two hours from Gothenburg, near the Her\u00e5 River, this renovated mountain cottage in Her\u00e5maden Nature Reserve<\/a>\u2019s pristine woodland has been used as a shelter by outdoor enthusiasts for more than 60 years. According to the Western G\u00f6taland County Administrative board which\u00a0has cared for it since the land became protected in 2014, the cabin\u2019s origins date back to the 17th century. Though its last inhabitants were a family who left in 1946, one 18th-century resident named Bryngel Persson was said to practice witchcraft. Before the county took over, it was looked after by a man living nearby who invested his own resources to keep it open, cutting grass and cleaning regularly for decades. \u201cHe used to go out there on weekends doing whatever renovations or repairs were needed,\u201d Vowles tells Outside<\/i>. \u201cHe put a lot of work into it.\u201d The current tidy conditions of its bed, two bunks, dining table and chairs, colorful crockery, and walls adorned with children\u2019s drawings are a testament to his care.<\/p>\n How to Stay: <\/b>This Google Map link<\/a> takes you to the exact location of this historic cabin with photos and visitor reviews. Managed by the Western G\u00f6taland County Administrative Board, it can be found just off a trail with a well onsite for drinking water. As with all of the cabins, space is available on a first-come, first-served basis.<\/p>\n Named for the vibrant amber cloudberries that grow nearby in summer, this log cabin in high-altitude wilderness is often cited among the best overnight experiences in the country. Situated in central Sweden, north of the town of Kopparberg in the old-growth forest and bogland of Djupdalsh\u00f6jden Nature Reserve<\/a>, it offers four beds and two bunks, plus a range of kitchenware, free firewood, and electricity from solar panels on the roof. Built to encourage access to nature and maintained by the local municipality, this cabin is only reachable on foot. Surrounded by gnarled trees shaped by long, harsh winters\u2014most of which are over a century old\u2014its location is known for silence, abundant wildlife, 17th and 18th-century coal mining remains, and ample opportunities for foraging berries and mushrooms in season.<\/p>\n How to Stay: <\/b>The Clouberry cabin features four beds and two benches, sleeping between six and eight\u00a0people comfortably. This interactive map<\/a> provides additional info on how to find it within the Djupdalsh\u00f6jden Nature Reserve. In the summer months, this site is particularly popular, so be prepared to share space with others.<\/p>\n Deep in \u00c5sele Sami country, Bj\u00f6rnlandet National Park<\/a> contains one of Sweden\u2019s most important and ancient forests, part of the world\u2019s great taiga, or boreal forest. Tomas Staafjord, park manager and wilderness ranger, led the project to build some of Bj\u00f6rnlandets\u2019 hiking trails and two free overnight cabins. Each is designed in ways traditional to the area, with the forest\u2019s history in mind. \u201cOne has mosses and grass on the roof,\u201d Staafjord tells Outside,\u201d we<\/i>\u00a0also used timber from the same kinds of trees that are found in the National Park.\u201d Overseen by the V\u00e4sterbotten County Administrative Board, it\u2019s Staafjord who cares for them with regular maintenance and stocking of firewood, candles, and other basic amenities like toilet paper. \u201cIt\u2019s an opportunity to live like people did in another time, preparing the wood, making a fire, taking care of the oil lamp,\u201d he shares. \u201cTo do that in a forest where the trees are up to 500 years old is a special feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n How to Stay:<\/b> Each cabin in the park has space for six people with pillows and blankets. Angsj\u00f6kojan cabin is located along the Angsj\u00f6leden and Guldb\u00e4cksleden hiking trails near Lake Angsj\u00f6leden. From the Angsj\u00f6 entrance, it\u2019s roughly half a mile to the cabin. The Sv\u00e4rmorskojan hut is located\u00a0along the Sv\u00e4rmors Trail near a small lake, just under four miles from the Angsj\u00f6 entrance. More info can be found on the National Park\u2019s website.<\/a><\/p>\n Many cottages can be reached by public transportation, followed by short hikes. However, it\u2019s essential to do your research before setting off. A great place to start is the websites of local authorities like regional tourism boards or L\u00e4nsstyrelsen<\/a>, the County Administrative Board, for the area you\u2019re visiting. \u201cMost people know English,\u201d says Vowles. \u201cSo, you can also always email the local tourist board, and they can hopefully help you.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Blommastugan](\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/stuglandet_press_003.jpg?width=3840&auto=webp&quality=75&fit=cover\"\/)
Blommastugan (The Flower Cottage), Kalmar, G\u00f6taland<\/b><\/h2>\n
Skuleskogen National Park, V\u00e4sternorrland, Norrland<\/b><\/h2>\n
Bastedalen, Western G\u00f6taland, G\u00f6taland
<\/b><\/h2>\n![\"Hjortronbergsmossen](\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Hjortronbergsmossen-2-credit-Erika-Ahlund.jpg?width=3840&auto=webp&quality=75&fit=cover\"\/)
Hjortronbergsmossen, \u00d6rebro, Svealand<\/strong>
<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/b>Bj\u00f6rnlandets National Park, V\u00e4sterbotten, Norrland<\/b><\/h2>\n![\"Wood](\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/stuglandet_press_004-1.jpg?width=3840&auto=webp&quality=75&fit=cover\"\/)
<\/b>What to Know Before You Go<\/b><\/h2>\n