Why we love the Swedish Tourist Association – and why STF is on stuga.se

A 140-year-old idea: outdoor life for everyone

STF was founded in 1885 by a group of northerners and students in Uppsala who wanted to make the Swedish mountains accessible. The first mountain station, Storulvån, opened in 1889, and the idea spread: an organisation neither owned by the state nor run for profit, but carried by its roughly 250,000 members.

The idea is the same today. STF is still a non-profit association. Members pay lower prices, but this is not a loyalty club — it is a funding model. The money goes towards keeping the mountain huts open, maintaining bridges and boardwalks along the trails, and keeping the most remote lodgings running even in years when they lose money.

Three kinds of STF accommodation, one shared character

1. 1Hostels. Classic, affordable places to stay, often in towns or along the trails. Shared kitchen, private room or shared dormitory. Around 63 in the network.
2. 2Mountain huts. Simple log cabins with a wood-burning stove in the heart of the mountains, often without running water. Self-catering, staffed for parts of the year. A mecca for Kungsleden hikers. Around 42 of them.
3. 3Mountain stations. Large full-service lodges along the main routes: Abisko, Kebnekaise, Helags, Sylarna. Restaurant, complete accommodation and often year-round staff. 10 of them in Sweden.

Why we brought them in

Three reasons. The first is that they are missing from virtually every Swedish cabin comparison site. STF does not fit the “summer cottage by the lake” box, and that is exactly what makes them so valuable to be able to find with us. If you are looking for a cabin in Sälen you do not need stuga.se — ten other sites will help you. But if you are looking for a simple hostel in Östersund or a hotel stay in Abisko, stuga.se now has an answer.

The second is that the STF model deserves support. When you book an STF stay, the money goes to an organisation that keeps Sweden’s outdoor infrastructure running. Not a single krona goes to shareholders in Luxembourg.

The third is the member benefits. As an STF member you pay less for your booking — often noticeably less. We clearly flag every STF listing that has a member price and link you on to STF’s own site. There you decide for yourself whether to become a member and book at the discounted rate, or book as a non-member.

Great STF stays to start with

Useful links if you want to know more

• svenskaturistforeningen.se – STF’s official site with the full catalogue and booking system.
• Become a member – costs around SEK 365 per year for adults and gives a discount on all STF stays.
• About stuga.se – why we built the site and which other sources we include.