Stockholm Public Transport: Complete 2026 Guide

You can spend days in Stockholm without needing a taxi or a car. That’s the quiet superpower of Stockholm public transport: one ticket, one app, and you can reach the airport, the Old Town, the museum island and a sleepy archipelago village without ever renting a car.

How to get around Stockholm: buy a single SL travelcard (24-hour, 72-hour or 7-day) or just tap a contactless card, and that covers the metro, buses, trams, commuter trains and SL’s four boat lines, plus Waxholmsbolaget boats between Strömkajen and Vaxholm. From Arlanda Airport, take the fast Arlanda Express or the cheaper Flygbussarna coach. Walk the centre; save the metro for distance. Confirm current SL fares before you travel.

This guide is for the visitor who wants to move like a local from day one — not a transport nerd, just someone who’d rather spend money on dinner than on cabs. I’ve laid it out the way you actually use the system: tickets first, then each mode, then the airport, then the honest “when do I walk instead” calls. As a pillar it links down to a detailed guide for every mode, so you can go deep wherever you need to.

How to Get Around Stockholm (At a Glance)

• From Arlanda Airport: Arlanda Express (about 18 min, around 340 SEK) or Flygbussarna coach (about 40 min, around 129 SEK). Skip unbranded taxis.
• In the city: metro, bus, tram, commuter train and ferry all share one SL ticket. Contactless tap-and-go works at every gate.
• Best visitor ticket: a 72-hour travelcard (360 SEK in 2026) costs less than nine single tickets, and the 7-day (470 SEK) less than eleven, so either pays off fast if you ride a few times a day.
• The metro: three lines — Green, Red, Blue — all meeting at T-Centralen. Trains come more often in the weekday rush, and intervals vary by branch.
• Hours: broadly 05:00 to 01:00, with 24-hour running on the metro and key buses on Friday and Saturday nights.
• Djurgården ferry: Slussen to the museum island, covered by any SL ticket. A gorgeous 10-minute ride.
• Taxis: use Bolt, Uber or the Taxi Stockholm app. Never hail a random cab off the street.
• Cars: unnecessary for almost every visitor — congestion charges apply downtown and parking is punishing.

The SL System, Briefly

Nearly everything runs under one operator: SL (Storstockholms Lokaltrafik). The metro (tunnelbana), buses, trams, commuter trains (pendeltåg) and most ferries all sit on a single ticketing system. The main thing SL does not cover is the Arlanda Express airport train. The archipelago ferries are partly in: every SL ticket works on Waxholmsbolaget boats between Strömkajen, Vaxholm and the 42 piers in between all year, and from 14 September to 29 April an SL period ticket of 30 days or more covers every Waxholmsbolaget route. I’ll get to both.

Here’s the part that trips people up: SL dropped its fare zones in 2017. One ticket covers travel anywhere in SL’s area, so there are no zone boundaries to work out. Two exceptions: going on to Uppsala needs UL coverage too, and Arlanda’s station adds a passage fee. You can pay three ways — tap a contactless card or phone at the gate, buy a ticket in the SL app, or load a reloadable green SL card. Outside gated stations it runs on trust: you tap on entry, inspectors check at random, and fare-dodging brings a penalty fare on top of the fare you owe. Not worth it.

SL Tickets and Prices

Prices below are the SL fares in force at the time of writing. They do shift, so treat them as ballpark and check the current SL tariff before you buy.

• Single ticket (75 min): 43 SEK via the SL app or contactless
• 24-hour travelcard: 180 SEK
• 72-hour travelcard: 360 SEK
• 7-day travelcard: 470 SEK
• 30-day travelcard: 1,060 SEK (half price, 530 SEK, with 2 December 2026 the last day to buy and activate one)
• Green SL card: it replaced the old SL Access card, which no longer works for travel; 50 SEK if you buy it on a Waxholmsbolaget boat

Children under 7 travel free with someone holding a valid ticket, and an adult with an SL ticket can take up to six children aged 7–11 free as well. Under-20s and seniors pay a reduced fare, usually a good bit less than full price. For the deeper breakdown — reduced fares, how loading works, whether to bother with the physical card — see our SL Card Stockholm guide.

Which pass, honestly? Staying three days or fewer, the 72-hour travelcard is the sweet spot if you’ll make nine or more trips; eight singles still cost less. For four to seven days, the 7-day card pays for itself by the eleventh journey. The only case where pay-as-you-go beats a pass is a short stay where you’re walking most of the time and only dipping onto the metro now and then. If that’s you, just tap contactless and don’t overthink it.

Three Ways to Pay for Stockholm Public Transport

1. Contactless card or phone (easiest)

Every SL gate and onboard reader takes contactless bank cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. Tap on the way in, and tap out where a station has exit gates. You’re charged the cheapest valid fare — normally the single. Each tap buys a single ticket valid for 75 minutes (43 SEK in 2026), so if you’ll ride five or more times in a day, a 24-hour travelcard works out cheaper. For most visitors this is the whole answer: no app, no queue, no card to buy.

2. The SL app

Download the SL app on iOS or Android, add a card, and you can buy tickets in seconds. It doubles as the best journey planner in the city — live departures, which platform, and disruption alerts. At manual gates or when an inspector asks, you just show the ticket on screen.

3. The green SL card

This is the physical reloadable card, sold at SL’s customer service shop at Stockholm Central, at staffed ticket barriers and at agents such as Pressbyrån. It costs a few kronor empty, then you load a single trip or any travelcard onto it. I’d only bother if you don’t carry a contactless card or you’d rather not use the app — otherwise tap-and-go is simpler.

The Stockholm Metro (Tunnelbana)

The tunnelbana is the backbone of the network, and it’s the mode you’ll lean on most. Three lines — Green, Red and Blue — meet at T-Centralen, directly beneath the main railway station. From almost anywhere central you’re a short walk or one easy change from a metro stop. If you only master one part of the system, make it this. For the full station-by-station rundown, our Stockholm Metro (Tunnelbana) Complete Guide goes deeper than I can here.

The Three Lines

Green Line (17, 18, 19): runs from Hässelby strand through Vasastan, the centre and Södermalm, then splits for Hagsätra, Farsta strand and Skarpnäck. This is the workhorse locals ride most.

Red Line (13, 14): runs south-west to north-east, from Fruängen and Norsborg through T-Centralen out to Mörby Centrum. Handiest for Gamla Stan, Södermalm and Östermalm.

Blue Line (10, 11): runs north-west from Kungsträdgården out to Akalla and Hjulsta. It’s the shortest line but carries the most dramatic art.

Everything converges at T-Centralen. After that the interchanges you’ll actually use are Slussen (the southern gateway to Södermalm), Fridhemsplan (Green meets Blue) and Gamla Stan (Green meets Red on the Old Town bridge).

Hours and Frequency

The tunnelbana runs roughly 05:00 to 01:00 Monday to Thursday, then around the clock on Friday and Saturday nights. How often trains come depends on the line, the branch and the hour, and the central stretches where branches share track see the most. In practice you rarely wait long, and the SL app shows the live countdown at every platform.

The World’s Longest Art Gallery

The metro is a genuine sight in its own right. Most of its 100 stations carry commissioned art — sculptures, mosaics, exposed rock, murals, light works — by more than 150 artists. The stations I’d single out: T-Centralen (blue-and-white vine motifs), Solna Centrum (a bright red ceiling over walls painted with a spruce forest) and Stadion (a rainbow over the platform), plus Kungsträdgården, Rådhuset and Tekniska Högskolan. A one-day ticket and a couple of hours is the classic “art ride”: start at Kungsträdgården, ride out and back, hop off at the big ones. Bring a camera; the lighting is better than you’d expect.

Buses, Trams and Commuter Rail

Buses

Stockholm’s bus network is huge and frequent, yet most first-timers barely notice it — the metro simply covers the central neighbourhoods that well. Buses earn their keep in three situations: the last kilometre into corners the metro misses (parts of Kungsholmen, Södra Djurgården, Kungsträdgården); overnight, when metro service thins and night buses fill the gaps (SL’s journey planner lists them); and the scenic routes, above all Bus 69 from Centralstationen over Djurgårdsbron to Djurgårdsbrunn — one of the prettier rides in the city for the price of a normal fare.

Pay by contactless, app or SL card. Board at the front, tap the reader, and the driver will help if you’re unsure — English is the norm. Press the red stop button by the door when your stop is coming.

Trams and Light Rail

Four tram lines run in and around the city. The two you might use for logistics are Tvärbanan (line 22), which loops the southern and western edges and reaches Liljeholmen and Alvik, and Lidingöbanan (line 21), out to the island of Lidingö from Ropsten. The one you’ll actually enjoy is Spårväg City (line 7), the regular tram from T-Centralen along Hamngatan to Djurgården, passing Skansen, the ABBA Museum, the Vasa Museum and Junibacken; heritage museum trams run on the same tracks. It’s slower than walking in a spot or two, but it’s charming and drops you right in the museum cluster.

Commuter Rail (Pendeltåg)

The pendeltåg is SL’s suburban rail, threading through Stockholm Central out to Uppsala, Södertälje, Nynäshamn and — usefully — Arlanda Airport. Your regular SL ticket covers it inside the zone; the airport stop carries an extra station surcharge (more on that below). For visitors it mostly matters as the cheap way to and from Arlanda, and as a quick hop to the archipelago ferry ports south of the city. Our Stockholm Buses, Trams & Commuter Rail Explained guide breaks down the routes and quirks of all three in detail.

Ferries and Boats

Stockholm sits on 14 islands, so water transport is baked into the system. There are three ferry networks worth knowing, and only one of them, the archipelago boats, reaches beyond the SL ticket. For the full picture — routes, seasons, which boat for which trip — see our Stockholm Ferries & Commuter Boats Guide.

The Djurgården Ferry (Djurgårdsfärjan)

A short, frequent hop between Slussen and Allmänna Gränd on Djurgården, via Skeppsholmen — and it’s covered by any SL ticket, so it feels free once you’ve bought a card. The crossing is about 10 minutes, runs several times an hour, and comes with a broad view of the harbour. It’s also the fastest way to reach the Vasa Museum and Skansen from Södermalm or Gamla Stan.

Skeppsholmen is a request stop — tell the crew when you board if you want off there, or press the button on the quay to be picked up. Easy to sail straight past the first time.

Commuter Boats (Pendelbåten)

Line 80 runs between Nybroplan and Ropsten via Nacka Strand and Frihamnen; Line 89 links Klara Mälarstrand and Tappström on Ekerö. Both are SL, so your normal ticket works. Line 80 is a bit of a locals’ secret — it skips waterfront traffic and doubles as a cheap pseudo-harbour cruise with commuter views thrown in.

Waxholmsbolaget (the Archipelago Ferries)

Different operator, separate tickets. Waxholmsbolaget runs the year-round archipelago boats to Vaxholm, Grinda, Sandhamn, Utö and dozens of smaller islands, mostly from Strömkajen in front of the Grand Hôtel. You buy on board by card — no cash — and there’s a multi-day pass if you’re island-hopping. Summer frequency is generous; winter can drop to one or two sailings a day on many routes. Our full archipelago guide covers which islands to pick.

Strömma’s Cinderella boats are the seasonal private alternative from Strandvägen to Vaxholm, Grinda and Sandhamn, back in April 2027 — faster and smarter, but pricier. Book ahead in July and August.

Getting To and From Arlanda Airport

Arlanda (ARN) is the main airport, about 40 km north of the city. There are five sensible ways in, and the right one depends on your budget and how wrecked you are after the flight. For the full walkthrough see How to Get from Arlanda Airport to Stockholm City, and for the money-versus-time call there’s a dedicated Arlanda Express vs Bus vs Taxi comparison.

Arlanda Express (fastest, most comfortable)

About 18 minutes to Stockholm Central, roughly every 15 minutes, for around 340 SEK one-way (640 SEK return). Trains start early, and the last one from Stockholm Central leaves after midnight. Arlanda North station serves Terminal 5, so allow a short walk between the terminal and the platform. At 340 SEK it isn’t cheap, and after a long-haul flight I still think it’s usually worth it.

SL Commuter Train / Pendeltåg (cheapest train)

The pendeltåg runs Arlanda Central to Stockholm Central and on through the city. Reckon on about 40 minutes, and check departures in the SL app. The fare is a normal SL ticket plus a station surcharge at Arlanda, the Arlanda passage fee (adults pay about 200 SEK all-in in 2026, and the 157 SEK fee applies even with a travelcard; under-18s don’t pay it). Slower than the Express but far cheaper, and it plugs straight into any neighbourhood, though the airport coach is cheaper still.

Flygbussarna (the airport coach)

The airport coach runs from Terminals 2 and 5 to Cityterminalen, next to Stockholm Central. Budget 40–50 minutes and around 129 SEK one-way online. Bags go underneath; there’s WiFi and USB. It’s the cheapest way in — slower than the Express, well under half the price, and dependable.

Contracted airport taxi

Swedavia’s contracted taxis charge a maximum fare of 800 SEK for one to four people, and 1,275 SEK for five to eight, to one address within the marked zone; ask the driver for the price before you set off. That’s competitive with the train once four adults split it. The catch: only use the official ranks at Terminals 2 and 5, and never take up an offer from someone approaching you inside the terminal. That’s exactly how visitors end up paying wild sums for a short ride.

Uber / Bolt

Both operate at Arlanda, with pickup from the marked rideshare zone at each terminal. Fares swing with demand but often sit below the fixed-fare taxis at quiet times and above them at peak. The real draw is the guaranteed price in the app before you commit. Our Uber & Taxis in Stockholm guide has the full rundown on when a rideshare beats a cab.

What about Bromma Airport (BMA)?

Bromma is the small airport about 9.6 km from the city. The Flygbussarna coach to Cityterminalen is paused, so plan the trip into town in the SL app. For a Bolt or Uber, get a quote in the app for your address.

Skavsta and Västerås — the “Stockholm” budget airports

Some low-cost carriers land at Skavsta (about 100 km south) or Västerås (about 110 km west) — both sold as “Stockholm” while being nowhere near it. Flygbussarna runs coaches from each (roughly 229 SEK from Skavsta, 139 from Västerås; around 80 and 75 minutes). Fold this into the true cost of a cheap fare: a bargain ticket can be swallowed whole by the airport bus.

Night Transport

Stockholm is one of the easier European capitals to move around late. Metro lines run 24 hours on Friday and Saturday nights. Other nights, the metro winds down around 01:00 and the nattbussar take over: night buses are the ones whose numbers end in 90s, such as 94, 191, 592 and 890. Look up your route and times in the journey planner before you head out. Your normal SL ticket covers all of it, so a taxi is an option rather than a necessity.

Trains Within Sweden

Pairing Stockholm with Gothenburg, Malmö, Uppsala or anywhere else? The train is almost always the answer.

SJ (Statens Järnvägar) — the main operator

SJ runs the high-speed intercity trains: Snabbtåg to Gothenburg, Malmö and Copenhagen. Check journey times and book at sj.se; advance fares can be genuinely cheap if you plan ahead, while walk-up prices climb steeply. Trains leave from Stockholm Central, and comfort is quiet-car, WiFi, decent bistro — efficient in the Scandinavian way.

Mälartåg — Regional Trains

These cover Uppsala, Västerås, Eskilstuna, Nyköping and the commuter belt just outside SL’s zone, running through Stockholm Central. Buy at machines or on the Movingo app.

MTR Express, Snälltåget, Flixtrain

Private operators on the busy intercity routes — sometimes meaningfully cheaper than SJ, rarely faster. Worth a quick price check for Stockholm–Gothenburg and Stockholm–Malmö.

Sleeper Trains

Stockholm to Narvik near the Arctic Circle, and Stockholm to Berlin via Snälltåget, are both proper summer adventures. Book cabins well ahead.

Cycling in Stockholm

Between April and October this is a properly good cycling city. The centre has a dense web of dedicated lanes, drivers behave, and the waterfront loop from Djurgården through the Old Town to Kungsholmen is one of the best urban rides in Scandinavia. Winter riding carries on, but it turns into a local’s game — ice and dark-by-three aren’t kind to visitors.

Rental bikes and scooters: Visit Stockholm’s cycling page lists the rental firms. Voi and Bolt e-scooters are handy for short hops. Parking zones are strictly enforced; don’t dump one across a pavement unless you fancy a fine.

Rental shops: the tourist go-tos cluster near Djurgårdsbron and along Strandvägen, plus the outdoor kiosks on Djurgården itself. Reckon on a few hundred kronor a day for a standard bike, more for an e-bike. Our Cycling in Stockholm guide covers routes, rentals and seasons in full.

Walking

More of Stockholm is walkable than most visitors expect, and honestly it’s how you’ll see the best of it. How the main areas sit on foot from Stockholm Central:

• To Gamla Stan (Old Town): a short walk
• To Östermalm: an easy walk
• To Södermalm: further, through Gamla Stan and across the Slussen bridges
• To Djurgården (Vasa Museum): about 30 minutes
• To Kungsholmen: just across the water to the west

Here’s my honest rule: for anything under about 20 minutes in the centre, walk. You’d miss most of the character of Gamla Stan, SoFo and Vasastan at 30 km/h underground, and the streets themselves are half the point. Save the metro for genuine distance or tired legs. Our Walking in Stockholm guide maps out the best on-foot routes neighbourhood by neighbourhood.

Taxis, Uber and Bolt

Taxis are the one corner of the system that demands attention. Fares in Sweden are not regulated — an operator can charge whatever it likes, as long as the rate is on a sticker in the window. Unbranded cabs lurking at ranks in touristy spots have been known to charge several times the going rate. Never get in without reading the meter and the price per kilometre.

The safe options

Taxi Stockholm lets you choose a fixed price or a metered fare in its app; Taxi Kurir and Sverigetaxi are the other names to look for. Order through an app or flag one down.

Uber and Bolt both operate here; open both apps and compare quotes for your trip. Both show the price upfront, which makes them the safest bet for visitors; typical central fares run a couple of hundred kronor, and you’ll rarely wait more than five minutes for a car.

Avoiding scams: in any non-app taxi, agree a fast pris (fixed price) before you get in and read the yellow sticker on the rear window. If the numbers look wild for a short hop, walk away — the reputable firms keep their per-kilometre rate modest plus a small starting fee. The full comparison lives in our Uber & Taxis in Stockholm guide.

Driving and Parking in Stockholm (Don’t)

Skip the rental unless you’re leaving the city. Driving central Stockholm is a mistake on several counts: the congestion charge is billed automatically to the rental and quietly stacks up per entry at peak; parking is brutal, both in price and in the fact that street bays usually want a Swedish payment app a foreign card won’t register; the old city is narrow, one-way and awkward; public transport already reaches everywhere you’d drive; and the drink-drive limit is effectively zero, so a single glass with dinner is off the table.

If you are driving — out to the archipelago mainland, to Uppsala, to a summer house — the motorways are fast and well kept, and speed cameras are everywhere, so watch your numbers. The only real reason to rent from the city itself is a same-day onward trip. Our Driving in Stockholm guide covers the congestion charge, parking apps and car hire if you do need wheels.

Accessibility

Stockholm is one of the stronger capitals for accessibility. Every metro station has at least one lift; buses are low-floor; the Arlanda Express is fully accessible; and Flygbussarna and Waxholmsbolaget both carry wheelchairs. The SL app has an “accessible routes only” filter in journey planning. A handful of older tram stops still have high platforms, but they’re clearly signposted.

A Sample Three-Day Transport Plan

Day 1 (arrival): Arlanda Express to Stockholm Central (around 340 SEK). Walk 10 minutes to a Norrmalm hotel, or ride one metro stop. Buy a 72-hour SL travelcard (360 SEK in 2026) in the SL app, or at a staffed ticket barrier or an agent such as Pressbyrån.

Day 2 (classic day): metro to Gamla Stan, wander the Old Town, then the Djurgården ferry from Slussen to spend the afternoon on the museum island (Vasa plus Skansen). Bus 69 or tram 7 back. All of it sits on the 72-hour card — no new spend.

Day 3 (explore day): ride the metro art stations (Kungsträdgården, Rådhuset and Solna Centrum on the Blue line, then Stadion on the Red line), then take a Waxholmsbolaget ferry out to Vaxholm for lunch and back. Every SL ticket covers the boat between Strömkajen and Vaxholm, so the whole day is on the pass.

Day 4 (departure): Arlanda Express or Flygbussarna to the airport, each on its own ticket: no SL ticket covers either. Your 72-hour card runs out 72 hours after you activated it, so check the time before any last metro ride.

All in, a person can cover four days of transport for roughly 1,000 SEK — nearly all of it unavoidable. The one real choice is comfort versus cost at the airport: Arlanda Express, or save a fair bit with Flygbussarna both ways.

Three Common Mistakes

1. Buying singles all week. Four rides a day for five days at the single fare comfortably beats the price of a 7-day card — and yet visitors overpay this way constantly. Get the pass.

2. Taking a random taxi at the airport. The Swedavia-contracted taxis wait directly outside the Terminal 5 arrivals hall and outside Terminal 2. Follow the signs for approved taxis, and agree the price with the driver before you leave.

3. Renting a car “for convenience.” You’ll spend more on the congestion charge and parking than you would on SL. The only trip that justifies a rental from Stockholm is an onward drive.

Essential Apps

• SL — tickets, journey planning, live departures. Indispensable.
• Bolt — rideshare; compare its quote with Uber’s.
• Uber — a solid backup for Bolt.
• Taxi Stockholm — for fixed-fare taxis with luggage.
• Arlanda Express — tickets on your phone, easier than buying at the airport.
• Voi — e-scooters.
• Google Maps — pulls live SL data and handles walking directions well.

FAQ

How do I get from Arlanda Airport to Stockholm?

Four main options: the Arlanda Express train (about 18 minutes, 340 SEK), the SL pendeltåg commuter train (about 38 minutes, 200 SEK including the Arlanda passage fee), the Flygbussarna coach (about 40 minutes, 129 SEK online), or a Swedavia-contracted taxi (at most 800 SEK for up to four people to one address within the marked zone; confirm the fare before you set off). For most visitors the Express or the coach are the natural picks — speed versus savings.

What’s the best public transport ticket for Stockholm?

For one to three days, the 72-hour SL travelcard (360 SEK in 2026) covers the lot — metro, bus, tram, commuter trains and the Djurgården ferry. For four to seven days, look at the 7-day card (470 SEK); whether it saves money depends on how often you ride. If you’re only dipping onto transit now and then, contactless tap-and-go works at every gate. Confirm current SL fares before buying.

How much does public transport cost in Stockholm?

A single 75-minute ticket is 43 SEK in 2026 via app or contactless. Travelcards: 24-hour 180 SEK, 72-hour 360, 7-day 470, 30-day 1,060 (530 at half price, which you can buy and activate until 2 December 2026). Under-7s ride free alongside a ticket holder, an adult can bring up to six children aged 7–11 free, and under-20s and seniors pay a reduced fare. Treat these as ballpark and check the current SL tariff.

Do I need cash for Stockholm public transport?

No. Every SL gate and onboard reader takes contactless cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and the SL app. In fact, cash isn’t accepted on buses or ferries at all — Sweden is close to cashless, so travel with a card or a phone wallet.

Is the Stockholm metro safe at night?

Yes. The tunnelbana runs 24 hours on Friday and Saturday nights, and on other nights night buses take over once the metro winds down; the SL app shows which one gets you home. Ordinary common sense is enough.

What’s the difference between the Arlanda Express and the commuter train?

The Arlanda Express is a dedicated high-speed shuttle: about 18 minutes, around 340 SEK, roughly every 15 minutes. The SL pendeltåg is a regular commuter train: about 40 minutes and about 200 SEK including the Arlanda passage fee, with departures in the SL app. The Express is roughly twice as fast; the pendeltåg costs about 140 SEK less.

Is Uber available in Stockholm?

Yes — both Uber and Bolt operate here, and it pays to check each app’s quote before you book. Both show the fare upfront, which is the safest way to take a taxi in Sweden, since fares aren’t regulated by law. Typical central rides run a couple of hundred kronor, and you’ll rarely wait long for a car.

Is the Djurgården ferry included in the SL pass?

Yes. The Djurgårdsfärjan between Slussen and Djurgården (via Skeppsholmen) is part of the SL network, so any SL ticket or travelcard covers it. The crossing is about 10 minutes and runs several times an hour — one of the nicest bits of ordinary transit in the city.

Can I use Google Maps for public transport in Stockholm?

Yes. Google Maps pulls live SL data and plans routes well. The SL app has a slight edge on real-time disruptions and lets you buy tickets, but for pure navigation Google Maps is perfectly fine — plenty of visitors use it the whole trip.

Should I rent a car in Stockholm?

No, for almost every visitor. Central Stockholm has a congestion charge, expensive parking and a transit network that reaches everywhere tourists go. Rent a car only if you’re driving onward — to Uppsala, the archipelago mainland, or a summer house — and even then, pick it up as you leave the city.

Final Thoughts

Stockholm’s transit is the best reason to leave the rental car at the desk and trust the network. Buy a 72-hour travelcard, learn the three metro colours, keep the SL app on your home screen, and within about a day of landing you’ll move around the city like you’ve lived here for months. When you want to go deeper on any single mode, the guides below pick up exactly where this one leaves off.

For context beyond getting around, our neighbourhoods and where-to-stay guide explains which part of the city each line and ferry actually lands you in, the things-to-do guide is built around walkable clusters, and the archipelago guide covers the Waxholmsbolaget schedules in full.

This guide covers getting around once you’re here. For getting here in the first place, from the four airports and their transfers to the trains from Copenhagen and Oslo, the overnight ferries from Helsinki and Tallinn and the cruise terminals, see our guide on how to get to Stockholm.

The single most useful building to understand is Stockholm Central, where the long-distance trains, the Arlanda Express, the metro at T-Centralen, the commuter trains at Stockholm City and the coaches at Cityterminalen all meet. Our Stockholm Central Station guide shows which part of the complex you need for each, along with the 2026 locker prices.

Skavsta, near Nyköping about 100 km south-west of Stockholm, has changed since most guides were written: Ryanair moved its Stockholm flights to Arlanda in 2021, and the airport’s flights are now run by Norwegian and Wizz Air. The coach into the city still takes about 80 minutes, and our Skavsta to Stockholm guide sets out the coach, train and taxi options with realistic times.