How to Get from Arlanda Airport to Stockholm City (2026)
Arlanda to Stockholm — all transport options with prices, times, recommendations.
How to get from Arlanda Airport to Stockholm city — Stockholm’s main international airport is about 37 km north of the city center, and four reliable transport options connect them: Arlanda Express airport train (18 min, 340 SEK), Flygbussarna airport coach (about 40 min, about 129 SEK online), SL pendeltåg commuter train (38 min, about 200 SEK with the Arlanda passage fee), or taxi (time depends on traffic; Swedavia’s contracted taxis charge at most 800 SEK for 1–4 passengers within the marked zone). This Arlanda to Stockholm guide covers all options with current pricing, journey times, where to catch each, and recommendations for travelers with different priorities (speed, cost, luggage, late-night arrivals).
Arlanda to Stockholm options at a glance
| Option | Time | Adult Price | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlanda Express | 18 min | 340 SEK | Every 12–15 min | Fastest. Arlanda C — Stockholm Central. |
| SL pendeltåg + Arlanda passage fee | 38 min | ~200 SEK | Every 30 min | No road traffic; the fee applies even with an SL travelcard. |
| Flygbussarna | About 40 min | ~129 SEK online | Every 15-20 min | Cheaper than the train through Arlanda station, with or without an SL travelcard; only the SL bus via Märsta costs less. |
| Taxi | Depends on traffic | Check the fixed price in the meter; Swedavia-contracted taxis: at most 800 SEK for 1–4 people in the marked zone | On demand | Door-to-door, multiple passengers. |
| Uber / Bolt | Depends on traffic | 500–800 SEK | On demand | App-based. |
Arlanda Express — fastest option
Arlanda Express is the dedicated airport express train: an 18-minute non-stop journey between Arlanda Airport and Stockholm Central Station.
Service: Trains normally every 12–15 minutes; first and last departures vary, so check the Arlanda Express journey planner for your date. Departures aligned with major flight arrivals.
Stations: Arlanda South (Terminal 2) and Arlanda North (Terminal 5). Both stations directly connected to terminals.
Stockholm terminus: Stockholm Central Station — Arlanda Express platform.
Adult ticket: 340 SEK one-way; 640 SEK return (2026).
Groups and children: 2 adults pay 460 SEK one-way together, and children aged 0–17 travel free with an adult ticket holder aged 26 or over.
Booking: Online (arlandaexpress.com), Arlanda Express ticket machines, Stockholm Central kiosks, or via app.
Best for: Travelers prioritizing speed; airport-to-Stockholm-Central direct; families (children effectively free with adult ticket).
SL pendeltåg + Arlanda passage fee — the cheaper train
SL pendeltåg (commuter train) operated by SL also serves Arlanda Airport, but with a separate Arlanda surcharge.
Journey: ~38 minutes Stockholm Central to Arlanda C station.
Cost: SL ticket (43 SEK single, or via SL travelcard) + Arlanda passage fee (about 157 SEK for adults in 2026; under-18s don’t pay it).
Total typical cost: about 200 SEK if no SL card. With an SL travelcard you still pay the 157 SEK passage fee, which is more than the Flygbussarna coach.
Frequency: Every 30 minutes through the day and evening; SL’s journey planner shows the exact departures.
Best for: Budget-conscious travelers who prefer rail to the road and are willing to add 20 minutes vs Arlanda Express.
Flygbussarna airport coach — cheapest direct option
Flygbussarna is Stockholm’s airport bus service. Direct coaches between Arlanda Airport and Stockholm Cityterminalen (attached to Stockholm Central).
Journey: About 40 minutes (42 on the timetable); allow extra time in heavy traffic.
Cost: about 129 SEK adult one-way online (2026); check the Flygbussarna app for return fares.
Frequency: Up to every 15 minutes.
Stops: Direct to Stockholm Cityterminalen (no intermediate stops).
Best for: Budget-conscious travelers; light luggage; arriving outside peak rush hour.
Taxi — door-to-door
Swedavia-contracted taxis at the airport work to a maximum price within the marked zone; other taxis set their own prices.
Journey: Depends on traffic and where in Stockholm you’re going.
Cost: check the fixed price shown in the meter before you set off; Swedavia-contracted taxis have a maximum of 800 SEK for 1–4 people in the marked zone.
Major operators: Taxi Stockholm, Sverigetaxi, Bolt, Uber.
Booking: Pre-book via app or website for best rates. At-airport taxi rank also accepts walk-up.
Best for: Late-night arrivals; multiple passengers (cheaper per person); travelers with lots of luggage.
Uber / Bolt — app-based
Cost: Typically 500–800 SEK Arlanda to central Stockholm. Surge pricing during peak times can push higher.
Journey: Same as taxi.
Booking: Uber and Bolt apps both work in Stockholm.
Best for: App-savvy travelers who already use Uber/Bolt.
Arlanda to Stockholm by traveler type
For first-time visitors
Arlanda Express (340 SEK, 18 min) — fastest and most-direct. Stockholm Central is hub for further transit.
For budget travelers
Flygbussarna (about 129 SEK online, about 40 min) — the cheapest direct coach. The SL pendeltåg through Arlanda station costs about 200 SEK with the Arlanda passage fee, and still 157 SEK if you already have an SL card, so the coach beats the train either way. Lowest of all is the SL bus to Märsta with a commuter train on from there: no passage fee applies, so it costs an ordinary 43 SEK adult single, or nothing extra on a valid travelcard.
For families
Arlanda Express — children aged 0–17 travel free with a paying adult, and a second adult adds only 120 SEK, so two adults with their children pay 460 SEK one-way in 2026. Exceptional value.
For early-flight or late-arriving travelers
Taxi or Uber/Bolt — most reliable for 04:00 morning departures or late-night arrivals.
For multiple passengers
Taxi or Uber/Bolt — the fare divided across passengers can be cheapest per person.
For onward Stockholm transit
Arlanda Express puts you at Stockholm Central — instant connection to all metro lines, SL travelcard purchase, hotel walking distance.
For Arlanda hotel stays
Most Arlanda hotels (Clarion Hotel Arlanda, Radisson Blu Arlandia, etc.) offer free shuttles. See hotels near Arlanda Airport.
Arlanda Airport overview
Terminals: The former Terminal 4 gate area (C30–C44) is now part of Terminal 5, which handles both domestic and international flights. Check the terminal your airline shows for your flight.
Sky City: Connected complex at Terminal 5. Houses Clarion Hotel Arlanda Airport, Sky City Restaurant, retail, and Arlanda Express stations (south and north).
Distance from Stockholm: About 37 km north of city center.
Operating hours: 24-hour airport operations.
Currency exchange: Forex Bank at major terminals. ATMs throughout.
Arlanda Express tips and tricks
Buy a return: An adult return is 640 SEK against 340 SEK for a single, so you save 40 SEK if you’re flying out of Arlanda again.
Families and groups: children aged 0–17 travel free with a paying adult, and up to seven more travellers can join an adult ticket for 120 SEK each, so two adults pay 460 SEK one-way in 2026. Exceptional value.
Refundable tickets: Online tickets are date-flexible.
Skip-the-counter: Online tickets allow direct gate entry — no ticket counter needed.
Stockholm Central platform: Arlanda Express has dedicated platform at Stockholm Central — exit through Sergelgång exit closest to Vasagatan hotels.
Flygbussarna tips
Online booking saves: Online tickets cheaper than on-coach purchase.
Direct service: No intermediate stops between Arlanda and Stockholm Cityterminalen.
Stockholm Cityterminalen: Connected to Stockholm Central via underground passage.
Luggage: Two large suitcases + carry-on per passenger included.
Avoiding scams
Use regulated operators: Taxi Stockholm, Sverigetaxi, Bolt, Uber.
Confirm fare before getting in: For non-regulated taxi services, confirm price before journey starts.
Avoid unmetered taxis: Stockholm Airport has had occasional issues with non-regulated drivers approaching arrivals. Stick to taxi rank or pre-booked services.
Price check: ask the driver for the price before you set off.
Not flying into Arlanda? Stockholm has three other airports, Bromma close to the centre and Skavsta and Västerås about 100 km away, and plenty of travellers arrive by train or ferry instead. Our guide to getting to Stockholm compares every route, with times, costs and which to pick.
If you are flying out rather than in, note that all check-in and security for former Terminal 4 flights, Ryanair and Wizz Air included, now happens in Terminal 5, so take the train to Arlanda North rather than Arlanda South. Our Arlanda Airport guide covers the terminals, lounges, tax refunds and what to do with a layover.
Flying into Skavsta instead? It is a very different journey: about 100 kilometres, around 80 minutes on the coach to Cityterminalen, or a local bus and a regional train via Nyköping. Our guide to getting from Skavsta to Stockholm has the options, the fares and what to do about early flights.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the best way to get from Arlanda to Stockholm?
Arlanda Express (18 min, 340 SEK) is fastest. Flygbussarna (about 40 min, about 129 SEK online) is the cheapest direct coach. SL pendeltåg with the Arlanda passage fee (about 200 SEK, 38 min) sits in between, and even with an SL card you pay the 157 SEK fee. The lowest fare is the SL bus to Märsta and a commuter train from there, on an ordinary SL ticket with no passage fee. A taxi suits late-night arrivals or multiple passengers; Swedavia’s contracted taxis cap the fare at 800 SEK for up to four people within the marked zone.
How long is Arlanda Express to Stockholm Central?
18 minutes non-stop, with trains normally every 12–15 minutes.
How much does Arlanda Express cost?
340 SEK adult one-way; 640 SEK return (2026). Children aged 0–17 travel free with a paying adult, and a second adult adds 120 SEK, so two adults pay 460 SEK one-way.
How much is Flygbussarna airport bus?
About 129 SEK adult one-way online in 2026. Check the Flygbussarna app for return fares.
How much is a taxi from Arlanda to Stockholm?
Swedavia’s contracted taxis have a maximum price of 800 SEK for 1–4 passengers (1,275 SEK for 5–8) to one address within the marked zone; other taxis set their own prices, so ask the driver before you set off. Major operators: Taxi Stockholm, Sverigetaxi, Bolt, Uber.
Can I use my SL card to get to Arlanda?
Yes via SL pendeltåg, but adults also pay the Arlanda passage fee (about 157 SEK each direction in 2026) on top of an SL travelcard.
What’s the cheapest way from Arlanda to Stockholm?
The SL bus to Märsta with a commuter train on to the city is cheapest, on an ordinary SL ticket (43 SEK adult single) with no passage fee. Flygbussarna at about 129 SEK adult online is the cheapest direct option. SL pendeltåg with the Arlanda passage fee costs about 200 SEK in total, or 157 SEK with an SL travelcard.
Where does Arlanda Express arrive in Stockholm?
Stockholm Central Station — dedicated Arlanda Express platform. Direct connection to all metro lines and walking distance to Norrmalm hotels.
Should I take Arlanda Express or Flygbussarna?
Arlanda Express for speed (18 min vs about 40 min). Flygbussarna for budget (about 129 SEK vs 340 SEK). For 1-3 passengers prioritizing speed, Arlanda Express. For 4+ passengers, a taxi with the fare divided across passengers can be cheapest per person.
What’s the best Arlanda transport for early flights?
Stay at Clarion Hotel Arlanda Airport (terminal-attached, no shuttle wait). Or catch the first Arlanda Express, which leaves Stockholm Central at 04:20, and pre-book a taxi only if you need to reach the airport earlier than that.
For Stockholm transport, see our getting around Stockholm. For Arlanda hotels, see hotels near Arlanda Airport.
