Best Day Trips from Stockholm by Train (2026)

Day trips from Stockholm by train — Uppsala, Sigtuna, Mariefred, Gothenburg, and more.

Written by Stockholm Tourism Guide 146 guides Published 5 August 2026

Stockholm train Sweden countryside — day trips by train

Day trips from Stockholm by train are some of Sweden’s most-popular excursions — Uppsala, Sigtuna (via Märsta), Mariefred (via Läggesta), Eskilstuna, Norrköping, and Gothenburg are all reachable from Stockholm Central. Most use SJ regional trains or SL pendeltåg local trains. SJ regional trains 35 min–4 hours; pendeltåg covered by SL travelcard. This guide covers the 8 best day trips from Stockholm by train, with full transport details, what to see, and recommended itineraries.

Best day trips from Stockholm by train (overview)

Uppsala: 40 min on SL pendeltåg or SJ regional train. Sweden’s oldest university, cathedral, Viking burial mounds.

Sigtuna: 38 min pendeltåg to Märsta + 15 min SL bus. Sweden’s oldest town.

Mariefred: 50 min SJ regional to Läggesta + bus. Gripsholm Castle.

Eskilstuna: 1 hour SJ regional. Industrial heritage + zoo.

Norrköping: 1 hour 15 min SJ regional. Industrial-era heritage architecture.

Gothenburg: 3 hours SJ X2000 high-speed. Sweden’s second-largest city; ambitious day trip.

Linköping: 2 hours SJ regional. Cathedral, Old Linköping open-air museum.

Västerås: 1 hour SJ regional. Lake Mälaren waterfront, cathedral.

Uppsala day trip from Stockholm by train

Train: SL pendeltåg from Stockholm Central. 40 min direct.

Cost: SL travelcard (165 SEK 24-hour) or SL single ticket 41 SEK. SJ regional alternative 35 min, ~120 SEK return adult.

What to see: Uppsala Cathedral (Sweden’s largest), Uppsala Castle, Uppsala University founded 1477, Gamla Uppsala Viking burial mounds, Linnaeus Garden.

Best for: Year-round; Sweden’s oldest university; Viking heritage.

For details, see our Uppsala day trip guide.

Sigtuna day trip via train

Train: SL pendeltåg to Märsta (38 min) + SL bus 575 to Sigtuna (15 min). Total ~55 min.

Cost: SL travelcard (165 SEK).

What to see: Stora gatan (Sweden’s oldest main street), Sigtuna Museum, Mariakyrkan church, runestones, lakeside walks.

Best for: Year-round; Sweden’s oldest town (980 AD).

For details, see our Sigtuna day trip guide.

Mariefred & Gripsholm via train

Train: SJ regional from Stockholm Central to Läggesta (50 min) + SL bus 304 or short walk to Mariefred (15 min). Total ~1.5 hours.

Cost: SJ regional ~280 SEK return.

What to see: Gripsholm Castle (Sweden’s National Portrait Gallery), Mariefred Stora gatan, Mariefred Church, lakeside walks, antique shops.

Best for: Castle and small-town atmosphere lovers.

For details, see our Mariefred Gripsholm guide.

Eskilstuna day trip via train

Train: SJ regional from Stockholm Central. 1 hour direct.

Cost: ~280 SEK return.

What to see: Munktell Museum (Sweden’s industrial heritage), Eskilstuna Zoo (Parken Zoo), Rademachersmedjorna 17th-century smithies.

Best for: Family destinations (zoo strongly engages kids); industrial heritage enthusiasts.

Visit duration: 4–6 hours.

Norrköping day trip via train

Train: SJ regional from Stockholm Central. 1 hour 15 min direct.

Cost: ~395 SEK return.

What to see: Industriland heritage area, Kolmården Wildlife Park (~30 min by bus from Norrköping), Visualisation Center C, Louis de Geer concert hall.

Best for: Industrial heritage, families combining with Kolmården zoo.

Visit duration: Full day (8 hours).

Gothenburg day trip via train

Train: SJ X2000 high-speed Stockholm to Gothenburg. 3 hours direct.

Cost: ~895–1,495 SEK return; advance booking 295–595 SEK.

What to see: Liseberg amusement park, Universeum science center, Haga district, Gothenburg Botanical Garden, archipelago islands.

Best for: Sweden’s second city visitors; ambitious one-day experience.

Notes: 6 hours travel + 6 hours sightseeing = long day. Many travelers prefer overnight Gothenburg trip for fuller experience.

Linköping day trip via train

Train: SJ regional. 2 hours direct.

Cost: ~595 SEK return.

What to see: Linköping Cathedral (Sweden’s third-largest), Old Linköping open-air museum (recreated 19th-century town), Air Force Museum, Kinda Canal.

Best for: Open-air museum enthusiasts, aviation history.

Västerås day trip via train

Train: SJ regional. 1 hour direct.

Cost: ~395 SEK return.

What to see: Lake Mälaren waterfront, Västerås Cathedral, Anundshög (Sweden’s largest Viking burial mound), Steam Hotel for fika.

Best for: Lake Mälaren scenery, Viking heritage at Anundshög.

Day trips from Stockholm by train comparison

Best year-round: Uppsala, Sigtuna (both warm and cold seasons accessible).

Best for families: Eskilstuna (zoo), Norrköping (Kolmården).

Best for history: Uppsala (Viking + university), Mariefred (castle), Sigtuna (oldest town).

Best for ambitious distance: Gothenburg via X2000 high-speed.

Best budget: Uppsala and Sigtuna covered by SL travelcard.

Best half-day: Uppsala (40 min train each way).

Stockholm train station and ticket tips

Stockholm Central: All SJ regional and high-speed services depart from here. SL pendeltåg also accessible from same station.

SJ tickets: Book on sj.se. Discount tickets (“avgångar”) sell 10–60 days ahead, often 50%+ savings.

SL tickets: SL travelcard or single tickets via SL app. SL travelcard covers pendeltåg; single tickets 41 SEK.

Strong combo for budget travelers: SL travelcard (24-hour 165 SEK) covers Uppsala + Sigtuna in same day.

Best time for train day trips

Year-round: All listed destinations accessible year-round by train.

Spring/summer (May–September): Optimal weather; outdoor attractions like Gamla Uppsala mounds, Mariefred lakeside walks, Norrköping Kolmården.

Autumn (September–October): Quieter, cooler, Swedish autumn colors.

Winter (November–March): Indoor sights only practical (cathedrals, museums). Some attractions reduce hours.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the best day trip from Stockholm by train?

Uppsala — 40 min by pendeltåg or SJ regional, comprehensive sights (cathedral, university, Viking mounds), year-round access.

What day trips from Stockholm are covered by SL travelcard?

Uppsala (SL pendeltåg direct), Sigtuna (pendeltåg to Märsta + SL bus). Both within Stockholm county SL ticket zones.

Can you do Gothenburg as a day trip from Stockholm by train?

Yes — SJ X2000 high-speed 3 hours each direction. Long day (12+ hours total). Most travelers prefer overnight Gothenburg trip.

Can you do Mariefred and Gripsholm by train?

Yes — SJ regional to Läggesta (50 min) + SL bus 304 or walk to Mariefred (15 min). Total ~1.5 hours.

What’s the cheapest day trip from Stockholm by train?

Uppsala or Sigtuna covered by SL travelcard (165 SEK 24-hour pass).

How long is the train from Stockholm to Uppsala?

40 min by SL pendeltåg or 35 min by SJ regional.

How long is the train from Stockholm to Gothenburg?

3 hours by SJ X2000 high-speed direct.

Can I do Sigtuna and Uppsala in one day?

Yes — both within SL travelcard area. Morning pendeltåg to Märsta + bus to Sigtuna; afternoon pendeltåg from Märsta to Uppsala. Single SL travelcard covers both.

What’s the easiest day trip from Stockholm?

Uppsala — 40 min pendeltåg, walkable from train station, comprehensive year-round sights, half-day or full-day flexible.

Are SJ regional trains comfortable?

Yes — SJ regional trains have spacious seats, free WiFi, café cars, and bistro service on most routes.

For Stockholm day trips, see our day trips from Stockholm. For ferry options, see Stockholm to Helsinki ferry.