The SL card Stockholm — properly called the SL travelcard — is the public transport pass for Stockholm covering the metro, buses, trams, SL ferries, and SL pendeltåg commuter trains. Available in 24-hour, 72-hour, 7-day, and 30-day formats, plus the contactless single-ticket option, the SL card is the most-cost-effective way for tourists to navigate Stockholm. This SL card Stockholm guide covers prices, where to buy, how to use, what’s covered, and recommendations for first-time visitors.
SL card Stockholm essentials
Operator: SL (Stockholms Lokaltrafik / Storstockholms Lokaltrafik).
Coverage: Metro, buses, trams, SL ferries, SL pendeltåg commuter trains across Greater Stockholm.
Validity options: 24-hour, 72-hour, 7-day, 30-day.
Pricing (2026 typical): 24-hour 165 SEK; 72-hour 415 SEK; 7-day 990 SEK; 30-day 1,025 SEK.
Reduced fare: Available for under 20, over 65, full-time students with valid ID.
Children: Under 7 ride free with paying adult.
Where to buy: SL app, SL Center at Stockholm Central, ticket machines, kiosks.
SL card pricing
| Pass | Adult | Reduced (under 20, over 65, students) |
|---|---|---|
| Single ticket (75 min) | 41 SEK | 27 SEK |
| 24-hour | 165 SEK | 110 SEK |
| 72-hour | 415 SEK | 275 SEK |
| 7-day | 990 SEK | 655 SEK |
| 30-day | 1,025 SEK | 685 SEK |
| 90-day | 2,950 SEK | 1,965 SEK |
| Year | 10,975 SEK | 7,300 SEK |
What the SL card covers
Stockholm metro (Tunnelbana)
All 3 lines (Red, Green, Blue), all 100 stations. Including 24-hour weekend service.
SL buses
All 470+ SL bus routes in Greater Stockholm. Including night buses (9X series) running 01:00–05:00 weekdays.
Trams
Stockholm tram 7 (Spårväg City — runs from Sergels Torg to Djurgården, including Vasa Museum and Skansen). Nockebybanan and Tvärbanan light rail.
SL ferries
Djurgården ferry (Slussen–Skeppsholmen–Djurgården). Sjövägen and Lidingö ferries. Year-round service on most routes.
SL pendeltåg (commuter trains)
Including service to Arlanda Airport (with separate Arlanda Express vs. SL surcharge — see below).
Saltsjöbanan
Light rail to Saltsjöbaden — useful for Hotel J or archipelago day trips.
How to buy the SL card
SL app (recommended)
Download the SL app (free, available in English). Buy any ticket type via the app. QR codes for validation. Most convenient for tourists.
SL Center
Located at Stockholm Central, T-Centralen, and several other major stations. Sells physical SL travelcards and answers questions in English.
Ticket machines
At all metro and pendeltåg stations. Sell single tickets and SL travelcards. Card payment only.
Kiosks
Pressbyrån and 7-Eleven kiosks at major stations sell SL travelcards.
Contactless cards
Stockholm metro accepts contactless credit/debit cards directly at ticket gates. Single-ticket pricing automatically applied (41 SEK). Useful for occasional rides.
How to use the SL card
App-based tickets
Open SL app at the ticket gate or on the bus. Show QR code to be scanned (metro/pendeltåg) or tap card reader (bus/tram).
Physical SL travelcards
Tap on ticket gate readers (metro/pendeltåg) or bus/tram readers. Validation occurs automatically.
Validity period
Validity starts at first use, NOT at purchase. 24-hour pass valid 24 hours from first scan.
Transfer rules
Single ticket valid 75 minutes including transfers. Travelcards have no transfer limits during validity period.
SL card vs. Stockholm Pass / Go City
SL card: Public transport only. NO museum entries.
Stockholm Pass: 60+ museum entries plus Hop-on Hop-off Bus tours. NOT regular SL service.
Go City: 50+ museum entries. NOT public transport.
Best combination: SL travelcard + Go City Stockholm = full museum access plus public transport at lower combined cost than Stockholm Pass alone.
SL card for Arlanda Airport
The Stockholm SL card covers SL pendeltåg commuter trains to Arlanda Airport, but with a separate Arlanda surcharge (typically 145 SEK each direction added to your SL travelcard).
Cost comparison Stockholm Central to Arlanda:
- SL pendeltåg + Arlanda surcharge: 41 SEK + 145 SEK = 186 SEK; 38-min journey
- Arlanda Express: 320 SEK; 18-min journey (no SL card needed)
- Flygbussarna airport bus: 119 SEK; 45-min journey
- Taxi: 545–745 SEK fixed-rate; 35–50 min journey
Verdict: SL pendeltåg with Arlanda surcharge is cheapest if you already have an SL travelcard. Otherwise, Flygbussarna at 119 SEK is the value option.
SL card by traveler type
For 1-day Stockholm visit
24-hour SL travelcard (165 SEK). Single tickets cost 41 SEK each — 4+ rides covers the cost.
For 2-3 day visit
72-hour SL travelcard (415 SEK). Strong value for typical sightseeing days.
For 5-7 day visit
7-day SL travelcard (990 SEK). Or two 72-hour travelcards if cheaper.
For light transport users
Single tickets via SL app (41 SEK each). Useful if walking most distances.
For families
Children under 7 ride free with paying adult. SL travelcards available at reduced rates for under 20.
For Arlanda Airport transfer
SL pendeltåg + Arlanda surcharge if SL card already purchased. Otherwise Flygbussarna 119 SEK is value option.
SL card tips and tricks
Buy in advance via app: SL app works abroad. Activate when you land in Stockholm.
Validity starts at first use: Don’t activate too early. 24-hour pass starts when first scanned.
Free for kids under 7: With paying adult.
Save your QR code: SL app QR codes work offline once tickets are purchased.
SL Center support: Stockholm Central SL Center has English-speaking staff who can help with passes, lost cards, and route questions.
Lost-card replacement: SL Center handles replacement of lost or damaged physical travelcards.
Reduced fare requires ID: Reduced fare for under 20, over 65, students requires valid ID at purchase and during inspections.
Inspections: SL conducts random fare inspections. Always have valid ticket. Fines for fare evasion are 1,500+ SEK.
SL card vs. Hop-on Hop-off Bus
Stockholm has Hop-on Hop-off Bus tours run by Stromma and Red Sightseeing. These are tourist-specific routes (not SL), priced 395–595 SEK per day, and primarily for sightseeing rather than transport.
SL card advantage: 165 SEK 24-hour vs. Hop-on Hop-off 395+ SEK. Covers entire transport network rather than tourist loop.
Hop-on Hop-off advantage: Tourist-route convenience, audio guide commentary, all major attractions on direct route.
Verdict: SL card for transport. Hop-on Hop-off only if specifically wanting tourist commentary and attraction routing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the SL card Stockholm?
The SL card (properly SL travelcard) is the Stockholm public transport pass covering metro, buses, trams, SL ferries, and SL pendeltåg commuter trains. Available in 24-hour, 72-hour, 7-day, and 30-day formats.
How much is the SL card Stockholm?
Single ticket 41 SEK. 24-hour 165 SEK. 72-hour 415 SEK. 7-day 990 SEK. 30-day 1,025 SEK. Reduced fares available for under 20, over 65, students.
Where do I buy the SL card?
SL app (most convenient), SL Center at Stockholm Central, ticket machines at metro stations, Pressbyrån/7-Eleven kiosks. Contactless cards work at ticket gates for single-ticket fare.
Does the SL card cover Arlanda Airport?
SL pendeltåg commuter trains to Arlanda Airport are covered, but with a separate Arlanda surcharge (typically 145 SEK each direction added to your SL travelcard).
Is the SL card included in the Stockholm Pass?
No — Stockholm Pass includes Hop-on Hop-off Bus tours but NOT regular SL service. SL travelcard is separate.
Are children free on Stockholm public transport?
Yes — children under 7 ride free with paying adult. Reduced fare available for under 20.
How do I use the SL app?
Download SL app (free). Buy ticket via app. Show QR code at ticket gate (metro/pendeltåg) or tap card reader (bus/tram). QR codes work offline once purchased.
What does the SL travelcard cover?
Stockholm metro (3 lines, 100 stations), all SL buses (470+ routes), trams (Spårväg 7, Nockebybanan, Tvärbanan), SL ferries (Djurgården ferry, Sjövägen, Lidingö), SL pendeltåg commuter trains (including Arlanda with surcharge).
Is the SL card worth it?
Yes for tourists making 4+ rides per day. 24-hour SL travelcard (165 SEK) pays off after 4 single rides (4 × 41 SEK = 164 SEK).
How long is the SL travelcard valid?
Validity starts at first use, NOT at purchase. 24-hour pass valid 24 hours from first scan. Don’t activate too early.
For Stockholm transport, see our getting around Stockholm. For the metro specifically, see Stockholm metro guide.
