Stockholm Airport & Getting Around

Stockholm-Arlanda International Airport

Sweden’s main airport, Stockholm-Arlanda is located near the town of Märsta, 37 km (23 miles) north of Stockholm. It was used by 18.1 million passengers in 2008 and is the third largest airport in the Nordic countries.

Stockholm-Arlanda Airport has four terminals with a total of 64 gates. Terminals 2 and 5 are used for international flights. Domestic flights are in Terminals 3 and 4. There are many public transport alternatives to and from the airport, including high-speed trains, local trains, local buses and airport coaches. However, the quickest method of reaching Stockholm is via the Arlanda Express: a high-speed train that goes non-stop between the city and airport in 20 minutes. At the airport, you can buy tickets for the Arlanda Express at the information counters or from the ticket dispenser machines located next to the escalators/lifts leading down to the station beneath each terminal. Trains depart 4-6 times an hour from 05.00 – 24.30. Journey time is 20 minutes.

Stockholm-Arlanda Airport

General Transport

Once in Stockholm, you’ll find that it’s a compact city and that much of it can be explored on foot – in fact walking is often the best way to get around. However, the Tunnelbana metro system is the cheapest, quickest and most efficient method of public transport. The three metro lines are identified by colour – red, green or blue – on maps and station signs. All three lines intersect at T-Centralen.

At interchanges, lines are indicated by the names of the stations at the end of the line, so you should know in which direction you’re heading when changing between lines. The T-bana, as it’s known, runs from 05.00 – 24.00 daily.

Bus stops are easy to spot and often have see-through shelters to protect waiting passengers from the weather. Most bus routes operate from 05.00 – 24.00 daily. You board at the front and get off through the middle or rear doors. Only single tickets can be bought on board; if you have a prepaid ticket, get it stamped by the driver.

Single tickets on the bus or T-bana are valid for 1 hour from when the trip starts. It is cheaper to buy multi-ticket coupons or travel cards, available from SL Centres (Sl stands for “Statens Lokaltrafik,” who run the transport system.)

If you’re planning on doing a lot of sightseeing while in town, consider buying a Stockholm Card. It provides admission to more than 70 museums and attractions, plus free travel on the T-bana, city buses, trains and sightseeing boats (but not the city or archipelago ferries.) It is available for 24, 48 or 72 hours and runs from the time you first purchase it.