- Transportation in Stockholm
- Where can I buy tickets?
- Prices and fares
- Timetable and route network
- Public transport in Sweden
- Questions and answers (FAQ)
Transportation in Stockholm
The Stockholm transport company SL has been in existence since 1916 and is not only responsible for buses, subway trains(tunnelbana) and suburban trains(pendeltåg), but also operates several passenger ferries and numerous narrow-gauge railroads in the greater Stockholm area:
Subway (tunnelbana)
Stockholm has a very well-developed subway network, which provides quick and convenient access to the inner and outer districts of the city.
The metro consists of three main lines (green, red and blue), which all intersect at the central metro station T-Centralen(near the central station).
- Green line: This is the longest and oldest of Stockholm's metro lines with three branches starting in the north at Hässelby Strand, Åkeshov and Alvik and ending in the south at Farsta Strand, Skarpnäck and Hagsätra.
- Red line: It stretches from the north-eastern suburb of Mörby centrum to the south-western end points of Fruängen and Norsborg. The red line serves many central stations.
- Blue line: This line connects the northern suburb of Kungsträdgården with the southwestern districts of Akalla and Hjulsta. It is known for its underground stations and the impressive artwork at many stops.
Buses
You can get almost anywhere in Stockholm on the numerous buses. It is noticeable that there are two different types of buses: the normal red buses and the blue buses.
- The 5 blue bus lines in the city center operate more like an S-Bahn or U-Bahn: the buses are larger, run at much closer intervals and the distances between stops are also longer than on the normal (red) buses. This means you can get from one end of the city to the other relatively quickly with the blue bus lines, even without knowing the exact departure times.
- The other blue bus lines (with three-digit numbers) go to the outer suburbs or connect the suburbs with neighboring municipalities such as Vaxholm or Tyresö.
- The red bus lines are the normal bus lines in Stockholm.
Trains, streetcars and streetcars
- Pendeltåg: These trains form the backbone of public transport in Stockholm and connect the city center with the suburbs and surrounding towns. They are fast, frequent and cover long distances, making them particularly popular with commuters.
- Lidingöbanan: This narrow-gauge line connects the island of Lidingö with the rest of Stockholm. It plays an important role in the transportation of the islanders.
- Roslagsbanan: Another narrow-gauge line that runs to the northern suburbs of Stockholm. The start and most important stop is Stockholm's east train station "Östra Station", from where it is also possible to change directly to the red line of the Stockholm metro ( Tekniska Högskolan station) and to numerous bus lines, including to Vaxholm and Norrtälje. In April 2017, it was decided to extend Roslagsbanan from the University stop to T-Centralen via a new tunnel.
- Tvärbanan: This streetcar line runs right through the city and connects various parts of the city that are not directly served by the metro or the Pendeltåg. It therefore supplements the existing metro network.
- Saltsjöbanan: This line connects Stockholm with the eastern suburbs and the archipelago. The start of the line and the most important transfer point is the Slussen stop, from where you can change to the Stockholm metro, the ferry to Djurgården and the Tvärbana.
- Nockebybanan: A short streetcar line that serves the western suburbs of Stockholm and connects important residential areas to the larger transportation network.
- Spårväg City: This streetcar line connects the city center with the island of Djurgården. It is an important means of transport for tourists wishing to visit the island's many attractions(Vasa Museum, Abba Museum).
Ferries and boats
- Djurgårdsfärjan (line 85) from Slussen to the islands of Djurgården and Skeppsholmen
- Line 80 between Lidingö, Nacka and Nybroplan
- Line 89 between the island of Ekerö and Klara Mälarstrand
Where can I buy tickets?
Since 2013, only electronic tickets have been available in Stockholm instead of paper tickets. These must be loaded onto a blue plastic card, the SL Access Card. This can be purchased for SEK 20 at all SL sales outlets. Once purchased, the card can be reused every time you visit Stockholm. One-way tickets can also be purchased via smartphone using the SL app (for Android and iOS).
Tickets are available:
- At most metro stops (ticket offices or ticket machines)
- In the stores of Pressbyrån and 7-Eleven
- In the SL centers, e.g. at T-Centralen
- via smartphone app (but only one-way tickets!). For Android and iOS.
Important: Tickets must be purchased before starting your journey. Tickets cannot be purchased on buses, most streetcars and light rail vehicles or on passenger ferries.
Prices and fares
There are two different types of tickets that can be loaded onto the SL Access Card: Season tickets and single journeys.
Single journeys
A one-way ticket(enkelbiljett) is valid throughout the city and is valid for unlimited journeys within 75 minutes. If you need a one-way ticket several times, you should top up your SL card with credit (this is called "Reskassan"), which makes the individual journeys significantly cheaper. The following prices have applied since January 2019:
| Normal price | Reduced | |
| One-way ticket | 45 SEK | 31 SEK |
| One-way ticket with credit card (Reskassan) | 32 SEK | 22 SEK |
Season tickets
The simplest and usually the cheapest are the time cards(periodbiljetter), which can be topped up electronically with the desired period of validity. The following fares apply for 2019:
| Normal price | Reduced | |
| 24 hours | 130 SEK | 90 SEK |
| 72 hours | 260 SEK | 170 SEK |
| 7 days | 335 SEK | 225 SEK |
| 30 days | 890 SEK | 590 SEK |
| 90 days | 2.580 SEK | 1.700 SEK |
| Annual pass | 9.310 SEK | 6.240 SEK |
Reduced price: Anyone under 20 or over 65 years of age may travel at a reduced price. Children up to the age of 7 travel free of charge. The reduced price also applies to students who are registered in the Swedish system and can be supported by Centrala studiestödsnämnden (CSN). Other student IDs (e.g. international student ID, ISIC) are not recognized.
Timetable and route network
Current timetables and further information on public transport in Stockholm can be found online on the SL website
Public transport in Sweden
Public transport in other major Swedish cities differs significantly from the situation in Stockholm. Further information can be found here:
Questions and answers (FAQ)
Can I get to Arlanda Airport by public transport?
Yes, that works. It's a bit more complicated than using the Arlanda Express or the airport buses, but it works. You can find all the information you need on our Arlanda Airport page.
