The SL commuter train looks cheapest and then adds a SEK 147 station passage fee at the barrier. Flygbussarna at SEK 119 is the honest cheap option; the Arlanda Express at 18 minutes is the fast one.
- The Arlanda Express is 18 minutes, SEK 299 walk-up but SEK 149 to SEK 199 booked online, every 15 minutes until midnight.
- Arlanda Central station is privately owned and adds a SEK 147 passage fee per person each way on top of your SL ticket - journey planners do not show it, so the "cheap" commuter train ends up at about SEK 190.
- SL bus 583 to Marsta sits outside the paid zone: about SEK 45 all in, half an hour slower, and the fee disappears.
- Swedish taxi fares are unregulated. Check the yellow comparison-price sticker on the rear window and agree a fixed price before you get in - SEK 545 to SEK 745 is normal.
- Skavsta and Vasteras are marketed as Stockholm and are 100 km away, 80 minutes by coach, so check which airport your budget flight actually uses.
Arlanda (ARN) to Stockholm
| Option | Cost | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlanda Express | SEK 299 walk-up, SEK 149 to SEK 199 booked online | 18 min | Every 15 min, 05:00 to 24:00, direct to Stockholm Central |
| Flygbussarna coach | SEK 119 one way, SEK 219 return | 45 min | Every 15 to 30 min to Cityterminalen |
| SL commuter train | SL ticket plus a SEK 147 station passage fee | 38 min | See the trap below |
| SL bus 583 then commuter train from Marsta | about SEK 45 total | 60 to 70 min | Avoids the passage fee entirely |
| Taxi | SEK 545 to SEK 745 fixed | 35 to 50 min | Agree the fixed price before you get in |
The station passage fee, which is the actual trap
- Arlanda Central station is privately owned and charges a SEK 147 passage fee on top of your SL ticket, per person, each way. A government inquiry has proposed scrapping it; until that happens it is charged.
- Journey planners show you the SL fare and not the fee, so the commuter train looks like the cheap option and then costs about SEK 190 at the barrier.
- SL bus 583 from Arlanda to Marsta station sits outside the paid zone. From Marsta the commuter train into Stockholm is an ordinary SL journey. Total is about SEK 45 and it takes about half an hour longer.
- This only matters for the SL train. Flygbussarna and the Arlanda Express include everything in their fares.
Taxis, which are unregulated
- Swedish taxi fares are not regulated and the horror stories are real.
- Every taxi must display its comparison price (jamforpris) on a yellow sticker on the rear window. Anything much above SEK 500 for that figure is a rip-off waiting to happen.
- Agree a fixed price to the city before you get in. SEK 545 to SEK 745 is the normal range from Arlanda.
- Taxi Stockholm, Taxi Kurir and Sverigetaxi are the reputable firms, and Uber and Bolt both operate.
The other airports
- Bromma (BMA) is 8 km from the centre with a Flygbussarna coach, about 20 minutes.
- Skavsta (NYO) and Vasteras (VST) are marketed as Stockholm and are 100 km away. Flygbussarna meets the flights and takes 80 minutes; there is no other sensible option.
- Gothenburg Landvetter (GOT) has Flygbussarna to the centre in 30 minutes.
- Check which airport your budget flight actually uses before booking anything else.
Stockholm transport
- SL runs the metro (tunnelbana), buses, trams and commuter trains on one ticket.
- A single is SEK 43 and lasts 75 minutes; 24 hours is SEK 180 and 72 hours SEK 360.
- Buy through the SL app or tap a contactless card directly at the barrier, which charges the single fare.
- There is no cash on board anything.
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