If you’re flying into Stockholm you’re most likely to arrive at Arlanda Airport, which is the primary international airport located about 40 km (25 miles) north of the city center.
The journey from Arlanda to the city center takes about 18 minutes with an express train or 30 minutes with a taxi.
This guide covers everything you need to know about your Arlanda transport options, including prices and pros and cons.
| Transport Option | Travel Time | Price | Notes |
| Express train (Arlanda Express) | 18 min | 320 SEK | Fastest option. |
| Flight Coaches (Flygbussarna) | 45 min | 129 SEK | 129 SEK if purchased via app or web. Otherwise 149 SEK. |
| SL Commuter Train to/from Arlanda C | 40 min | 177 SEK / 135 SEK | 177 SEK includes train and station access fee. If you already have an SL travel ticket you only need to pay the Arlanda Access Fee: 135 SEK. |
| SL Commuter Train + Local Bus (Märsta to Arlanda) | 60 min | 42 SEK | 42 SEK is the price for the SL-ticket, it covers the entire journey. |
| Taxi | 40 min | 600-800 SEK | Price can vary based on traffic and taxi company. |
Arlanda Express
Arlanda Express is an express train that goes between Arlanda Airport and Stockholm Central Station. The train departs every 10-15 minutes and it’s the fastest way to travel between the airport and the city, taking just 18 minutes.
It’s a pleasant ride with new, well maintained and clean trains, comfortable seats, free wi-fi access, and power outlets for charging your devices. Toilets are available on the trains.
With exception to taxi – it’s pricier than all the other options, costing 320 SEK for a one-way ticket.
Keep an eye on available group discounts. Arlanda Express usually offers a discounted group ticket if you buy two or more tickets for the same ride. If the group discount option is available it will be offered as you buy the tickets.
You can buy tickets online, in the Arlanda Express app (iOS or Android), at the self-service machines located by the escalators/lifts leading down to the train, and at the arrivals hall of Terminal 5 at Arlanda Airport.
More info:
Flygbussarna (The Airport Coaches)
“Flygbussarna” is Swedish for “The Airport Coaches”, these coaches provide a shuttle service between Arlanda Airport and Stockholm City Terminal. They depart every 15, 20, or 30 minutes depending on the time of day.
The coaches offer free wi-fi. The journey takes about 45-48 minutes. A single trip (one way) ticket will cost 129 SEK if you book online or through the app. You can also buy the ticket as you board the bus, it will then cost you 149 SEK.
Taxi
Several taxi companies offer fixed prices to Stockholm city.
This option might be ideal if you have lots of luggage or prefer a direct route to your destination.
Keep in mind that taxis can be relatively expensive. So it’s better if you’re at least 3-4 persons so you can split the cost. A trip usually costs between 500-800 SEK.
In Stockholm each taxi company is free to set their own prices. This means that there may be taxi companies that charge higher than usual fees for taking you from the airport. In order to avoid high costs our recommendation is to use one of the well established taxi companies, such as Taxi Stockholm, Taxi 020, or Taxi Kurir, which will have reasonable prices for a ride from the airport to the city.
Tip: Always check for fixed prices and don’t feel obliged to take the first taxi in line at the airport.
Public Transport
You can also get to and from Arlanda Airport by public transport. You have two options:
- Option A: Take the commuter train from Arlanda C to Stockholm C. Travel time: 39 minutes. Price: 177 SEK.
- Option B: Take the bus (public transport) from your airport terminal to Märsta. From Märsta take the commuter train to Stockholm C. Travel time: 60 minutes. Price: 42 SEK.
- Option A: Take the commuter train from Arlanda Central Station directly to Stockholm C. (Arlanda C is located in Arlanda SkyCity, between Arlanda Terminal 4 and 5). This will take 39 minutes and cost 177 SEK (Of which 135 SEK is a fee associated with Arlanda C station, and 42 SEK is the cost of an SL ticket to use the public transportation.)
- Option B: Grab a public transport bus (from your terminal at Arlanda airport) to Märsta, and from there take the commuter train into the city. This will take about 60 minutes and cost 42 SEK.
Option A
The trip from Arlanda C to Stockholm C takes 39 minutes, and the total cost is 177 SEK. This cost includes two different things:
- 135 SEK is a supplement fee, which you need to pay every time you either leave or enter Arlanda C station.
- 42 SEK is the SL ticket price which you need to pay to use the public transport (in which the commuter train is included). If you already have a valid public transport ticket (i.e. an SL ticket) you do not need to pay any extra for using the commuter train. In this case you will only need to pay 135 SEK to enter Arlanda C.
Option B
Taking the bus from your terminal to Märsta and then the commuter train to Stockholm Central Station will take about an hour, but it will only cost you 42 SEK for the SL-ticket (i.e. the public transport ticket), which is valid on both the bus (to/from Märsta) as well as the commuter train (to/from Stockholm C).
More info: SL Tickets
Uber and Bolt
Uber and Bolt are popular alternatives to traditional taxis in Stockholm. Their fares fluctuate based on demand and time of day, so it’s best to consult their respective apps for current availability and pricing details.
More info:
Conclusion
Based on the information in this article we hope that you can find an option that suits your budget and needs.
If you’re still on the fence here’s how we would reason depending on what your priorities are:
Prioritize low cost
If you’re on a tight budget the cheapest option is to go for the option: bus+commuter train, provided by the public transport company: SL. This will only set you back 42 SEK (the price of an SL ticket).
And if you’re planning to buy a full day or a full week SL ticket anyway (which you will need in order to use the public transport), then this trip will not put any extra strain on your budget.
Just be aware that this option also has the longest travel time and it’s maybe not as convenient as some of the other alternatives. Especially if you’re traveling with large or heavy bags.
If your budget allows it we personally think that Arlanda Express is worth the higher price due to the speed, comfort, and ease that it provides. But keep in mind that Arlanda Express only travels between Arlanda Airport and the Stockholm Central Station. If you’re stay is further away from the city center, you may still need to take either public transport, or taxi or utilize a ride sharing service, for the final distance.
Flygbussarna (The Airport Coaches), would be our second option, if you want something that is budget friendly but still convenient. Although the trip takes a bit longer, it’s still a fairly comfortable ride for a decent price.
If you want to optimize for both time and budget then taking the commuter train to Arlanda C might be your best option (assuming that you already have – or that you were planning to buy – an SL ticket anyway.)
You could also get away with a decent price on a taxi, if you split it on four travelers. This will also save you some additional time compared to taking the commuter train. But make sure to check that you get a fixed price for the taxi before starting the trip to avoid any surprises. (All reputable taxi companies will have a fixed price offer between Arlanda and Stockholm C.)
Prioritize time
Taxi will probably net you the fastest travel time door-to-door, since you will most likely be able to grab a taxi right away and you will not need to make any changes.
Arlanda Express would be our second option because although it’s the fastest travel time between Stockholm Central Station and Arlanda, you will most likely have pockets of time between getting to the central station and hopping on a train.