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:

• Arlanda Express

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.

More info: 

• Flygbussarna

Taxi

Several taxi companies offer fixed prices between the airport and 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, Sverige Taxi (merged with Taxi 020), or Taxi Kurir, which will have reasonable prices for a ride from the airport to the city.

Tip: Always agree on a fixed price with the driver, prior to you getting into the car. And don’t feel obliged to take the first taxi in line at the airport. If the driver does not offer a fair, fixed price (500-800 SEK between airport and the city center) – decline and try another car.

Public Transport

You can also get to and from Arlanda Airport by public transport. You have two options:

1. Option A: Take the commuter train from Arlanda C to Stockholm C. Travel time: 39 minutes. Price: 190 SEK.
2. 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: 43 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 190 SEK (Of which 147 SEK is a fee associated with Arlanda C station, and 43 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 43 SEK.

Option A

The trip from Arlanda C to Stockholm C takes 39 minutes, and the total cost is 190 SEK. This cost includes two different things:

1. 147 SEK is a supplement fee, which you need to pay every time you either leave or enter Arlanda C station.
2. 43 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 147 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 43 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 check their respective apps for current availability and pricing details.

More info: 

• Uber – To and from Arlanda Airport
• Bolt – To and from Arlanda Airport

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:

Low cost is the most important:

• If you’re on a tight budget the absolute cheapest alternative is to go for the option: bus+commuter train, which is provided by the public transport company: SL. This will only set you back 43 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 probably not as convenient as some of the other alternatives. Especially if you’re traveling with large or heavy bags (commuter trains are primarily intended for daily local commutes and lack good storage options for larger items, such as travel suitcases).

Travel time and cost are equally important:

• 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 Stockholm Central Station. If you’re stay is further away from the city center, you may still need to take either public transport, or a taxi – or utilize a ride sharing service – for the final distance.
• Flygbussarna (The Airport Coaches), is your second best option, if you want something that is budget friendly but still convenient. Although the trip takes a bit longer, it’s still a comfortable ride for a decent price.
• If you want to optimize for both time and budget then taking the commuter train from/to Arlanda C might be your best option (assuming that you already have – or that you were planning to buy – an SL ticket anyway). But beware that the travel might be a bit less comfortable if you’re traveling with big suitcases.
• 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. You can also agree on a fixed price to any other destination – just make sure to agree on the price before starting the trip.)

Short travel time is most important:

• 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 transportation changes as you reach the city center.
• Arlanda Express would be our second option. It’s not first in this category, because although it has the fastest travel time between Stockholm Central Station and Arlanda, you will most likely have pockets of time between arriving at the central station and then hopping on the metro or bus to reach your final destination (unless your hotel is located close to the Central Station).