Stockholm’s public transport system is run by SL, the regional public transport authority. It covers the metro (tunnelbana), buses, trams, commuter trains, and some ferry routes operated by SL. There are no zones to navigate, so the same type of SL ticket works across the city. One thing to know before you plan: the Arlanda Express, the fast airport train between Stockholm Central Station and Arlanda Airport, is a separate service and is not covered by SL tickets. For most trips within Stockholm, including many useful boat routes and SL ferry services as far out as Vaxholm, a standard SL ticket is all you need.
Three ways to use SL tickets
Before choosing between a single journey ticket and a travelcard, it helps to know how you can buy and use SL tickets. For most visitors, there are three practical options: contactless pay as you go, the SL app, or a physical SL card.
Option 1: Contactless pay as you go
You can tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard, or American Express card directly at the gate or on the bus reader. You can also use a digital wallet, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or Fidesmo Pay.
This is the simplest option if you only plan to take public transport a few times. Each tap starts a single journey ticket, which is valid for 75 minutes. You do not need to download an app or buy a separate SL card.
The downside is that contactless pay as you go is designed for single journey tickets. If you are planning to use public transport a lot, it is worth comparing the cost with a travelcard before you decide. A useful tool for this is vilket-sl-kort.se, where you can estimate which SL ticket is likely to be best based on how long you are staying and how many trips you expect to take.
Option 2: The SL app
The official SL app lets you buy single journey tickets and travelcards on your phone. A travelcard is SL’s name for a ticket that gives you unlimited travel for a set period, such as 24 hours, 72 hours, or seven days.
The app is useful if you want your ticket on your phone, or if you want to see clearly how much time is left on a single journey ticket. It also works as a journey planner, which is helpful if you are unfamiliar with Stockholm’s public transport network.
The main drawback is obvious but worth mentioning: your ticket is on your phone, so you need enough battery while you travel.
Option 3: Physical SL card
A physical SL card is a reloadable card that you can buy for 20 SEK at many ticket agents, such as Pressbyrån and 7-Eleven, or at an SL Center. You can load it with single journey tickets or a travelcard.
This can be a good option if you do not want to rely on your phone, or if you prefer having a separate card just for public transport. It can also be practical if someone else will use the card at a different time, since a physical card is easier to lend than a phone or bank card.
The 20 SEK fee is non-refundable. But it is a small cost, and the convenience justifies the cost.
Ticket Types and Prices
| Ticket | Price | Valid for |
|---|---|---|
| Single journey ticket | 43 SEK | 75 minutes, with unlimited transfers |
| 24-hour travelcard | 180 SEK | Unlimited travel for 24 hours |
| 72-hour travelcard | 360 SEK | Unlimited travel for 72 hours |
| 7-day travelcard | 470 SEK | Unlimited travel for seven days |
| 30-day travelcard | 1,060 SEK | Unlimited travel for 30 days |
Single journey ticket
The right choice if you’re using public transport occasionally rather than as your primary way to get around. At 43 SEK per trip, four single tickets cost 172 SEK, which is still less than the 24-hour travelcard price. If you take five or more trips in one day, a 24-hour travelcard makes more financial sense.
24-hour travelcard
Works well for a day when you want to move around freely without tracking individual fares. It becomes valid when you first use it, and stays valid for the next 24 hours.
72-hour travelcard
The one we’d suggest for a standard three-day city trip. You need about nine single trips to break even, so it can pay off if you are moving between districts, visiting attractions, and taking the occasional evening bus or metro back to your hotel. There is also some value in not having to think about the cost of each trip.
7-day travelcard
If you’re staying four days or more and expect to use public transport regularly, this is often the easiest choice. The gap between the 72-hour travelcard and the 7-day travelcard is only 110 SEK, so the extra flexibility can be worth it even if you are not staying for a full week.
30-day travelcard
This is primarily a commuter ticket for people who use public transport regularly over a longer period. If you are staying in Stockholm for several weeks and planning to use local transport often, it can be good value. For most short visits, though, one of the shorter travelcards or single journey tickets will make more sense.
Where to buy and how to use SL tickets
- Contactless pay as you go: You can tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard, or American Express card directly at the gate or on the bus reader. Digital wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay also work, as long as the card in your wallet is accepted by SL. You do not need to pre-register your card.
- SL app: The official SL app is available for iOS and Android. It is worth downloading before you travel, since setup is usually easier on a stable connection. You can buy tickets inside the app and scan the ticket’s QR code at the gate or on the reader when you travel.
- Physical SL card and travelcards: If you prefer a physical card, you can buy an SL card and load it with single journey tickets or a travelcard. SL cards are sold at many ticket agents, including Pressbyrån and 7-Eleven, and at SL Centers.
A few things worth knowing
Make sure your ticket is valid before you travel. On the metro, you validate your ticket at the gate. On buses, you tap in when you board. But on trams and light rail, such as Tvärbanan, you step on without passing a gate, so make sure your ticket is already valid before you ride. There are ticket machines where you can validate your single journey ticket on the platform. If you have a valid travelcard you do not need to validate it before entering the trams and light rail.
Ticket inspectors do check, and the penalty for traveling without a valid ticket is 1,850 SEK plus the cost of a single journey ticket.
The 75-minute window. A single journey ticket is valid for 75 minutes from activation. During that time, you can transfer between SL services, such as a bus, metro, tram, commuter train, or SL ferry, without buying a new ticket.
If you use contactless pay as you go, SL will reuse your existing ticket during the 75-minute window. If the ticket has expired, a new single journey ticket will be charged to your card.
Travelling with children. Children under 7 years travel free with a paying adult.
Ferries. SL tickets are valid on SL ferry services, including the route to Vaxholm. Some Waxholmsbolaget services also accept SL tickets on certain routes or during certain periods, but not all archipelago boats are covered by a standard SL ticket.
If you are heading further into the archipelago, check the route before you travel. Read our archipelago ferry guide for more details.
From Arlanda Airport. The Arlanda Express is a separate airport train and requires its own ticket. Flygbussarna airport coaches also operate separately.
You can also travel between Arlanda Airport and Stockholm using SL, either by commuter train or by combining SL buses and trains. The commuter train is convenient but has a special airport supplement, so it is not the same as taking a normal SL journey within the city. Read our airport transfer guide for more details.
