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 the Djurgården ferry and SL boats as far out as Vaxholm, a standard SL ticket is all you need. For an overview of the metro, buses and trams, see our guide to getting around Stockholm.
Which ticket for your trip
- A few rides in total: tap your contactless card, 43 SEK per 75 minutes.
- One busy day with five or more rides: the 24-hour travelcard, 180 SEK.
- Two or three days: the 72-hour travelcard, 360 SEK.
- Four to seven days: the 7-day travelcard, 470 SEK.
- Several weeks: the 30-day travelcard, 1,060 SEK, or 530 SEK if you buy and activate it by December 2, 2026.
- Under 20, 65 or older, or a student with a Swedish student ID: the discounted fare, explained below.
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, on the bus reader, or on the card reader on a pole at tram and light rail stops. 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. To compare, try 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 50 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 50 SEK is for the card itself, on top of the tickets you load onto it. You can keep the card and reuse it on your next visit to Stockholm.
Ticket types and prices
| Ticket | Adult | Discounted | Valid for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single journey ticket | 43 SEK | 26 SEK | 75 minutes, with unlimited transfers |
| 24-hour travelcard | 180 SEK | 110 SEK | Unlimited travel for 24 hours |
| 72-hour travelcard | 360 SEK | 220 SEK | Unlimited travel for 72 hours |
| 7-day travelcard | 470 SEK | 290 SEK | Unlimited travel for seven days |
| 30-day travelcard | 530 SEK | 325 SEK | Unlimited travel for 30 days |
* 30-day travelcards are half price if you buy and activate them by December 2, 2026. After that, the regular price of 1,060 SEK (650 SEK discounted) applies again.
Prices checked against SL’s official fares in November 2026.
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. Which ticket pays off depends on how many trips you actually take, so count them roughly before you buy.
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. Eight single tickets cost 344 SEK, so the 72-hour travelcard pays off from your ninth trip. That is easy to reach if you are moving between districts, visiting attractions, and taking the occasional evening bus or metro back to your hotel. If you plan to walk most of the time, single tickets may cost less. 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. For four days, the 7-day travelcard (470 SEK) costs less than a 72-hour plus a 24-hour travelcard (540 SEK). 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.
Discounted fares
You pay the discounted fare if you are under 20, 65 or older, or a student aged 20 or over with a Swedish student ID card that shows the SL logo. A discounted single journey ticket costs 26 SEK, and the travelcard prices are in the table above. If you pay with a contactless card, SL charges the adult fare by default. To pay the discounted fare, change the fare type for your card on sl.se the day before you travel.
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, on the bus reader, or on the card reader on a pole at tram and light rail stops. 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. At the stop, tap your contactless card, phone or SL card on the card reader on a pole (biljettstolpe) to start a single journey ticket. 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.
Traveling with children. Children under 7 travel free with anyone who has a valid ticket. Up to six children under 12 also travel free with a fare-paying adult, every day of the week. Older children and teenagers up to 19 pay the discounted fare.
Ferries. All SL tickets are valid on the Djurgården ferry (line 82) between Slussen and Djurgården, and on SL commuter ferries 80, 84 and 89. You can tap your contactless card, use a single ticket from the SL app, or use your travelcard. SL tickets are also valid year-round on Waxholmsbolaget boats between Strömkajen in central Stockholm and Vaxholm, Rindö and Tynningö. If you continue beyond that area, for example to Grinda, you need a Waxholmsbolaget ticket for the part of the trip past Vaxholm. From September 14 to April 29, SL travelcards valid for 30 days or more cover all Waxholmsbolaget routes. SL lists the jetties included.
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 take the SL commuter train (pendeltåg) between Arlanda C and Stockholm City. An SL single journey ticket including the airport passage fee costs 200 SEK (183 SEK discounted). If you already have an SL ticket, such as a travelcard, you only pay the passage fee of 157 SEK. Travelers under 18 don’t pay the fee. You can also combine SL buses and trains. SL’s Arlanda page has the current fares, and our airport transfer guide compares every option.
Lost cards and refunds. If you register your SL card or the SL app on Mitt SL, you can move your tickets to a new card or phone if you lose yours. You can register in the SL app. SL does not replace the card itself. Unused 24-hour, 72-hour, 7-day and 30-day travelcards can be refunded at commuter train stations, but only before the ticket has started. Tickets bought in the SL app can’t be refunded at stations. For those, contact SL customer service by email, chat or phone. SL’s refund rules (in Swedish) have the details.
Frequently asked questions
A single journey ticket costs 43 SEK. A 24-hour travelcard costs 180 SEK, a 72-hour travelcard 360 SEK and a 7-day travelcard 470 SEK. The discounted fares, for travelers under 20, 65 or older, and students with a Swedish student ID, are 26 SEK, 110 SEK, 220 SEK and 290 SEK. There are no zones, so the same ticket works across the city.
The 72-hour travelcard is the one we’d suggest for a standard three-day city trip. You need about nine single trips to break even, so it pays off if you are moving between districts and visiting attractions. If you’re staying four days or more, the 7-day travelcard is often the easiest choice.
Yes. You can tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard or American Express card, or a digital wallet such as Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay, at the gate, on the bus reader, or on the card reader on a pole at tram and light rail stops. You do not need to pre-register your card, download an app or buy a separate SL card.
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.
The penalty is 1,850 SEK plus the cost of a single journey ticket. Ticket inspectors do check, so make sure your ticket is valid before you travel.
No. The Arlanda Express is a separate airport train and requires its own ticket. You can take the SL commuter train between Arlanda C and Stockholm City instead. An SL single journey ticket including the airport passage fee costs 200 SEK, or 157 SEK for the fee alone if you already have an SL ticket.
Yes. All SL tickets are valid on the Djurgården ferry (line 82) between Slussen and Djurgården. You can tap your contactless card, use a single ticket from the SL app, or use your travelcard.
