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- The Arlanda Express: the fastest train
- Train commuter SL (Pendeltåg): the right compromise
- The Vy Flygbussarna bus: the classic, reliable bus
- FlixBus Airport Shuttle: often the cheapest
- Cab: comfort comes at a price
- Car Sharing: practical but prices vary
- Rent a car at Stockholm airport
- A private chauffeur to pick you up: ideal but not cheap
- In conclusion
Stockholm is one of those underrated cities that has absolutely everything going for it. Crazy architecture, waterfront, Nordic spirit but not too Nordic, and flights that aren’t expensive at all. Stockholm has excellent connections to all major European cities, not just the capital cities. And that’s also true of its airport, Stockholm Arlanda, which is very easy to get to from the city center, even though it’s some forty kilometers away.
Let’s take a look at all the possibilities, from the most practical to the most economical and the fastest.
The Arlanda Express: the fastest train
As in more and more airports, there’s a direct train between Stockholm Arlanda airport and the Swedish capital’s city center. And so much the better! Because it’s ultra-convenient. Not cheap, but convenient.
It’s easy to find in the airport’s arrival terminal, and arrives at the central train station, right in the center of town.
Practical info:
- tickets cost 340 SEK or €31
- trains run between 4 a.m. and 1 a.m.
- trains run every 12 to 15 minutes
- the journey takes 18 minutes – super fast!
- find the planner here
Train commuter SL (Pendeltåg): the right compromise
The Train commuter SL (Pendeltåg) is Stockholm’s commuter train. A bit like the RER in Paris.
SL is Stockholm’s public transport organization (metro, bus, streetcar, pendeltåg).
And pendeltåg is the Swedish name for the train that links the surrounding towns to the city.
Between Arlanda and downtown Stockholm
There’s a line from the airport (Arlanda C station) to Stockholm City / Stockholm Central.
It’s slower than the Arlanda Express, but cheaper. On the other hand, there’s a classic pitfall:
to exit/enter Arlanda station by pendeltåg, you often have to pay an “Arlanda passage” supplement on top of the SL ticket (depending on your ticket).
For Arlanda → Stockholm by pendeltåg, the full “single ticket” costs 190 SEK (43 + 147). Because the normal ticket costs 43 SEK, and there’s a 147 SEK surcharge from the airport.
- Trains about every 30 minutes
- the journey takes around 40 minutes
- the first train is at around 4 a.m., the last at around 00.40 a.m.
- the ticket costs 190 SEK
- tickets can be purchased on the SL app or at station kiosks
The Vy Flygbussarna bus: the classic, reliable bus
As in many cities, Stockholm also has its official airport bus.
It’s called Flygbussarna (Vy). Less sexy than a fast train, but super simple. And often the best value for money.
We take it directly to Arlanda (at the bus stops near the terminals) and arrive at Stockholm C / Cityterminalen, right next to the main station.
Practical info :
- the ticket costs 129 SEK (adult) or ≈ 12 €.
- journey takes around 40 minutes (depending on traffic)
- departure/arrival: Stockholm C (Cityterminalen), Gate 2
- at the airport: Terminal 4 (bus stop 7) and Terminal 2/3 (bus stop 6) (and possible to get off at Terminal 5)
- timetable
- from Stockholm: first bus at 3 a.m., last bus around 11:40 p.m.
- from the airport: first bus at 4.10am, last bus at 1.38am
- the ticket is valid for 3 months on the chosen line
- find the planner here
FlixBus Airport Shuttle: often the cheapest
Surprisingly, there’s also a Flixbus that runs between Arlanda airport and central Stockholm. There are lots of them and it’s pretty convenient:
- it passes each terminal
- approximately every 30 to 60 minutes
- prices start at €6.50
- the journey takes 50 minutes, depending on traffic
- the first bus leaves at 4.45 a.m., the last at 11.25 p.m.
- info and booking at Flixbus
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Cab: comfort comes at a price
Here you have to be careful. As is often the case, it’s a tourist trap. You MUST take the official cabs! Airport-approved cabs. Otherwise, it’s a scam.
These Airport Approved cabs have a fixed price for a defined area of Stockholm: 800 SEK. So when you get in, be sure to ask if that’s the price. And if it’s properly displayed.
Other companies, especially those you order by app, may use a “fast fare” which means “fixed price”. You should also ask them beforehand if this is the case. Before you leave.
I insist, taking an unlicensed cab, a clandestine cab, is a recipe for trouble.
You can use cab apps:
- freenow
- Cab Stockholm
- Sverigetaxi
Car Sharing: practical but prices vary
There are car sharing companies that can pick you up at Arlanda airport (or take you there). The big advantage is that it’s not particularly expensive at off-peak times. On the other hand, as you know, prices skyrocket during rush hour. So it can be a good option. Below are two examples of weekday morning airport pick-ups.
- with Uber, it’s 539 SEK to the city center, or less than 50€.
- with Bolt, it’s 770 SEK for the same trip, BUT beware, the price is inflated because they “offer 50%” on the trip. So they increase before reducing. But in general, Bolt is cheaper than Uber. On the other hand, there’s less vigilance on the drivers. So I prefer Uber.
Rent a car at Stockholm airport
Well, this is the easiest option if you’re looking for independence and you’re going on a road trip. Having a car in a Nordic country means being able to enjoy the incredible outdoors.
On the other hand, if you’re staying in Stockholm itself, there’s not much point, as everything in the Swedish capital can be done on foot or by public transport. It’s really convenient, but parking is expensive and car space is limited.
After all, we were just outside the center, at the Unity Hammarby Sjöstad with parking access, so as we were passing through with the car, it was ideal.
The good thing about renting a car in Stockholm Arlanda is that it’s not particularly expensive. I did several simulations on car rental comparison sites, and they start at around €25 a day (for a small SUV, and even less for a compact car), and almost never go up to more than €50. Unless, as always, you book at the last minute!
Use the comparators to get the best price and find the right agency. Compare comparators because they have different commercial agreements. I use two of them and I’m very happy with them (yes, that’s logical):
- Discover Cars
- Booking ( which also compares cars)
A private chauffeur to pick you up: ideal but not cheap
You can also book your chauffeur in advance, who will be waiting for you when you arrive. Not bad at all! The price depends on the number of people:
- up to 3 people: €84
- a minivan for up to 6 people: €100
- minivan for up to 8 people: 120€.
Ideal if you want peace and quiet, and just perfect if you’re in a group!
In conclusion
So there you have it! There are plenty of ways to get from Stockholm Arlanda airport to the city center, or vice versa, and there’s bound to be one that suits you, because we’ve got :
- fast and convenient with the Arlanda Express
- fast, reliable buses with Flygbussarna
- low-cost with Flixbus
- flexible with VTC
- comfort with the driver waiting for you
- and if you’re ever on the move, rent a car
As everywhere else, I’d be extra careful with cabs, and make sure you take the ones that are authorized to be here and have a fixed price, to avoid any hanky-panky. We thought we’d be safe in the Nordic countries, but in fact we’re not!
