Introduction
Any time you visit a new city one thing you need to figure out is how to get around. In Stockholm, you have a variety of choices that are generally easy to use and will get you to where you want to go, whether you need to be at a particular location or if you are just trying to explore the city.
Public Transportation
About Stockholm Public Transit
Public transportation is a great way to get around Stockholm. There are a number of ticket options from SL, the Stockholm area public transit operator, to choose from depending on whether you want to buy just a single ride, or if you want a ticket that is for a specific period of time.
There are a few ways that you can get your tickets for SL transit in the Stockholm area. you can use the SL app and purchase tickets directly on your phone which will then show a QR code that you can scan to use SL transit. If you would prefer not to use your phone, you can also get a physical SL card that you can buy. These are available at a few different places, such as the barriers to the metro or at some 7-Eleven locations. Lastly, if you have a contactless bank or credit card you can just tap directly on the barrier with your card, which then gives you a one-way ticket that is valid for 75 minutes. The ticket price will be a standard one-way adult ticket, the same price as if you were to get a single ticket in the SL app or if you are using an SL card.
One of the other things that is convenient about SL, is that it includes a number of types of transportation. Most people probably utilize SL tickets on the metro (Tunnelbana) or busses, but it can also be used on some commuter trains (Pendeltåg), trams (Spårvagn/Lokalbana), and ferries in the Stockholm area.
There are a few ways to map out your trip on public transportation in Stockholm. One way is using the public transport option in google maps. Another option is to download the SL app. In the app, you can enter your starting and end destination and it will give the suggestion for the quickest way to get to your destination. It can even be filtered if you would like to use a particular type of transportation, such as avoiding buses. The app will also give more information than google maps when it comes to information about delays or cancellations.
Types of Tickets
If you purchase a single ticket it will cost SEK 39 and is valid for 75 minutes. If you will be in Stockholm for a longer period of time, a period ticket might make more sense. You can buy a ticket that is valid for 24 hours, 72 hours, 7 days, 30 days, 90 days, or even a year. When buying a period ticket, you should consider how many times you will actually need to ride. Below is the breakdown of how many times you need to ride to break even on a period ticket as opposed to buying multiple single tickets:
24 Hour ticket (SEK 165) - 5 rides
72 hour ticket (SEK 330) - 9 rides
7 day ticket (SEK 430) - 11 rides
30 day ticket (SEK 970) - 25 rides
90 day ticket (SEK 2810) - 72 rides
1 year ticket (SEK 10190) - 262 rides
These are the standard ticket prices, but keep in mind that there are some discount categories that you should know about. If you are under 20, over 65, or if you have a Swedish student ID you can purchase a discounted ticket. It varies depending on the ticket, but it is approximately a 30% discount. It does not give you a discount, but if you are multiple people traveling together, you can also buy a group ticket so only one person has to hold onto the ticket.
Metro
General Information
In Stockholm, they call their metro system the Tunnelbana. Entrances to these stations is noted by a blue "T" on a white sign. There are three main lines: Red, Blue, and Green. No matter which line you are riding, these all of these lines go through the Stockholm central train station (Assuming you are taking the train towards the middle of the city).
Red Line
The Red Line is composed of two train lines, the 13 and 14. You can see which Red Line train you are taking by looking at the arriving train sign, the announcements on the platform, or the number and destination on the train itself. Starting from Stockholm central station, in one direction both lines go through Östermalmstorg before splitting in direction. The 13 continues east through the city, ending just before reaching Lidingö. The 14 goes north instead ending at Mörby Centrum in the Danderyd area.
Going in the opposite direction from Stockholm central station, the train goes south towards Södermalm before turning west. The trains both go on the same path up to Liljeholman. At that point, the 13 continues west and slightly south ending at Norsborg in the Botkyrka area. The 14 also continues west and a little bit more south ending at Fruängen, just west of Alvsjo.
The trains run approximately every 10 minutes during the day and 15 minutes in the evening. However, if you are traveling between Liljeholmen and Östermalmstorg there are 2 trains running on the same tracks, meaning there is a train approximately every 5 minutes during the day.
From the Red Line, you can switch to the Green Line at Slussen, Gamla Stan, or Stockholm central station. You can also switch to the Blue Line at Stockholm central station.
Blue Line
The Blue line also consists of 2 lines, the 10 and 11. Both of these trains go one stop east for Stockholm central station to Kungsträdgården.
In the other direction, the Blue Line goes east to Kungsholmen and continues north and slightly east until the train lines split at Västra Skogen. The 10 continues northwest to Hjulsta, near Barkarby. The 11 on the other hand continues in a more northward direction, but also slightly west, ending at Akalla which is near Kista and Sollentuna.
The trains run approximately every 10 minutes during the day and 15 minutes in the evening. However, if you are traveling between Västra Skogen and Kungsträdgården there are 2 trains running on the same tracks, meaning there is a train approximately every 5 minutes during the day.
From the Blue Line, you can switch to the Green Line at Fridhemsplan or Stockholm central station. You can also switch to the Red Line at Stockholm central station.
Green Line
Differing from the other lines, there are 3 Green line trains, the 17, 18, and 19. From Stockholm central station in one direction the green line goes north before turning west at Odenplan. In this direction, all trains follow the same path, with the difference being the distance west that they go. The 18 ends at Alvik, the 17 ends at Åkershov, and the 19 goes the furthest west ending at Hässelby Strand.
Going in the opposite direction, the Green Line goes south through Gamla Stan and Södermalm before they split at Gullmarsplan. The 17 and 18 both go one more stop to Skärmarbrink. The 17 continues southeast ending at Skarpnäck. The 18 continues in a more direct south direction, ending at Farsta Strand.
The 19 goes in a more southwest direction, but not as far west as the red line, before ending at Hagsätra.
These trains run approximately every 10 minutes during the day and every 15 minutes. However, if you are in between Alvik and Gullmarspan (the more central part of the city) there are 3 trains that run on the same tracks which means there is a train every 2-3 minutes during the day if you are moving within the central parts of the city on the Green Line.
From the Green Line, you can switch to the Red Line at Slussen, Gamla Stan, or Stockholm central station. You can also switch to the Blue Line at either Stockholm central station or Fridhemsplan.
Bus
While the metro is very connected, particularly in the central Stockholm area, sometimes you will need a little something more to take you the final mile. One option for this is to take the bus. There are too many bus routes to give you a full picture of where you can get using the busses. With that said there are a few things to know.
The busses included with the SL ticket have an SL logo on the front. These busses are included with the standard SL ticket and you can pay with a contactless card, but they do not accept cash as a form of payment. Blue busses come from suburbs and connect with metro stops, the other busses are red.
Tram
Stockholm also has a couple of tram lines that might be useful. The first that you should know about is line 7, the Spårväg City. This line starts just outside Stockholm central station and ends in Djurgården, traveling along the waterfront along the way.
Then there are some lines that you can take in other areas a little more outside the central city. There is the Nockebybana, line 12, that goes from Alvik to Nockeby. Lidingöbanan, line 21, which goes between Ropsten and Gåshaga brygga.
Then there is the Saltsjöbana, which has 2 routes. Line 25 which travels between Slussen and Saltsjöbaden. Then there is Line 26 which travels between Igelboda and Solsidan.
Next there is the Roslagsbanan which is made up of 3 lines. All three lines go to Stockholms Östra, but line 27 goes to Kårsta, Line 28 goes to Österskär, and Line 29 goes to Näsbypark.
Lastly there is the Tvärbana which is composed of 2 lines. First is Line 30 which travels between Solna station and Sickla. Then there is Line 31 which travels between Bromma flygplats and Alviks Strand.
Ferry
Another form of transportation included in the standard SL ticket is the ferry. You need to plan your trip a little bit more than with the metro because they do not go as frequently, but there are regular ferries between Sullsen and Djurgården, Frihamnen and Nybroplan, and Södermalm and Kungsholmen. In addition to being a good way to get around between certain areas, this is a nice way to see the city from the water and enjoy the weather on a nice day.
One thing to be aware of is that there are many other ferry options that are not included in the standard tickets. These ferries will have different lines to board so it would be difficult to confuse the two, but it is good to know that there are even more locations you can get to if you would like to purchase an additional ticket.
Commuter Train
For most people who are visiting Stockholm you probably will not need to take the commuter train, or Pendeltåg. However, if you are trying to get outside of the city. These trains will take you to Bälsta, Märsta, Uppsala, Södertälje, Gnesta, and Nynäshamn. As the name implies, these are mostly used by commuters to get from the suburbs into central Stockholm.
Walking
If you are not in a rush or if you just want to explore a specific part of the city, walking is a great option. While this is not the best choice for covering further distances, walking lets you see parts of the city that you may not see otherwise. Like the small winding streets in Gamla Stan or a walk in nature on Djurgården. Even better than that, walking is free! If you get around by walking, you can use that extra money to stop and get a coffee, or a little afternoon Fika.
Bike
Another way to get around Stockholm is to rent a bike. You can choose from a number of ways to do this as well. You can rent through apps if you are doing short rides, but if you want to rent a single bike for the duration of your stay there are brick-and-mortar rental locations that you can choose from as well.
Biking also has the advantage of being able to go where you would like when you would like. It also gets you all the way to your final destination, which is not always the case when you use public transportation. It also is a nice way to see the city and get a little self-guided tour while you are headed towards your destination, which is not the case when you take the metro.
With that said, biking is not for everyone, particularly in a city. There are plenty of bike lanes that go all around the city, but if you don't normally bike in a city, there are some things you will need to consider. Mainly, the other vehicles on the road, but also other bike riders and pedestrians that may not be paying attention. This is particularly a problem in the tourist-heavy areas of the city, where there are lots of people on their phones or just not paying attention to the fact they are walking into a bike lane.
Taxi
Just like other major cities, Stockholm has a variety of taxis to choose from. This includes more traditional taxi companies as well as ride-sharing apps that we are all familiar with. Even traditional taxi companies have apps now, so if you need to get a cab using your phone is the easiest way to get one. This can be a great option if you need to get from point A to point B or if you have bags that you cannot easily carry. This can also be a choice if you are traveling at a time when public transportation stops running so frequently, such as very late in the evening or very early in the morning.
With that being said, this is by far the most expensive way to get around. If you have another option that is probably recommended. Particularly during peak commuting hours during the week, using public transportation has the potential to be quicker than taking a taxi anyways.
Car
While you technically can drive in Stockholm and there are a variety of rental car companies that you can choose from, this is generally not a recommended way to get around the city. For starters, the other transportation generally work very well. Public transportation runs frequently, particularly as you get closer to the inner city, and has good operating hours. In general, you will probably have a lot of luck just walking around as well.
Second, parking is not easy in the city. There are limited parking spaces, it can be costly if you are spending a significant amount of time, and the parking signs are generally confusing. There is a new app to help understand the parking signs, but even understanding the parking signs, it is just easiest to avoid driving.
Third, driving can be a bit confusing in the city. There are many intersections that are a bit complicated and it helps to know the area if you are driving here. If you are comfortable driving in big cities already you will probably be able to figure it out, but it would be much less stressful to use other transportation methods while you are in Stockholm and save the rental car for when you are exploring other parts of the country.
Final Thoughts
In summary, there are a lot of ways that you can potentially get around Stockholm depending on your specific needs. If you are visiting Stockholm keep in mind that public transportation is your friend. Between the different public transportation options you can get very close to your final destination, no matter what part of the city you are trying to reach. No matter how you decide to get around the city, Stockholm offers many convenient ways to get around the city.
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