When you arrive by plane to Stockholm you have a choice of airports, and Arlanda is the largest, not just in Stockholm but all of Sweden. Arlanda airport is just 37 kilometers (23 miles) north of Stockholm, Sweden’s capital city. It has fabulous transit connections to the city and is the major airline hub for the area. While it’s not the closest airport to the city (that would be Bromma), this is where you’re most likely to fly into Sweden. This guide covers traveling between Arlanda Airport and Stockholm city center. We’ve detailed the transport options and the best ways of going from Stockholm Arlanda Airport to the city center and where you’ll arrive in Stockholm.
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The Quickest Way to Get to Stockholm
The Arlanda Express Train from Arlanda Airport whisks you to central Stockholm in just 18 minutes and is the fastest way to get to the city center.
Where is Arlanda?
Stockholm, Sweden’s capital city is about 37 kilometres (23 miles) south of Arlanda. The airport is very close to one of Sweden’s previous capital cities, Sigtuna, in Stockholm County and the province of Uppland. The name Arlanda comes from an old parish name for Ärlinghundra, which is now called Husby-Ärlinghundra in Märsta and came about as a result of a competition, although the judges didn’t like the winner and picked their own!
How to Go from Arlanda to Stockholm – Transport Options
In this guide on how to go from Stockholm Arlanda Airport to the City Center of Stockholm, we’ll cover the fastest way to travel from Arlanda to Stockholm, the easiest way to go to Stockholm from Arlanda, and the cheapest way to get to Stockholm from Arlanda.
There is little parking in the city of Stockholm and there’s also a green climate charge to enter the city, as well as congestion charging and charges to cross some of the bridges, so if you’re planning to visit other parts of Stockholm (like the glorious old capital of Sigtuna, which I wrote about here), then you’d be better off renting your car AFTER you’ve visited Stockholm.
You can take a fast train, a slower train, several buses, or private transfers or you can pick up a rental car and drive from the airport at Arlanda to Stockholm, but bear in mind my comment about parking and charges. The transport method that you choose to go from the airport to the city center in Stockholm will depend on how much time you have, where you want to get to in Stockholm, and of course your budget.
How to get to Stockholm City Center from Arlanda Airport
For transport from Stockholm to Arlanda, then you have several options. You can take an airport bus from Arlanda to Stockholm, (two different companies run them), you can take a fast train or a slower train from Arlanda to Stockholm, rent a car at the airport and drive or you can take a private transfer or taxi to Stockholm from Arlanda.
- Check rates for private transfers to Stockholm from Arlanda here
- Bus times for airport buses from Flybussarna are here and here.
- You can book Flixbus buses to Stockholm from Arlanda here
- Book express trains to Stockholm from Arlanda here
Buses from Arlanda to Stockholm
It’s about 37 kilometers (23 miles) by road from Arlanda to Stockholm and the airport buses from Arlanda to Stockholm are one of the easiest ways to go from Arlanda to Stockholm. The bus from Stockholm Arlanda to the city center arrives at the Stockholm central terminal and there are LOTS of them each day.
The bus stops are easy to find in the terminals. Just follow the signage.
Buses to and from Arlanda and Stockholm are operated by both Flybussarna AND FlixBus. The cost is usually the same for both bus operators and they depart and arrive from the same place at the airport and in the city. You can choose between the two based on the times they depart.
There are many more departure times with Flybussarna than with Flixbus. The ticket that you buy directly with Flybussarna is valid on any departure time for three months. You can buy a single ticket or a return ticket. If you buy the Flixbus ticket you can select a seat, but your ticket is only valid for a particular date and time.
It takes about 45 minutes to go from Arlanda to Stockholm by airport bus and there are LOTS that go backwards and forwards each day. Your bus ticket includes a bag in the luggage compartment, WiFi, and a seat (although someone did stand on our bus as well). Bus tickets from Arlanda to Stockholm cost 129 SEK per person for adults. You can book a ticket, directly with Flybussarna, or with 12Go, and select your chargeable currency.
If you haven’t pre-booked a ticket, then you can buy a ticket at the machines once you get to the airport, both for Flybussarna and for Flixbus. You can even buy tickets on the bus if there are still seats available. You CANNOT pay for your bus ticket with cash on these buses though, it is a cashless purchase.
There are several stops on the way to the city if you take the Flybussarna bus but they’re very quick and if you’re just going into the city then you’ll want to continue to the final stop, the City Terminal in Stockholm. And don’t worry, the driver will let you know when you get there.
- Check times and book bus tickets with Flybussarna to Stockholm here to be charged in SEK or use 12Go to select your charging currency.
You don’t need to print a ticket for buses from Stockholm Arlanda Airport to the city center, you can use an electronic ticket from your online booking from Arlanda to Stockholm.
There’s also an airport bus service to Stockholm from Arlanda with Flixbus, where you can select the specific seats that you want. Flixbus run fewer buses than Flybussarna, but they are a good and comfortable option – we used them to travel on the route between Stockholm Central and Skavska Airport.
There are different departure times from the different terminals.
We prebooked our tickets here – and simply walked from the arrivals lounge to the bus, joined the line, and got on the next leaving bus. We bought our tickets as we were walking from the arrivals to the bus, using the free airport WiFI (I of course fired up our VPN to put in my Wise card details, making sure that I was both secure and saving money while making the purchase. Flybussarna charges in Swedish Kroner, so you’ll want to make sure that you have a card that doesn’t levy international charges.
If you prefer an option that charges in your local currency, then you can book the Flixbus here
Fast Train from Arlanda Airport to Stockholm City Center
Taking the Arlanda Express is the fastest way to go to Stockholm City Center from Arlanda Airport. The train takes 18 minutes from the airport to the city center and you’ll find fast trains running as often as every 15 minutes. You can pre-book your Arlanda Express Ticket here.
This isn’t a cheap way to go from Arlanda Airport to the City Center. However, it’s easy to access, the Arlanda Express platform is underneath the arrivals hall at Arlanda Airport. You’ll save about 3% by purchasing a round-trip ticket and at the time of writing, tickets are 320 SEK for a single trip or 600 SEK for a round-trip ticket for adults.
You can buy tickets for the Arlanda Express online directly with them here. If you arrive at Arlanda without a ticket, don’t worry there are machines where you can buy the tickets in the arrivals area. There’s also a counter as you get to the platform where you can buy tickets.
There are often discounts for group travelers and for children (Kids until 8 are free). Check the current prices here. Or pre-book your tickets now.
There’s free WiFi at Arlanda airport, so you can also get online and buy your tickets once you’ve arrived. Don’t forget to fire up a VPN before you punch in your credit card details. You’ll also be charged for your ticket in Swedish Kroner, so make sure you’re using a card that doesn’t charge you foreign currency fees. If you don’t already have a card like this, you should Read my guide to the Wise travel card ).
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Slower Trains from Arlanda Airport to Stockholm City Center.
Commuter trains go about twice an hour from Arlanda to the city center. They’re slower than the Arlanda Express, taking about 40 minutes. Tickets are also cheaper. You can check the timetable and the prices of the slower train to Stockholm City Center from Arlanda here
You can buy tickets for the slower train to Stockholm from Arlanda at the central station desk in Arlanda or at one of the machines that you’ll find in the terminals at Arlanda.
Driving from Arlanda to Stockholm
If you opt to drive, then rent your car here and once you’ve collected your rental car, you’ll follow the E4 motorway which takes you directly to Stockholm. Sweden has some toll roads, toll bridges, and city center charges for cars, so you’ll want to confirm with your rental car company that they will automatically charge you for these. You can read my guide to renting a car in Sweden here.
(That’s the usual way it works, although you should bear in mind that there is ALWAYS an administrative surcharge from the rental company on top of the tolls and you cannot avoid it). It will take you around 35-45 minutes (with no traffic holdups) to drive to Stockholm from Arlanda.
Private Transfer or Taxi from Arlanda to Stockholm
Taking a private taxi to Stockholm from Arlanda is NOT a particularly fast way to go to Stockholm, you’ll want the express train for the speediest way into the city. Unless, of course, you’re not actually going to Stockholm Central Station! Taxis from Arlanda to Stockholm take around 35-45 minutes to get into the city.
Of course, a private transfer makes a whole lot of sense if you’re not staying anywhere near the city terminal in Stockholm. (we had a 35 minute walk to our accommodation after arriving, and with luggage that’s not so much fun). Equally, if you’re traveling in a group then this can be a very cost-effective option. Check the prices here.
Taxis in Sweden use a meter to calculate the fare and a taxi to the city from Arlanda will cost you around 700 SEK. You can pay by card for EVERYTHING in Sweden, it’s a very cashless society. The rate will vary slightly, depending on traffic conditions, the only way to confirm the price is to prebook. You can get a rate for a transfer to Stockholm from Arlanda here.
If you haven’t pre-booked, then there are two taxi ranks at Arlanda – one by the tourist information desk and one by the car rental counter.
The quickest way to get from Arlanda to Stockholm
The fastest way to get into Stockholm from Arlanda is the Arlanda Express train and you can book your tickets here. The express train from Arlanda to Stockholm takes just 18 minutes.
The best way to go from Arlanda to Stockholm
While I love traveling on trains, our trip to the Nordic countries is going to seriously blow the budget, so we opted for the Airport bus. We bought our tickets online, and you can get tickets here.
Travel Tips for Sweden
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- Book accommodation in Sweden with Booking
Final Words on How to Go from Arlanda to Stockholm
It’s so nice arriving at an airport and having so many different options on how to get into the city. And Arlanda Airport has a lot of options when it comes to going into Stockholm City Center. Whether you opt for the airport bus, the express train, or a slower train. Or if there’s a group of you, then a taxi or private transfer could even be cost-effective. And now you’re here in Stockholm here’s our guide on a 2 day Stockholm itinerary.
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