Sweden

How To In Stockholm: Public Transport

When landing in a new country, the first thing any traveler wants to do is familiarize themselves with the public transport system.

Whether it is the subways of New York City, trains in Berlin or songthaews of Thailand, public transport is an essential part of almost any trip to see all the sights and sounds.

Doing research online and asking people who have visited the destination you intend to visit often can prepare you, but once you arrive, it quickly can become overwhelming. Locals are almost always happy to help a tourist in need.

Stockholm is like most major cities: Most of the public transport is eco-friendly, accurate and always on time. With a fully integrated public transport system called the SL, you can hop onto a bus, underground trains, commuter trains, trams and certain ferry lines within the greater Stockholm area. With so many options, it’s easy to only use public transport when traveling in this city.

Here’s everything you need to know about public transport in Stockholm:

The Underground

For the easiest and most convenient way to get around the city, use the underground. Popular among locals and tourists, it usually is overcrowded during peak times but a pleasure to use. It always runs until the early hours of the morning, when you can see the nightlife of the city in full effect.

Buses and Trams

Buses and trams are available all over the city. Though slower than the underground, they are the most popular ways for tourists to travel as they get to see the city instead of the inside of an underground tunnel. Try taking a trip on the No. 69 bus or No.  7 tram that will take you out to the stunning island of Djurgården, which is a full of some of Stockholm’s most impressive sites. The tram system connects you with other major attractions like Skansen and the Vasa Museum and easily can be used as a hop-on hop-off experience.

How It Works

All public transport tickets are connected and can be used on any line as long as you have a ticket. The city is divided into public transport zones, and your ticket needs to be bought according to which zone you want to visit. Each zone or multiple zone ticket is good for several trips within 75 to 120 minutes of first use. The further the zone is out of the city, the more expensive a ticket becomes.

Tickets

Tickets can be purchased at SL Centers, underground platform barriers, newsagent kiosks, via SMS or via the SL app. Tickets are not available on-board, so make sure you buy your ticket beforehand, or you will be fined if caught. It’s not possible to pay cash for tickets on-board buses in Stockholm.

Prepaid cards also are available and a great alternative for those making multiple trips. It’s also possible to buy 24- or 72-hour or 7-day cards, which allow free travel in all zones during the validity period. These prepaid cards are called SL Travel Cards and are the best solution for tourists in the city as they provide access to as many public transport trips as you like.

SL Travel Card Rates

SEK 115 for 24 hours

SEK 230 for 72 hours

SEK 300 for 7 Days