Getting Around in Stockholm

Wherever one chooses to live in the Venice of the North, getting around in Stockholm is rather simple and painless. The Swedish capital’s public transport network is extensive and consists of the metro, bus, tram, regional rail, light rail and archipelago boats.

Public transport in Stockholm

Public transport plays a big role in the lives of the city’s residents and is managed by Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL). Around 800,000 commuters use public transport in Stockholm daily, which is impressive given the city’s estimated population of just over a million.

Living in Stockholm, you’ll be blessed with an extensive public transport system. Unfortunately, this convenience comes at a cost, as Stockholm has some of the most expensive public transport in the world.

Metro

Stockholm’s Tunnelbana (T-bana) is an extensive metro system that runs above and below ground and serves the city centre and the surrounds. Three main lines (green, red, and blue) run to 100 stations, many of which connect to the local bus system.

While Stockholm’s metro is a convenient mode of transport, it gets busy during morning and evening rush hours. Fortunately, some express trains run on commuter lines during peak hours.

Buses

There are more than 450 bus lines running through Stockholm, and passengers can hop on and off any bus using an SL card, your app ticket or your debit or credit card. The special inner-city buses are blue, while regular buses servicing the rest of Stockholm are red.

The city’s bus routes include the blue inner-city and suburban lines, as well as service bus lines. The Flygbussarna bus line is available for transport from Arlanda Airport into Stockholm.

Suburban rail services

If you live outside the city and commute to work daily, you can use Stockholm’s suburban rail services, known as Pendeltåg. There are six main suburban rail systems in Stockholm operated by Stockholmståg that service the city’s outskirts, including Saltsjöbanan and Roslagsbanan.

Light rail and tram

Besides the Djurgården line, the city’s heritage tram, Stockholm has other light rail services, including the Nockebybanan, Lidingöbanan and Tvärbanan. Most of the tram lines serve to either connect suburban residents to other forms of public transport or to the city centre.

Boats

There are several archipelago boat lines in Stockholm run by Waxholmsbolaget. Some of these operate year-round. One boat line, Djurgårdsfärjan, operates in central Stockholm between Slussen and Djurgården. While SL travel cards are usually valid on this line, single-trip tickets and strip tickets are not accepted.

Useful links

• SL
• Stockholmståg
• Waxholmsbolaget

Taxis in Stockholm

Taxis are also readily available in the Swedish capital. You can hail these on the street, grab one at a taxi rank, or call ahead and book one for a specific time. We’d recommend using the main reputable companies and avoiding smaller independent firms. If you need specialised taxi services, you can visit the manned taxi centre at Central Station, and someone can help you to request the exact service you need.

Prices aren’t regulated in Sweden, and we’d advise checking the cost before starting your journey. It is often found on the yellow and white label displayed on the rear window. The good news is that even taxi companies are toeing the line when it comes to the environment. A few of the bigger cab firms have started using mainly eco vehicles, with a new rota system rewarding taxis with low emission levels.

For those averse to using regular taxis, several convenient ride-hailing apps are available in Stockholm, including Uber and Bolt. These allow for more convenient navigation and payment and help avoid language barriers. You can simply download the app, link your credit card, and start riding.

Useful links

• Taxi Stockholm
• Sverige Taxi
• Uber
• Bolt

Walking and cycling in Stockholm

Stockholm is well-equipped to accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists with its brilliant network of cycle paths, green parks and safe walkways. Many locals choose to walk or cycle to work.

Cycling has become highly popular in Sweden as locals have embraced the benefits of this simple, fast, inexpensive and environmentally friendly mode of transport, no matter the weather. Stockholm city authorities have prioritised the city’s cycling infrastructure and are constantly working on improving accessibility for cyclists.

Stockholm no longer has a bike-sharing scheme, but many private companies offer bike-hiring services, making purchasing a bicycle in Stockholm largely unnecessary.

Useful links

• Stockholm Adventures Rentals
• Rent a Bike

Driving in Stockholm

While having a car is not essential in Stockholm, driving in the city is easy. The roads are well signposted, and compared to other European cities, Stockholm is far less congested.

Stockholm has a congestion charging scheme to reduce traffic in the city. Payments for the congestion charge zone will be automatically made from your bank account if you live in the city centre. Those living in the suburbs must pay before entering the congestion charging zone.

Most locals and expats prefer to use Stockholm’s convenient public transport network instead of driving, as parking fees in the city are expensive, and finding a good parking spot can be difficult.