Getting around Stockholm: public transport, passes and taxis

Stockholm is compact and the transport network is dense, so the choice is mostly about how many trips you will make and whether you are staying inside the toll zone. Everything below is a 2026 estimate; check current SL fares before you travel.

SL is the single operator for almost everything you will use: the Tunnelbana metro, city buses, trams, commuter trains and several ferries. One ticket covers all of them inside the same zone, so a metro ride followed by a ferry counts as one journey if you stay within the time window.

The metro is the workhorse. Three main lines cross the centre, and the stations on the blue line are worth a look in their own right. Buses fill the gaps, especially on Djurgården and in the outer districts. Trams 7 and 12 are handy for the museum island and Djurgården. SL ferries run to Djurgården and out to some archipelago stops, and they are included in the same ticket.

Tap in at the start of every journey and tap out where readers exist. Inspectors do check, and the penalty fare is steep. Tickets are not sold on board metro trains or most buses, so sort your ticket before you go through the gates.

The simplest setup for a short trip is a loaded SL Access travel card or the SL app. Both give the same fares. Buy the card at a pressbyrån kiosk, a staffed SL centre or a ticket machine, then load a single, 7-day or 30-day ticket.

A 7-day pass usually pays for itself after about nine single trips, which most visitors hit by day two. If you are in Stockholm for a weekend only, singles may be cheaper. Children, students and seniors get reduced fares, and children under a certain age travel free with an adult — check the current age limits.

Contactless bank cards work on some readers, but coverage is uneven and foreign cards sometimes fail. Treat the app or travel card as the reliable option. Keep the card if you plan to return; the card fee is one-off.

Taxis in Stockholm are safe and metered, but prices vary a lot between companies. Use one of the major firms or a rank at a station, and check the price sticker on the rear window before you get in. A cross-town ride is roughly SEK 150–400 depending on traffic and company.

From Arlanda, fixed fares are common and must be agreed before the ride starts. Some drivers quote per person rather than per car, so confirm the total. Ride-hailing through Uber and Bolt works in the city, with prices close to taxis; availability drops late at night and in outer suburbs.

For late nights, the metro runs through the night on Fridays and Saturdays on most lines, which is often easier than finding a taxi.

Central Stockholm is very walkable. Gamla Stan, Norrmalm, Östermalm and Södermalm are linked by bridges and short streets, and most sight-to-sight hops are 15–25 minutes on foot. Walking is often faster than the metro for short central trips once you count stairs and waiting.

Rental bikes and the city bike scheme are useful from spring to autumn. Cycle lanes are good and drivers are used to bikes. Winter changes the picture: ice and short daylight make walking and public transport the better choice, and studded tyres are needed if you cycle.

Budget roughly SEK 45 per travel day if you walk a lot and take one or two rides, or SEK 385 for a week of unlimited travel. Add SEK 20 once for the travel card if you use one. Taxis and ride-hailing are the main variable: a night out across town can cost more than a week's transit pass.