Stockholm
Stockholm public transport: tickets, passes and apps
For 1–2 days of heavy riding, buy a 24- or 72-hour SL travel card; for three or more days of steady use, a 7-day card usually wins. Single 75-minute tickets suit one or two trips. Tap a contactless bank card or use the SL app; children under 7 ride free with an adult.
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GuideStockholm
Key facts
- Best for 1–2 days
- 24-hour or 72-hour SL card (2026 estimate)
- Best for 3+ days
- 7-day SL card; unlimited metro, bus, tram and commuter rail
- Single ticket
- 75 minutes of unlimited travel within the paid zones (2026 estimate)
- How to pay
- Contactless bank card, SL app, or ticket machine; cash not accepted on buses
- Zones
- Zones A, B and C; central Stockholm is Zone A, Arlanda is Zone C
- Airport
- Arlanda Express is separate; SL commuter rail plus bus is cheaper but slower
- Children
- Under 7 free with a fare-paying adult; 7–19 reduced fare
Best ticket
Match the card to how many days you will actually ride. A 24-hour card pays off after roughly three single trips in a day; a 72-hour card suits a long weekend; a 7-day card is the default for a full week in the city. If you plan only one or two journeys, buy single 75-minute tickets instead.
The 7-day card covers metro, buses, trams, commuter rail and some ferries inside the paid zones. It does not cover the Arlanda Express or the airport coaches, which are priced separately. Buy the card in the SL app or at a ticket machine before boarding; inspectors do check.
| Ticket | Price (2026 estimate) | Zones | Valid for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single ticket | SEK 45 | A, B or C as paid | 75 minutes, unlimited changes |
| 24-hour card | SEK 175 | A, B or C as paid | 24 hours from first use |
| 72-hour card | SEK 350 | A, B or C as paid | 72 hours from first use |
| 7-day card | SEK 450 | A, B or C as paid | 7 days from first use |
| 30-day card | SEK 1,000 | A, B or C as paid | 30 days from first use |
Prices are 2026 estimates and change; check the SL app or a ticket machine before you buy. Zone upgrades cost extra.
How to pay
Contactless bank cards work on metro gates, buses and trams: tap in, and the system charges the best fare for your travel that day. The SL app does the same and stores your ticket on the phone. Ticket machines at metro stations take card; buses do not accept cash.
If you are staying a week or more, load a travel card at a machine or in the app. Keep the card or phone separate from others in your wallet so the reader does not charge the wrong one.
- Apps: SL (official tickets and timetables), SJ (national trains), Google Maps or Apple Maps for live departures.
| Method | Where it works | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Contactless bank card | Metro gates, buses, trams | Tap in only; daily cap applies |
| SL app | All SL services | Buy and show on phone |
| Ticket machine | Metro and commuter stations | Card only; no cash |
| Travel card | All SL services | Reloadable; good for longer stays |
Foreign cards sometimes fail at gates; keep the app as a backup.
Zones
Stockholm's fare system uses zones A, B and C. Central Stockholm, including Gamla Stan and most museums, sits in Zone A. Arlanda airport is in Zone C, so an SL ticket to or from the airport needs the higher zone. Suburban destinations such as Drottningholm and the outer archipelago may cross into Zone B.
If you are unsure, buy the zone your journey ends in. Upgrading on board is not always possible, and inspectors charge a penalty fare for travel outside your paid zone.
| Zone | Typical area | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| A | Central Stockholm | Gamla Stan, Södermalm, Djurgården |
| B | Inner suburbs | Drottningholm, Nacka, Solna |
| C | Outer area and airport | Arlanda, Märsta, outer archipelago |
Zone boundaries and prices change; check the SL app for your exact journey.
From the airport
Arlanda (ARN) has three main options. The Arlanda Express is fastest, about 20 minutes to Stockholm Central, and costs roughly SEK 300 one way (2026 estimate). Airport coaches take 40–50 minutes and cost less. The cheapest route is the SL commuter rail plus a connecting bus, covered by a Zone C ticket, but it takes about an hour.
Bromma airport has reduced or closed flights, so check which Stockholm airport your booking uses before planning the transfer. For hotels near the airport, see the airport hotels page.
| Option | Time to Central | Cost (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Arlanda Express | 20 min | SEK 300 one way |
| Airport coach | 40–50 min | SEK 150 one way |
| SL commuter rail + bus | About 1 h | Zone C ticket, SEK 45–175 |
Arlanda Express and coaches are not covered by SL cards; the commuter rail route is.
Tips
Validate before you board. Metro gates and bus readers both count as validation, and a ticket bought in the app is active from the moment you tap. Inspectors board regularly and the penalty fare is steep.
Stockholm's metro doubles as art: several stations, including Kungsträdgården and T-Centralen, are worth a stop even without a destination. For a single day of sightseeing, a 24-hour card usually beats paying per trip.
- Avoid rush hour 07:30–09:00 and 16:30–18:00 if you are carrying luggage.
- The Djurgården tram and some ferries are covered by SL tickets; check the route before boarding.
- Tap the same card or phone each time so the daily cap tracks correctly.
Questions people ask
What is the best public transport ticket in Stockholm?
For 1–2 days of heavy riding, a 24- or 72-hour SL card. For three or more days of steady use, a 7-day card is usually cheaper. Single 75-minute tickets suit one or two trips. Prices are 2026 estimates.
Can I pay by contactless card in Stockholm?
Yes. Tap a contactless bank card at metro gates, buses and trams, or use the SL app. Buses do not take cash. Foreign cards sometimes fail at gates, so keep the app as a backup.
How much is a day pass in Stockholm?
A 24-hour SL card is about SEK 175 (2026 estimate). A 72-hour card is about SEK 350. Both cover metro, buses, trams and commuter rail inside the zones you pay for.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialSL (Storstockholms Lokaltrafik)
- officialArlanda Express
- officialVisit Stockholm
- secondaryWikivoyage – Stockholm