Sweden
How to get to Sweden: airports, flights and border crossings
Fly into Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) for a first trip — most long-haul routes land there and the Arlanda Express reaches central Stockholm in about 20 minutes. Choose Copenhagen (CPH) plus a 35-minute train over the Øresund if Malmö or Skåne is your base, and Gothenburg (GOT) for the west coast.
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GuideSweden
Key facts
- Main gateway
- Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) — most long-haul routes
- Arlanda to Stockholm
- Arlanda Express about 20 min; airport coaches and commuter rail cost less, take longer
- Second gateways
- Gothenburg (GOT), Malmö (MMX), Copenhagen (CPH) for Skåne
- US nonstop
- New York and a few other East Coast cities to Stockholm, roughly 8–9 hours
- UK and Ireland
- About 2–3 hours from London, Manchester, Dublin
- Land entry
- Train or bus from Copenhagen over the Øresund bridge, about 35 min Copenhagen–Malmö
- Ferries
- From Germany, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
- Border rules
- Schengen area; passport or EU ID, plus any visa you need
- Currency
- Swedish krona (SEK, kr); cards accepted almost everywhere
- Emergency
- 112 · police non-emergency 114 14 · health advice 1177
Summary: which gateway, which month, what it costs
Match the airport to the trip you are actually taking. Arlanda for Stockholm and the north, Copenhagen for Malmö and Skåne, Gothenburg for the Bohuslän coast. Fares below are 2026 estimates for a one-way ticket bought in advance; walk-up and peak-summer prices are higher.
| Gateway | Best for | Transfer to city | Typical one-way fare (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) | Stockholm, Uppsala, Lapland connections | Arlanda Express about 20 min; coach about 45 min; commuter rail about 40 min | Arlanda Express roughly 320 SEK; coach roughly 130 SEK; commuter rail about 160 SEK |
| Stockholm Skavsta (NYO) | Budget carriers from Europe | Coach to Stockholm about 80 min | Coach roughly 160 SEK |
| Gothenburg Landvetter (GOT) | West coast, Bohuslän | Airport coach to Gothenburg about 25 min | Coach roughly 130 SEK |
| Malmö (MMX) | Skåne, Malmö | Coach to Malmö about 40 min | Coach roughly 130 SEK |
| Copenhagen (CPH) | Malmö, Lund, southern Sweden | Øresund train Copenhagen–Malmö about 35 min | Train roughly 120–180 SEK |
| Ferry ports (Gothenburg, Trelleborg, Stockholm) | Arriving from Germany, Denmark, Finland, the Baltics | Onward by train or bus | Varies by route and cabin |
Fares and times are 2026 estimates — confirm with the operator before you book.
Step by step: booking and arriving
Decide the region first, then the airport. If Stockholm is your base, book ARN; if you are pairing Malmö with Copenhagen, book CPH and take the train over the bridge rather than adding a domestic flight. For the west coast and Bohuslän, GOT saves a long transfer.
Book long-haul flights 2–4 months out for summer (June–August) and for the December holidays, when Stockholm and Lapland fill up. Shoulder months — May, September — are cheaper and still workable for most of the country.
On arrival, buy your airport transfer before or at the machine rather than from a tout. Arlanda has three options at different prices: the fast train, the coach, and the commuter rail (the last needs a supplement ticket).
If you arrive by land from Copenhagen, the Øresund train runs frequently and drops you in central Malmö; from there the Swedish rail network takes over. Ferries from Germany, Denmark, Finland, Poland and the Baltic states land at Gothenburg, Trelleborg and Stockholm, and most connect to onward trains.
Have your passport or EU ID ready at the border and check whether you need a Schengen visa before you fly — see the visa page linked below.
- Book summer and Christmas travel 2–4 months ahead
- Compare Arlanda Express against the coach if cost matters more than time
- For Malmö and Lund, price the Copenhagen flight plus train before a Stockholm connection
- Keep the ferry or train ticket with your passport for land and sea entry
Notes and things that change the plan
Sweden is in the Schengen area, so most Western passport holders enter without a visa for short stays, but rules and any visa requirement depend on your nationality — check the official source before booking.
Winter changes everything north of Stockholm: domestic connections to Kiruna and Luleå can be delayed by snow, so leave a buffer if you are connecting to Lapland. In summer, midnight sun makes late arrivals practical.
Currency is the Swedish krona (SEK), and cards are accepted almost everywhere, so you rarely need cash on arrival. Tipping is included in the bill.
If you are staying a while or streaming and mapping a lot, sort out a local eSIM before you land rather than paying roaming rates.
- Check your visa or entry status against your passport before booking
- Allow a buffer for winter connections to the north
- Cards work almost everywhere; you rarely need SEK cash
- Set up an eSIM or local SIM for data on arrival
Questions people ask
What is the best airport to fly into for Sweden?
Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) for a first trip and for most long-haul routes, with a roughly 20-minute train to the city. Choose Copenhagen (CPH) plus the 35-minute Øresund train if Malmö or Skåne is your base, or Gothenburg (GOT) for the west coast.
How long is the flight to Sweden from the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ?
From the US East Coast roughly 8–9 hours nonstop to Stockholm; from the UK and Ireland about 2–3 hours; from Canada about 8–9 hours with a possible change; from Australia and New Zealand 20–27 hours with at least one stop.
Can I enter Sweden by land or sea?
Yes. Trains and buses cross from Copenhagen over the Øresund bridge in about 35 minutes to Malmö, and ferries run from Germany, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to Gothenburg, Trelleborg and Stockholm. Bring your passport or EU ID.
Do I need a visa to enter Sweden?
Sweden is in the Schengen area. Many Western passport holders can stay short-term without a visa, but requirements depend on your nationality. Check the official Swedish source before you book.
How do I get from Arlanda airport to Stockholm?
The Arlanda Express train takes about 20 minutes to central Stockholm, airport coaches take about 45 minutes and cost less, and the commuter rail is the cheapest but needs a supplement ticket.
Is it cheaper to fly into Copenhagen for southern Sweden?
Often yes. Copenhagen has more routes, and the Øresund train reaches Malmö in about 35 minutes, so for Skåne it can beat connecting through Stockholm. Compare the total cost before deciding.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialVisit Sweden
- officialSwedish Police – Border control and entry
- officialSwedish Transport Agency
- officialArlanda Express
- officialØresundståg
- secondaryWikivoyage – Sweden