Stockholm Getting there & around

Getting around

Boat

Djurgårdsfärjan city ferry services connect Gröna Lund Tivoli on Djurgården with Nybroplan and Slussen as frequently as every 10 minutes in summer (considerably less frequently in the low season); a single trip costs Skr20 (free with the SL Tourist Card or a monthly SL card).

^ Back to top

Public transport

Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL; www.sl.se) runs all tunnelbana (T or T-bana) metro trains, local trains and buses within the entire Stockholm county. There is an SL information office in the basement of Centralstationen near the Sergels Torg entrance (open until 11.15pm), which issues timetables and sells the SL Tourist Card and Stockholm Card. You can also call 600 10 00 for schedule and travel information from 7am to 9pm weekdays, and 8am to 9pm on weekends.

The Stockholm Card covers travel on all SL trains and buses in greater Stockholm. The 24-hour (Skr80) and 72-hour (Skr150) SL Tourist Cards are primarily for transport and only give free entry to a few attractions. The 72-hour SL Tourist Card is good value, especially if you use the third afternoon for transport to either end of the county - you can reach the ferry terminals in Grisslehamn, Kapellskär or Nynäshamn, as well as all of the archipelago harbours. If you want to explore the county in more detail, bring a passport photo and get yourself a 30-day SL pass (Skr600, or Skr360 for children age seven to 18 and seniors).

On Stockholm's public transport system the minimum fare costs two coupons, and each additional zone costs another coupon (up to five coupons for four or five zones). Coupons cost Skr10 each, but it's much better to buy strips of tickets for Skr110. Coupons are stamped at the start of a journey. Travelling without a valid ticket can lead to a fine of Skr600 or more. Coupons, tickets and passes can be bought at metro stations, Pressbyrån kiosks, SL railway stations, SL information offices, and from bus drivers.

International rail passes (eg Scanrail, Interrail) aren't valid on SL trains.

^ Back to top

Bus & tram

Bus

While the bus timetables and route maps are complicated, they're worth studying as there are some useful connections to suburban attractions. Ask SL (600 10 00) or any tourist office for the handy inner-city route map Innerstadsbussar.

Inner-city buses radiate from Sergels Torg, Odenplan, Fridhemsplan (on Kungsholmen) and Slussen. Bus 47 runs from Sergels Torg to Djurgården, and bus 69 runs from Centralstationen and Sergels Torg to the Ladugårdsgärdet museums and Kaknästornet. Useful buses for hostellers include bus 65, which goes from Centralstationen to Skeppsholmen, and bus 43, which runs from Regeringsgatan to Södermalm.

Inner-city night buses run from 1am to 5pm on a few routes. Most leave from Centralstationen, Sergels Torg, Slussen, Odenplan and Fridhemsplan to the suburbs.

Check where the regional bus hub is for each outlying area. Islands of the Ekerö municipality (including Drottningholm palace) are served by buses with numbers 301 to 323 from T-Brommaplan. Buses to Vaxholm (the 670) and the Åland ferries (the 637 to Grisslehamn and 640 or 631 to Kapellskär) depart from T-Tekniska Högskolan. Odenplan is the hub for buses to the northern suburbs, including Hagaparken.

Tram

The historic No 7 tram (660 77 00) runs between Norrmalmstorg and Skansen, passing most attractions on Djurgården. Separate fees apply for those with a Stockholm Card (adult/child Skr20/10), but the SL Tourist Card is valid.

^ Back to top

Car & motorcycle

Driving in central Stockholm is not recommended. Small one-way streets, congested bridges and limited parking all present problems; note that Djurgårdsvägen is closed near Skansen at night, on summer weekends and some holidays. Don't attempt to drive through the narrow streets of Gamla Stan.

Parking is a major problem, but there are P-hus (parking stations) throughout the city; they charge up to Skr50 per hour, though the fixed evening rate is usually more reasonable. If you do have a car, one of the best options is to stay on the outskirts of town and catch public transport into the centre.

^ Back to top

Train

Local pendeltåg trains are useful for connections to Nynäshamn (for ferries to Gotland), to Märsta (for buses to Sigtuna and the short hop to Arlanda Airport) and Södertälje. There are also services to Nockeby from T-Alvik; Lidingö from T-Ropsten; Kårsta, Österskär and Näsbypark from T-Tekniska Högskolan; and to Saltsjöbaden from T-Slussen. SL coupons can be used on these trains, or you can pay on board.

^ Back to top

Local transport

Metro

The most useful mode of transport in Stockholm is the tunnelbana, run by SL. Its lines converge on T-Centralen, connected by an underground walkway to Centralstationen. There are three main lines with branches.. The blue line has a comprehensive collection of modern art decorating the underground stations, and several stations along other lines are decorated as well, often by famous artists.

Taxi

There's usually no problem finding a taxi, but they're expensive, so check for a meter or arrange the fare first. The flag fall is Skr35, then about Skr7 per kilometre. At night, women should ask about tjejtaxa, a discount rate offered by some operators. Reputable firms are Taxi Stockholm (15 00 00), Taxi 020 (020 93 93 93) and Taxi Kurir (30 00 00).

^ Back to top

Bicycle

Stockholm has a wide network of bicycle paths and in summer you won't regret bringing a bicycle with you or hiring one to get around. The tourist offices have maps for sale, but they're not usually necessary if you have a basic city map already.

Top day trips include Djurgården; Drottningholm (return by steamer); Haga Park or the adjoing Ulriksdal Park or a loop from Gamla Stan to Södermalm, Långholmen and Kungsholmen (on lakeside paths). Trails and bike lanes are clearly marked with traffic signs. Some long-distance routes are marked all the way from central Stockholm: Nynäsleden to Nynäshamn joins Sommarleden near Västerhaninge and swings west to Södertälje. Roslagsleden leads to Norrtälje (linking Blåleden and Vaxholm). Upplandsleden leads to Märsta north of Stockholm, and you can ride to Uppsala via Sigtuna. Sörmlandsleden leads to Södertälje.

Bicycles can be carried free on SL local trains, except during peak hour (6am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm weekdays). They are not allowed in Centralstationen or on the metro, although you'll see some daring souls from time to time.

Sjöcafé (660 5757; 9am-9pm), by the bridge across to Djurgården, rents out bikes for Skr65/250 per hour/day (with options for longer rentals). For about the same price they also rent in-line skates, another good way to get around.

^ Back to top