Stockholm (Sweden): Airport to city center travel information
- Thor
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
If you landed at Stockholm Arlanda (ARN), the simplest default is the airport coach to Cityterminalen beside Stockholm Central, with the trade-off that road traffic can slow it down. If you landed at Stockholm Skavsta (NYO), plan for a longer transfer since the airport is about 100 km from central Stockholm and the direct coach is roughly 80 minutes.
For broader planning (costs, areas to stay, and how Stockholm works day-to-day), start with Stockholm Travel Information 2026 and the Stockholm destination hub.
Last updated: 2026
Quick overview and key details
Quick overview
Fastest: Arlanda Express (ARN) to Stockholm Central in 18 minutes.
Easiest with luggage: Vy flygbussarna direct coaches to Cityterminalen.
Cheapest public transport from ARN is often SL commuter train, but budget for the Arlanda passage supplement.
NYO transfers are longer; choose the direct coach unless you are specifically connecting via Nyköping.
Key facts
Arlanda Express adult one-way: 340 SEK; round trip: 640 SEK.
SL ticket from ARN that includes the Arlanda passage supplement fee is listed as 200 SEK (adult) on SL’s Arlanda page.
The Arlanda passage fee for rail access at Arlanda Central is 157 SEK (often bundled into tickets).
Vy flygbussarna web price ARN ↔ Stockholm City: 129 SEK (adult single).
Vy flygbussarna web price NYO ↔ Stockholm City: 229 SEK (adult single).
NYO direct coach travel time is listed as approx. 80 minutes.
Skavsta’s airport page notes Flygbussarna tickets are cheapest on the website or in the app, and onboard sales are card-only (no cash).
Taxi pricing varies; at ARN the airport advises you to ask for fixed price and ensure it is visible before departure.
Which airport did you land at?You will save time by choosing the right transfer logic up front.
ARN (Arlanda): focus on train vs coach vs taxi, and whether you want to pay for speed.
NYO (Skavsta): assume a longer coach ride to Stockholm and plan around flight-matched departures.
Ways to get in (train, bus, taxi, rideshare, transfer)
From ARN (Arlanda), the clean “fastest” pick is Arlanda Express to Stockholm Central in 18 minutes. It is best for tight schedules, meetings, and quick hotel check-in, but not ideal for strict budgets or families where multiple tickets add up.
The most straightforward “value” option from ARN is the direct coach with Vy flygbussarna to Cityterminalen next to Stockholm Central. It is best for first-time visitors and heavier luggage, but not ideal if you are arriving in peak road traffic or you need a guaranteed arrival time.
SL commuter train can be good if you will use Stockholm public transport immediately after arrival, but it is not ideal if you are trying to keep the ticketing simple. The common pitfall is that Arlanda rail access requires a passage supplement fee at Arlanda Central, which changes the true price compared with a standard SL single ticket.
From NYO (Skavsta), the default is the direct coach to Stockholm Cityterminalen with Vy flygbussarna for Skavsta. This is best for most travelers because it is direct and departures are adjusted to flights, but it is not ideal if you are heading to the south side of Stockholm and would rather avoid crossing the center.
NYO also has long-distance buses (for example FlixBus in Sweden) and a “via Nyköping” option using local bus to the station then rail onward (ticketing and transfers make it slower for most short city breaks).
For taxis from ARN, use the official guidance from Swedavia’s taxi advice for Arlanda and treat “fixed price” as something you confirm before you leave. If you want a pre-booked fixed-price operator reference point, Taxi Stockholm’s Arlanda pricing guide explains how its fixed prices are presented in booking tools, but the exact fare depends on your address.
Tickets and where to buy (avoid common mistakes)
For Arlanda Express, buying online is the simplest way to lock in the correct ticket type (adult, youth, group) via Arlanda Express ticket prices. The main mistake is assuming the fastest option is automatically best value, especially for groups.
For coaches, Vy flygbussarna ticket prices publish the web prices by route (ARN ↔ Stockholm City 129 SEK adult single; NYO ↔ Stockholm City 229 SEK adult single). If you are arriving at NYO, Skavsta airport notes that online or app purchase is the best price and onboard sales are card-only (no cash) on the Flygbussarna service.
For SL commuter train from ARN, treat the “Arlanda passage” as part of the decision. SL publishes a combined ticket option on its Arlanda travel page, and Swedavia explains the station fee mechanism for Arlanda Central. If you are trying to stay simple, buying the correct Arlanda-inclusive ticket in the SL app is usually safer than trying to piece it together at the gates.
Micro-checklist
If you choose SL from ARN, confirm your ticket includes the Arlanda passage supplement before you reach the gates.
If you choose a coach, aim for Cityterminalen if you want the easiest connection to Stockholm Central.
If you choose a taxi, agree the price basis before departure and keep the meter receipt.
For more Stockholm public transport basics after you arrive, see the Travel Information hub and browse Stockholm-tagged posts.
Late-night arrivals, luggage, and accessibility
Late-night practicality is mostly about how often the last departures run, and whether you can tolerate a slower ride if trains thin out. Exact first and last departures can change by day and season, so confirm in the operator journey planner before you fly: Arlanda Express timetable tools and Vy flygbussarna route search are the quickest checks.
If you have heavy luggage, the two lowest-friction options are the direct coach to Cityterminalen or a pre-booked taxi. The trade-off is cost certainty: coaches have published fares, while taxis vary by company and you should follow Swedavia’s taxi guidance to avoid surprises.
If accessibility is a priority, start by checking the operator pages for the route you plan to use and look for wheelchair and boarding details. If you cannot confirm accessibility on the official pages, treat it as not confirmed and contact the operator directly before travel.
Costs and time trade-offs
If minutes matter, ARN travelers should pay for speed: Arlanda Express is 18 minutes to Stockholm Central, which is hard to beat when you have a fixed check-in window. If price matters more than minutes, the airport coach is typically the easiest low-effort way into the city with published fares.
If you are staying multiple days and plan to use public transport often, the SL commuter train can make sense, but only if you treat the Arlanda passage supplement as part of the real cost. The difference between “SL everywhere” and “SL plus a passage fee” is what decides whether it is truly cheaper for your trip.
For NYO, the trade-off is mostly distance. The direct coach is built for flight arrivals, but it is still a long ride. If your accommodation is not central, compare the time you lose crossing Stockholm after Cityterminalen versus paying extra for a door-to-door transfer.
If you want ideas for what to do after you arrive, use the Attractions section and Hidden gems in Stockholm and beyond. If you are choosing a base near Stockholm Central, see the Hotels section.
Practical tips that actually change the day
Save time by setting your destination as Cityterminalen if you are using airport coaches into central Stockholm.
If you are landing at ARN and want SL, buy the Arlanda-inclusive ticket in advance so the passage supplement is handled.
If you are a group, compare Arlanda Express group pricing versus one taxi before you decide.
Keep 10 to 15 minutes buffer at ARN if you are switching between terminals and the rail station at SkyCity.
At NYO, plan your coach timing around flight-arrival matching and avoid assumptions about high frequency.
If you land late, screenshot your booking and last-departure options in case mobile data is slow.
FAQ - Stockholm airport to city center
What is the fastest way from Arlanda (ARN) to Stockholm Central?
Arlanda Express is non-stop and takes 18 minutes.
How much is an Arlanda Express ticket?
Arlanda Express lists 340 SEK for an adult one-way and 640 SEK for a round trip.
Can I use SL public transport from Arlanda?
Yes, but Arlanda rail access requires a passage supplement; SL lists an Arlanda-inclusive single journey ticket at 200 SEK (adult).
What is the Arlanda passage fee and why does it exist?
Swedavia explains that travelers using Arlanda Central station pay a station fee (listed as 157 SEK), which is often bundled into certain tickets.
Where do Arlanda airport buses stop in the city?
A common central stop is Cityterminalen, next to Stockholm Central Station.
How long does the coach take from Skavsta (NYO) to central Stockholm?
Vy flygbussarna lists the Stockholm City route at about 80 minutes.
How much is the Skavsta (NYO) coach ticket?
Vy flygbussarna lists a 229 SEK adult single web price for Skavsta Airport ↔ Stockholm City.
Do Flygbussarna coaches accept cash onboard?
Skavsta airport notes onboard ticket sales on the Flygbussarna service are no cash (card-only).
Should I take a taxi from Arlanda without pre-booking?
Only if you confirm the price basis first; Swedavia advises asking about fixed prices and ensuring it is visible before you depart.
Is Skavsta (NYO) really a Stockholm airport?
It serves the Stockholm region, but it is far from the center, so the transfer time is a key part of the “true cost” of flying there. Stockholm airport to city center
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