From Stockholm Airport to the City Centre
Arlanda Express, bus, commuter train and taxi compared
From Arlanda Airport to central Stockholm - Arlanda Express, the Flygbussarna bus, the Pendeltåg commuter train and taxis compared, with journey times, fares and arrival tips.
Contents
Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) lies around 40 kilometres north of the city. For the journey from Stockholm Airport to the centre there are four sensible options, from the express train to the commuter train. Which one suits you depends on budget, luggage and time of day. This guide sets them side by side and helps you decide; for what happens once you have arrived, see the guide to getting around Stockholm.
The four options compared
All figures are for the journey between Arlanda and the centre, as of September 2026. Fares in Swedish kronor (SEK).
| Option | Journey time | Frequency | Adult, one way | Arrives at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlanda Express | 18 min | every 12-15 min | 340 SEK | Stockholm Central Station |
| Flygbussarna bus | approx. 40 min | every 15 min | 129 SEK | Cityterminalen |
| Pendeltåg (line 40) | approx. 38 min | SL timetable | 43 SEK plus 157 SEK passage | Stockholm City |
| Taxi (fixed fare) | 35-45 min | any time | up to 800 SEK for 1-4 people | your address |
The commuter train row is why the ranking is less obvious than it looks: without a valid SL card the train costs around 200 SEK, more than the bus, for a similar journey time. Its advantage applies only to travellers who already hold a season ticket.
Arlanda Express, the fastest option
The Arlanda Express is a dedicated express train running non-stop between the airport and Stockholm Central Station. At around 18 minutes it is the fastest way into the inner city. During the day it runs every 12 to 15 minutes, less often early in the morning and late at night; the ticket is not tied to a particular departure but valid for any, and stays valid for 90 days.
Speed comes at a price, and the express is the most expensive of the three public options:
- Adults (26-64): 340 SEK one way, 640 SEK return
- Young adults (18-25): 160 SEK one way, 320 SEK return
- Seniors (65 and over): 210 SEK one way, 420 SEK return
- Children and teenagers (0-17): free when accompanied by a paying adult or senior; only unaccompanied 8- to 17-year-olds need their own ticket
- Groups: each additional adult from 120 SEK
The express pays off above all when time is short or your accommodation is close to the central station.
Flygbussarna, the airport bus
Considerably cheaper is the Flygbussarna airport bus (Vy flygbussarna), which runs from the airport to Cityterminalen right next to Stockholm C. The journey takes around 40 minutes, a little longer than the express but at a fraction of the price:
- Adults (26 and over): 129 SEK
- Young travellers (8-25): 99 SEK
- Children (0-7): free, up to four children per adult
Tickets are valid for three months and in either direction, so they are not tied to a departure; for a return journey the operator states a saving of 19 per cent. Buying online or in the app is cheapest.
The bus runs from early morning until late evening, every 15 minutes during the day, with night buses to and from the airport as well, which helps with late flights. At Arlanda it stops at Terminal 5 and Terminal 2, close to the halls in both cases. On board there is free WiFi and power sockets. Besides Stockholm C, other lines serve Liljeholmen (around 50 minutes) and Brommaplan (around 55 minutes), which can save a change depending on where you stay.
Pendeltåg, cheap only with an SL card
The Pendeltåg (line 40) links Arlanda C via Stockholm City with Uppsala and Södertälje; from Arlanda C to Stockholm C the journey takes around 38 minutes. Because the line is part of the SL network, it fits seamlessly into Stockholm's ticketing system.
The catch is the Arlanda passage ticket: entering or leaving Arlanda's railway station by Pendeltåg or Mälartåg costs 157 SEK on top of your SL ticket. It covers one passage within 120 minutes, is sold in the SL app, at barriers, through agents and at the service desk at Arlanda - and it is not valid on the Arlanda Express. Travellers under 18 pass free of charge. That gives two cases:
- With a valid SL season ticket: only the 157 SEK passage
- Without a valid SL ticket: plus an SL single ticket (43 SEK, valid 75 minutes), so 200 SEK in total
For day visitors without an SL card the commuter train is therefore more expensive than the Flygbussarna bus and slower than the express. It only really pays off for those already using an SL season ticket for their stay - and for families, since children and teenagers pass free.
Taxi, fixed fares and touts to avoid
Taxis wait directly outside the arrivals halls of Terminal 5 and Terminal 2. Journeys to and from Arlanda run on fixed fares: within the marked zone the maximum is 800 SEK for 1 to 4 passengers and 1,275 SEK for 5 to 8 passengers to one address. Outside the zone the meter applies. The ride into the inner city usually takes around 35 to 45 minutes depending on traffic.
Important for safety, and against overcharging:
- Only airport-approved taxis may operate from Arlanda; they wait at the official ranks outside the arrivals halls. Take an unapproved taxi and you risk an unreasonably high fare.
- Never accept drivers touting for business inside the arrivals hall - these are not regular airport taxis.
- Ask about the applicable fare before you set off and check the posted fixed rate, since Stockholm taxi prices are otherwise set freely.
The fixed fare does not include waiting time, and as the landowner the airport operator Swedavia may charge an extra fee that is passed on to the passenger. For one to four people with a lot of luggage, or on a late arrival, the taxi can still be the most comfortable choice.
Which option suits whom?
- Fast and simple, hotel near Stockholm C: Arlanda Express (18 min, from 340 SEK)
- Best value, families included: Flygbussarna bus (40 min, 129 SEK, under-8s free)
- Only with a valid SL season ticket: Pendeltåg (38 min plus 157 SEK passage)
- Lots of luggage, groups, late arrival or comfort: taxi at a fixed fare (up to 800 SEK for 1-4 people)
If you don't land at Arlanda
Not every flight to "Stockholm" ends at Arlanda. Skavsta (NYO) sits near Nyköping, around 100 kilometres south-west of the city, and Västerås (VST) around 110 kilometres to the west. Neither has a railway station of its own; the way into town is an airport coach to Cityterminalen, about 80 minutes from Skavsta, and its departures follow the flight schedule rather than a fixed timetable. On those flights the transfer is part of the deal: budget roughly three hours for the round trip, and check whether a late arrival or an early return flight still fits the coach. So check the airport code on your ticket first: everything above applies to ARN.
If you are still working out how to get to Sweden in the first place, the guide getting to Stockholm covers the routes. And once the transfer is done, the overview of SL tickets and fares under Stockholm Pass & SL tickets takes it from there.