Arlanda to Stockholm city centre: train, taxi

Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) lies about 40 km north of the city by road, between Stockholm and Uppsala. Rail links are good, but the choice of train matters, because the fares differ a lot. The short answer: take the Arlanda Express for the fastest trip to Stockholm Central Station (Stockholm C) – especially as a couple or family, thanks to its group prices. Take the SL commuter train if you have a Stockholm travel card anyway and do not mind a longer ride. A taxi is worth it for groups, but only take an airport-approved one.

Arlanda to Stockholm city centre: the options

Times: Arlanda Express and commuter train according to Swedavia, the airport operator, taxi as pure driving time to Stockholm Central Station based on OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Prices according to Arlanda Express and Swedavia (as of October 2026).

Arlanda Express: 18 minutes non-stop

The Arlanda Express is a non-stop train between Stockholm Central Station and the airport; according to Swedavia the trip takes 18 minutes. It stops at two stations at Arlanda: Arlanda South (Terminals 2 and 4) and Arlanda North (Terminal 5). Several trains run every hour, and your ticket is valid on any departure.

• Between the terminals: according to Swedavia, you can use the Arlanda Express between Terminal 2 and Terminal 5 free of charge; the trip takes a minute.
• At Stockholm C: the train arrives at the central station, next to the City Terminal and a short walk from the old town (Gamla stan) and Norrmalm.

Arlanda Express tickets

According to Arlanda Express (as of October 2026):

• One adult (26–64): SEK 340 single, SEK 640 return.
• Two adults: SEK 460; three adults: SEK 580 – up to seven extra passengers travelling together pay SEK 120 each.
• Youth (18–25): SEK 160 single, with ID.
• Children: travel free with an adult or pensioner ticket holder.
• Early bird: the operator advertises early-bird tickets from SEK 199.

Single and return tickets are valid for 90 days. You can buy them in the Arlanda Express app, online, from machines and at the counters at Stockholm C. As a couple or family, the group price makes the Arlanda Express much better value than the single fare suggests.

SL commuter train: slower, for travel-card holders

The SL commuter trains (pendeltåg) to Stockholm and Uppsala stop at Arlanda Central Station in SkyCity, between Terminals 4 and 5. According to Swedavia, the trip to Stockholm Central Station takes 38 minutes.

Two things to know:

• Station fee: according to Swedavia, travellers who get on or off at Arlanda Central Station pay a station fee of SEK 157. If it is not included in your ticket, you pay it at the ticket gates in SkyCity.
• SL ticket: you also need an SL ticket. If you already have an SL travel card for your stay, the commuter train plus the station fee can be cheaper than the Arlanda Express; for a single trip, compare the prices first.

Long-distance trains of SJ and Vy Tåg also stop at Arlanda Central Station, useful if you continue to Uppsala or further north.

Buses

According to Swedavia, several bus companies serve Arlanda around the clock. The airport coaches Vy Flygbussarna, Vy bus4you and FlixBus leave from the stop outside Terminal 5 (about a 4-minute walk from the terminal); SL buses leave from SkyCity. A coach is an option if your hotel is near one of its stops, but on the road it takes longer than the train.

Taxi and transfer

Taxi prices are not regulated in Sweden, so choose carefully. According to Swedavia, taxi companies with an airport contract have a maximum price within a marked zone: SEK 800 for 1 to 4 passengers and SEK 1,275 for 5 to 8 passengers to one address. Follow the signs to the approved taxis, ask the driver about the price before you set off, and never accept a ride offered inside the arrivals hall – those drivers have no airport contract. Without traffic the drive to Stockholm Central Station is about 43 km and 39 minutes.

A pre-booked transfer gives you a fixed price in advance, useful for families with small children or a late landing. Airport transfers in Stockholm^* can be booked with Kiwitaxi. Our article on when an airport transfer pays off compares the options for ten airports.

Which option suits whom?

• Hotel near Stockholm C, Norrmalm or Gamla stan: the Arlanda Express.
• Couple, family or small group: the Arlanda Express with its group price – children travel free.
• You already have an SL travel card: the commuter train, plus the station fee.
• Group of four with a lot of luggage: an approved taxi with the zone maximum price.
• Going on to Uppsala: the commuter train or a long-distance train from Arlanda Central Station.

If you come from outside the EU, for example from the UK, set up mobile data before you land so you can buy the ticket in the app straight away – a travel eSIM for Sweden^* (Airalo) is usually cheaper than roaming; our eSIM price index compares the prices per gigabyte.

On the day you leave

The Arlanda Express leaves from Stockholm C; check whether your flight leaves from Terminal 2, 4 or 5, so you get off at the right station. Plan the 18 minutes plus a buffer – or 38 minutes by commuter train. If you have already checked out and fly in the evening, you can use luggage storage in the centre^* (Radical Storage).

How long to stay and what to see is in our article how many days in Stockholm.

Stockholm trip planDay by day, with map and tips

How YesTrip helps you plan

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