Stockholm’s public transportation is run almost entirely by one operator, SL, and one ticket works across the metro, buses, trams, commuter trains, and the city’s own ferries. Tap in, tap in again if you transfer, and you’re covered for 75 minutes.
The basics
SL (Storstockholms Lokaltrafik) is the brand for public transportation across Stockholm County, though contracted companies actually run the vehicles. Between them, SL’s network covers:
- Tunnelbana — the metro, Stockholm’s backbone, famous for stations carved straight into the bedrock and decorated as public art.
- Pendeltåg — commuter rail out to the suburbs and towns around the county.
- Trams and local rail — including lines like Tvärbanan, Lidingöbanan, and Roslagsbanan.
- Buses — filling in everywhere the rails don’t reach.
- Pendelbåtar — four in-city ferry routes, run by contracted operators, covered by your normal SL ticket.
Two things run outside the SL system and need their own tickets: the Arlanda Express airport train (a separate private operator) and Waxholmsbolaget, the archipelago ferries out to the islands.
How to pay
You’ll tap in at a fare gate to enter the metro, commuter rail, and ferries, but buses and trams have no gates — you tap a reader as you board instead. There are three ways to pay:
- Tap a contactless bank card or your phone (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay) directly at the reader — no SL account or card needed. It charges the adult single fare by default; register the card on sl.se to get the reduced fare instead, if you qualify.
- Use the SL app to buy and hold tickets, including single tickets and every period pass.
- Get the green SL-card, a physical card loaded with discrete tickets (rather than stored cash value) through the app, at ticket agents, or at station kiosks.
The old blue “SL Access” card was retired in 2023 — if you see it mentioned online, it no longer works.
Fares
A single ticket covers 75 minutes of travel anywhere in the SL system, transfers included:
| Price | |
|---|---|
| Single ticket (75 min) | 43 kr (26 kr reduced) |
| 24 hours | 180 kr |
| 72 hours | 360 kr |
| 7 days | 470 kr |
| 30 days | 1,060 kr |
| 90 days | 3,070 kr |
| 365 days | 11,130 kr |
The reduced fare (26 kr for a single ticket) applies to seniors 65+, students with a valid student ID, and anyone under 20 — you’ll need to register for it if you’re paying by tapping a bank card. Up to six kids aged 7–11 ride free with a paying adult, every day of the week; kids under 6 always ride free but can’t travel alone.
Riding without a valid ticket costs 1,850 kr on top of the fare itself if an inspector catches you — there’s no grace period.
Temporary discount: from July 1 through December 31, 2026, the 30-day pass is half price at 530 kr, as part of a national push to get more people riding. Single tickets and the longer passes aren’t part of the discount.
Getting from the airport
The fast option is the Arlanda Express, a dedicated nonstop train that runs the 18-minute trip between Arlanda Airport and Stockholm Central with no stops in between.
- Cost: 340 kr one-way for an adult, 210 kr for seniors (65+), 160 kr for ages 18–25. Kids travel free with a paying adult or senior.
For less money and a bit more time, take an SL commuter train (pendeltåg) from Stockholm Central instead — you’ll pay your regular SL fare (43 kr) plus a separate 157 kr fee to pass through the gates at Arlanda Central station. If you’re instead arriving by bus from Märsta, that station fee doesn’t apply.
Apps to download
- SL-appen — the official app for buying tickets and planning trips with live departures.
- Arlanda Express — the operator’s own app for booking airport train tickets.
- Google Maps — solid for trip planning, with live SL data built in.
When it runs
Hours and frequency vary by mode and line — check the SL app for a specific departure. One gap worth knowing: the commuter rail (pendeltåg) doesn’t run overnight today. Region Stockholm’s transport authority has proposed piloting night pendeltåg service starting in 2026, alongside adjustments to some night bus routes.
Accessibility
All of SL’s buses and rail vehicles have low-floor or ramp boarding. If you need extra help getting around, SL offers free ledsagning (escort assistance) at 155 stations and interchange points — call ahead to arrange it. Riders with a qualifying disability can also use Färdtjänst, door-to-door paratransit that’s part of the county’s public transportation system.
Etiquette & local quirks
- Tap in every time, including transfers between modes — inspectors do check, and there’s no leeway if your ticket isn’t valid.
- Stand on the right on escalators if you’re not walking, and let riders off before you board.
- Stockholmers tend to ride quietly — it’s not unusual for a packed carriage to be nearly silent.
- Remember the Arlanda Express and Waxholmsbolaget boats are not covered by your SL ticket — you’ll need to buy those separately.
Good to know
- The green SL-card replaced the old blue “Access” card in 2023 — if a guide or forum post mentions Access, it’s out of date.
- SL tickets are loaded with a set number of rides rather than stored cash value now, so there’s no balance to keep track of.
- Fare enforcement is real: a 1,850 kr penalty on top of the ticket price awaits anyone caught without a valid fare.