Stockholm: getting there, SL tickets, neighbourhoods, Vasa Museum, Skansen, the palace and 2026 prices

Stockholm suits you if you want to combine museums, the old town and trips on the water and can manage without cash. The old town, Gamla stan, was founded in the 13th century, and the Vasa Museum shows a warship from 1628. It is around 20 minutes to the archipelago with its 30,000 islands, and an SL ticket is enough as far as Vaxholm. The royal estate Drottningholm has been one of Sweden's 15 World Heritage Sites since 1991, the Woodland Cemetery Skogskyrkogården since 1994.

New since 1 July 2026: thanks to a state subsidy, SL's 30-day pass costs 530 instead of 1,060 SEK, up to and including December. Since 14 September it has also been valid in the low season until 29 April 2027 on all Waxholmsbolaget boats in the archipelago.

Stockholm suits you less if you are looking for sun in winter: in December it shines on average only 33 hours in the whole month. From 28 September Skansen mostly closes as early as 15:00 on weekdays, and Drottningholm is open only at weekends in October.

Getting there and from the airport into the city

In 2025, 914,973 passengers flew from the main German airports to Stockholm, which was 23rd place among all international destinations. Almost all flew to Arlanda, only 269 to Bromma. Most Arlanda passengers departed from Frankfurt and Munich; July was the busiest month and February the quietest (Federal Statistical Office, year 2025; breakdown by airport and month: own analysis). From January to July 2026, 1.9% more passengers flew from Germany to Arlanda than in the same period of 2025 (provisional figures, own analysis).

Arlanda (ARN) and the Arlanda Express

Arlanda, Sweden's largest airport, is around 40 km north of the Stockholm city centre. According to the terminal list of Arlanda Express, Lufthansa, Eurowings, SAS, Norwegian and Ryanair, among others, use Terminal 5, while easyJet, KLM and Air France use Terminal 2 (as of September 2026).

The Arlanda Express runs from platforms 1 and 2 at Stockholm Central to the airport without an intermediate stop. It takes 18 minutes to Arlanda Södra (Terminals 2 and 4) and 19 minutes to Arlanda Norra (Terminal 5). According to the operator, a train runs every 12 to 15 minutes (as of September 2026).

The single fare for adults aged 26 to 64 costs 340 SEK, about €30 (as of September 2026). Aged 18 to 25 you pay 160 SEK with ID, from the age of 65 210 SEK, and children up to 17 travel free with an adult or senior ticket. According to the operator, buy the ticket at the machine or in the app before boarding; a booking confirmation is not a ticket.

From 8 September to 2 November 2026, advance tickets for 199 SEK are also available according to the website. Anyone who books at least five days in advance gets them for a fixed travel day, as long as the limited quota lasts.

Commuter train from Arlanda C: 43 SEK plus station fee

The SL commuter trains stop at Arlanda C station in SkyCity, between Terminal 4 and Terminal 5. They run twice an hour and, according to Swedavia, take 38 minutes to Stockholm Central (as of September 2026). A station fee of 157 SEK applies for every boarding or alighting at Arlanda C. With the SL single ticket for 43 SEK that makes 200 SEK (own calculation, as of September 2026). With a valid SL ticket, such as a travel pass, you pay only the fee, and under 18 it does not apply at all.

For two people the commuter train with single tickets costs 400 SEK, 60 SEK less than the Arlanda Express; from three adults the Express with the group discount is cheaper (own calculation). SL's Arlanda tickets are not valid on the Arlanda Express.

Airport buses and taxi

According to Swedavia, buses run around the clock from Arlanda, including Vy flygbussarna, FlixBus and Vy bus4you. Flygbussarna takes 35 to 45 minutes to the City Terminal at the Central Station, with buses running at intervals of 15 to 30 minutes (as of January 2026). The single fare costs adults 129 SEK online, return 209 SEK, aged 8 to 25 99 SEK; children up to 7 travel free (as of 26 September 2026).

In Sweden taxi companies set their own prices, and at the taxi rank you are free to choose your car. Swedavia contract taxis wait in front of the arrivals hall of Terminal 5 and in front of Terminal 2. Within a marked zone they may charge at most 800 or 825 SEK for 1 to 4 passengers; Swedavia gives both amounts (as of 28 September 2026). According to Visit Stockholm the journey takes about 40 minutes, and at night Swedavia advises pre-booking the taxi.

Bromma and Skavsta

The city airport Bromma is around 8 km from the centre but had only 25,000 travellers and 3 domestic destinations in 2025; tram line 31 (Tvärbanan) runs to the terminal. Skavsta near Nyköping, around 100 km south-west, is not counted above: in 2025 only 12 passengers flew there from Germany (own analysis).

Getting around Stockholm: SL tickets and card

An SL single ticket costs 43 SEK (about €3.80), concessions 26 SEK, and is valid for 75 minutes across the whole network (as of September 2026). You can buy it contactless with Mastercard, Visa or American Express at the reader, and also with Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay. You tap only when boarding; always use the same card or device on a journey, otherwise you pay twice.

You cannot pay in cash on buses. The green SL card costs 50 SEK (as of September 2026), but almost all tickets are also available in the free SL app. One paying adult can take up to six children under 12 along free of charge. Concession fares are available for people aged 65 and over and under 20; students need a Swedish student ID showing the SL logo. Ferry 82 runs all year from Slussen to Djurgården, and SL fares apply on board.

Travel passes: 24 hours to 30 days

The 24-hour pass costs 180 SEK, 72 hours cost 360 SEK and 7 days 470 SEK (as of September 2026). According to SL, the 30-day pass costs only 530 instead of 1,060 SEK up to and including December 2026, concession 325 instead of 650 SEK.

Where to stay: the neighbourhoods compared

Visit Stockholm presents these six inner-city districts individually.

Where “—” appears, the sources we analysed give no drawback.

Sights: times, prices and rules in 2026

Vasa Museum: by card only

The museum houses the Vasa of 1628. The warship is well preserved and carries hundreds of carved figures. Admission costs 240 SEK from May to September and 195 SEK otherwise, and is free up to the age of 18. From September to May it is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00, until 20:00 on Wednesdays, and from June to August from 08:30 to 18:00 (as of the page of 30 April 2026).

Payment is by card only, and even with a ticket bought in advance you queue as normal. Getting there: tram 7 to Nordiska museet/Vasamuseet or ferry 80 or 82 to Allmänna gränd and about 8 minutes on foot.

Skansen: in the open air since 1891

Skansen was founded in 1891 by Artur Hazelius, calls itself the world's oldest open-air museum and shows houses, animals and plants from all parts of Sweden. From 28 September 2026 to 10 January 2027 it is open on weekdays from 10:00 to 15:00 and at weekends until 16:00, with exceptions such as for the Christmas market. Online is the cheapest way to buy, and the price changes with the season. Children up to 15 get in with a free ticket. Neither entrances nor shops accept cash (as of September 2026).

ABBA The Museum: entry in a time slot

In 2026 adults pay 269 to 349 SEK depending on the period, children aged 7 to 15 129 to 169 SEK, and admission is free under 7. Until 23 December it is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, with entry in the time slot you have booked. Payment is by card only, and you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance (as of September 2026). According to the museum it is busiest between 10:00 and 15:00.

Royal Palace and Changing of the Guard

The palace is the King's official residence, with more than 600 rooms spread over eleven floors. The ticket for the Royal Apartments, Treasury and Tre Kronor Museum costs 220 SEK, and 240 SEK from May to September (2026 prices). Children under 12 are only admitted with adults.

From October to December 2026 it is open daily from 10:00 to 16:00, except on 24 and 25 December. On 19 October the palace stays closed entirely because of a state visit. From 12 to 21 October the Royal Apartments are also fully or partly closed on other days.

The Changing of the Guard in the Outer Courtyard begins Monday to Saturday at 12:15, on Sundays and public holidays at 13:15, and lasts about 40 minutes (as of August 2026). In November and December the guard parade starts at Mynttorget in Gamla stan, and from there it goes around the palace.

City Hall: guided tour only

The City Hall of 1923, venue of the Nobel Banquet, can be visited only on a guided tour of about 45 minutes. Adults pay 150 SEK, 7 to 18-year-olds 60 SEK (as of September 2026). Online the tickets go on sale one week in advance; otherwise they are available on the same day from 08:30 at the ticket office. The 106 m high tower with around 365 steps can be visited only in summer.

Fotografiska and Moderna Museet

Fotografiska at Stadsgårdshamnen on Södermalm is open daily from 10:00 to 23:00 and costs adults 195 SEK (as of September 2026). Moderna Museet on Skeppsholmen costs 170 SEK, and admission is free up to the age of 18.

Drottningholm: World Heritage Site since 1991

The royal estate on the island of Lovön has been on UNESCO's World Heritage List since 1991, with the palace, the Palace Theatre of 1766, the Chinese Pavilion and gardens. The palace costs 170 SEK, 250 SEK with the Chinese Pavilion (2026 prices), and in October 2026 is open only on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 16:00. You take the metro to Brommaplan and then the bus. Buy the bus ticket beforehand in the SL app; there are none at the ticket offices around the palace.

Skogskyrkogården: World Heritage Site since 1994

The Woodland Cemetery south of the inner city was laid out by Gunnar Asplund and Sigurd Lewerentz from 1917 to 1920 and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994. It is freely accessible at any time, and on foot and by bike you can come through the main entrances at night too. Public guided tours are mainly offered in summer, and a free map is available at the main entrance (as of September 2026).

Archipelago and Vaxholm with the SL ticket

You can reach Fjäderholmarna, Vaxholm and Grinda within an hour according to Visit Stockholm. The Waxholmsbolaget boats run from Strömkajen to Vaxholm, and between the inner city and Vaxholm with its surroundings every SL ticket is valid all year, at a total of 44 piers (as of September 2026). For destinations outside this area, such as Grinda, you need a Waxholmsbolaget ticket from Vaxholm, unless you have an SL pass for at least 30 days in the low season. Single journeys cost 61 to 186 SEK depending on the route and are valid for 180 minutes; you buy them in the SL app or on board with Visa or Mastercard.

Best time to visit: Stockholm's climate month by month

The values come from the Swedish weather service SMHI, Stockholm-Observatoriekullen station (43 m), mean of the years 1991 to 2020. The sunshine hours come from the Stockholm Sol station (41 m), same period.

From May to July the sun shines on average 277 to 280 hours a month, and July is the warmest at 23.6 °C by day. There are 23.9 days a year with at least 25 °C, and only 3.1 days with 30 °C. In January it stays below 0 °C all day on 11.1 days, and the last frost falls on average on 19 April. On the Midsummer weekend at the end of June many Stockholmers head for the archipelago, and the city then feels empty according to Visit Stockholm.

Costs

The table gives only operators' prices. Euro amounts are our own conversion at the European Central Bank rate of 25 September 2026 (€1 = 11.29 SEK).

VAT: 12% on hotel rooms

Hotel stays in Sweden carry 12% VAT. According to Skatteverket this also applies to breakfast, parking and sauna if they are included in the room price. Since 1 April 2026, 6% has applied to food. In restaurants and cafés it remains 12%, and only wine, spirits and strong beer cost 25% there (as of September 2026).

Practical information

Money: kronor and hardly any cash

Sweden has been in the EU since 1995, but you pay in the Swedish krona (SEK). In a Riksbank survey of September 2025 only 5% said they had paid for their last shop purchase in cash; in 2023 it was 10% (published in March 2026). According to Visit Stockholm, many hotels, shops and restaurants accept no cash at all, and cash machines are called “Bankomat” (as of September 2026).

Time, emergency number, tipping

The time is the same as in Germany, and daylight saving time ends on 25 October in 2026. On 112 you reach police, ambulance and fire brigade, with advice given in Swedish or English. For police matters that are not urgent, you dial 114 14 (as of September 2026). Tipping is not expected, and when eating out people usually round up (as of July 2025).

Wine and spirits only at Systembolaget

Outside bars, only the state chain Systembolaget sells wine and spirits. Its shops are closed on Sundays and public holidays, and on Saturdays they close as early as the early afternoon (as of September 2026).

The current rules on entry, safety and health are given by the German Foreign Office.

Who this is not for

• Anyone looking for sun in winter: in December it shines on average 33 hours in the whole month, and in January it stays below 0 °C all day on 11.1 days.
• Anyone who wants to pay in cash: buses, the Vasa Museum, Skansen and ABBA The Museum do not take cash.
• Anyone travelling alone who wants to get from the airport quickly and cheaply: the Arlanda Express regularly costs 340 SEK, and on the commuter train a 157 SEK station fee is added to the ticket. The airport bus costs 129 SEK online but takes 35 to 45 minutes.
• Anyone who expects everything to be open in the winter half-year: from 28 September Skansen mostly closes at 15:00 on weekdays, Drottningholm is open only at weekends in October, and the City Hall tower only in summer.
• Anyone who wants to drive to Djurgården: there are very few parking spaces. According to Skansen, access via the Djurgårdsbron is closed from 10:00 to 16:00 on the Christmas market weekends (27 November to 20 December 2026). From the end of April to the end of September a closure applies at weekends and on public holidays from 10:00 to 17:00.