From Airport to City Center

Stockholm has four airports: Arlanda, Bromma, Skavsta, and Västerås.

Arlanda

Most likely you will arrive at Arlanda Airport, the biggest among the four.

If you arrive in Terminal 5 and need to pick up what someone leaves for you (e.g., your house keys), go downstairs from the arrival floor to the bagport.

From Arlanda to your new place to live in Stockholm, there are three ways of transport.

1. Taxi

There are many taxis waiting outside the terminal building. In Terminal 5, taxi queues are separated by companies including Taxi Stockholm, Taxi 020, and Taxi Kurir. (According to Swedes, other taxi companies should be avoided as they may rip you off, although personally this never happens). Their fare to the city center is fixed, but the price differs by company (see the door window of the taxi to learn the fare). As of June 2011, Taxi 020 offers the price of 470 kronor while Taxi Stockholm's fare is 520 kronor. Don't worry if you forget exchanging your cash: the taxis in Stockholm accept credit card payments.

2. Arlanda Express

Arlanda Express is a non-stop train taking you to Stockholm Central Station in 20 minutes. It departs every 15 minutes. One way trip costs 260 krona as of June 2014  If you travel with someone else, there is a discount ticket available on the weekends and over the summer months (mid-June to August). Buy a ticket at a yellow machine on the platform (which accepts credit cards). Paying the fare on board costs you an extra 50 krona.

Once you arrive at Stockholm Central and get off the train, follow other passengers and you'll see a taxi stand on your left. Or continue walking straight and follow the sign of T for the metro. If you need to take bus route no.1 to your house, exit at the rear of the platform and take the elevator up; and you'll find a bus stop.

3. Flygbussarna (Airport Coach)

A cheaper option is to take Flygbussarna, airport coach buses. It departs every 10 minutes and takes you to Cityterminalen (a bus terminal next to Stockholm Central Station) in at least 40 minutes (depending on the traffic, of course). One way trip costs 119 krona as of June 2014. You can pay to the bus driver with your credit card. (Actually, in my experience, the driver does not accept cash.)

Once you arrive and get off the bus, taxis are queuing in front of you. If you need to take bus route no.1 to your house, walk towards the rear of the coach; and you'll find a bus stop on the busy street called Kungsgatan.

4. Pendeltåg (commuter train)

Another cheap option is to take Pendeltåg, the overground train network connecting Stockholm suburbs. Go to the Sky City (a shopping and restaurant complex situated between Terminals 2-4 and 5), and you'll find Arlanda Central station from which you can take Pendeltåg. It takes about 37 minutes to Stockholm Central station. A caveat is that the train runs only every 30 minutes.


Bromma

If you fly from Brussels or Helsinki, you may arrive in Bromma Airport. You can take a taxi or the Airport Coach (Flygbussarna) to Cityterminalen. It's close to the city center, taking about 20-30 minutes.

Skavsta / Västerås

If you take Ryanair or other low-cost airlines from an European city, you are likely to arrive at Skavsta or Västerås Airport. These two airports are very, very far away from Stockholm city center, so taking a taxi from the airport is out of the question. Take the Airport Coach (Flygbussarna) to Cityterminalen. It takes around 75-80 minutes. One-way ticket from Skavsta costs 139 krona as of June 2011 (Tickets can be bought by credit card at a vending machine in the baggage claim area).