Start from where you're actually staying
Stockholm Central Station sits in the middle of the city, so if your hotel is within walking distance or a short metro or bus ride of Centralstationen, the fastest rail option gets you closest to done. If you're staying further out — in Södermalm, near a specific Flygbussarna stop, or somewhere the commuter train serves more directly — one of the other options can save you a connection at the far end even if the airport-to-city leg itself takes slightly longer.
According to Swedavia's own transport page for Arlanda, the airport is served by express trains, commuter trains, long-distance trains and several bus lines, alongside taxi ranks at Terminals 2 and 5 that operate 24 hours a day. That page functions as an overview rather than a fare and timetable source, so treat the sections below as a guide to which service to look up, not as quoted current prices.
The Arlanda Express
The Arlanda Express is a dedicated, non-stop rail service between Arlanda and Stockholm Central Station, run separately from the regional SL network and priced on its own ticket structure — unlike Helsinki, where the airport rail line sits inside the same regional ticket zones. It is the fastest way to cover the distance by rail and the option most airport-transfer guidance defaults to for travelers who want to minimize time in transit, particularly with luggage, since it goes directly to the country's main rail hub without intermediate stops.
The SL commuter train (pendeltåg)
A regional commuter train also connects Arlanda to central Stockholm as part of SL's wider network, making more intermediate stops than the express service and taking correspondingly longer. Because it runs within the SL system, it is generally the option that fits inside broader SL fare products if you already plan to buy an SL travelcard for getting around the city during your stay — but confirm this on SL's own site rather than assuming, since airport-zone surcharges and specific ticket-type eligibility can vary and this guide could not verify current terms from an accessible official source.
This is usually the better-value rail option for travelers who are not pressed for time and who plan to use Stockholm's public transport network throughout their visit anyway.
Flygbussarna airport coach
Flygbussarna runs a bus service between Arlanda and central Stockholm, with service described by the airport as running around the clock and serving multiple stops in the city rather than a single terminus. A bus can be the more practical choice if your accommodation is closer to one of its city stops than to Centralstationen, or if you are traveling at an hour when train frequency has thinned out. Confirm current departure points, frequency and fares on Flygbussarna's own site, since bus stop locations at both ends can change between updates.
Taxi
Swedavia's page confirms official taxi ranks at Terminal 2 and Terminal 5, available 24 hours. A taxi is the highest-cost option of the four but removes the need to manage luggage through a station or bus stop and goes directly to your address. As with any airport, use the marked rank or a pre-booked, licensed operator rather than accepting an unsolicited offer inside the terminal.
Compare by what matters to you
| Option | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Arlanda Express | Fastest rail option, direct to Centralstationen | Priced separately from SL; may not suit a tight budget |
| SL commuter train | Traveling light, already buying an SL travelcard | More stops, longer journey than the express |
| Flygbussarna bus | Accommodation near a specific bus stop, off-peak arrivals | Journey time depends on road traffic |
| Taxi | Heavy luggage, groups, door-to-door | Highest cost; confirm fare basis before you get in |
Late arrivals and luggage
This guide could not confirm exact overnight service frequency or last-departure times for any of the rail or bus options from an official source at time of writing, and schedules can shift by season. If you are landing very late or very early, checking the exact overnight timetable on the relevant operator's site — or defaulting to the 24-hour taxi ranks at Terminals 2 and 5 — is the more reliable plan than assuming a train or bus will be running at the frequency it keeps during the day.
Before you leave the arrivals hall
Decide which of the four options fits your route and luggage before you walk out past the terminal doors, since Arlanda's signage splits toward different platforms and stops for each service. This guide does not cover connections from Arlanda to other Swedish cities, or Stockholm's second airport, Bromma, which serves a smaller set of routes and has its own separate transfer options.