Sweden - Becky Ohlsen [71]
Follow the signs to find your way to the local metro (T-bana) network; the underground station here is called T-Centralen.
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GETTING AROUND
To/From the Airports
The Arlanda Express (020-22 22 24; www.arlandaexpress.com; adult tickets from Skr220) train service from Centralstationen takes 20 minutes to reach Arlanda; trains run every 10 to 15 minutes from about 5am to 12.30am. The same trip in a taxi costs around Skr495, but agree on the fare first and don’t use taxis without a contact telephone number displayed. Taxi Stockholm (15 00 00) is one reputable operator.
The cheaper option is the Flygbuss (www.flygbussarna.se) service between Arlanda airport and Cityterminalen. Buses leave every 10 or 15 minutes (Skr110, 40 minutes). Tickets can be purchased online, at Cityterminalen or on arrival at the Flygbuss counter at Arlanda airport’s main terminal.
Bicycle
Stockholm boasts a wide network of bicycle paths, and in summer you won’t regret bringing a bicycle with you or hiring one to get around. The tourist offices have maps for sale, but they’re not usually necessary if you have a basic city map.
Top day trips include Djurgården; Drottningholm (return by steamer); Haga Park or the adjoining Ulriksdal Park, and a loop from Gamla Stan to Södermalm, Långholmen and Kungsholmen (on lakeside paths). Trails and bike lanes are clearly marked with traffic signs.
Some long-distance routes are marked all the way from central Stockholm: Nynäsleden to Nynäshamn joins Sommarleden near Västerhaninge and swings west to Södertälje. Roslagsleden leads to Norrtälje (linking Blåleden and Vaxholm). Upplandsleden leads to Märsta north of Stockholm, and you can ride to Uppsala via Sigtuna. Sörmlandsleden leads to Södertälje.
Bicycles can be carried free on SL local trains, except during peak hour (6am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm weekdays). They’re not allowed in Centralstationen or on the metro, although you’ll occasionally see some daring souls.
Stockholm City Bikes (077-444 24 24; www.stockholmcitybikes.se) has 67 self-service bicycle hire stands across the city. You’ll need to purchase a bike card (three-day/season card Skr125/250) from the tourist office Click here or from SL information centres. Rechargeable season cards are valid from April to the end of October.
Sjöcafé (660 57 57; 9am-9pm Apr-Sep), by the bridge across to Djurgården, rents out bikes for Skr65/250 per hour/day (with options for longer rentals). For about the same price they also rent in-line skates, another nifty way to get around.
Boat
Djurgårdsfärjan city ferry services connect Gröna Lund Tivoli on Djurgården Nybroplan (summer only) and Slussen (year-round) as frequently as every 10 minutes in summer (and less frequently at other times); a single trip costs Skr30 (free with the SL transport passes).
Car & Motorcycle
Driving in central Stockholm is not recommended. Skinny one-way streets, congested bridges and limited parking all present problems; note that Djurgårdsvägen is closed near Skansen at night, on summer weekends and some holidays. Don’t attempt driving through the narrow streets of Gamla Stan.
Parking is a major problem, but there are P-hus (parking stations) throughout the city; they charge up to Skr60 per hour, though the fixed evening rate is usually more reasonable. If you do have a car, one of the best options is to stay on the outskirts of town and catch public transport into the centre.
Public Transport
Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL; www.sl.se) runs all tunnelbana (T or T-bana) metro trains, local trains and buses within the entire Stockholm county. There is an SL information office at Centralstationen (basement concourse; 6.30am-11.15pm Mon-Sat, 7am-11.15pm Sun) and another near the Sergels Torg entrance (to 6.30pm Mon-Fri, to 5pm Sat & Sun), which issues timetables and sells the SL Tourist Card and Stockholm Card. You can also call 600 10 00. for schedule