Stockholm Arlanda Airport is the main, spacious and shiny arrivals point for many international visitors. Many major carriers land at Terminal 5, which is an impressive beast of a place with no shortage of places to grab a quick pre-flight meal, beer, or souvenir.

 

There are two main ways to get into Stockholm city, some 25 miles away. The quickest is by train - the Arlanda Express shoots you into the main central station in a mere 20 minutes and they run every 15 minutes at peak times. The price though, is worth noting in advance - 460SEK (£46) return (some discounts at weekend). Visit www.arlandaexpress.com

If that's a little bit too much of a kick in the kronas before you've even started your holiday proper, the cheaper option is the more than adequate bus link.

Flygbussarna run every 10 to 15 minutes all day and leave directly from outside the main terminal. Tickets are easily bought from machines inside the arrivals hall (or online) and are a more reasonable 210SEK (£21) return. All it means is you have the responsibility of not losing your ticket during your time there. Visit www.flygbussarna.se

Note there are two buses plying the airport route. The busiest one is Flygbussarna, but Swebus also offer you a seat on the coach, with fares costing a similar amount. Buses are slightly less regular but there are still 40 a day. Visit www.swebus.se

The journey time is up to 40 minutes depending on traffic.

Taxis are around 500SEK (£50) and take around 40 minutes.


Skavsta Airport is 70 miles south of the city and serves low cost carriers. A bus leaves 30 minutes after each arrival, taking 80 minutes into Stockholm central station and costing 150SEK (£15) return. Tickets can be bought at www.flygbussarna.se or at either end.
Going back to the airport, they leave three hours before departure times.
Taxis are £100-£150.


Vasteras Airport is tiny, around 80 miles from Stockholm and again serves low cost carriers. The bus journey time is 75 minutes, again leaving half an hour after arrivals and timed to be back at the airport two hours before departure time.  Tickets can be bought at www.fluygbussarna.se or at either end.
Taxis again are up to £150.




On arrival you'll probably be at T-Centrale, Stockholm's main and at times labyrinthine station. It's next door to the bus station - so if arriving by bus, one you've been dropped off walk forward for the exit and train station, or back the other way for one of the main city drags. Note that when you depart by bus, the buses leave from the other side of the station.

Stockholm's central station is, erm, central. Very central. The winding roads of the old town, Gamla Stam, are but a five minute walk to the south and the city centre is likewise just 400 yards away. If your base is further away, then snap up a travelcard for the duration of your stay. You can buy them from station machines or from newsagents at smaller stations.

There are three main metro lines, all intersecting at T-Centrale. There are also a couple of trams, with buses filling the gaps between the two. The travel cards cover you on all fronts, even a ferry of two - simply swipe them Oyster style to get into the metro or on the buses.

It'll probably come as no huge surprise that Stockholm's transport system is right up there in terms of efficiency. The metros are probably the smoothest ride I've enjoyed below ground, they nip along at a good lick and are always, but always, on time. Services do become a little more sporadic in the evenings but nothing you can't work around. If you go on Line 2, ie the one to the ground, watch out for the amazing decor of rock. It's like a Batcave.