Tap a contactless card or the SL app when you board — that's the whole system in Stockholm. No zones, no cash, no tap-out. The one thing that trips up almost every visitor: Arlanda Airport isn't part of it.
The short version
Since 2026, Stockholm's SL network runs on a single flat fare across the entire Storstockholm region — the old A/B/C zones are gone. One ticket, tapped once at boarding, takes you anywhere from Drottningholm to Sundbyberg. Sweden is almost entirely cashless, so cards and phones are not a backup plan here — they're the only plan.
Payment options, compared
| Method | How it works | Fare per journey | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contactless card/phone | Tap a Mastercard, Visa or Amex (physical or in Apple/Google/Samsung Pay) directly on the reader | SEK 43 (adult), discounted SEK 26 after registering a discount category on sl.se | Most tourists — no setup needed |
| SL app | Buy and store single or period tickets on your phone | Same fares as above | Longer stays, period tickets |
| Green SL card | Reusable smart card, top up with single tickets or travelcards | SEK 50 for the card itself, then per-ticket price | Groups, families sharing a card |
(as of September 2026, sl.se)
There's no tap-out anywhere in the SL system — you tap once, when boarding. Whatever you tap first on a given journey is what gets charged.
Common mistake: your SL ticket doesn't work on the Arlanda Express
This is the one that catches people out every week. The Arlanda Express — the fast 18-minute train between Stockholm Central and the airport — is not operated by SL. It's a separate, privately run company with its own tickets and its own pricing. Your contactless tap, SL app ticket, or SL card balance simply won't register on it, and there's no interline agreement that covers the gap.
If you're heading to or from Arlanda, you need to actively choose one of the airport-specific options below — assuming your regular city ticket covers it is the single most common (and most expensive) mistake visitors make.
Getting to and from Arlanda Airport
| Option | Time | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlanda Express | 18 min | SEK 340 | Private operator — SL tickets not valid |
| SL Pendeltåg (commuter train) | ~38 min | SEK 200 (single ticket + passage supplement) | Part of SL, but the airport passage itself needs a SEK 157 supplement even with a valid SL ticket |
| Flygbussarna (Vy flygbussarna) airport bus | 45 min | SEK 129 online | Direct to Cityterminalen, no SL validity |
| Budget route: bus 583 to Märsta + Pendeltåg | ~60 min total | SEK 43 | Regular SL fare — avoids the SEK 157 airport supplement entirely |
(as of September 2026, arlandaexpress.com, sl.se, flygbussarna.se)
The Pendeltåg is genuinely part of the SL network — the catch is that Arlanda's platforms sit behind their own turnstiles, and passing through them costs a supplement on top of (or instead of, if you already hold a valid SL ticket) the regular fare. That supplement applies whether you arrive by Pendeltåg or by the 583 bus and walk in — the only way to dodge it completely is the Märsta detour above.
Don't skip the tap
SL runs frequent ticket inspections, and Sweden doesn't do warnings. Travelling without a valid ticket carries an on-the-spot penalty fare of SEK 1,850, plus the cost of the ticket you should have bought — payable immediately, in person, to the inspector. Tapping in takes two seconds and is activated automatically on first contact; there's no separate step to forget.
Roamy's quick checklist
- Tap a contactless card or the SL app when boarding — no tap-out, ever
- One flat fare covers the whole Storstockholm region since 2026 — no zone maths
- Arlanda Airport is not covered by SL tickets — buy Arlanda Express, Flygbussarna, or pay the SL airport supplement separately
- Carry a working card or phone at all times — Sweden accepts no cash on transport
- Keep your ticket valid for the whole ride — the fine is SEK 1,850 plus fare, on the spot
Full fares, the airport transfer table and accessibility info: Stockholm public transport guide.