How easy is this!?!?…read more When we decided to travel to Sweden again after many years since our last visit...I made up my mind I wanted to travel as much as possible on public transportation. The only thing that gave me some concern was traveling from the Stockholm Arlanda Airport to Stockholm. I found the Arlanda Express online and thought it would be easy, but it seemed too easy...so it must not be easy. That said, I was prepared to take a bus or take the plunge for a taxi upon arrival if it was confusing, delayed, etc. On that note, it really IS that easy! Buy your ticket online in advance, buy it when you get there from a kiosk or there is a customer service desk to purchase tickets in front of the entry point. No matter how you purchase your ticket, provide it to the gentleman at the entry point to the elevator that goes to the platform and you are on your way. The only thing you have to do next is wait for a train, get on the train, show your ticket to the porter, and then the next thing you know...presto...you are in Stockholm! Oh my gosh...it was so easy! The trains come constantly, like every 15-20 minutes, so you never wait long. Then the ride itself is fast and you come right out at Central Station in Stockholm. You can then walk or take the metro to your final destination. You may be wondering how to find, or get to, the Arlanda Express at the airport...well, follow the bright yellow Arlanda Express signs (yes, it's that easy). As for the trains...they have large comfortable seats, very clean everywhere and there is ample storage for big suitcases. All the staff members we encountered were extremely friendly, helpful, and upbeat. For the most up-to-date cost and information, please go to their website: https://www.arlandaexpress.com/ This is so easy to do, not to mention cheap...highly recommend it!

Stockholm Central Station is HUGE ! Super beautiful and there's so much to see, shop, and explore!…read more If you're like me and forgot to grab snacks or souvenirs before heading home this is a great last stop to pick up treats. Just note things are a bit overpriced, but that's kind of expected in a station like this. One thing that really stood out to me was how friendly and helpful people are. If you ask for help, they genuinely go out of their way, which made navigating way less stressful. Overall, it's pretty easy to find your way, but it's so big that you can def get a little lost. It also has direct access to the subway, which is super convenient. One tip: if you buy the 18-minute ticket to the airport, double check exactly what you're being sold and make sure you keep your copy. The tours & ticket booth (near McDonald's) sold us the wrong ticket and we weren't able to use it nor get refunded, which was really disappointing.

This is the train hub we visit on our trip to Stockholm…read more It's a huge hub with plenty to see, do, and eat while you wait for a train! We didn't take a train during our visit, but we popped into the hub to check it out! They usually have unique dining experiences and shopping, kinda like how we treat malls back home!

It's been a while since I frequently travelled to or through Uppsala…read more Since then, the train and bus station is rebuilt and it is really really nice. Especially to travel by bus has been easier - all buses transfer here. It is easy to find your way to the buses or trains. On the downside: finding a ticket machine for the UL buses/trains is not easy. There are 2 or 3 - one of them at Kungsgatan (stop A2). You cannot buy tickets on the buses going out of town. TiM-machine (Trafik i Mälardalen) is found under the trains tracks in the tunnel and at track 8. AMEX is not accepted in machine nor at the staffed desk.

OK, like many these days, I am watching my money. And coming in from the Stockholm airport,…read moreespecially if you have a monthly pass, it is cheaper to take the bus to Marsta and then the commuter train. But that takes longer and boy was it crowded yesterday. I had already contacted Arlanda Express because I will not be turning on my phone here. Why pay for all those telemarketers to annoy me. I'm older and accessing these QR codes scare me and I wanted to know if I could get a paper ticket. Yes but only here at the machines in Stockholm. Arlanda Express is quick to respond to your questions. This is the only way to go if you are jetlagged because of delayed and cancelled flights. There are 3 stops. Two at the airport and one at Central Station. Your other choice, the commuter train, can and yesterday was, packed like sardines. We couldn't even make it out the door and had to go to the next step and circle back. We are very familiar with Stockholm but you will find, for us non Swedish speakers, that the commuter train announcements and stations are worded slightly different than expected. Plus you have to walk to get it and walk and wait at the train station whereas Arlanda Express is right there AT the airport. It was COLD yesterday. On the return trip, I am spending the extra money for a more predictable trip. 18 minutes from Central Station. There are discounts for 2 or more paying normal price. Cheaper than a cab or ride share. And cheaper than an overnight stay at an airport hotel. But keep in mind that it only goes to Stockholm Central. That is fine if you are staying nearby. But even if you arent, Central Station has all the very good subway lines to transfer to. We were going to Sodermalm and I thought my initial commuter train was smart because once I got on it, it would take me to the part of town that I was staying, cheaper. At 24 hours awake, I have now learned to spend the extra few bucks on the faster less confusing option.

The Arlanda Express train is quite expensive (640 SEK RT for a single rider), but it's more…read moreconvenient in terms of time table compared to the other train options which come less often. Also if you're flying from Terminal 5, you save some time from walking to the transit hub at Terminal 4. Essentially as soon as you exit Terminal 5 baggage claim, you walk directly to where it says Arlanda Express, and take the lift up and you're on your way to Central Station. If you're traveling with multiple people, make sure you buy your tickets together because they offer a multi passenger discount. I flew by myself so I didn't get to utilize this discount... next time! There's no assigned seating (it's open seating!), so just hop on and find a seat (and a place for your bags). It saves time from having to find a specific train car or assigned seat. At Central Station, Arlanda Express operates from Spår 1 & 2. There's quite a bit of gravel outside the station, so I recommend walking inside the station vs dragging it through the gravel outside. Time and distance is the same. I flew SAS, so when I returned to Arlanda, I took the escalators up to the side that said Departures. Follow the signs up, and you'll reach the check-in counter directly in front of the escalators for SAS. Fast Track are to the right of the escalator, for those who don't have any bags. Pretty convenient if I might say! All in all, it took me about 40-45 minutes to complete my journey from Central Station to the SAS check-in counters & Fast Track. So while I paid an arm and a leg for Arlanda Express, it was very convenient since I didn't have to walk too much to get to/from Stockholm. It was nice that at T5, it literally drops you off right at the SAS check in area. Given the high price point, I give it a solid 3.5 stars rounded down to 3 stars. If the price can be cheaper, I'd definitely give it a higher rating.

The commuter train station at Helenlund is served by the commuter trains between Märsta and…read moreSödertälje. Now the train also goes to Arlanda airport so is a good option for people working nearby in Kista to use to get to/from the airport. The station itself offers nothing in terms of services so there is no kiosk or small store but there is a vending machine and a ticket machine. Space to wait inside is very limited so tends to get crowded indoors in winter time. The station itself would benefit from having a shop and some more indoor space as the full platform is outdoors.

Södertälje Central is about a 45 minute ride to Stockholm Central and a perfect location if you are…read morestaying at the Quality Hotel Park. It seems to be a hub for public transportation. Get your access pass and then load it up for your trips. Be warned, there isn't much to do at the station other than wait. The open access tracks are clearly marked, so you shouldn't have any trouble spotting the train you're looking to take.