World City Guide

Getting Around

Public Transport
Storstockholms Lokaltrafik – SL (tel: (08) 600 1000; website: www.sl.se) runs Stockholm’s well-integrated network of metros, commuter trains, buses and trams.

The metro (tunnelbana) is the core of the system – stations are marked with a blue ‘T’ on a white background – and the service runs daily 0500–0100 (later at the weekend). The metro is integrated with the commuter train service, although services are less frequent.

Bus services operate daily on average around 0600–2400 for normal buses, with night buses handling limited routes after that.

There are not many trams left in the city, although visitors might find the vintage Djurgrdslinjen (tram 7) useful, as it passes many city sights. However, this costs more than other services, at SKr20 per ticket (passes are not valid).

Single tickets, valid on all services, cost SKr16 and are available for purchase on board buses or at metro stations. RabattkupongI (discount coupons) are available from newspaper stands – a carnet of 20 costs SKr110.

The SL Tourist Card gives free travel on public transport inside the Greater Stockholm area. The pass costs SKr80 for 24 hours and SKr150 for 72 hours (concessions are available). The Stockholm Card (Stockholmskortet) gives free public transport among other benefits. This costs SKr220, SKr380 and SKr540 for 24, 48 and 72 hours respectively (concessions available). Both are available for purchase at Stockholm Information Service offices.

Taxis
Taxis can be hailed on the street or ordered by telephone from Taxi Stockholm (tel: (08) 150 000 or 728 2700; website: www.taxistockholm.se) or Taxi Kurir (tel: (08) 300 000 or 744 9400; website: www.taxikurir.se). Computer/radio taxis can also be ordered online and accept major credit cards as payment.

Taxis normally charge a basic fee of SKr28–36 and a journey of ten kilometres (six miles) will cost approximately SKr100 on weekdays, with higher rates for evenings and weekends. Tips are usually included in the fare.

Limousines
Limousineservice (tel: (08) 222 280) provides chauffeured limousines for SKr780–850 per hour, with a reduced price if the car is hired for more than one day. The higher rate is applicable after 1900 on weekdays, before 0600 weekdays and all weekend. Prestige Limousine (tel: (08) 193 300; website: www.prestigelimousine.se) provides limousines and people carriers from SKr700 per hour, while Bel Air Limousines (tel: (08) 308 500; website: www.bel-airlimo.se) has stretch limousines from SKr980 per hour.

Driving in the City
Scattered over 14 islands and governed by strict speed limits, Stockholm is not an ideal city for drivers. Visitors might be better advised to use its excellent public transport system instead. The city’s planners have imposed numerous restrictions on drivers and petrol prices are among Europe’s highest.

Principal car parks are the Galleriangaraget, at the Gallerian complex, Hamngatan 37, or at Phus Pub, Sljdgatan 3. Carpark (website: www.carpark.se) provides a website, complete with maps, which focuses on parking in Stockholm. Parking is on average Kr50 per hour (less at night).

Car Hire
The minimum age for car hire is 18 years, with the proviso that drivers have held a driving licence for one year. Some larger cars are restricted to those over 24 years. A national driving licence, passport and credit card are required for hiring a car in Stockholm. Fire and third party liability is mandatory in Sweden and is included in all car hire deals.

Cars are available from Avis (tel: (08) 202 060; website: www.avis.com) and Hertz (tel: (08) 240 720; website: www.hertz.com), both of which are located near the Stockholm Central. Typical rates for car hire are around SKr700 per day for an average saloon.

Bicycle & Scooter Hire
Cykel and Mopeduthyrningen, Strandvgen 24 (tel: (08) 660 7959), and Cykelstallet, St Eriksgatan 34 (tel: (08) 650 0804), both provide bicycle and scooter hire. A typical rate for hire of a bicycle is SKr150 per day.