Hello everybody! In this new post, we’ll talk a little bit more about public transportation in Stockholm. Getting around Stockholm is really easy, and it is definitely an experience – did you know Stockholm’s metro is said to be the longest art exhibit in the world? Let’s get started!
SL Card: your best friend
Public transportation in Stockholm is administered by Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL). The SL network is composed of the subway, the pendeltåg (commuters train), boats, buses, trams and trains – and you can access all these by using only one card: the SL card!
The working principle of the SL card is very simple: you pay your ticket and you can access the network until your ticket expires. For instance, by purchasing a regular ticket you’ll be able to travel on all the aforementioned vehicles multiple times, for 75 minutes.
Of course, there are multiple types of tickets, ranging from the regular 75-minute one to tickets valid for three days, one week, one month, and multiple months… it’s super simple, and you can also do everything directly from your SL application.
Personally, if I had to choose a word to describe Stockholm’s public transportation, I would choose “pervasive”. Indeed, not only is everything incredibly efficient, clean and on time, but it is also very well-designed. No matter where you are: you will always find a way to get where you want to go using a combination of buses and subway – and it will be easy (no long walks, no additional tickets needed, no troubles)! Also, the subway runs all night at the weekend and closes from 1 to 5 am on weekdays.
Regarding prices, you as a student will enjoy a substantial discount once you get your Mecenat card (this usually happens a couple of days after school starts). The student-discounted prices, which include unlimited rides on all the vehicles of the SL network, are as follows:
- 75-minute ticket: 26 SEK
- 24-hour ticket: 110 SEK
- 72-hour ticket: 220 SEK
- 7-day ticket: 290 SEK
- one-month ticket: 650 SEK
If you want to know more about Stockholm’s metro, I suggest you read Raygo’s post on the subway stations hunt!
How to get to KTH
KTH is located in the Northern part of Stockholm City, and it is really easy to reach both by public transportation and by biking or walking!
Indeed, the university is close to a beautiful park, which calls for chilled morning walks from the most common student accommodation area (check out Martyna’s post on living in Lappis) – and not only that! It is also strategically located in front of the Stockholms Ostra train station and Tekniska högskolan subway station.
I personally tend to take the Roslagsbanan (a train-tram hybrid) to get to KTH, as I really enjoy the morning views of Stockholm’s nearby lakes and forests! In my last post, I talked more about my accommodation and my way to KTH – feel free to check it out if you want.
Get around by bike, or on foot
Personally, I try to walk or bike as much as possible. I feel that Stockholm has a “slow city” vibe, giving its best when enjoyed with a calm afternoon walk or bike stroll in a park. Also, the fact that it is surrounded by nature makes it particularly enjoyable to move above the ground, rather than below it! It is therefore very common to see people biking everywhere, at every moment of the year: Stockholm is very bike-friendly and drivers are always very respectful of cyclists and pedestrians. Check out our previous bloggers Declan and Claire’s posts about winter cycling in Stockholm and the benefits of getting a bike as an international student.
That is all for today’s post! I hope you found it exciting and, as always, feel free to leave a comment down below. We want to bring you some more content regarding everyday life and accommodation in Stockholm, so why don’t you check out Martyna’s last post on the cost of living in Stockholm and Raygo’s post on Stockholm’s Furniture Fair?
Thank you again for your time, have a nice weekend!
// Lorenzo
