SL pass Stockholm guide: T-bana, buses and archipelago ferries
Stockholm: archipelago sightseeing cruise
Duration: 1.5–3 hours
Is the SL pass worth buying in Stockholm?
Yes for most visitors. If you make five or more SL journeys per day, a 24h pass (180 SEK) beats buying singles at 43 SEK each. The 72h pass covers a long weekend and also validates on Waxholmsbolaget ferries outside summer — useful for Vaxholm and Grinda trips; in summer, check the fare with the operator.
Stockholm’s public transport network
Stockholm’s SL (Storstockholms Lokaltrafik) network is one of Scandinavia’s most comprehensive urban transit systems. It covers the T-bana (metro), city buses, commuter trains (Pendeltåg), trams lines 7 and 12, and — crucially for visitors — a section of the Waxholmsbolaget archipelago ferries. Understanding SL passes before you arrive saves both money and the anxiety of buying tickets at the gate.
| Where | Covers central Stockholm plus in-zone archipelago ferries |
| Cost | Around 180–470 SEK depending on pass length |
| Time needed | Buy and activate in under 5 minutes via the SL app |
| Getting there | Buy via SL app, Reskort machines, or tap contactless at gates |
| Best for | 5+ journeys/day, or any archipelago day trip within the zone |
The network runs around the clock on weekends and until roughly 01:00–02:00 on weekdays, with night buses filling the gaps. Coverage across the main islands and mainland areas is excellent.
SL pass types and 2026 prices
| Pass | Price (SEK) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Single ticket | 43 | One-off journeys, valid 75 minutes with unlimited transfers |
| 24-hour pass | 180 | Day-trippers making 5+ journeys |
| 72-hour pass | 360 | Weekend visitors |
| 7-day pass | 470 | Week-long stays |
A single ticket at 43 SEK gives you 75 minutes of travel with unlimited transfers — so you can take the T-bana, change lines, and hop on a bus within that window on a single fare. The break-even point for a 24h pass versus singles is roughly five journeys.
These prices reflect 2026 tariffs. SL reviews fares annually; always verify current prices on the SL website or app before purchasing.
What the SL network covers
T-bana (metro)
Seven lines organized into three trunk routes: the red line (T13/T14), blue line (T10/T11), and green line (T17/T18/T19). The system connects T-Centralen (Central Station) with most Stockholm neighborhoods. Key stops for tourists include Gamla Stan, Slussen (Södermalm), Kungsträdgården, and Tekniska Högskolan (near Djurgården by bus).
The T-bana runs every 3–8 minutes during peak hours and every 10–15 minutes off-peak.
City buses
An extensive network of buses reaches areas beyond the metro, including Djurgården (bus 69), Skansen, Östermalm, and Kungsholmen. Buses accept the same SL pass — tap the reader as you board. Stockholm buses no longer sell tickets onboard; buy via app or load a Reskort before travel.
Commuter trains (Pendeltåg)
Five commuter rail lines fan out from T-Centralen through Stockholm County, reaching as far as Uppsala (though Uppsala requires a separate inter-city fare). The Pendeltåg is useful for reaching the airport area — line 41 stops at Arlanda Central, though a station supplement applies.
Trams 7 and 12
Tram 7 (Spårväg City) connects T-Centralen → Strandvägen → Djurgården. In summer this is the most pleasant way to reach the museum island. Tram 12 (Lidingöbanan) serves Lidingö. Both are included in the SL pass.
Waxholmsbolaget ferries (archipelago)
This is where the SL pass becomes exceptional value for archipelago exploration. Waxholmsbolaget operates the public ferry network across Stockholm’s inner archipelago, and many of its routes fall within the SL zone. With a 72h or 7-day pass you can board Waxholmsbolaget ferries at Strömkajen without buying separate tickets.
Islands reachable with SL pass on Waxholmsbolaget ferries: Vaxholm, Möja, Ljusterö, Blidö, and other inner-archipelago islands within the zone. Grinda is covered by SL period cards in autumn, winter and spring; in summer, check the fare with Waxholmsbolaget.
Not covered: Sandhamn (outer archipelago, outside SL zone). Sandhamn requires a separate ticket or an all-day pass from Waxholmsbolaget. Commercial Strömma Cinderella cruises are also not included — those are private operators.
Check the Waxholmsbolaget zone map on their website before your ferry trip, as zone boundaries do change and some seasonal routes have different tariff structures.
Where to buy SL passes
SL app (recommended)
Download the SL app (iOS and Android) before arriving in Stockholm. The app sells all pass types, shows real-time departures, and displays your ticket as a QR code on screen — no physical card required. You can also plan journeys and check which Waxholmsbolaget routes are in-zone.
Reskort (SL travel card)
The Reskort is a reloadable contactless card available from T-bana ticket machines and SL Kundservice offices (at T-Centralen and a few other stations). You load credit or specific passes onto the card. If you visit Stockholm regularly, a Reskort is convenient. For a single trip, the app is simpler.
Contactless bank card
Any contactless Visa, Mastercard, or Amex card can tap directly at T-bana gates and bus readers. You are charged the single-trip fare of 43 SEK per journey. This is the easiest option for just one or two rides; for multiple daily trips, a timed pass via the app is cheaper.
Note on Swish: Swish requires a Swedish bank account and Swedish personal number. It is not usable by tourists. See our payments guide for the full picture of cashless Stockholm.
Day trips: using SL to reach the archipelago
One of the best-value uses of a 72h or 7-day SL pass is combining it with Waxholmsbolaget ferries for free or very low-cost archipelago day trips. The usual pattern:
- Take the T-bana or bus to Strömkajen (ferry terminal near the Grand Hôtel).
- Tap your SL pass at the Waxholmsbolaget reader.
- Board the ferry to Vaxholm (about 75 min), Grinda (just over an hour), or other in-zone islands.
Compare this with a commercial Strömma day-cruise to Fjäderholmarna at 200–300 SEK per person. The Waxholmsbolaget route to Fjäderholmarna is also in-zone and costs nothing beyond your existing pass.
For deeper archipelago explorations to Sandhamn or Utö, you will need additional tickets, but the SL pass still covers the Stockholm portion of the journey. For a full breakdown of which islands are in-zone and which need extra tickets, see the ferries for day trippers guide; for island-by-island detail, see the Vaxholm day guide and the Grinda day guide.
How much this saves versus paid cruises
Running the numbers over a 3-day visit with one archipelago day trip: a 72h SL pass (360 SEK) covers all city transit plus a return Waxholmsbolaget ferry to Vaxholm (or Grinda outside summer) that would otherwise cost roughly 150–220 SEK return if bought separately, on top of whatever single tickets you’d otherwise buy for T-bana journeys across the same three days. For a fuller sense of where this fits your overall trip costs, see the Stockholm budget per day guide.
When a guided cruise is the better choice
The public ferries are a transport service, not a tour. There is no commentary, the boat follows a timetable rather than the best light, and you decide for yourself where to get off. That suits independent travellers who like to wander. If you would rather have someone explain the islands, the channels and the summer houses as you pass them, a dedicated outing such as a sightseeing cruise through the archipelago is a different product and worth budgeting for separately. Many visitors do both: the pass for the self-guided island day, a guided boat for one evening or morning. Our 2-hour archipelago boat tour guide and the Strömma versus Waxholmsbolaget comparison explain how the two operators differ, and the Waxholmsbolaget ferries explained page covers the public side in detail.
Planning the day around the ferry timetable
Because the ferries run on fixed departures, the pass only pays off if you plan the return leg before you leave the dock. Check the last boat back when you arrive on the island, not at lunchtime, and keep a margin in case you want one more coffee. In the shoulder seasons the schedule thins out, so the same trip that feels relaxed in July can feel tight in spring or autumn. If the weather turns, the city is always a fallback, and the pass keeps working on the T-bana and buses, so a cancelled island day does not waste your ticket. For the seasonal picture, see archipelago in winter versus summer and the one-day archipelago guide.
SL pass vs Stockholm Pass vs single tickets
The key distinction is what the passes cover:
- SL pass covers only transport (T-bana, buses, trams, commuter trains, in-zone ferries). It does not admit you to museums or attractions.
- Stockholm Pass / Go City covers 60+ attractions (Vasa, ABBA, Skansen, Royal Palace, etc.) and in some versions includes limited transit.
- Single SL tickets make sense if you walk most places and only use transit occasionally.
If your itinerary is museum-heavy (visiting 4+ paid attractions in 1–2 days), the Stockholm Pass delivers more total value. If you are budget-conscious and explore the city mostly on foot and by metro, the SL pass is the right tool. See our detailed comparison for a full cost breakdown, and the SL pass vs Stockholm Pass guide for a more granular side-by-side.
The two ideas are not exclusive. Some travellers pair a transport pass with an attractions card when the itinerary is packed with paid sights; if that sounds like you, look at what an all-inclusive Stockholm pass bundles before deciding, and read the museum pass guide if your plans lean towards galleries. If you only want one or two big sights, singles plus an SL pass are usually simpler. Sights such as the Vasa Museum and Skansen are both easy to reach on SL services from the centre.
For general orientation on how all of Stockholm’s transit pieces fit together beyond just the pass question, the public transport explained guide is a useful companion read.
Night travel and special services
SL buses replace the T-bana on some routes between roughly 01:00 and 05:00, and the network continues operating (unlike some European cities where it shuts completely overnight). Night buses are slower but your SL pass remains valid. The 24h and 72h passes run continuously from activation — not just during daytime hours — so late arrivals and early departures are covered.
Practical tips
Activate your pass when you first use it — timed passes start from first tap, not from purchase. Plan your first journey to coincide with when you actually want the clock to start.
Keep your phone charged. Mobile tickets require an active screen. Pack a portable charger for long days, especially if you are also navigating with maps.
Outer-archipelago planning. Before any Waxholmsbolaget ferry trip, cross-check the SL zone map and the current Waxholmsbolaget schedule. Ferries to outer islands can be infrequent (once or twice daily) and some seasonal schedules are limited to weekends in spring.
T-bana renovations. Stockholm periodically closes metro sections for maintenance, particularly on blue-line stations. Check SL’s live service information before heading out on a specific route.
Using the pass on a first visit
If this is your first trip, the simplest rhythm is to let the pass follow your itinerary rather than the other way round. Group your outings by area: one day for Gamla Stan and the royal sights, one for Djurgården, one for Södermalm and its cafés. Each cluster needs only a few rides, so the pass really earns its keep on the days you cross the water or head out to the islands. The 3-day first-timer itinerary and the 4 days with the archipelago itinerary show how that plays out hour by hour, and the accessibility guide is worth a look if anyone in your group needs step-free routes.
Getting from Arlanda Airport to the city
The SL pass does not cover Arlanda Express (a private service). The commuter Pendeltåg (line 41) is technically in the SL network but requires an extra Arlanda station fee (~157 SEK in 2026) on top of your pass. Flygbussarna coaches (119 SEK single) offer a middle-ground option. See our airport-to-city guide for a complete comparison of all options including prices and travel times.
Frequently asked questions about Stockholm SL passes
Is the SL pass transferable between people?
No. SL passes (both mobile and Reskort) are tied to the account holder or card and cannot be shared. Each traveller needs their own pass.
Can I use an Apple Watch or Google Pay for SL?
Contactless payments via Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted at T-bana gates and on buses. These charge single-trip fares. For a timed pass, you still need the SL app on your phone.
What happens if I travel outside the SL zone?
If your destination requires travel into a different zone (Stockholm County is divided into zones A, B, and C), additional fare zones apply. Most central Stockholm trips fall within zone A. Commuter rail to outlying towns may require additional zone add-ons even with a 7-day pass.
Are SL passes available at Arlanda Airport?
Yes. SL ticket machines are available at Arlanda Central station and at Stockholm Arlanda’s arrivals. However, for the Arlanda → Stockholm journey specifically, you will pay the station supplement on top of any SL pass — Flygbussarna or Arlanda Express may be simpler depending on your budget.
Do children travel free on SL?
Children under 7 travel free on all SL services. Children 7–19 qualify for youth fares (roughly half adult price). Check current youth pricing in the SL app.
