Stockholm City Guide - Getting Around

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 on the latter 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 Djurgårdslinjen (tram 7) useful, as it passes many city sights.

Single tickets, valid on all services, are available on board buses or at metro stations. Rabattkupong (discount coupons) are available from newspaper stands.

SL offers tickets for one, three and seven days' travel on the public transport system inside the Greater Stockholm area. The Stockholm Card (Stockholmskortet) gives free access to public transport among other benefits and is available for either 24, 48 or 72 hours. You can buy it at Stockholm Information Service offices.

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) 744 9400; website: www.taxikurir.se). Computer/radio taxis can also be ordered online and accept major credit cards as payment.

Taxis have higher rates for evenings and weekends. Tips are usually included in the fare.

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 the 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, Slöjdgatan 3. Carpark (website: www.carpark.se) provides a website, complete with maps, which focuses on parking in Stockholm. Stockholm Parkering (website: www.stockholm-parkering.se) offers many parking facilities in the city.

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.se) and Hertz (tel: (08) 797 9900; website: www.hertz.com , both of which are located near the Stockholm Central Station.

Cykel and Mopeduthyrningen, Strandvägen 24 (tel: (08) 660 7959), and Cykelstallet, Scheelegatan 15 (tel: (08) 651 0066; website: www.cykelstallet.se), both provide bicycle and scooter hire. Gamla Stans Cykel, St Nygatan 20 (tel: (08) 411 1670; website: www.gamlastanscykel.se), also offers bike hire.