Stockholm, Sweden
Before you ride: getting the right taxi from Arlanda Airport to Stockholm
How to get a taxi from Stockholm-Arlanda Airport to central Stockholm
We have all been there. Arriving bleary-eyed at an airport in an unfamiliar city or in a country never visited before, thinking before boarding the flight that “it will sort itself out”. And yes, it usually does – but it may come at a price. Taxi services in Stockholm follow strict regulations when it comes to posting typical prices, clearly visible on the passenger doors. But when it comes to fixed rates from Arlanda to the city, things get a bit murkier. More on that later. Read on to learn more about how to travel by taxi from Stockholm-Arlanda Airport and what a typical fare is.
Table of Contents
Top photography courtesy of NCC
Where do I find the taxis?
Stockholm’s international airport Arlanda is not huge. Signage is clear, with directions to the taxi ranks located outside Terminals 2 and 5. The walking distances are relatively short, which means that walking at a leisurely pace from one terminal to the other takes no more than 5–7 minutes or so. Why there isn’t a taxi rank outside every terminal we don’t know, but we’re guessing it’s down to space, traffic flow and the number of passengers.
Top photography courtesy of Unsplash and Fair
Can I get a trusted traditional taxi at Arlanda?
There are a number of traditional taxi companies serving the Stockholm area, such as Taxi Stockholm, Taxi Kurir, Top Cab and app taxis such as Fair Taxi, Uber or Bolt. Only operators approved by the airport authorities are allowed into the aforementioned taxi ranks outside Terminals 2 and 5.
It is important to know that Stockholm’s – and, in fact, all of Sweden’s – taxi services are unregulated when it comes to pricing, meaning that a number of independent taxi companies are available, and fares are set at the operator’s discretion. While not approved by the airport and not allowed at the taxi ranks, they are fully legal and no different to any other taxi – except that they may prey on exhausted passengers just wanting to get to their hotel, and price a ride in their own favour.
Top photography courtesy of Swedavia
What app-based taxis are available?
There are ride-hailing or app-based taxis such as local alternative Fair Taxi, or Uber and Bolt. They are all well-known and trustworthy. In order to use these services, you need to download an app to your smart phone for each of them. For practical reasons, we strongly recommend downloading the apps before you travel! The app will provide clear directions to meet your driver. You will also see the price to your destination in the app, before you approve your ride.
Top photography courtesy of Fair
How do I pay for a taxi from Stockholm Airport?
App-based taxis are paid through their apps via your debit or credit card, so make sure that you have all the settings in order for any taxi app that you might use ahead of your travels. Traditional metered taxis are paid by debit or credit card in the car, at the end of the trip.
Top photography courtesy of Swedavia
Do I tip taxi drivers?
While not obligatory, a tip is always appreciated if you feel that your ride was efficient, safe and the driver helpful. For traditional taxis, just round up the fare to the nearest SEK 20 or 50. App-based taxis can be tipped via the app after the trip.
Top photography courtesy of Fair
How do I avoid being scammed by a taxi driver?
Unless you have pre-booked a traditional taxi, we recommend never accepting a ride with a driver approaching you within the airport terminals. Drivers are not allowed to solicit rides in the terminal and the cost of your taxi ride into town will take a significantly bigger chunk out of your travel budget!
Top photography courtesy of Swedavia
How do I know that my driver is allowed to drive the taxi I’m in?
Every taxi driver must have their personal taxi driver ID clearly displayed at all times. This applies to traditional taxis as well as app-based taxis. No ID on the dashboard? Get another ride! And once again, unless the taxi is parked in the designated and approved taxi ranks just outside terminals 2 and 5, do not get into it.
Top photography courtesy of Swedavia
How much is a taxi ride from Arlanda to Stockholm?
Traditional and airport-approved taxis offer a fixed rate from the airport to central Stockholm. As previously mentioned, approved taxis are found at the taxi ranks outside Terminals 2 and 5. The fixed rate from Arlanda Airport to central Stockholm is up to SEK 800.00 as of 2025.
The rate applies to addresses within Stockholm’s central districts – meaning Vasastan, Östermalm, Norrmalm, Kungsholmen and Södermalm – and will inevitably vary slightly between companies and times.
What are some things to observe when it comes to fixed rates?
Going to other destinations in Stockholm, outside the central districts or into the suburbs, will add to the bill, as these journeys are subject to a metered taxi ride. This means that while you pay the fixed fare of up to SEK 800.00 into Stockholm city centre (the districts mentioned in the previous paragraph), the meter will kick in once you head further, which may increase the price considerably. Use caution and always make sure that you know the approximate price to your final destination before getting into the taxi. This is why we prefer using the app-taxis. We always get the price to our final destination up front in the app.
Top photography courtesy of Fair and Unsplash
How far is it from Stockholm Airport into town?
The distance from Arlanda Airport to Stockholm’s centre is approximately 45 kilometres (28 miles). Depending on traffic, it usually takes 45 minutes to an hour to make the journey. During rush hours, usually between 7:00-9:00 in the morning and 16:00-18:00 in the afternoon, that time may increase significantly.
Top photography courtesy of Swedavia
What do we use when traveling by taxi in Stockholm?
We almost exclusively use one of the app services. Our preferred app taxi service is local operator Fair Taxi. Fair Taxi are a driver and owner operated cooperative which provides better driver terms and compensation without affecting the price of the fare.
While Uber and Bolt are big international operators, they apply surge pricing (higher prices during periods of high demand), which sometimes makes it difficult to predict the cost of a taxi ride.
Top photography courtesy of Fair
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