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How do you pay for public transport in Stockholm?

The ways to pay on the metro, buses and trams and where cash still works.

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Short answer

You can pay for SL in the SL app, with an SL card, by tapping a Visa, Mastercard or American Express card on the reader, or over the counter. Cash works only at ticket offices in the metro, not on buses, commuter boats or other trams. A tap with a bank card buys a single ticket at the adult price.

SL: how to pay Illustration of a metro train, a tram, a city bike and a parking sign on a city street

Why

  1. Most SL tickets are sold in the SL app, and a single ticket can also be bought by tapping a payment card on the reader, according to SL.
  2. A tap with Visa, Mastercard or American Express buys a single ticket, and the reader must light green for the ticket to be valid, according to SL.
  3. You cannot use cash on buses, commuter boats or any other tram or local railway, according to SL.

Details

When you pay with a tapped card, SL totals the single tickets you used after the day ends and charges the amount to your card account. Tickets can also be bought over the counter at several places in Stockholm County, for example from agents such as Pressbyrån. For prices see how to pay for SL in Stockholm, and for stations see train and subway stations in Stockholm.

Tip

Wait for the reader to light green before you walk on, because only a green light means a valid ticket. If you plan to pay with cash, buy the ticket at a metro ticket office before you board a bus.

What may differ

Tapping a bank card always gives the adult price, and the reduced price has to be set on sl.se no later than the day before the trip. Trips to Uppsala, Knivsta and Arlanda need a special ticket.

Common misconception

You can pay with cash on Stockholm buses.

What actually happens

SL says you cannot use cash on buses, and Visit Stockholm also says it is not possible to pay cash for tickets on buses in Stockholm.

People also ask

  • How do I pay for the metro in Stockholm?
  • How do I pay on the tram in Stockholm?
  • Can I pay for SL with a contactless bank card?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check SL before you travel.

SL: how to pay

  • How much does an Uber to or from Arlanda cost?

    Uber publishes no fixed price for Arlanda, because fares depend on ride type, trip length, tolls, city fees and current demand.

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  • How fast does a Voi scooter go?

    A Voi scooter in Sweden is limited to the legal maximum of 20 km/h, and Voi's own pages describe slower speeds in slow zones and in a beginner mode.

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  • Is there Uber on Gotland?

    Yes, Uber lists Gotland among its Swedish locations and says the app can be used there around the clock, although pickup times may be longer than in larger cities.

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  • Is Uber or Bolt cheaper in Stockholm?

    Neither Uber nor Bolt publishes a fixed Stockholm fare, so which is cheaper depends on the trip and the moment, and the app estimates are the way to compare.

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