Stockholm Layover Guide: How to Do it in 8 Hours

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Stockholm is easily accessible from Arlanda Airport with a high-speed train so with an 8-hour layover, I had enough time to venture into the city. The Old Town is charming, the food is fantastic, it has unique museums, and it’s a very walkable city. Given that Sweden has a reputation for being expensive, it was also an opportunity to visit Stockholm without spending too much cash.

With the train getting you to the center of Stockholm in less than 20 minutes, it is the perfect city for a few hours of exploring. This guide has everything you need to plan your perfect layover in Stockholm to get a little taste of Sweden.

The Logistics of a Stockholm Layover

In Stockholm, I had 8 hours between flights. My flight arrived to Stockholm Arlanda Airport at 8 am. Being there early was great though as I got to beat the crowds. With an 8-hour layover in Stockholm, I had 4.5-5 hours in the city. Give yourself at least 1.5 hours at the airport to get your flight in case your gate is a far walk, mine was quite far.

My luggage was checked through to my final destination so I only had to deal with carry-on luggage. Luckily the Arlanda Airport has luggage lockers near where the train departs so you can easily stow any larger carry-on luggage while you explore Stockholm.

How to Get from Stockholm Arlanda Airport to Sightseeing in Stockholm

Train to Take from Arlanda Airport to Stockholm Center

The Arlanda Express is the train you want to take from the Arlanda Airport to the Stockholm Central Station as it is about half the time as a regional train. At only 18 minutes between the Airport and Stockholm, the express train is your best bet for a short layover. It runs every 15 minutes. It is more expensive than the regional trains but it is my recommendation for a short layover. The train also has free Wi-Fi.

If you would like to save some money, there are buses and regional trains. The Uppsala line train (Line 40) runs twice an hour and will get you to Stockholm in 43 minutes. It’s about half the price for the regional train as the Arlanda Express but it does end up costing you an extra 50 minutes of valuable layover time.

In addition to trains, there are also buses with Flygbussarna Airport Coaches, but I don’t recommend this as the buses take 48 minutes each way so it’s not ideal for a short layover in Stockholm.

Navigating to Arlanda Airport Train Station

Getting to the train station at Arlanda Station is very simple. The airport is well signposted so follow the signs to the Arlanda Express and you will find yourself at the train station. You do have to go down an escalator to get to the station. There are stops for the Arlanda Express in both Arlanda South (Terminal 2, 3, 4) and Arlanda North (Terminal 5) so you don’t need to walk too far.

If you choose to take regional trains instead of the express, the trains leave from a different location. For commuter trains, head to Arlanda Central Station in Sky City between Terminals 4 and 5.

Buying a Train Ticket from Arlanda Airport to Stockholm Central Station

You can either buy your ticket in advance for the Arlanda Express so you have one less hassle at the airport or you can purchase at the airport. To purchase the ticket at the airport, you will find info booths near the luggage belts that sell the tickets. There are also ticket machines on the platforms for the Arlanda Express. A roundtrip ticket for an adult is 600 SEK (approximately 50 euros).

The easiest way to purchase a ticket for the regional train is to buy one at the service desk in Arlanda Station. You must buy the regular ticket plus Arlanda passage as the airport has an extra supplemental fee. You can find current ticket prices here.

Leaving Luggage at the Stockholm Arlanda Airport

Whether you have to pick up your luggage and store it or just have hand luggage you don’t want to take with you into Stockholm, the airport has you covered. There are luggage lockers that accommodate everything from large suitcases to small purses. You can find the luggage lockers in Terminals 2, 4, and 5. Follow the signs for “left luggage” and you will find the storage. It’s self-serve lockers so you can just pay with a credit card and pick up when you return for your flight. I stored luggage for 100SEK (8-9 euros).

What to Do in Stockholm on an 8-Hour Layover

If you are visiting Stockholm during the morning or afternoon there are some short tours you can join to learn more about the city. The Old Town Walking Tour is 2 hours and has departures from 10 am-6 pm. It’s a great way to learn the history of Stockholm. To see the city from the water, this Amphibious Bus Tour will give you great views of Stockholm and is only 1 hour long with departures between 11 am to 3:30 pm.

To save on walking or during bad weather, the hop-on hop-off bus stops right outside the Central Train Station and goes to the Old Town as well as the Vasa Museum and Royal Palace.

Wander the Streets of the Gamla Stan

The walk from Stockholm Central Train Station to the Old Town (Gamla Stan) takes about 20 minutes. I recommend heading here first as if you arrive early, you will get the place to yourself. Most things don’t open until 10 am but there is something magical about wandering the streets of Old Town Stockholm with few other people. Stop at a cafe along the way to grab a coffee to go to take with you on your way around the town.

The Gamla Stan is quite small and easy to explore on foot. There are so many adorable streets with colourful buildings in this medieval old town. Make sure you check out the Stortorget (big square), the oldest square in Stockholm.

Check Out the Royal Palace

Just like the United Kingdom, Sweden has a royal family. The Stockholm Palace is the official residence of the Swedish monarch. Built in the Baroque architectural style, the palace is worth stopping to take a look. You can also spot the royal guard outside of the palace.

If you are interested, most of the Royal Palace is open to the public and you can tour the treasury, apartments and museum. On a short layover in Stockholm, I was content to just see the guards and outside of the palace.

Admire the Storkyrkan (Stockholm Cathedral)

The Storkyrkan is Stockholm’s oldest church, built sometime in the late 1200s. The cathedral sits on Gamla Stan’s highest point and is right next to the Royal Palace. Head inside and you will be able to see a statue depicting the myth of St. George and the Dragon, the classic hero saves the princess and slays the dragon story. The statue dates from the 1400s and is an interesting piece of medieval art.

Visit the Vasa Museum or Nobel Prize Museum

Stockholm has some really great museums. I recommend heading out of the Old Town to the nearby Vasa Museum. It’s one of the most visited museums in Sweden.

The Vasa Museum is unique as you will find the almost complete Vasa ship that sunk on its maiden voyage in 1628. This is the only place you can see a salvaged 17th-century ship in the world. There are also lots of interesting archeological finds and even facial reconstructions of skulls found in shipwrecks. It’s unlike any museum I’ve been to and it was a highlight of Stockholm for me. Either make the 35-minute walk between the Vasa Museum and Old Town or catch the hop-on hop-off bus. The walk is quite pleasant and is a nice opportunity to sightsee. The Vasa Museum is open daily, you can find opening hours here.

If the ship museum isn’t for you, the Old Town is home to the Nobel Prize Museum where you can check out past prize winners and see what exhibits are on. Unfortunately for most of the year it is closed on Mondays and opening hours are a bit shorter.

Stop for a Bite to Eat

Stockholm is known for its charming cafes with delicious pastries and of course, meatballs with lingonberries. It would be a shame to be in Stockholm and not sample some of the food. If you only have time for something small, make it a cinnamon bun as they originate from Sweden but are a bit different than the ones you might be used to in North America.

There are plenty of cafes to choose from while walking the Gamla Stan (Old Town). I tried Espresso House because it looked inviting and the coffee and pastries were delicious. It is a chain but it was new to me. For a nice lunch or dinner, check out Fika and Wine which has all the pastries, meatballs, herring, and traditional Swedish dishes you could desire.

Shop for Swedish Candy

When it comes to candy, Sweden knows what it’s doing. You can pop into almost any corner store and grab some candy here but it’s also worth checking out a couple of specialty shops.

One of the things Sweden is known for is its black licorice. Lakritsroten is a licorice store you can find in the train station and in the Old Town. You are spoiled for choices here. A unique candy you can find here is one that boasts to be the World’s saltiest licorice. They also have all other varieties you can think of and probably some you didn’t know existed including chocolate licorice and all sorts of flavours.

If you’re not into licorice, Gamla Stans Polkagriskokeri right in Stockholm’s Old Town sells traditional peppermint sticks, caramels, toffees, and lollipops. The peppermint sticks are especially good and come wrapped in pretty paper so they make great gifts.

Stockholm is Worth the Trip from the Airport

Initially, I was a little bit hesitant about spending so much on the express train from the airport for a few hours but I am so glad that I took the opportunity to explore Stockholm. Wandering the medieval Gamla Stan and spending time in the Vasa Museum was well worth the money and I would happily spend even longer in Stockholm. With an 8-hour layover, I really felt I got to see the highlights of Stockholm. If you have less time, cut out the Vasa Museum and stick to wandering the Gamla Stan.

If you are short on time (less than 6 hours layover), Arlanda Airport does have restaurants and SkyCity. SkyCity is an airport mall where you can do some shopping to find Swedish goodies.

Quick Recap of a Stockholm Layover

Train Cost: Round Trip ~600 SEK (~50 euros)
Train Time from Airport: 18 minutes Train Frequency: Every 15 minutes
Amount of Time Needed Between Flights: 6 hours minimum
Main Sights: Gamla Stan, Cathedral, Royal Palace, Vasa Museum

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