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The beautiful Swedish capital of Stockholm is the perfect gateway to the Nordic nations. Set on an archipelago, the city has four airports, all with different benefits. Together they serve 30 million+ passengers every year. Here I’ll guide you through exactly which of the Stockholm airports is best for you to fly into and why.
Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN)
Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) is the main airport in Sweden, serving over 21 million passengers per year. It’s also the busiest airport and third largest in all of the Nordic countries – plus, it’s open 24 hours a day.
Location
Stockholm Arlanda airport is just 23 miles north of the city of Stockholm. Since it’s so well connected to the city centre area of the capital, it’s the number one choice for flying if you’re visiting Stockholm. I tend to choose this airport over the others, especially since there’s a short and convenient 18-minute train ride connecting the airport to the city centre – which is faster and easier than taking a car service.
How to get there?
There are various options for getting between the centre of Stockholm and Arlanda. Hopping aboard the Arlanda Express train is the fastest (and greenest) way and takes 18 minutes, connecting Stockholm Central Station to the airport (all terminals). Plus, it’s wonderfully scenic. The train runs all day and departs every 10–15 minutes. So, you could even leave the airport during a layover.
If you prefer to take a bus, you have a few choices, including Flixbus that runs between the airport and the central station. Also, Flygbussarna Airport Coaches run three lines (ending at Stockholm C, Liljeholmen and Brommaplan), but each have multiple stops and take around 50 minutes per journey.
Of course, there are also cabs and car hire services, and the journey north to the airport will take roughly 45 minutes from the city centre.
Terminals
There are four terminals at Stockholm Arlanda Airport with 61 gates.
In between Terminal 4 and 5 is SkyCity, my favourite spot at the airport: this is where all the restaurants, bars and shops are. Terminal 2 includes many international flights, and this is where Air Berlin, Air France, Czech Airlines, easyJet Switzerland, Germanwings, KLM and Niki fly from. Terminal 3 is really just for small, regional flights. Terminal 4 is for Norwegian Air Shuttle and the local main hub for Scandinavian Airlines. Terminal 5 services the bulk of international airlines.
One of my favourite business lounges on the planet is here, the American Express Lounge by Pontus Frithiof (for Centurion or Platinum members and their guests). It’s more focused on food than lounging and offers healthy Scandi flavours that I love to explore, as they often open new restaurants and bars.
Other amenities
Although Arlanda is a big airport, everything is under 10 minutes’ walk away. It’s laid out in a helpfully easy to navigate way and has a relaxed atmosphere, featuring Scandi design and soft wooden accents throughout.
You can use the Swedavia app to get the latest information about flight departures and arrivals, as well as check out the lengths of the security lines. It’s a well-organised airport that I’ve used multiple times, but the lines here can get long during peak times and holidays. So, even though it flows better than most airports, it’s good to arrive within plenty of time to make sure you’re not rushed. They’ve also recently added the latest security controls, where you can now leave your electronics inside your bag.
During my last layover here, I had a fantastic haircut at Flygfrisören in SkyCity and picked up some classic extra salty liquorice at Lakritsroten.
Bromma Stockholm Airport (BMA)
Bromma Airport (BMA) serves mainly domestic flights, as well as private aircrafts.
Location
Bromma is just 4.6 miles from the city centre, so there isn’t a more convenient airport in Stockholm. I’ve used this tiny airport for connecting to small hop flights around Sweden, using Braathens Regional Airlines and Nyxair. You can also fly from here to get to Helsinki with Finnair. But there are very few flights per day, so it might not suit everyone’s needs.
How to get there?
The fastest way to get to Bromma is to take a cab or rideshare. It will take you less than 10 minutes from Stockholm city centre, since it’s less than five miles away. You might think it’s close enough to walk, but it’s not actually connected in a way that allows travelling there on foot.
There’s also a rather convenient tram called Tvärbanan that goes to and from Stockholm Bromma Airport. Simply take tram line 31, which you’ll find right outside the terminal building. The tram stops at Alvik on the western side of the city – you can take a metro or train (they call it the SL) to get around town from here.
Terminals
The airport has just one building, where you’ll find both departures and arrivals. It’s well equipped with one small business lounge, a few restaurants and bars, and a place to hire cars. There’s also just one security area, and since the airport is so tiny, I find that the line goes very fast.
Other amenities
Be warned that after security there’s not much to do here – the little coffee spot, Deli Flight Bar by Akkurat, is the main highlight for me. Since the airport is small, I don’t rush to get here with too much time to spare. I’d rather spend longer in the centre of Stockholm, exploring all its delights.
Stockholm Skavsta Airport (NYO)
Served mostly by low-cost airlines, Skavsta Airport (NYO) is the fifth largest airport in Sweden and is capable of handling three million passengers a year.
Location
Although it’s called Stockholm Skavsta, this airport is actually 62 miles away from the Swedish capital. It’s used mostly by Norwegian Air Shuttle and WizzAir for a few European flights, plus a handful of seasonal routes like Skopje and Mallorca.
How to get there?
The most convenient way to travel to and from this airport is to grab a cab – if you’re landing here, you’ll find them right at arrivals. But travelling by bus is another popular option, especially if you’re coming from places other than Stockholm. Flixbus has various options that can easily be booked on their website and the ride takes just over an hour to Stockholm. There are also the Flygbussarna Airport Coaches, which have two routes: Skavsta – Stockholm Cityterminalen and Skavsta – Norrköping – Linköping.
You’ll also find a local train station in Nyköping, which is just over four miles away from the airport. You’ll have to take a taxi or Sörmlandstrafiken´s bus no. 515 to or from the train station. From here you can travel across Sweden and to other international destinations (with connections).
Terminals
There’s just one main passenger terminal at Skavsta, and it services domestic and international destinations. This is not a 24-hour airport and mainly operates only when flights are scheduled. Due to the location, it’s also a heavy weather-dependent airport, which is worth bearing in mind before travelling.
Other amenities
The airport has a few restaurants and bars, plus one business lounge, but they’re all rather small. After exploring northern parts of Sweden, I used this easy airport to get to Poland, where I was travelling next. While there, I used their lockers to leave my larger bags. It’s very convenient as the terminal is easy to navigate and takes just minutes to walk around.
Stockholm Västerås Airport (VST)
Stockholm Västerås Airport is a fairly minor airport in Sweden that’s also known as Hässlö Flygplats. It has just 100,000 passengers coming through each year.
Location
Located about 70 miles west of Stockholm, this tiny airport is pretty much only serviced by Ryanair. They operate flights to Stansted airport just outside of London, as well as a few seasonal routes to Spain.
How to get there?
There are airport buses and coaches that run from Stockholm Central that take around 80 minutes to reach the airport. This is definitely the easiest way to get to Västerås, and they run every few minutes while the airport is open. The SJ train also runs from Stockholm Central and takes 60 minutes with various stops, but you’ll still need to take another bus (number 3) from Västerås Central to the airport terminal.
Travelling by cab is also an option, but due to the distance it will be significantly more expensive. If you plan to explore Sweden, I’d recommend hiring a car; last time I did that I was able to hand it in and hop on a flight back to London straight afterwards. The process was very easy, with the car hire companies located right at the terminal.
Terminals
There’s only one small terminal at Västerås. Note that the terminal only opens about three hours before a departing flight.
Other amenities
There is a little cafe and newsstand before security and after security you’ll find a small cafe. The airport charges for Wi-Fi and doesn’t have many other facilities.
Best Stockholm airports to fly from and into and why
If you’re wondering how to decide which of these four airports to go for, this should make things easier for you:
| Arlanda | Bromma | Skavsta | Västerås | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance to city centre | 23 miles | 4.6 miles | 62 miles | 70 miles |
| Ease for connecting to Stockholm | 18-minute train ride | Five-minute car ride | One-hour bus ride | 80-minute bus ride |
| Flights and airlines available | Most international and domestic airlines, including SAS hub | Mostly regional, but also Finnair to Helsinki | Mostly low-cost airlines across Europe | Only Ryanair and mostly to London Stansted |
| Shopping and dining | An array of options to suit every need (including dietary restrictions) | Minimal with just a few options for snacks or meals | Few dining facilities and no shopping options | Very few dining options and no shopping |
| Other factors to think about | Hotels at the airport in case of delays and cancellations | Fastest way to get to your gate, as the airport is streamlined | Perfect if you’re in the north of the country | Great if you just need to go to London and you’re coming from outside of Stockholm |
Before closing
If you need more information about Stockholm or booking flights, KAYAK has got you covered. Also, before you travel to Stockholm’s airports, check out the handy airport guide, which is filled with plenty of expert tips.
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