Stockholm Subway System = Cool

Kungsträdgården

The Stockholm Subway System (tunnelbanan) is easy to navigate, convenient and efficient. And now it can add a new adjective to the list: cool! The website thecoolest.com has listed the world's ten coolest subway systems (<- great pictures on the website) and Stockholm is on the list along with other cities like Paris, Moscow, Pyongyang and Montreal. As I have blogged before, the Stockholm subway has been called the world's longest art gallery with some stations more "designed" than others. Some of my favorite stations are on the blue line: Rådhuset and Kungsträdgården.
While it is easy to walk about central Stockholm, don't be afraid to use the subway! It is quite easy to figure out with only three lines (red, green and blue). Subway stations are spread throughout the city and easy to spot... just look for the sign with the white circle and blue T. When buying tickets, it is important to consider how much/often you will be traveling. It is more economical to buy a ticket strip or day pass (available for one or three day periods) than a one time ticket. Combining subway travel with buses is simple as the tickets and passes can used for both! Some commuter boats can be used with the day passes (not one time tickets or strips). It is easiest to buy tickets at the Pressbyrån kiosks located at or near subway stations. There you can use either cash or a credit card. All travel on subways, commuter trains, buses and certain boats is included in the Stockholm Card.

The closest subway station to the Rival Hotel is Mariatorget (red line), just a 2-3 minute walk from the hotel. To give you an example of how convenient the subway is... a trip from Mariatorget to Östermalmstorg, on the other side of the city, just takes 10 minutes with the subway.

Travel Advisory- Subways This Summer

http://www.sl.se/

Stockholm is in the process of building a new commuter train line, running north-south, called Citybanan. It will run under Stockholm City through a 6 kilometer long tunnel that is being built right now. Because of this ongoing construction, the subway's blue line between Kungsträdgården and Rådhuset will be closed between June 20th and October 19th.
As a guest of the Rival Hotel, this shouldn't disturb your travel plans too much as the hotel is on the red line. However, as I have blogged before, there is some great art in the Stockholm Metro system... and two of the "prettiest" subway stations will be closed during this time.

Stockholm Subway Art

The Stockholm subway system has been called the world's longest art exhibition. As a Stockholmer, I appreciate the art... gives you something to look at as you wait for your subway! Each station is different (some better than others) and the art is in the form of sculptures, reliefs, painted walls/ceilings, poetry and other forms. Some of my personal favorites are on the blue line, like Kungsträdgården (all pictures here) and Rådhuset. The company that runs the subways and buses, and is responsible for the art, is called SL and they have a great brochure about the art available in pdf-form. SL also offers guided tours of the subway art- year round in Swedish and in English during the summer. For more information contact SL at konstguide@gmail.com or visit a SL Center located at the T-Centalen, Slussen (10 minute walk from the Rival Hotel) or Fridhemsplan subway stations. But a guide isn't necessary if you want to keep it simple... just keep your eyes open while traveling the Stockholm subways!

Click here for information about public transportation in Stockholm!

Tip #8 - Public Transportation

Stockholm has an excellent public transportation system. One company, called SL (Storstockholms Lokaltrafik), runs all buses, subways, trams and commuter trains. Some boats can be travelled on using certain SL tickets... more about that later. This means that travelling through Stockholm is quite easy.

• The subway is very easy to understand, especially compared to the systems in larger cities like Paris, London & New York. There are three lines (blue, red and green) that cross the city like a starfish, all meeting under the Central Train Station.
• Buses travel all over the city and can take you quite far out into the countryside... there are 4 cross-town buses (1, 2, 3 & 4) which are easy to spot as they are blue instead of red.
• There is also a commuter train network (called "pendeltåg") if you are planning to travel to the outskirts of Stockholm or to get to the International Fair at Älvsjö. There are several trams and street car lines included in SL tickets. The ones that are important (from a tourist standpoint) is the line running out to Saltsjöbaden, a popular seaside resort, and the one connecting the Ropsten subway station to the island of Lidingö... where you can find the seaside town of Gåshaga as well as the sculpture garden at Millesgården. Finally you have an old fashioned street car travelling between the island of Djurgården and the NK department store.
• SL tickets/cards work on the two ferries going out to the island of Djurgården as well... though not one-time tickets.

Ticket prices- one time tickets cost 40 SEK if you buy them at the turnstyle, 30 SEK if you buy them at an SL center or in a kiosk, like Pressbyrån. More economical choices are the 24 hour pass (100 SEK), 72 hour pass (200 SEK) and 7 day pass (260 SEK). Prices are reduced for youth (20yrs and under) and seniors (65yrs and over). These passes can be purchased at an SL Center or a Pressbyrån kiosk. Click here for the entire price list. The most convinient SL Centers are located in the Central train station and the Slussen subway station. Be aware that bus tickets can not be purchased on the bus!
The Stockholm Card works on all public transportation run by SL. They can be purchased at a tourist information center or a SL Center. Some hotels do sell them as well.