2019:Travel guide

This is a short version. A more comprehensive guide is found at Wikivoyage.

Stockholm is Sweden's capital and largest city, with nearly a million inhabitants in the city proper, and 2.3 million within Stockholm County. The inner city is made up of 14 islands across Lake Mälaren and three streams into the brackish Baltic Sea, with the Stockholm archipelago with some 24,000 islands, islets, and skerries. Over 30% of the city area is made up of waterways, and another 30% is made up of green areas. The air and water are said to be the freshest of any European capital.

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Preparing for your trip

Weather in Stockholm

Average daytime temperatures in August are about 20–25 °C (68–77 °F), though days between 25 °C (77 °F) and 30 °C (86 °F) are relatively common. There is a good chance of sun, though Swedish summers also feature plenty of rain (on about one-third of the days).

Though the summer solstice will have passed almost two months earlier, the sun usually rises at about 4:30 and sets at 21:15.

The tap water is safe to drink

The tap water in Sweden is safe to drink. You can carry a refillable bottle and fill it from the tap in the bathroom at your hotel room, the conference venue or a museum.

Money

Sweden’s currency is the Swedish Crown (SEK, kr). Please consider that you can only pay with SEK in Sweden and that you will have to change money at a Change Office or use a cash machine (Bankomat) to withdraw SEK (the latter is often cheaper). There are currency exchange offices and cashpoints (EC, Visa, MasterCard, Maestro) at Arlanda airport (ARN), Skavsta airport (NYO) and at the Central Station. Cashpoints can also be found all over the city.

Please note that some shops, restaurants and bars only take credit card and do not accept cash. Most Swedes don't use cash on a regular basis; if you've got a credit or debit card that works in Sweden (Visa, MasterCard, Maestro), you don't need to pay by cash unless you prefer to.

Internet access

Free WiFi is common in cafes and restaurants; you may have to ask for a password. See here for more info.

There is also free WiFi on both Flygbussarna and Arlanda Express.

Electricity access

In Sweden plug type F (230V at 50 Hz), also known as a Schuko plug, is used. Please bring your adapter if needed! A corresponding adapter can probably be found at Kjell&Co or Teknikmagasinet located at the Stockholm Central station.

Swedes

Most Swedes speak good English (plus one or two additional languages) and are generally helpful.

Get in

There are several ways to get to Stockholm. It is easily accessible by trains from many destinations, European bus companies such as Flixbus go to Stockholm from many European destinations and there are even several ferries reaching Stockholm from for example Finland, Russia, Estonia and Poland. Participants are, due to environmental reasons, encouraged to choose other alternatives than flights when possible. When flights are the only way possible, participants are encouraged to look for flights with as few changes as possible, in order to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions. If you arrive to Copenhagen, perhaps you can take the train to Stockholm rather than a very short flight?

For specific information on how to get to Stockholm, see below. For more information on how to reach Stockholm in the most environmental friendly way, please see sustainable travelling! Check also Travel Coordination.

Stockholm Central Station, the main train hub of Stockholm.

By train

If you want to go by train to Stockholm, international express trains bring you there from Copenhagen and Oslo. The government-owned train operator SJ (sj.se) runs several times per day between Copenhagen and Stockholm, taking just above 5 hours. Getting by train to Copenhagen is simple from many parts of Western Europe, and you can get to Stockholm from Hamburg or Berlin in less than a day. SJ are also running direct trains between Oslo and Stockholm, but not as often and with slower trains. Until 18 August there is also a thrice-weekly night train from Berlin to Malmö (web page in Swedish), with connection to Stockholm, which maybe interesting to some. Seat61.com provide with plenty of information if you want to take the train.

Important: From 24 June to 18 August, the railway line between Stockholm South (Södra) and Stockholm Central is closed. If you arrive with a train from the south, it will terminate at Stockholm South (Södra) or Flemingsberg station and you will need to take a Pendeltåg commuter train into Stockholm city centre (or Metro Red Line T14 directly to the venue). Some trains might also terminate at Södertalje and it might be necessary to take a replacement coach from Södertalje to Stockholm. (If you use SJ’s night train between Malmö and Stockholm, this train will already be able to go to Stockholm Central station again from 11 August.) More information: SJ website (in Swedish)

Important II: Due to major a fire damage on train tracks in southern Sweden, major disruptions are to be expected in the train traffic from Stockholm towards Malmö and Copenhagen. Consider to take the trains via Gothenburg to Malmö and Copenhagen.

By bus

Flixbus runs several international bus lines per day from Stockholm, and they are often priceworthy, even though the trip itself takes quite a while. Flixbus runs to Stockholm from German cities such as Berlin, Dortmund, Hannover and Köln, from Copenhagen in Denmark and Oslo in Norway. From the bus stops in Germany, bus lines run to many parts of Europe.

By boat

A ferry can take you to Stockholm from Helsinki, Riga, Saint Petersburg, Tallinn and Turku. Ferries from Ventspils and Gdansk also go to Nynäshamn, within commuting distance to Stockholm. You can e.g. travel from Helsinki or Turku with Viking Line or TallinkSilja. And if you are staying a longer time on your travel you might take a cruise to see also Finland, Sweden's neighbour.

By plane

Stockholm is served by several international airports; Stockholm-Arlanda airport (near Sigtuna) being the dominant one. Stockholm-Arlanda and Bromma Airport are both convenient for getting into Stockholm. Budget airlines fly to Skavsta and Västerås, but visitors should note that they are situated quite far from the city. Arlanda Airport (ARN) 40 km north of the city is Sweden's largest airport and the destination for most flights to Sweden. It consists of four terminals under the same roof. There are several means of travelling between Stockholm and Arlanda. Bromma Airport (BMA) is a smaller airport 8 km west of central Stockholm, mainly used for domestic flights, but also Copenhagen, Aarhus, Oslo, Skien, Tallinn and Brussels. Stockholm-Skavsta (NYO) is 100 km (62 mi) southwest of Stockholm, at the outskirts of Nyköping, making this airport's branded name "Stockholm-Skavsta" rather far-fetched. The airport is mostly used by Ryanair and Wizzair, with flights from cities such as Belgrade, Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Dublin, Edinburgh, London, Madrid, Rome, Tallinn, Vilnius, and Warsaw. Västerås Airport, finally, the furthest away, is 100 km west of Stockholm, and serves Ryanair flights to/from London (Stansted).

How to get around

Public transport

The fastest way of getting around Stockholm is the Stockholm metro. For public transport you have to make sure you have a valid ticket before boarding a bus or metro. The conference venue at the Stockholm University is reached by taking the Red Line T14 towards Mörby Centrum and get off at the stop Universitetet. Note that the Red Line splits and that the Red Line T13 going towards Ropsten does not reach the university.

Tickets can be bought using the app (SL-biljetter, at Google Play or App Store) or as one of the several pre-paid SL cards Visitor Cards / Travelcards (info in English) at Pressbyrån or at the SL-center at the central station.

Travelcard vs pay per ride

The pay-per-ride rate for the Stockholm metro is 45 SEK, though there is a Travelcard for unlimited rides for 7 days at 335 SEK (+20 SEK for the physical card). This a better deal for those who are attending at least three days of the conference (like the preconference or learning days). In addition to daily round trips between the hotels to the conference at the university, there is also a closing party at the Nordic Museum which will require metro fares. (NB: These are rates for those between 20 and 64 years old. The rates are lower for those outside that range as well as for students.)

Airport transfer

These are the ways we suggest you travel from the airport. See Wikivoyage:Stockholm#Get in for more info.

To get from Arlanda Airport to central Stockholm you can either use Arlanda Express (fast and a bit pricey train), Flygbussarna (ordinary transfer bus) or taxi (make sure to use the fixed price).

Arlanda Express

Departs from both terminals 5 and 4, and takes 20 minutes to get to the central station. Buy tickets in the machines at the platform, or download the app (Arlanda Express) and buy tickets there. The ticket (single journey, for ages 26+) is 295 SEK. Pre-book by a week early online, and save 100 SEK on each journey, making a single 185 SEK.

Flygbussarna

Departs outside terminals 5 and 4, and takes about 45 minutes to get to the central station. Buy tickets in the machines outside the terminals or on the bus (credit card only) or download the app (Flygbussarna, at Google Play or App Store) and buy tickets there. The ticket (including return ticket) is 198 SEK.

Taxi

Major taxi companies operate on a fixed price basis between Arlanda and central Stockholm. Prices at the taxi stands range from 450 SEK to 520 SEK. Generally, you can freely choose among the waiting taxis, or ask the operator for a specific company. Beware of the smaller, expensive, taxi companies.

Each taxi has a yellow and white price tag (per 10 km and 15 minutes) on the right rear window; try to choose cabs where the price is no more than 350 kr. A taxi ride from Arlanda to the Central Station takes approximately 40 minutes.

Accommodation

There are a lot of hotels and hostels in central Stockholm – actually more than 8,500 hotel rooms within a ten minute walk of the Central Station – but the price may vary a lot. Do you want somewhere to stay, but don't quite know where to look? No worries, we are here to help you.

For the attendees travelling to Stockholm, we have secured a block of rooms to special discounted accommodation rates at the Comfort Hotel Xpress Stockholm Central. These rooms are open for all Wikimedians, but the amount is limited, so we advise you to book as early as possible. Deadline to book rooms and as they are available: July 13, 2019. Rooms are limited so don’t delay. For more information, see the accommodation page.

WMF staff and scholarship recipients will stay at another hotel closeby, at Clarion Hotel Amaranten at the island of Kungsholmen, to which it takes about 8 minutes to walk from the main hotel (the walk in images). Both are also situated closely to metro stations on the same line. Attendees who wish to find their own accommodation are advised to look in the vicinity of the two other hotels. Further tips may be found on the accommodation page.

Conference venue

A map of the conference buildings and rooms. Observe that South is upwards, North is downwards on the map, contraty to normal map orientation. You will normally arrive at the subway station "Universitetet" with only one exit, marked T on the map. Click to enlarge.

Wikimania 2019 will take place in the Aula magna at Stockholm University (geo:59.36394,18.05659).

History

The university was founded in 1878 as a college, but was recognized as a university in 1960. Today it has over 34,000 students. Altogether, it is one of the largest universities in Scandinavia.

The main part of the university lies in the Frescati area, and is located in the first national urban park in the world. The area has lot of nature, and is characterized by its architecture and modern art.

Getting to the conference venue

It is easy to get to the venue with public transport. The main campus Frescati is located closely to the metro station Universitetet, on the red line T14 of the Stockholm Metro going to Mörby centrum.

SL buses 40, 70, 540, 608 and 670 can also be used to get to the campus. The bus stop is called Universitetet and is located adjacent to the metro station.

Getting around the conference venue

A map is prepared (see to the right) to make it easier for you to find your way around the venue. We are putting up signage to guide attendees, and the people working at Seven Eleven and Pressbyrån when you get up from the Metro are happy to answer your questions!

Places to visit

Like every European city, Stockholm also has its own Old Town. The main tourist attraction of Stockholm, Gamla Stan, the Old Town of Stockholm is the perfect place to start from as far as your Stockholm tourist itinerary is concerned. The metro station 'Gamla Stan' is conveniently located to give you access to the various sights, this place has to offer, all within a walking distance. Colourful buildings and cobbled streets, this is a different world altogether when compared to the rest of Stockholm. The main square houses the Nobel Museum. The Stockholm Palace, Stockholm Cathedral, Riddarholmen Church and The German Church are few of of the attractions here. Some of them might require an entry fee. Do check it on their websites. Also, look around and you may find the smallest monument in Stockholm, the Iron Boy or the narrowest alley Mårten Trotzigs gränd. In case you wish to take back some memory back home, do stop by at the numerous souvenir shops here. The red Dala Horse might impress you. If you are hungry after all this walk, take a Fika or gorge on the famous Swedish Meatballs in any of the artistically decorated roadside cafes.

The city in its entirety can be viewed from viewpoints like Katarinavägen or Skinnarviksberget, the highest natural point in Stockholm. Take special note of the Stockholm City Hall from here, the site of the annual Nobel Banquet and also the venue of the Wikimania welcome reception. In order to get a glimpse of 19th century Sweden, you can visit Skansen, an open-air museum on nearby island Djurgården. In the same island, you will find the interesting Vasa Museum and the amusement park Gröna Lund. The island is accessible by the SL ferry. However, the attractions themselves have an entry fee. And if you truly want to experience Sweden’s natural beauty, do take a trip to one of the many islands of Stockholm archipelago. Waxholmsbolaget is the boat service for travelling to different islands. This is not covered in SL and you will have to buy separate tickets for this. In case you are looking for a free option, the island Vaxholm is accessible by SL bus.

Finally, near the destination of the Wikimania 2019 conference, Stockholm University, you can make a stop at the Naturhistoriska riksmuseet, the natural history museum of Sweden, only 750 m from the university. The entrance to this is free.

Important phone numbers

Police/Fire/Ambulance, Emergency : 112
Police, Non emergency: 114 14
Medical information, Non emergency: 1177
International calling code for Sweden: +46

Taxi

Taxi Stockholm: +46 (0)8 150 000

Important addresses

Wikimedia Sverige

Hammarby Kaj 10D
SE-120 32 Stockholm
Nearest metro station: Gullmarsplan (Green Line T17, T18, T19)
Nearest tram station: Mårtensdal

Stockholm University

Frescativägen 6
SE-114 18 Stockholm
Nearest metro station: Universitetet (Red Line T14)

Comfort Hotel Xpress Stockholm Central

Kungsbron 1
SE-111 22 Stockholm
Nearest metro station: T-centralen (Red, Green and Blue Line T10-19)
Nearest train station: Stockholm Centralstation

Clarion Hotel Amaranten

Kungsholmsgatan 31
SE-112 27 Stockholm
Nearest metro station: Rådhuset (Blue Line T10, T11)

Useful Swedish phrases

Please see the Wikivoyage Swedish phrasebook for more information

Hello! Good morning! Good day/afternoon! Good evening! Cheers! Bless you! See you later! See you tomorrow! Bye! Yes No I like you/that. I’m tired. I’m fine. Thank you Please / You’re welcome Excuse me / Sorry Help! How can I go to... I’m looking for... I’d like to have...	Hej! God morgon! God dag! God kväll! Skål! Prosit! Vi ses! Vi ses imorgon! Hejdå! Ja Nej Jag gillar dig/det. Jag är trött. Jag är nöjd. Tack [Not applicable] / Var så god Ursäkta mig / Förlåt Hjälp! Hur kommer jag till... Jag letar efter... Jag vill ha...

Useful links

Notes

This page incorporates text from the English Wikivoyage article Stockholm, see which for attribution.