Arrival & Transport
By Plane
Sweden has a dense flight network — the distances from Malmö to Kiruna (1,600 km) make domestic flights sensible. There are numerous direct connections from Germany.
The Main Airports
| Airport | Code | Region | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stockholm Arlanda | ARN | Stockholm | Arlanda Express to the city (20 Min., 299 SEK / 26 €) or Flygbussarna (45 Min., 119 SEK / 10 €) |
| Stockholm Skavsta | NYO | Södermanland | Ryanair hub. Flygbussarna to Stockholm (80 Min., 169 SEK / 15 €) — far away! |
| Gothenburg Landvetter | GOT | Västergötland | Flygbussarna to the center (30 Min., 119 SEK / 10 €) |
| Malmö Sturup | MMX | Skåne | Flygbussarna to Malmö (40 Min., 119 SEK / 10 €) |
| Copenhagen Kastrup | CPH | Denmark/Skåne | Öresundståg to Malmö (35 Min., approx. 130 SEK / 11 €) — often cheaper than Malmö Sturup! |
| Kiruna | KRN | Lapland | Airport bus to the center (10 Min., 100 SEK / 9 €) |
| Luleå | LLA | Norrbotten | Airport bus to the center (15 Min., 80 SEK / 7 €) |
Airlines from Germany
SAS, Eurowings, Lufthansa, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Norwegian fly from many German airports to Sweden. SAS operates the largest domestic network. For Lapland (Kiruna, Luleå, Gällivare), flights are usually via Stockholm Arlanda.
Flight Prices (Guidelines, Round Trip from Germany)
| Destination | Low Season | High Season |
|---|---|---|
| Stockholm | 50–120 € | 150–350 € |
| Gothenburg | 60–150 € | 150–350 € |
| Malmö (via Copenhagen) | 40–100 € | 120–300 € |
| Kiruna (via Stockholm) | 150–300 € | 250–500 € |
Tipp
For Malmö and southern Sweden, Copenhagen-Kastrup Airport is often a better choice than Malmö Sturup — more connections, cheaper prices, and only 35 minutes by train over the Öresund Bridge to Malmö. Stockholm Skavsta (Ryanair) is 100 km southwest — the transfer takes 80 minutes.
By Train
Sweden has an excellent train network — and one of the most beautiful train routes in Europe. The state railway company SJ (Statens Järnvägar) operates the long-distance trains, supplemented by regional trains like Öresundståg (south) and Norrtåg (north).
Arrival from Germany by Train
The most popular route: Hamburg → Copenhagen → Malmö. The IC/EC train travels from Hamburg via the Vogelfluglinie (Puttgarden–Rødby ferry) to Copenhagen, then continues with the Öresundståg over the Öresund Bridge to Malmö. Total time: approx. 5–6 hours. Alternatively, via the Storebælt Bridge without a ferry crossing.
The Main Train Routes
| Route | Route | Duration | Price (from) | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SJ Snabbtåg | Stockholm → Gothenburg | 3h | 195 SEK (17 €) | Sweden's busiest route, up to 200 km/h |
| SJ Snabbtåg | Stockholm → Malmö | 4h 30 | 295 SEK (26 €) | Through Småland and Skåne |
| Öresundståg | Copenhagen → Malmö | 35 Min. | 130 SEK (11 €) | Over the Öresund Bridge — spectacular! |
| Inlandsbanan | Kristinehamn → Gällivare | 2 Days | from 1,495 SEK (130 €) | 1,300 km through Sweden's wilderness — moose, bears, solitude |
| Norrtåg | Stockholm → Narvik (Norway) | 18h | from 395 SEK (34 €) | Night train through Lapland, past Kiruna |
Tips for Train Travel
- Early Bookers: SJ tickets are cheapest up to 90 days in advance (Stockholm–Gothenburg from 195 SEK instead of 855 SEK)
- SJ Prio: Loyalty program with points and upgrades — register for free
- Inlandsbanan: The "forgotten" railway line through Sweden's inland from Värmland to Lapland — an adventure for train fans, in summer as a tourist train
- Night Trains: SJ offers night trains from Stockholm to Narvik, Kiruna, Luleå, and Abisko — sleeping cars and couchettes from approx. 500 SEK
Tipp
The Inlandsbanan is one of the last great train adventures in Europe: 1,300 kilometers through the Swedish wilderness, from the forests of Värmland over the fjälls of Jämtland to the arctic tundra of Lapland. In summer, the train might even stop for a moose on the tracks.
The Öresund Bridge
The Öresund Bridge (Öresundsbron) has connected Malmö with Copenhagen since 2000 — one of the most impressive bridge constructions in the world. The total length is 16 kilometers: 8 km bridge, 4 km tunnel, and the artificial island Peberholm in between.
Crossing by Car
| Vehicle | Price (Single Trip) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Car | approx. 550 SEK (48 €) | With BroPas subscription approx. 260 SEK (23 €) |
| Motorcycle | approx. 290 SEK (25 €) | — |
| Motorhome (> 6 m) | approx. 1,100 SEK (96 €) | Larger vehicles more expensive |
Crossing by Train
The Öresundståg runs every 20 minutes between Copenhagen Central Station and Malmö Central (35 minutes, approx. 130 SEK / 11 €). The journey over the bridge and through the tunnel is an experience — especially in clear weather with views of both countries' coasts.
For fans of the series "The Bridge" (Bron/Broen): The Öresund Bridge became world-famous through the Swedish-Danish crime series. The parking lot on the Danish side, where the body was found, really exists — but please do not stop.
Tipp
Those driving to southern Sweden can save almost 50% on the bridge toll with the BroPas contract. Alternative to the bridge: The ferries Rostock–Trelleborg or Travemünde–Malmö — often cheaper and more relaxing with a motorhome.
Ferries
Sweden is accessible by ferry from several German and Danish ports — especially for travelers with a car or motorhome, a relaxing alternative to flying.
Ferry Connections from Germany
| Route | Shipping Company | Duration | Price (Car + 2 Pers., from) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travemünde → Trelleborg | TT-Line | 7–9 hrs. | from 130 € |
| Travemünde → Malmö | Finnlines | 9 hrs. | from 140 € |
| Rostock → Trelleborg | Stena Line / TT-Line | 6–7 hrs. | from 120 € |
| Kiel → Gothenburg | Stena Line | 14.5 hrs. (night ferry) | from 200 € |
| Sassnitz → Trelleborg | FRS Baltic | 4 hrs. | from 80 € |
Intra-Swedish Ferries
- Gotlandsbåten / Destination Gotland: Nynäshamn/Oskarshamn → Visby (Gotland). 3–4 hours, from 250 SEK (22 €) per person.
- Waxholmsbolaget: Stockholm's archipelago — the public ferry network to the 30,000 islands. Day ticket from 180 SEK (16 €).
- Öland: The island is connected by a bridge (Ölandsbron, 6 km) — no ferry needed.
Rental Cars & Roads
Sweden has an excellent road network, moderate distances in the south, and — away from the E-roads — wonderfully empty country roads. A rental car is particularly worthwhile in Småland, on Öland, and in Lapland.
Prices by Season (Small Car)
| Period | SEK/Day | EUR/Day |
|---|---|---|
| Low Season (Oct–Apr) | 300–600 | 26–52 € |
| High Season (Jun–Aug) | 500–1,200 | 43–105 € |
Important Traffic Rules
- Speed Limit: Urban 30–50 km/h, country roads 70–90 km/h, highway (Motorväg) 110–120 km/h. Strictly monitored with fixed cameras (Fartkamera)!
- Lights: Dipped headlights are mandatory even during the day
- Alcohol Limit: 0.2 ‰ — practically zero tolerance
- Winter Tires: Mandatory from December 1 to March 31 (in winter conditions already from October)
- Moose: 5,000–6,000 moose accidents per year! Drive especially carefully at dusk, take moose warning signs seriously
- Toll: No classic toll, but infrastructure charges in Stockholm (Trängselskatt) and Gothenburg. Automatically recorded by camera
Achtung
Swedish fines are high: 20 km/h over the limit costs from 3,000 SEK (260 €). Mobile phone violation: 2,500 SEK (220 €). The fixed camera boxes (Fartkamera) are everywhere — they are announced beforehand, but the photos are crystal clear. Use cruise control!
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