Nordic Countries - ARN to Stockholm: Cab or train?

Coming in on a work trip in two weeks. Is it quicker to take a cab, or train to the city center and then cab? I arrive late (about 930pm) and am heading to the Nobis Hotel.

Cost is not an issue as it's work travel.

cab is quickest, I believe.

One of my most frequent trips to Stockholm involves arrival into ARN and heading into a building along that very square where the hotel is located.

cab is quickest, I believe.

Generally quicker at the time mentioned by the OP, but not quickest necessarily.

A cab cannot get me from ARN to that hotel faster than the fastest time for Arlanda Express+taxi (or even Tunnelbana train) to the property. However, if you just miss the Arlanda Express train, the taxi from ARN to the hotel will indeed generally be at least somewhat quicker.

ok, I will have to check train schedule to lock this down. Thanks for the tip, if I can't make the train I will cab it.

At that time traffic won't be much of an issue, and personally I would take a cab just for simplicity.
If you do take a cab, make sure you use one of the major companies (Taxi Stockholm, Taxi Kurir, Taxi 020) to avoid the risk of being scammed. The majors are parked in the 2 or 3 lanes closest to the curb at the taxi station as you exit the terminal building.
Enjoy your time in Stockholm!

KurtOlsson, do you know if it is a metered fare to the city?

For off-peak times, the Arlanda Express train to the city at most once every 20 minutes -- miss it by a minute and taking an alternative to the train is what I would do.

KurtOlsson, do you know if it is a metered fare to the city?

To ARN, it's generally fixed fare, but it can be metered fare at your choice -- either way get the fixed fare agreed upon before the cab trip starts -- usually it's fixed fare that the majority take for taxi trips to ARN.

From ARN it can be the same way too, so make sure to get an agreement with the taxi driver about the trip being a fixed fare one prior to going in the taxi.

KurtOlsson, do you know if it is a metered fare to the city?

The majors use a fixed rate ARN-downtown or v v. Around 500 SEK, about 80 USD. The price is posted on the side of the car, and it differs only slightly between the companies. As I said, I recommend one of those since it's not unusual for overseas visitors the get charged terrible fares by the smaller taxi operations.

Thanks again everyone for the help

One of my most frequent trips to Stockholm involves arrival into ARN and heading into a building along that very square where the hotel is located.
The McDonald's?

The McDonald's?

:D Been there, but the place more relevant to me is a bit more restricted to the public than that or any other retail establishment around there.

Max across the street is ruled out in the same way.

On this note (similar situation, arriving into ARN ~23:00, business trip), do Stockholm taxis take credit cards, or is there a way to pay at the airport via credit card? Additional complication, as a Yank, I don't have a chip & PIN card, just a magnetic stripe. Thanks!


Looking at the map, it looks like maybe I should just take the Arlanda Express, since I'm headed for the Sheraton, which appears to be less than 5 minutes' walk from the central train station (no major luggage). Does that look right?

do Stockholm taxis take credit cards, or is there a way to pay at the airport via credit card? Additional complication, as a Yank, I don't have a chip & PIN card, just a magnetic stripe.

No problem at all, at least not with the larger companies mentioned above.

Looking at the map, it looks like maybe I should just take the Arlanda Express, since I'm headed for the Sheraton, which appears to be less than 5 minutes' walk from the central train station (no major luggage). Does that look right?

Arlanda Express is fine to get to the Sheraton. Turn right after you exit the station area, cross the street and walk downwards (south) on Vasagatan. Around 5 minutes walk until you reach the waterfront and Sheraton is just on your left.

No problem with foreign CCs in Swedish cabs.

The majors (020, Kurir and Taxi Sthlm) have their own cab ranks/ lanes, and they are marked overhead. When I last checked, 020 was the cheapest by like 20 SEK at 470 SEK. They operate the yellow cabs.

The smaller cab companies share the first lane, which helps them grab unsuspecting tourists who are not used to a free market in taxi fares. There are some small operators that undercut the three majors, but I would advise a visitor not to get involved in that. But you can always negotiate with them.

http://www.taxipriser.se/arlanda.html

So "Blue Cab" may only charge SEK 325 and only SEK 175 for a ride to the airport.

Of the taxis I've taken in Sweden in the bigger cities and towns and some of the smaller ones too, the taxis that take credit cards have no problem processing my regular US bank cards (that have no chips) -- but I use the larger taxi companies around the country.

The advice about smaller taxi companies and independent, licensed taxi operators and agreeing to the fare arrangements prior to taking a trip from ARN into town is well suggested. That said, in all of my taxi taking trips from ARN to central Stockholm, I've only had a couple of incidents where the taxi driver from ARN tried to take me for a sort of ride by charging for luggage or who knows what. [For me that always has been before the ride even started and so things could be worked out based on my comfort level with the situation -- fortunately a possibility since I routinely discuss the fare before such trips.]

I'm not sure why it is the case, but taxi cabs seem to be amongst the least likely of Swedish retail service providers to ask me for ID when doing a signature card transaction.

Took the Arlanda Express, worked beautifully. For the purposes of anyone who finds this thread in a search, it's worth mentioning that the ticket machines in the terminal take only credit cards, and only chip & PIN. If you don't have a chip & PIN credit card, your options are to buy on the train (SEK 50 surcharge) or buy at the tourist office in the terminal.

Took the Arlanda Express, worked beautifully. For the purposes of anyone who finds this thread in a search, it's worth mentioning that the ticket machines in the terminal take only credit cards, and only chip & PIN. If you don't have a chip & PIN credit card, your options are to buy on the train (SEK 50 surcharge) or buy at the tourist office in the terminal.

Don't the machines still take cash? The ones in town still do, but that means having SEK currency in hand. I can usually find an ATM to get cash at ARN on my way just after customs to going toward the Arlanda Express elevators/escalators.

If you don't have a chip & PIN credit card, your options are to buy on the train (SEK 50 surcharge) or buy at the tourist office in the terminal.

I have used my Diners Club numerours times on the ticket machines and it does not have a chip. This was as recent as Nov 30. If I recall correctly, my Austrian AMEX also worked in the past (last time was in February) and it did not have a chip.

I have used my Diners Club numerours times on the ticket machines and it does not have a chip. This was as recent as Nov 30. If I recall correctly, my Austrian AMEX also worked in the past (last time was in February) and it did not have a chip.

Don't the machines still take cash? The ones in town still do, but that means having SEK currency in hand. I can usually find an ATM to get cash at ARN on my way just after customs to going toward the Arlanda Express elevators/escalators.

All the machines (in the airport at least, don't know about the machines in town) are chip & PIN card only; no cash, no swipe cards. It's a recent change, according to the ticket taker on the train. You can pay with cash or a swipe card at the tourist info center in the airport, or on the train (although on the train carries a SEK 50 surcharge).

Yes, correct on all points
:cool: