Welcome back to Day 2 of July 2025's UBC. Today we're talking about public transportation in Sweden.
We walked most of Stockholm. The city is compact, beautifully laid out, and designed to reward curious feet. But when we did use public transport be it the metro, a train or a tram, it left an impression. Not because it was flashy or groundbreaking. Because it was calm.
And not just in the logistics. The rides themselves were calm. No one was holding a full-volume conversation on speakerphone. No one was watching videos without headphones. People just… sat. Scrolled quietly. Looked out the window. It was public space treated with a kind of collective respect, and that made all the difference.
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| Photo by Carl Tronders on Unsplash |
The Tunnelbana (Stockholm’s metro) is easy to navigate. A relief if you’ve ever squinted at Paris’s spiderweb of lines or tried to guess which way is “downtown” in New York. Clear signage, simple color coding, and a general absence of chaos made it feel refreshingly intuitive.
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| Photo by Joakim Honkasalo on Unsplash |
Speaking of Paris: Every tourist brochure warns you about pickpockets in the Métro, and with good reason. The cars are crammed full of passengers, you stand shoulder to shoulder and instinctively clutch your handbag tightly to your body. I never had this feeling in Stockholm.
Another thing we loved: no touching germy ticket machines. You simply download the SL app, buy your ticket digitally and scan your phone at the entrance. The same ticket works across all modes of public transport: metro, bus, tram… and even some ferries!
Yes, in true Stockholm fashion, ferries are part of the network. If the most direct route from point A to point B happens to cross water, chances are your SL ticket has you covered. Ferries like the ones between Nybroplan, Djurgården, and Lidingö are fully integrated into the system. Getting around feels seamless and beautiful.
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| Photo by Ugur Tandogan on Pexels |
Many metro stations are unexpectedly beautiful — Stockholm’s underground art gallery is famous for a reason. Over 90 of them are adorned with murals, sculptures, or immersive cave-like walls. They don’t feel like places you rush through. They invite you to pause - even if only for a moment.
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| Photo by Ioannis Ioannidis on Pexels |
We also took the Arlanda Express, the airport train, which glided us into the city center in under 20 minutes. Quiet, comfortable, and efficient, with a price tag to match. Definitely not cheap, but if you’re traveling with heavy bags or a tight schedule, it earns its keep.
Like much in Sweden, public transport seems built on trust, design, and understated efficiency. People wait in orderly lines. Everything runs. It's clean. It’s not dramatic, but it works. And maybe that’s the point.
What’s the most memorable public transport experience you’ve had, and what made it stand out?
I love how calm and thoughtful everything sounds—art in the metro and ferries as part of the commute? That’s dreamy. Thanks for sharing this glimpse of Stockholm!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds so civilized! So relaxing!
ReplyDeleteA calm and quiet train ride? That sounds amazing!
ReplyDeleteTamara, good morning! How wonderful to read about Stockholm today! The transit situation sounds delightful. I do love being around peaceful, quiet people and scenes. A remarkable transportation experience I had was bopping around London on the Underground, as a teen. So delightful! And with its own unique color-coded map! I had the tea towel of the map for many years.
ReplyDeleteWow, a calm, respectful train ride, that sounds incredible. My most memorable public transportation experience came on a VERY crowded NY City subway. I was getting more and more squished against the pole I was holding on to. Eventually, I realized that it didn't feel like it was just the pole pushing against my chest. I looked up and made eye contact with the woman whose hand had somehow wound up between my breasts (over my shirt). We were both horrified and despite the crowd pushed our way away from each other!
ReplyDeleteYour writing is seamless like Sweden's public transport, Tamara. It's nice to know it is quiet and orderly and everyone is respectful. I was told by my Japanese friends when traveling in Japan, that they have a separate train for men at going home from work time. They tend to feel women up and it is easy to do when crowded.
ReplyDeleteThis all sounds wonderful, how fun a relaxing train ride would be.
ReplyDeleteIt does sound peaceful! I would love that. I rode a trolley once in San Francisco - it was summer, and I was about 6 years old. It was pretty exciting!
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