Overview of Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (ARN)
Stockholm-Arlanda Airport is a major hub in Stockholm, Sweden, and a primary connection point for long-haul and regional traffic. With approximately 219 documented airline-route pairings on file, it links Stockholm to roughly 25 direct destinations across the network. The airport operates on the Europe/Stockholm timezone, which is worth noting if you are arranging a same-day onward connection.
Terminals & layout
Like most airports of its size, Stockholm-Arlanda Airport consolidates check-in, security, and departures along a single landside-to-airside flow. Signage is colour-coded by airline alliance at most major hubs and by carrier at smaller fields. If you are flying with one of the low-cost carriers listed below, double-check the terminal, at multi-terminal airports, low-cost flights often depart from a remote pier with a longer walk and fewer dining options, so allow extra time.
Online check-in for most airlines opens 24 to 48 hours before departure and closes 60 to 90 minutes before takeoff. At Stockholm-Arlanda Airport, plan to arrive at the terminal at least 60–90 minutes before a domestic departure and 2 to 3 hours before any international flight. Bag-drop counters often close earlier than the printed cutoff, especially for low-cost carriers. Being late to bag-drop is the single most common reason budget passengers miss otherwise on-time flights. Pre-print or download your boarding pass before leaving home; some carriers charge a fee for airport-printed boarding passes.
Lounges & airside amenities
Multiple international lounges are typically available, including Priority Pass, Diners Club, and partner-airline lounges. Pay-per-use lounges (like Plaza Premium) often accept walk-ins for around USD 35–55. Most travellers can also access free seating areas, water-bottle refill stations, and at least one quiet zone away from the boarding gates. If you arrive significantly early, scan the terminal map for a chapel or family room, these are often the quietest spots in any airport.
Baggage policy notes
Several low-cost carriers serve this airport, and their baggage rules are stricter than legacy airlines. Most LCCs include only a small under-seat personal item in the base fare; a full overhead-bin cabin bag and any checked luggage cost extra. Pre-pay your bags online. Gate-side excess bag fees are typically two to four times the online price. If you're connecting between two LCCs, treat them as separate journeys: bags will not check through, and you must clear security again.
Ground transport
Stockholm-Arlanda Airport sits at coordinates 59.652°, 17.919° at an elevation of 137 feet, serving Stockholm and the surrounding Sweden region. Travellers usually reach the terminal by a combination of public bus, regional rail, ride-share, and licensed taxi. Where rail service is available it is almost always the cheapest fixed-fare option; ride-share apps tend to be the next cheapest and most predictable; metered taxis are the most expensive but the most direct. Verify the published rates posted at the airport ground-transport desk before agreeing to any non-metered fare. Quoted prices to and from the airport are a common source of overcharging in any country.
Budget travel tips
- Fly mid-week. Tuesday and Wednesday departures from Stockholm are statistically cheaper than weekend departures across all carriers.
- Consider nearby alternative airports where they exist. A one-hour bus or train transfer can shave 30–50% off your fare.
- Book accommodation with free cancellation for the night of arrival in case your inbound flight is delayed and you miss the last public transport.
- Check the official airport website for live security wait times before you leave home. At peak departure banks the queue can swing from 5 minutes to 45 minutes within an hour.
Airlines serving ARN
Scandinavian Airlines System (SK)
Sweden · Active
Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY)
Norway · Budget · Active
NextJet (2N)
Sweden · Active
Maastricht Airlines (W2)
Netherlands · Active
Air China (CA)
China · Active
Thai Airways International (TG)
Thailand · Budget · Active
Ethiopian Airlines (ET)
Ethiopia · Active
Finnair (AY)
Finland · Active
Lufthansa Cargo (LH)
Germany · Active
Germanwings (4U)
Germany · Active
Iberia Airlines (IB)
Spain · Active
Aegean Airlines (A3)
Greece · Active
Air Berlin (AB)
Germany · Active
Alitalia (AZ)
Italy · Budget · Active
British Airways (BA)
United Kingdom · Active
Swiss International Air Lines (LX)
Switzerland · Active
Germania (ST)
Germany · Active
Aeroflot Russian Airlines (SU)
Russia · Active
American Airlines (AA)
United States · Active
Air France (AF)
France · Active
Top destinations from ARN
| Code | City | Country |
|---|---|---|
| LHR | London | United Kingdom |
| TXL | Berlin | Germany |
| HEL | Helsinki | Finland |
| VIE | Vienna | Austria |
| AMS | Amsterdam | Netherlands |
| GOT | Gothenborg | Sweden |
| GVA | Geneva | Switzerland |
| VAA | Vaasa | Finland |
| BCN | Barcelona | Spain |
| PRG | Prague | Czech Republic |
| DUS | Duesseldorf | Germany |
| CDG | Paris | France |
| RIX | Riga | Latvia |
| TMP | Tampere | Finland |
| BEG | Belgrade | Serbia |
| BKK | Bangkok | Thailand |
| CPH | Copenhagen | Denmark |
| MAN | Manchester | United Kingdom |
| MUC | Munich | Germany |
| OSL | Oslo | Norway |
| FRA | Frankfurt | Germany |
| EBL | Erbil | Iraq |
| GEV | Gallivare | Sweden |
| KRF | Kramfors | Sweden |
| LYC | Lycksele | Sweden |
Recommended reading for flying through Stockholm
- How to actually find the cheapest ground transport from any airport
- A 2026 comparison of every major budget airline's baggage fees
- Online check-in cutoffs, airport-printing fees, and the bag-drop trap
- Walk-in lounge prices around the world
- Why airport currency bureaux are the worst place to exchange money