Getting to Sweden from the UK
Sweden is well-connected to the UK by air, with direct flights from multiple British airports. For the more adventurous — or environmentally conscious — ferry and overland train routes offer scenic alternatives.
By Air
Flying is the quickest and usually the cheapest way to reach Sweden from the UK. Direct flights operate year-round from several British airports.
- Flygbussarna (airport coaches) — 45 minutes, ~119 SEK. Budget-friendly.
- Commuter train (pendeltåg) — 40 minutes, ~165 SEK (includes transit card top-up). Best value if you'll use public transport in Stockholm.
- Taxi — ~500–600 SEK (agree a fixed price before departure).
Gothenburg Landvetter → Central Gothenburg:
- Flygbussarna coach — 30 minutes, ~119 SEK.
- Taxi — ~400–500 SEK.
By Ferry
Sweden has ferry connections from the UK and from continental ports easily reached from Britain.
Direct: UK to Sweden
- DFDS: Harwich → Gothenburg — approximately 24 hours. This was historically a popular route; check current schedules as service availability has varied. When running, it offers overnight cabins and the pleasure of arriving directly in Sweden's second city.
Via Denmark or Germany
A popular alternative is to travel to Denmark or northern Germany and catch a shorter ferry:
- Stena Line: Frederikshavn (Denmark) → Gothenburg — 3.5 hours
- Stena Line: Kiel (Germany) → Gothenburg — 14.5 hours (overnight, with cabins)
- TT-Line: Travemünde (Germany) → Malmö — 9 hours
- Unity Line: Świnoujście (Poland) → Ystad — 7 hours
Budget tip: Ferry crossings booked well in advance can be surprisingly affordable, especially if you're travelling with a car. Overnight ferries save a night's accommodation cost.
By Train (Overland)
Travelling overland from the UK to Sweden is increasingly popular as a sustainable alternative to flying. The journey is longer but scenic and straightforward.
London to Stockholm by Train
The standard routing takes approximately 18–22 hours with one or two overnight stops:
- London St Pancras → Brussels — Eurostar, 2 hours
- Brussels → Cologne — Thalys/ICE, 2 hours
- Cologne → Hamburg — ICE, 4 hours
- Hamburg → Copenhagen — ICE/DSB, 4.5 hours
- Copenhagen → Stockholm — SJ/Öresundståg, 5 hours
Alternatively, break the journey with an overnight stop in Hamburg or Copenhagen — both excellent cities in their own right.
The Snälltåget night train operates seasonally between Berlin and Stockholm (approximately 15 hours overnight), offering couchettes and sleeper cabins. This connects neatly with daytime Eurostar and ICE services from London.
Swedish Rail & Transport — Learn about SJ, Sweden's national rail operator, and the country's world-class transport infrastructure on The Engine.
Booking Tips for Train Travel
- Use SJ (sj.se) for Swedish rail bookings — available in English
- Trainline and Omio are useful for multi-country routing
- Book early: SJ advance fares can be 50–70% cheaper than walk-up prices
- Consider a SJ Prio membership for frequent travellers (free to join, earns points)
Via Copenhagen & the Öresund Bridge
If you're heading to southern Sweden (Malmö, Lund, or beyond), flying to Copenhagen Kastrup Airport (CPH) is often the most practical option. From Copenhagen Airport, Öresundståg (Öresund trains) cross the bridge to Malmö in just 35 minutes, with departures every 20 minutes.
Copenhagen Kastrup has more direct UK connections than any Swedish airport, making it an excellent gateway to southern Sweden. From Malmö Central, you can catch SJ trains to Gothenburg (2.5 hours) or Stockholm (4.5 hours).
Planning Your Arrival
| Destination | Recommended Route | Approx. Journey |
|---|---|---|
| Stockholm | Direct flight from London | 2.5 hours |
| Gothenburg | Direct flight from London/Manchester | 2.25 hours |
| Malmö | Fly to Copenhagen + Öresund train | 3 hours total |
| Swedish Lapland (Kiruna) | Fly to Stockholm + domestic flight | 4 hours total |
| Gotland (Visby) | Fly to Stockholm + domestic flight or ferry | 4–5 hours total |
For onward travel within Sweden, see Getting Around Sweden.
Recommended Travel Resources
Planning your journey to Sweden? These guides and essentials can help:
- Lonely Planet Sweden — comprehensive country guide with transport advice, maps, and itineraries (affiliate link)
- The Man in Seat Sixty-One: European Rail Guide — Mark Smith's indispensable guide to train routes across Europe (affiliate link)
- European Travel Adapter — Sweden uses Type F (Schuko) sockets; a universal adapter covers all your devices (affiliate link)
Cashless Sweden — How to pay in Sweden's increasingly cashless society — Swish, cards, and tipping
Budget Planning — Average costs for flights, trains, and getting around Sweden