Stockholm is built on fourteen islands, and that shapes access. Much of the transport network and many museums work well on wheels. The gaps are specific — a broken lift, a high kerb, a cobbled alley, a palace staircase — and each has a known workaround.
When you need this
You’re visiting Stockholm with a wheelchair, rollator or scooter, or with a short walking range. You’re planning a museum day on Djurgården, a walk through Gamla stan, or a change at T-Centralen with luggage. Or you’re traveling with a companion and want to know who pays, and whether the Royal Palace, City Hall or Skansen is realistic.
For flights, long-distance trains and parking rules across the country, read accessible travel in Sweden first. This page is the city at kerb level.
Getting around on SL
SL, Stockholm’s public transport, runs the metro, buses, trams, commuter trains and some ferries. The basics are good. All SL buses are low-floor and kneel, and the driver folds out a ramp on request. Press the blue button by the middle door to tell the driver you need extra time. Metro and commuter-train floors sit level with the platform.
The metro needs more care. SL says most metro entrances have a lift. Visit Stockholm, the city’s tourism office, puts it more cautiously: the metro is partly accessible, far from every station has lifts, and lifts can be temporarily out of service. Check each station and its lift status in the SL app before the day.
What works best in the center:
| Mode | What to know |
|---|---|
| Tram 7 (Spårväg City) | Low entry; runs from T-Centralen to the Djurgården museums |
| Blue buses, routes 1–6 | More frequent and more space than other city buses |
| SL ferry Slussen–Djurgården | Adapted for wheelchairs and walkers; boarding help bookable |
| Other SL ferries (80–89) | Largely accessible, but it depends on the boat and the pier |
| Commuter trains | Larger gap; use the ramp service (pre-book for Arlanda, Knivsta, Bålsta) |
| Archipelago boats | A manual wheelchair manages most; contact the operator first |
Not every bus stop is accessible. An accessible stop has a 16–17 cm kerb, a white contrast edge and tactile markings. SL lists the stops at Medborgarplatsen and Mäster Samuelsgatan as not accessible, and Vasagatan’s with a 12 cm kerb. T-Centralen (metro and tram) and Stockholm City (commuter trains) are listed as accessible. Slussen is mostly adapted but still a building site, and SL warns that getting through can be harder at times.
Wheelchair and rollator users ride free on buses where the driver checks tickets. Every other mode needs a ticket. See Stockholm public transport for tickets and fares.
Escort, bag help and the lift guarantee
Save one number: 020-120 20 22, SL’s accessibility line. It’s open around the clock, and the staff are trained in accessibility. You can also email [email protected] or text 079 064 44 46.
That line handles three services:
- Escort (ledsagning) — free, at every metro and commuter-train station, at large rail-to-bus interchanges and at ten large land-to-sea interchanges. The escort meets you and guides you to the next vehicle, entrance or gate. They don’t carry bags and don’t ride with you. Lead times vary by mode, time and place, so call early.
- Bag help (bärhjälp) — only in the Centralen area (T-Centralen, Stockholm City, the central station, Cityterminalen and nearby stops), only together with a booked escort, and booked at least one day ahead. One bag, up to 20 kg and 55 × 45 × 25 cm.
- The accessibility guarantee (tillgänglighetsgaranti) — if something unforeseen happens, such as a lift out of service, call the line or ask station staff for practical, personal help to continue. It applies to journeys SL has said are accessible. SL’s commuter boats are not covered.
In winter, snow and ice make ramps, kerbs and cobbles harder going. Allow extra time, and call the line if a lift is out.
Companions: who pays
This is the fact most visitors get wrong. On SL, a companion rides free only if you hold a Region Stockholm färdtjänst card — the municipal special-transport service for residents. Without one, you both pay the normal fare. The escort service itself is free.
At attractions, companions often go free, but only with a certificate:
- Vasa Museum: a companion free with valid certification.
- ABBA The Museum: up to two companions free with a ledsagarbevis (companion certificate), collected at the ticket office.
- Junibacken: show the ledsagarbevis at the ticket desk.
- Royal Palace: guides and assistants free.
- Gröna Lund: one or two companions free on a signed certificate under three years old.
The EU Disability Card doesn’t exist in Sweden yet; the deadline to bring it into Swedish law is 5 June 2027. Until then, bring whatever documentation you have from home and ask each venue ahead.
Taxis and parking
At Arlanda, ask the taxi rank officer outside your terminal to order a wheelchair-accessible car. Only färdtjänst card holders book through färdtjänst. In the city, the large taxi companies have vehicles with ramps, but not many, so book in advance and describe your chair. Private accessible-transport companies also take bookings from anyone, paid by yourself. For how taxis work in general, see taxis in Sweden.
Driving? An EU-model disabled parking card from any EEA country gives the same rights in Stockholm as a Swedish permit. Display it at the front.
Gamla stan and the parks
Gamla stan, the old town, is an island of narrow, winding cobblestone streets. It’s charming and hard work on wheels. Stortorget and the wider shopping streets are accessible, while the narrow alleys are difficult. Plan your route along Västerlånggatan and around Stortorget, where the surface is more even.
For rolling outdoors:
- Djurgården: well-kept paths along Djurgårdsbrunnsviken and around Rosendal’s Garden; smaller trails are uneven.
- Kungsträdgården and Humlegården: paved walkways.
- Tantolunden and Vitabergsparken on Södermalm: hillier and more uneven, often manageable with a power chair.
Many pedestrian crossings have lowered kerbs and tactile paving. Accessible toilets are signed RWC; the Euro key used in Germany, Austria and Switzerland isn’t the system here, so ask staff if a toilet is locked. More in public toilets in Sweden.
Attractions: what works and the hard limits
| Attraction | Access | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Vasa Museum | Lifts to every floor, two loan wheelchairs at the information desk, accessible toilets, two accessible parking spaces | Companion needs valid certification |
| ABBA The Museum | Fully accessible, lifts to every level | Five wheelchairs at a time (fewer with large power chairs); two loan chairs, contact ahead |
| Junibacken | Lift between floors, accessible toilets, hard gravel garden | One wheelchair user per Story Train ride |
| Skansen | Main-entrance platform lift to the Spegeldammen level; loan wheelchairs against a deposit; accessible toilets at several points | Hilly and partly cobbled; Hazelius Gate is at the bottom of a very steep hill |
| Royal Palace | West Gate lift (ring the bell by the revolving door), 95 × 131 cm inside, door about 75 cm | 101 steps to the State Apartments, 28 to the Hall of State; pre-book the stair climber |
| City Hall | Ramp in the courtyard, lifts inside | Tour-only; tours include stairs and may not allow sitting; tower’s upper part is stairs only |
| Gröna Lund | Per-ride accessibility leaflet, raised transit stops, reserved parking | Bring a signed companion certificate |
Skansen’s funicular is a genuine conflict. Its ticket page says wheelchair users with a companion ride free. Its accessibility page doesn’t recommend wheelchairs or scooters on it, because of evacuation. Use the main-entrance lift.
Theme-park companion rules in full are in theme parks in Sweden.
Practical information
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| SL accessibility line | 020-120 20 22, 24/7; [email protected]; SMS 079 064 44 46 |
| SL escort | Free; book on the line; lead times vary |
| Bag help, Centralen area | With escort only; book one day ahead; weekdays 08:30–19:30, weekends 10:30–17:30; one bag, 20 kg, 55 × 45 × 25 cm |
| Companion on SL | Normal ticket unless you hold a Region Stockholm färdtjänst card |
| Wheelchair user on buses where the driver checks tickets | Free |
| Royal Palace access questions | +46 8 402 61 00, weekdays 09:00–12:00 |
| Skansen funicular | Daily at Easter, weekends in April, then daily |
| City Hall tower | May–August; upper sections stairs only |
Checked 2026-09-25 against SL, Visit Stockholm and each attraction’s own page.
FAQ
Is the Stockholm metro wheelchair accessible?
Mostly, but check before you go. SL says most metro entrances have lifts and train floors are level with the platform, yet Visit Stockholm calls the metro partly accessible and advises checking lift status in the SL app. If a lift fails, call SL’s accessibility line, 020-120 20 22, around the clock, and staff will help you continue.
Can I get around Gamla stan in a wheelchair?
Partly. Gamla stan is an island of narrow, winding cobblestone streets, charming but challenging with wheels. Stortorget and the wider shopping streets are accessible, while the narrow alleys are difficult. Visit Stockholm suggests planning your route along Västerlånggatan and around Stortorget, where the surface is more even. Allow extra time in snow and ice.
Does my companion travel free on SL?
Only if you hold a Region Stockholm färdtjänst card, which is a benefit for residents. Visitors and their companions pay the normal fare on the metro, commuter trains and trams. On buses where the driver checks tickets, the wheelchair or rollator user rides free, but the companion still needs a ticket. SL’s escort service is free.
Is the Royal Palace wheelchair accessible?
Partly. A lift at the West Gate, called with a bell by the revolving door, takes a manual wheelchair and one assistant up to the Bernadotte and State Apartments. Stairs remain inside, including 28 steps to the Hall of State, so pre-book the stair climber. Accessible toilets are in the Outer Courtyard ticket wing, and assistants enter free.
How do I get a wheelchair-accessible taxi in Stockholm?
At Arlanda, ask the taxi rank officer outside your terminal to order a suitable car. In the city, the large taxi companies have vehicles with ramps, but there are few, so book in advance and describe your chair. Private accessible-transport companies also take bookings from anyone, paid by yourself; färdtjänst is for residents only.
Which Stockholm attractions are easiest in a wheelchair?
The Vasa Museum, ABBA The Museum and Junibacken all have lifts to every level and accessible toilets. Skansen works if you enter by the main-entrance lift, though the site is hilly. Watch the limits: ABBA The Museum takes five wheelchairs at a time, and Junibacken’s Story Train one wheelchair user per ride.
Do attractions accept a foreign companion certificate?
It varies, so ask. Venues ask for a certificate: the Vasa Museum for valid certification, ABBA The Museum and Junibacken for a ledsagarbevis, Gröna Lund for a signed certificate under three years old. The EU Disability Card does not yet exist in Sweden, so bring your home documentation and check ahead.
Related guides
- Accessible travel in Sweden: air and rail assistance deadlines, parking cards, the EU Disability Card
- Stockholm public transport: tickets, fares and how SL works
- Skansen: routes, entrances and the lift in detail
- Stockholm archipelago ferries: boats, piers and booking
- Where to stay in Stockholm: neighborhoods and their metro links
Facts verified 2026-09-25. Sources: SL / Region Stockholm, Visit Stockholm, Kungliga slotten, Swedavia, Transportstyrelsen, Regeringen, and the accessibility pages of Skansen, the Vasa Museum, ABBA The Museum, Junibacken and Gröna Lund — full register in this topic’s source file. Found something outdated? Tell us and we’ll fix it.