Frihamnen, one of Stockholm’s cruise ports Photo: H. Ellgaard/Wikipedia
There are those who argue that one of the most fascinating aspects of traveling is to get to know a destination beyond the tourist areas. If your cruise ship docks at Frihamnen, the chance is yours to see a glimpse of Stockholm that visitors otherwise do not put focus on.
There’s a reason for that, of course. Viewed from a different perspective, Frihamnen may not be the most exciting place on earth. Which is not to say that the area is completely uninteresting. Just across the water from Frihamnen, on the island of Lidingö, is where the Swedish pop group ABBA took the first steps toward world fame. For the art interested visitor, nearby Magasin 3 might be something to put on the to-do-list: Located in Frihamnen, this art gallery refers to itself as “one of Europe’s leading institutions for contemporary art.”
Perhaps it’s typical, though, that Magasin 3 boasts the tagline “Hard to find. Easy to love.” But fear not. Getting to Frihamnen is actually quite easy.
The first step, of course, is to get from the airport to the city. Located some 40 kilometers/25 miles north of central Stockholm, Arlanda Airport has a few options to get you to the city center. Perhaps the most convenient is Arlanda Express, the fast train connection that whisks passengers to the Central Station in 2o minutes. A good alternative is Flygbussarna, aka the Airport Coaches, which also stop at the Central Station. It’s the more economic alternative, about half the price of Arlanda Express, but check prices. Sometimes Arlanda Express has special offers.
Yet another option for travelers is to take a taxi from Arlanda to Stockholm. Taxi Stockholm, for example, has a fixed rate of SEK 520 (approximately USD 77) for a single journey from the airport to the city. There are other taxi operators as well.
Once in central Stockholm, a new challenge arises: getting to the actual port. Step two, then, can include either bus or taxi.
If your choice includes a bus trip, the bus to look out for is number 1 to Frihamnen. A convenient bus stop is Värtavägen, close to Karlaplan. To get there, first take the red Metro line from Central Station toward Ropsten. Get off at Karlaplan and walk a short distance to the bus stop. There are several other stops in the city center. A good resource for planning your journey is Stockholm Public Transport’s Journey Planner.
The cost for the 15 minute bus ride is around SEK 40, depending on the ticket. Note that tickets cannot be bought on board the bus, but there are automated kiosks. With the Stockholm Card you travel for free on public buses.
Head left at the T-junction the bus is facing when it terminates at Frihamnen, following the blue line painted on the pavement for cruise passengers. Well marked, the cruise terminal is situated adjacent to Däckmagasinet 8.
By taxi, the journey to Frihamnen is an uncomplicated one. You will find taxi stands just outside the Central Station. Taxi might be a good option if you carry a lot of luggage.
Frihamnen, or the Freeport, is where Regent, Crystal, Silversea, Oceania, MSC Cruises, and other operators embark and disembark passengers. Once there, you’ll be able to say you saw a little more of Stockholm than most.
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