Thursday 12 December 2013

Buses in Sweden

Buses in Sweden

Public transport in Sweden is generally excellent. Each county (län) runs its own network of buses (and sometimes trains). There are also national long-distance express services.
No matter what you choose, you can use the excellent ResRobot planning tool; it searches most routes in Sweden - regional and national buses, trains, flights, etc. Use the tool to the right on this page or visit the ResRobot site. However, ResRobot won't show you prices. But you can also search for trips and buy tickets through the main train operator SJ; their website sells train tickets but also tickets for buses.

Regional bus networks

Each county in Sweden provides at least bus services, and often trains or trams. Tickets can be used on either and you can typically transfer freely from one to the other within a given amount of time. If you intend to stay in a particular region for a while, look up ticket options; you can usually buy weekly or monthly passes or get discounts.
These are the regional companies as of today: Blekingetrafiken, Dalatrafik, Hallandstrafiken, Jönköpings länstrafik, Kalmar Läns Trafik, Kollektivtrafiken (Gotland), Länstrafiken i Jämtlands län, Länstrafiken i Västerbotten, Länstrafiken Kronoberg, Länstrafiken Norrbotten, Länstrafiken Sörmland, Länstrafiken Örebro, Skånetrafiken, Storstockholms Lokaltrafik, Upplands lokaltrafik, Värmlandstrafik, Västernorrlands läns trafik, Västmanlands lokaltrafik, Västtrafik (Västra Götaland), Waxholmsbolaget (boat services in Stockholm) X-Trafik (Gävleborg), Östgötatrafiken.

Stockholm

Storstockholms Lokaltrafik, SL, runs the public transport in Stockholm and Stockholm County - buses, subway and commuter trains.

Gothenburg (Göteborg)

Västtrafik runs the public transport in the Gothenburg area - buses, trams, trains, ferries.

Malmö

Skånetrafiken operates buses and trains in Malmö as well as the rest of Skåne.

National long-distance services

Going by bus is often cheaper than going by train in Sweden.

Swebus

Swebus is the largest express bus operator with about 300 destinations:
  • Buying tickets online is recommended - it's the cheapest way. You can also buy them by phone, at a number of Swebus agents, and, notably, at any Pressbyrån or 7-Eleven store. Read more about the options. You can no longer buy a ticket onboard the bus!
  • For the best fares, get your tickets well in advance and try to travel on less busy days (avoid Friday and Sunday).
  • Discounts for children, youth (16-25), pensioners and students (need CSN, Mecenat, Membit, Studentkortet, ISIC or IYTC card)
Good to know:
  • All Swebus Express buses have free wifi, air condition, toilet
  • Some buses have power sockets

Other operators

Svenska Buss has several bus lines: Stockholm-Sundsvall-Ånge/Härnösand, Stockholm-Vetlanda-Växjö, Stockholm-Vimmerby-Kalmar-Nybro/Åseda/Oskarshamn, Stockholm-Karlskrona-Malmö, Göteborg-Jönköping-Stockholm.
Ybuss runs long-distance buses to/from northern Sweden (e.g., Sundsvall, Östersund, Umeå, Luleå, Sollefteå). (Note that Ybuss cooperates with Swebus for booking, so that through Ybuss you can book a journey involving a Swebus route and vice versa.)

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