- About Sweden
- Accessible travel
Accessible travel
Sweden is one of the most accessible countries in the world. From airport assistance around the clock to street crossings with audible indications – here is what you need to know about accessible travel in Sweden.
Getting to and from Sweden’s main airports
If you have a disability or reduced mobility, you are entitled to assistance at the airport. Staff is available around the clock to help you. For the assistance to work in the best way possible, you'll need to make some preparations before your journey. Read more about assistance for people with a disability or reduced mobility at Sweden's main airports below:
If you travel to and from Stockholm Arlanda Airport with Arlanda Express, they offer assistance at no extra cost.
Accessible train travel
Public transport staff is usually available to help disabled travellers board and disembark if notified beforehand. SJ (national carrier) trains have special lifts and seats for passengers using wheelchairs. Special seating areas are provided for passengers suffering from allergies. Read more about how SJ accommodate passengers with disabilities here.
All stations and trains are non-smoking. On night trains, bedding is made from synthetic materials. Furred animals are not allowed in couchettes or sleeping compartments, apart from guide dogs.
Local public transportation
- Public transport in Stockholm is accessible to most people. Read more at the SL website.
- For public transportation in Gothenburg and West Sweden, read about accessible travel with Västtrafik.
- For public transportation in Malmö and southern Sweden, read more about accessible travel with Skånetrafiken (select language on the "Översätt" button top right).
Accessible public transport
The rapid transport system in Stockholm (metro, subway, tube, underground), consists of 100 stations and is one of the world’s largest underground systems in relation to population served. Buses and subways are equipped for wheelchairs as accessibility is a policy priority in Sweden.
Photo: Simon Paulin/imagebank.sweden.se
Accessibility database
In the Accessibility database ('Tillgänglighetsdatabasen') you can find information about the physical accessibility of more than 8,000 locations, including stores and restaurants within public service as well as outdoor areas and other destinations.
Most street crossings have audible indications to advise visually impaired pedestrians when it is safe to cross.
Hotels in Sweden
Many hotels provide specially adapted rooms for those who might have mobility limitations or suffer from allergies. Some hotels also have technical aids to enable those with limited mobility to participate in activities like swimming or riding.
Stockholm tips
Cinemas, museums, theatre
On the page stockholmmuseums.se, all of Stockholm's museums are listed, and the pictograms let you know if museums are wheelchair friendly. A guide to accessible cinemas, museums, theatres and libraries in Stockholm can also be ordered from Kultur- och Idrottsförvaltningen in Stockholm. Phone number: + 46 (0)8 508 00 000.
Cultural walks for disabled people
The book ”Kulturpromenader för personer med funktionshinder" by Elena Siré and Sten Leijonhufvud lists things worth seeing in Stockholm. The book is written in Swedish and English in the same copy. You can order it from Elena Siré.
Stockholm archipelago
For information on accessible travel in the Stockholm archipelago, please contact Waxholmsbolaget and Strömma.
Accessibility in Gothenburg
Sweden's second largest city, Gothenburg, has put together a guide for travellers with disabilities. You'll find it here.
Skiing in Åre
Read more about skiing for disabled people in Åre, Sweden's largest ski resort.
Sweden's disability policy
Sweden’s national objective of disability is based on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Full participation in society is our top goal. Read more at sweden.se.