Stockholm

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Stockholm is the capital of Sweden, as well as the largest city, situated along the south-central east coast of the country. The city itself spreads out quite far into several districts and suburbs, with a large and complex public transportation system.

There is also an active harbour located within the city-center (near the old city, Gamla Stan, and the Slussen T-bana (subway)) from which cruise ships enter and leave to other major cities in the region. It was once thought possible to hitchhike the large commercial carrier trucks entering these cruise ships but many drivers will tell you that it is illegal and will advise you to buy a passenger ticket instead. Unlike some other ferries in Europe where tickets are purchased per car, passengers on these ferries are required to pay individually.


Hitchhiking out

North towards Gävle and Sundsvall

Option 1

An excellent spot for northbound traffic is the Shell gas station close to Upplands Väsby. You can get to Upplands Väsby by commuter train (takes around 20-30 min direction Uppsala or Märsta on the train...), then find a bus 568 to the end station Löwenströmska Sjukhuset. When at the end bus stop, cross over the parking lot and follow the path along E4 motorway, then you will see the petrol station (there is also a hamburger place there). Many go to Arlanda or Uppsala, but there is enough traffic going up north too.

Option 2

Another option is to take a commuter train (Pendeltåg) to Märsta. Then get out of the station through the little swing door that you see on your left side when walking towards the station house. Turn left and walk South along the railroad until there is a bridge which crosses rails on your left side. You can start hitchhiking on the other side of the bridge. Most drivers who will pick you up will most likely go to Arlanda airport. In this case, get out of their car at the roundabout by the E4. (You can also walk this roundabout while hitching, it's 1-2 km.) Walk up to the Uppsala entrance and stand right behind the pedestrian crossing. According to some folks, this is a truly magical spot where waiting times hardly ever exceed 10 minutes. Do not accept a ride shorter than to Uppsala. In July 2008 guaka found out though that it is not such a great spot after all, almost no traffic and it took an hour or so to get a ride.

Option 3

You can also begin at Vener Gren Center in the North of Stockholm. On Sveavägen, just before the bend that leads to the E4, there's a traffic light, above the bridge for pedestrians. Just before this traffic light, there is a bus stop, where you can start hitchhiking, the cars are not fast because of the traffic light, and have a lot of space to stop. Another spot nearby is getting to the bus stop Haga södra and keep walking north for about a hundred meters. Where the road where you come from meets the one coming from the the west, there's a traffic light and plenty of space for cars to stop.


Direction Uppsala

Add info pls


South-west towards Malmö/Denmark

Option 1

  • Take the T-bana (metro) towards Norsborg and get out at Hallunda (last but one), then walk down the Tre Kallors väg and you will find a good spot with a petrol station (Bonus: There's a hamburger place next to the on ramp). A lot of cars are going South all the way to Denmark. Do not accept rides going to Södertälje if that is not your destination!

Option 2

  • Take the commuter train to "Södertälje Hamn". After coming out of the station house, turn to the right and walk South along the E4/E22 until you come to a tunnel that goes under the motorway. Walk through this tunnel and then take to the right; walk North along the motorways until you come to the place where E20 from the west merges into E4 South. On this stretch of road you have perhaps the best chance of getting South from Stockholm. You are technically not allowed to stand there so the police might ask you to leave, but it is a safe place, so don't feel bad about it. You should wait for a car that goes at least all the way to Norrköping, but if you are very impatient, Nyköping might also do.

Option 3

Loads of trucks leaving from Västberga industrial area, where many trucking companies are located. DHL has a huge terminal there. Trucks leave from 15.00 and on, all evening, to destinations such as Göteborg, Malmö, Helsingborg but also northbound and westbound. Also south to continental Europe.

Option 4

"Transportledet" is a big operator for DHL. Take metro to "Midsommarkransen" or "Telefonplan" and get south of the motorway E4 and you will find Västberga.

Option 5

You can also try to go to Ikea Kungens Kurva (Unfortunately the free Ikea bus is not going any more). When you get to Ikea Kungens Kurva, there's a petrol station on the other side of the motorway. Walk behind Ikea and you'll find a pedestrian tunnel going under the motorway. (Untill 2021 this pedestrian tunnel is blocked due to constructionwork, you can walk around, that costs 20 min more. - The petrol station is a pretty good spot to hitchhike. We noticed a little problem there, though. The motorway splits up in Södertälje to E4 southward and E20 westward, 30km from Kungens Kurva. Depending on which way you want to go, it's a good idea to catch a ride straight to the direction where you need to go. It's impossible and dangerous to hitchhike where the two motorways split, people drive too fast. - Close to the McDonalds at the end of Kungens Kurva there is a busstop along Skärholmsvägen where many cars pass who enter the E4/E20. They have an oke speed and will have enough space to stop their car. The busstop is called Lammholmsbacken. This busstop works better then asking at the Ingol petrolstation, since its not that busy there.

Towards Göteborg

If you're going to Göteborg you can go on either the E20 (which is the same road you'd take to Oslo), or the E4 and then road 40 after Jönköping. Even though the E20 is slightly shorter, there are a lot of people who take the E4 + 40 to Göteborg. If you hitchhike before the E20 and E4 splits (about 30 km from Stockholm), you're covering both options! One good spot is Kungens Kurva just next to Ikea. It's marked on the hitchwiki map and described in the Malmö/Denmark section above.


West towards Västerås, Enköping, Karlstad/Oslo

Take the commuter-train to Bålsta (Or: take the train to Kungsängen, and hitchhike on Enköpingsvägen to Bålsta) and walk 1,5 km to the place where Enköpingsvägen crosses the motorway. Theres a gas station with traffic going in both directions. There are trucks going west. On this spot you should be able to go at least to Enköping, where state road 70 goes north east to Dalarna, and E18 continues towards Karlstad and Oslo.


To Finland

If you are planning to get to either Turku or Helsinki and don't want to take the fantastically tough northern route, you can always try your luck at the Viking Line and TalllinkSilja ferry terminals.

You just write a sign asking for a gift voucher ("LAHJAKORTTI/GIFTVOUCHER" in Finnish) and stand smiling at the exit of the terminal when people pour out (the same ferry, that just arrived, soon goes back to Finland). If that does not work, go inside and do the same smiling-procedure next to the check-in.


Long Distance Rides From Ferry Terminal

When coming from ferry hitchhiking at the exit of the ferry terminal is a great way of getting a ride with cars doing long distance travels


Nomadwiki & Trashwiki

Check Nomadwiki for info on accommodation, showers etc. or Trashwiki for dumpsters...and share your wisdom :)

Wild Camping in/around Stockholm

Just around 15 km north of Stockholm is a nature reserve called Östra Järvafältet. Just on the south end of the lake called Ravalen there is a campfire/barbuce place where you can easily put up your tent (coordinate: 59,4439573, 17,9089788). It is a wonderful place and also legal. You will share the place with some horses but they are friendly and don't care to much about you as long as you don't leave your food (especially oatmeals) around.