Stockholm Like a Local: Essential Apps for Your Visit

Stockholm is an easy city to navigate. It’s walkable, well-connected, and designed with public convenience in mind. However, like most modern cities, it runs heavily on apps. A smartphone makes payments, bookings, and transport far easier.

As a UK traveller in Stockholm, you should download several essential apps ahead of your trip. These tools will make getting around, discovering the city, and staying connected far simpler.

Getting Around With the SL App

The SL app is the official public transport application for the city. The app allows you to book metro, bus, tram, and ferry tickets, all from the comfort of your phone. You can buy single tickets, 24-hour, 72-hour, and 7-day passes. The app also offers live updates and disruption alerts. The SL app is run by Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL), the city’s public transport authority.

Stockholm’s public transport is one of the best in the world, which explains why it explains why so many people rely on it. According to local government statistics, 900,000 commuters make 2.9 million trips per day. With so many locals relying on the network, having the app ready before you arrive will make getting around much easier.

Book a Table With BokaBord

Stockholm has a world-class dining scene. However, if you don’t know anyone who lives there, it can be difficult to find the best restaurants. To eat like a local, download the BokaBord app. You can use this platform to find the best-rated restaurants nearby. The app allows you to read reviews, check table availability, and book a restaurant for your desired time.

You can reserve weeks in advance, which is great for securing a table at one of the city’s top spots. For example, you can secure a seat at Matbaren or Bord, two of the city’s most sought-after restaurants. On the other hand, the table availability feature allows you to book a table at the last minute.

Find the Nearest Toilet

ToaSverige helps you easily find the nearest free toilet in Stockholm. The app is essential in Sweden, as the country charges high fees for toilet facilities. Fees typically range from 10 to 15 SEK (£0.80 to £1.20 GBP), which can add up significantly.

The app uses your live location and presents your available options on a map. The app also displays additional information, such as wheelchair accessibility.

Each toilet features a live cleanliness rating, allowing you to check when the facilities were last cleaned. You can contribute to the toilet’s rating system after you’ve used the facility.

Access Your Favourite Content

Public Wi-Fi is readily available in Stockholm, allowing you to stay connected while you explore. However, it can be frustrating when your home content libraries and streaming services look different abroad. Access content freely by using a VPN service, such as NordVPN.

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) reroutes your internet traffic through a private and safe server located in the UK. VPNs allow you to access and stream the same content that you watch back home.

Plus, it offers encryption, which provides you with extra safety when using Stockholm’s public Wi-Fi services.

Charge Your Phone On-the-Go

Brick is a Stockholm-based power bank rental service. If your phone dies at any point during the day, you can use Brick to find the nearest charging station.

The built-in app allows you to easily locate the nearest station. Once you reach a station, scan the QR code displayed. Rent a powerbank on your phone using your preferred payment method, and pick up the unlocked bank from the station.

Once your phone is back to full power, you can easily return the bank at the nearest Brick station.

Socialise With Meetup

If you’re looking to socialise in Stockholm, you can use Meetup. The app is popular among expats, international students, professionals, and tourists. It allows you to meet like-minded people and arrange drinks, dinners, and other meet-ups, such as attending a concert.

According to SAS, guest nights at commercial accommodations reached 30.8 million during the summer months of 2025. The estimated year-on-year growth is 8.8% for foreign guests.

Given the upward trend, it’s a guarantee that the city will welcome more international visitors in 2026. Meetup is a great way to connect with these visitors and make your Stockholm experience unique.

Use Apps to Explore Stockholm Smarter

Stockholm rewards those who arrive prepared. From booking transport to securing a table, downloading the right digital tools can make you feel like a local. Rather than stressing over logistics or last-minute plans, you can relax and enjoy all the city has to offer.

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