Märsta is with its 27,000 inhabitants the largest city in Sigtuna Municipality in Stockholm County in Sweden. It is located between the capital Stockholm, some 35 km to the south, and Sweden's fourth largest city Uppsala, some 30 km to the north, and some 4 km from Stockholm-Arlanda Airport.

Understand

Märsta has historically been an important postal stop on the route between Stockholm and Uppsala. As a railway opened between these cities in 1866 and Märsta became one of the railway stops. In 1960 Stockholm-Arlanda Airport opened only a few kilometres from Märsta, and the city grew from some 2,900 inhabitants in 1960 to 16,400 in 1970. When the city was constructed it was intended to cover four hills; Valsta, Pinbacken, Brista and Norrbacka. However, as Arlanda expanded it was deemed that Pinbacken and Brista were too close to the airport, wherefore only Valsta and Norrbacka where settled. As a consequence of this the economic and cultural centre of Märsta is actually located in the geographical outskirts of the city.

Rosersberg is a small settlement between Märsta and Stockholm's northern suburbs, notable for the two palaces Rosersberg and Skånelaholm, and the beautiful lake Frysingen.

Get in

By plane

1 Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (ARN ^IATA) is by far the largest airport in Sweden, and is 4 km north east of Märsta. The terminals are numbered 2, 3, 4 and 5. The airport is clean, safe and well-functioning. Seating is scarce, especially landside. Shopping and dining are concentrated to the landside transit mall Sky City. Dining and drinking at the airport is a bit overpriced; be prepared to pay around 100 kr for a simple meal, and 75 kr for a glass of beer. There are several means of transport between Arlanda and Stockholm: airport coach, express train, commuter train and regional train.

By public transit

2 Märsta Central Station is a stop on the railway between Stockholm and Uppsala. The rail road is operated by two operators; the Stockholm County Commuter train (SL) and the national operator SJ. SL tickets are cheaper compared to SJ tickets, but SL trains are also slower as their trains stops more frequently.

By car

The highway E4 carry traffic between Stockholm and Uppsala and pass Märsta some 3 km east of the city.

Get around

Märsta is really small and walkable. Unless you intend to leave the city for the surrounding countryside you will not need any vehicle.

See

• 1 Konsthall Märsta (Märsta Art Hall), Nymärsta Kulle 1. A local art hall. Free. 
• 2 Rosersberg Palace (Rosersberg). A 17th-century Baroque palace built at the height of the Swedish Empire, used as the summer residence of Charles XIV John (named Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, serving as Napoleon's general, before his coronation) during the early 19th century. The palace museum offers guided tours during summer. Textile furnishings are original; this is very unusual, as textiles are normally replaced as they wear out through the years. The palace contains an early replica of the United States Declaration of Independence, gifted from the USA in 1801, as well as other interesting artefacts. 
• 3 Skånelaholm Palace (Rosersberg). A 17th-century country castle, open for visitors during summer. 
• 4 Steninge Slott (Steninge Castle), Steninge Slottsväg 141. A 17th-century castle. Today it has a cafe and a market hall. 

Do

• Several beaches for open-water swimming. Hiking, cycling, fishing and bathing during summer. Ice-skating and cross-country skiing during winter.
• 1 Fysingen (Rosersberg). A scenic lake, known for its many bird species. 

Buy

• 1 Märsta Centrum, Stationsgatan. 30 stores; supermarket, pharmacy, Systembolaget liquor store, library, cafés, etc. 

Eat

• 1 Fyra Små Rätter, Stationsgatan 6, ☏ +46 8-591 406 00. An Asian restaurant 
• 2 Teatergrillen, Stockholmsvägen 27, ☏ +46 8-591 143 87. 
• Vimamus Café, Stationsgatan 3C, ☏ +46 8-591 111 69. A bar and restaurant (updated Dec 2017)

Drink

• 1 Magasinet, Nymärsta torg 6, ☏ +46 8-591 234 10. A restaurant and sports pub. 

Sleep

• 1 Best Wester Arlanda Hotellby, Bristagatan 22, ☏ +46 8-597 897 00. 
• 2 BoKloster VillaHotell, Stockholmsvägen 55, ☏ +46 8-591 407 00. 
• 3 Broby Gård, Broby 107, ☏ +46 8-591 111 45. An 18th-century mansion that is a conference hall with several guest rooms 
• 4 Rosersberg Palace (Rosersberg). The annex of the 17th-century Baroque palace mentioned above has a conference hotel. 

Go next

• Sigtuna - Was once the capital of Sweden. The contemporary town was built as a nationalist project in the 1910s.
• Stockholm - The current capital of Sweden. By far the largest and most influential city in the area.
• Stockholm Arlanda Airport - The largest airport in Sweden. Has a large shopping and recreational area called "Sky City" outside of the transit zone.
• Uppsala - The fourth city in Sweden by population. Once a centre of Viking activity, it is today a religious and academic centre.

Routes through Märsta

Stockholm ← Sollentuna ←

S  N

→ Uppsala → Tornio