Swedish Lapland and the Northern Lights: Abisko, Kiruna and the Arctic

Swedish Lapland is the country’s vast Arctic north, a land of reindeer, midnight sun and some of the clearest aurora skies on the planet. It is where many travellers come to chase the northern lights, sleep in an ice hotel and meet the Indigenous Sami culture. Here is how to plan a trip to the top of Sweden.

When to see the northern lights

The aurora borealis appears when nights are long and dark, which in Swedish Lapland means roughly early September to late March. September offers crisp autumn skies and the reflection of the lights on unfrozen lakes, while the deep winter months pair the aurora with snow and Arctic activities. The lights are never guaranteed, since they depend on solar activity and clear skies, so plan several nights to improve your chances. The official tourism board, Visit Sweden, tracks the best viewing windows.

Abisko, the aurora capital

The small village of Abisko, in Abisko National Park, is widely regarded as one of the best places on earth to see the northern lights. A gap in the mountains creates a local microclimate known as the blue hole, which often keeps the sky above Abisko clear even when clouds gather elsewhere. The Aurora Sky Station, reached by chairlift, sits away from all artificial light. Reaching Abisko is part of the adventure: SJ and Vy run night trains from Stockholm that climb slowly into the Arctic over a single dark night.

Kiruna and the ice hotel

Kiruna is the largest town in the region and a useful base. It is famous for its iron ore mine, which is so vast that the entire town centre is being moved to keep it from collapsing into the ground beneath. Nearby, in the village of Jukkasjärvi, the original Icehotel is rebuilt each winter from blocks of river ice, with carved suites you can actually sleep in. A permanent, solar cooled section now stays open through summer as well.

Sami culture

The Sami are the Indigenous people of northern Scandinavia, with their own languages, traditions and a long history of reindeer herding. Visiting a Sami run experience, learning about herding, or hearing the traditional song style called yoik offers a respectful window into a living culture rather than a museum piece. Look for tours operated by Sami people themselves, and approach the culture with curiosity and care.

Things to do beyond the lights

The Arctic rewards visitors in every season. In winter you can try dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing and cross country skiing. In summer the midnight sun keeps the sky bright around the clock, and the famous Kungsleden, the King’s Trail, opens for one of Europe’s great long distance hikes. Whichever season you choose, the wide open wilderness is protected and accessible thanks to the Swedish right of public access, which we explain in our guide to allemansrätten.

Getting there

The night train from Stockholm is the classic and most scenic route, taking around seventeen to eighteen hours to Abisko. Flights from Stockholm to Kiruna take about ninety minutes if time is short. For planning the wider trip, including seasons and rail booking, see our guide to planning a trip to Sweden.