Kiruna & Abisko
The original Icehotel in Kiruna, and an hour away, Abisko's Aurora Sky Station, known for some of Scandinavia's clearest skies.
Aurora season: 09-01 - 03-31
Practical info
- Population
- About 22,000 residents (Kiruna municipality)
- Airport
- Kiruna Airport (KRN), direct seasonal flights from Copenhagen (Dec-Mar) and Düsseldorf (Feb-Mar), daily link to Stockholm
- Train
- Yes: Kiruna and Abisko Östra station both sit on the Stockholm night train line (about 17h)
- Car
- Not essential between the two: train and local buses connect Kiruna and Abisko in just over an hour
- Temperatures
- -20°C to -7°C on average, nights can drop below -25°C
Why choose this destination
Abisko has a microclimate that often keeps the sky clear even when it is snowing everywhere else in the region, making it a scientific reference point for aurora visibility odds. Kiruna, an hour away, adds the Icehotel, rebuilt by artists every year, an experience in its own right even without the lights.
Accommodation options
Everything from budget hostels to the Icehotel itself, plus lodges run by Sami families.
Things to do
The Icehotel's art suites, Sami culture and reindeer herding, and the Aurora Sky Station chairlift in Abisko.
Best spots to watch the northern lights
Aurora Sky Station (Mount Nuolja / Njulla)
Reached by a roughly 30-minute chairlift ride up to 900 m, sitting right in the aurora oval and a microclimate known for clear skies.
Shores of Lake Torneträsk
A large frozen lake near Abisko, with a wide, open horizon far from any lighting.
Outskirts of Kiruna
For those based in Kiruna, just a few minutes' drive is enough to get clear of the town's lighting.
Activities to book
Aurora Sky Station chairlift
Evening visits are capped at around 40 spots: online booking ahead is recommended, especially in high season.
Icehotel art suites
Visits can be booked online, a few days ahead is enough outside the Christmas-New Year period.
Sami family visit and reindeer sledding
Best booked several weeks ahead in high season, since the groups hosted stay small.
Stays on the map
Where to stay
Ice hotelIcehotel Kiruna
€€€The original ice hotel, rebuilt every winter by artists, with a heated wing open year-round.
- Hand-carved art suites
- Heated wing available
- On the Torne River
from SEK 3,000 / night
HotelSTF Abisko Turiststation
€5 minutes from the Aurora Sky Station, the most practical and accessible base for seeing the lights in Abisko.
- 5 min from the Aurora Sky Station
- Some of Scandinavia's clearest skies
- Hostel and private-room options
from SEK 295 / night
HotelScandic Kiruna
€€€A 4-star hotel in the centre of the new Kiruna, next to the town hall. 231 rooms, a 10th-floor sauna terrace and a 12th-floor sky bar.
- 231 rooms
- 10th-floor sauna terrace
- 12th-floor sky bar
from SEK 2,951 / night
HotelElite Hotel Frost
€€€154 rooms in Kiruna's new town centre. Indoor pool, spa and three restaurants on site.
- 154 rooms
- Indoor pool and spa
- Three on-site restaurants
from SEK 3,099 / night
HotelBest Western Hotel Arctic Eden
€€€A family hotel with Sami-inspired design, a 10-minute drive from Kiruna centre. Two restaurants and two pools.
- Sami-inspired design
- Two pools
- 10-minute drive from the centre
from SEK 3,183 / night
HotelSTF Malmfältens Folkhögskola
€A budget hostel near Mount Luossavaara, close to Kiruna centre. Shared kitchen and lounge, sauna and buffet breakfast included.
- Near Mount Luossavaara
- Shared kitchen and lounge
- Buffet breakfast included
from SEK 1,065 / night
HotelAbisko Hostel & Huskies
€A hostel in Abisko village, 250 m from Abisko Ostra station. On-site dog-sledding operation and sauna.
- 250 m from Abisko Ostra station
- On-site dog-sledding
- Sauna included
from SEK 995 / night
Glass iglooAurora River Camp
€€Glass igloos and cabins on the Torne river, near Jukkasjarvi. Private bathrooms, kitchenettes and airport shuttle.
- On the Torne river
- Private bathrooms
- Airport shuttle
from SEK 1,956 / night
Cabin / chaletReindeer Lodge
€A Sami-run lodge in Jukkasjarvi, with forest cabins and traditional tents. On-site reindeer herd and wood-fired sauna.
- Sami-run property
- On-site reindeer herd
- Wood-fired sauna
from SEK 1,400 / night
Cabin / chaletAbisko Mountain Lodge
€€In Abisko village, 2 minutes' walk from Abisko Ostra station. Self-catering rooms and cottages, close to the national park and Aurora Sky Station.
- 2 min from Abisko Ostra station
- Close to the Aurora Sky Station
- Self-catering options
from SEK 2,070 / night
HotelHotell Fjället
€€€A ski-in/ski-out hotel in Bjorkliden, about 500 m from the station and 8-9 km from Abisko. Views of the lake and the Lapporten mountain, sauna, gym and restaurant.
- Ski-in/ski-out in Bjorkliden
- Views of the lake and Lapporten
- 500 m from the station
from SEK 2,533 / night
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to choose between Kiruna and Abisko?
No, the two are about an hour apart by road or train: many travellers base themselves in Kiruna and day-trip to Abisko's Aurora Sky Station, or the other way round.
Is the Icehotel open year-round?
The permanently chilled wing is open year-round, but the full ice hotel only exists from December to April, rebuilt each winter.
Why is Abisko's sky considered particularly reliable for auroras?
Abisko sits in a dry microclimate nicknamed the "Blue Hole," with generally fewer clouds than the rest of Scandinavian Lapland.
Can Kiruna and Abisko be visited together?
Yes, they complement each other and sit about an hour apart by road: the Icehotel on the Kiruna side, the clearest skies on the Abisko side.
Can I experience Sami culture during the stay?
Yes, several lodges in the region are run by Sami families and offer visits centred on reindeer herding.