Swedish Lapland often goes under the radar in comparison to neighbouring Northern Norway and Finnish Lapland, but it offers a plethora of thrilling winter experiences alongside superb Northern Lights viewing and some of the most innovative hotels in the Nordics. Sweden’s far north lies directly beneath the auroral oval – the zone between roughly 60-75 °N where the Northern Lights are most frequently seen – which, combined with vast swathes of wide open wilderness with minimal light pollution, makes it an ideal place to witness the aurora in all its glory. September to March is the peak season, but the Northern Lights can also be seen as early as mid-August and as late as mid-April. Without further ado, here are the best places to see the Northern Lights in Sweden.
Abisko
Northern Lights over the Aurora Sky Station (Credit: Ted Logart/Swedish Lapland)
Abisko is a small village in the far north of Swedish Lapland, flanked by Lake Torneträsk on one side and Abisko National Park – which stretches along a forested valley – on the other. It’s renowned as one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights, in part due to its northerly latitude but also due to the fact it enjoys a favourable microclimate with more clear skies than most other places in the region. This is due to the ‘blue hole’ effect, as the surrounding mountains along the Norwegian border form a natural barrier that often keeps the clouds at bay, providing optimal conditions for seeing the Northern Lights. Abisko is also home to the Aurora Sky Station, a purpose-built observation platform at 900 metres above sea level on Mount Nuolja, accessible by chairlift. Abisko is reachable via a 17-hour overnight train from Stockholm, or you can fly to Kiruna (via Stockholm) and take a one-hour train north to Abisko.
You can visit Abisko as part of our Highlights of Swedish Lapland itinerary, which includes three nights at the cosy Hotell Fjället in Björkliden, just 10 minutes down the road.
Kiruna
Northern Lights just outside Kiruna (Credit: Robert Jonasson/Swedish Lapland)
Around 200 kilometres inside the Arctic Circle lies Kiruna, Sweden’s northernmost city, which was founded in 1900 as a mining community following the discovery of vast iron ore deposits nearby. Today, it’s the world’s largest underground iron ore mine, and in order to prevent Kiruna sinking into the ground as a result of the mining activity, the city centre is currently in the midst of being relocated, building by building, several kilometres to the east. Tourism is a growing industry in Kiruna, as the city is an ideal base for all manner of snow-based adventures and, of course, hunting the Northern Lights. The Northern Lights can often be seen in Kiruna itself, but guided tours will take you away from artificial light pollution for the best viewing conditions. It’s around a 14-and-a-half hour train ride from Stockholm, or an easy 90-minute flight. Kiruna also serves as a gateway to Abisko and the world-famous ICEHOTEL.
You can visit Kiruna on our action packed Winter weekend at Camp Ripan.
Luleå
Northern Lights over Luleå (Credit: Per Lundström/Swedish Lapland)
Luleå is a coastal city on the shore of the Bothnian Bay, the northernmost part of the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Finland. It’s the capital of Norrbotten County and a gateway to an archipelago of more than 1,300 islands and skerries which become locked in sea ice during the winter months. Although Luleå lies just south of the Arctic Circle, it’s still comfortably within the auroral oval and therefore an excellent choice if you’re looking to see the Northern Lights. Luleå is also famed for the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gammelstad Church Town – a beautifully preserved church town of red timber cottages clustered around the 15th-century Nederluleå Church – as well as the Isbanan, Sweden’s longest ice road. This typically opens between January and early April when the sea ice is thick enough for walking, skating and sledding.
You can visit Luleå on our Northern Lights City Break in Luleå, or if you’d prefer to stay somewhere a little more remote, consider a cosy log cabin escape at Brandon Lodge.
Jukkasjärvi
Northern Lights over the ICEHOTEL (Credit: Asaf Kliger/ICEHOTEL)
Jukkasjärvi is one of the oldest villages in Norrbotten County, dating back to the early 17th century. In the Sámi language, its name roughly translates to ‘meeting place by the water’ – a nod to its setting on the banks of the Torne River. It’s this river that freezes over each year and produces the ice that gets harvested and sculpted to build the ICEHOTEL, arguably Swedish Lapland’s showpiece attraction. You can combine a stay at this iconic hotel with Northern Lights hunts, husky safaris, snowmobile rides and exquisite Arctic-inspired dining. It lies at 67.8°N, around 200 kilometres inside the Arctic Circle, so on dark, clear nights, there’s a very strong possibility of seeing the Northern Lights in this area. Jukkasjärvi is also home to Márkanbáiki, an open-air museum dedicated to the history and culture of the indigenous Sámi people.
You can visit Jukkasjärvi on our Classic ICEHOTEL Break, or combine it with a stay at the Treehotel and Arctic Bath on our Swedish Design Icons itinerary.
Harads
Northern Lights over Arctic Bath
The village of Harads sits on the banks of the Lule River, around an hour’s drive north of Luleå. In its immediate vicinity are several of Swedish Lapland’s most distinguished design hotels, two of which feature on our ‘Northern Lights Break at Treehotel and Arctic Bath’. If you’re looking for something a little more traditional, nearby Loggers Lodge is an exclusive-use luxury lodge tucked away in the forest, with a whole host of optional activities on offer and the services of a private chef crafting gourmet Swedish meals with curated wine pairings. As such, Harads is a perfect choice if you’re hoping to pair excellent chances of seeing the Northern Lights with stays in some truly unique luxury accommodation.
Haparanda
Haparanda sits at the northernmost point of the Bothnian Bay, right on the border with Finland. In fact, you can simply stroll across a bridge to the neighbouring Finnish town of Tornio, which lies just across the Torne River in a different time zone. Owing to the compact size of both towns, you don’t have to go far to escape the light pollution and find a prime viewing spot for the Northern Lights, which, at 65.8°N, are a regular sight here between late August and mid-April. Haparanda can be easily reached by a two-hour train journey from Luleå, which is included in our Swedish Lapland by Rail Adventure – a great way to get off the beaten track and explore a lesser-visited corner of the region.
