Abisko National Park

Abisko sits in a dry pocket of Swedish Lapland where a mountain rain-shadow gives unusually clear skies, making it one of the best places on earth to see the northern lights. It is also the northern gateway to the Kungsleden trail, and a chairlift climbs to the Aurora Sky Station for dark-sky viewing.

Highlights

• The Aurora Sky Station - the chairlift-reached viewpoint for the northern lights.
• Lake Tornetrask - the great lake the park sits above.
• The Lapporten - the U-shaped mountain gate, the symbol of the region.
• The Kungsleden start - the trailhead of Sweden's most famous long-distance path.

When to go

The dark season from September to March for the clearest aurora in Sweden; summer for hiking, the midnight sun and the Kungsleden. Each is a completely different visit.

Before you go

Even in the clear-sky pocket, the aurora needs darkness, clear weather and solar activity together, so several nights improve the odds. It is far north on a long railway, a real journey. Winter cold is severe, so dress for serious Arctic conditions.

Nearby

Kiruna and the ice hotel at Jukkasjarvi are down the line; the Kungsleden trail runs south into the mountains.

Key facts