Swedish Lapland: northern lights, Sami culture and the Icehotel

Why go

Few places on Earth offer such reliable northern lights, such deep snow and such quiet. Abisko, in particular, has a local climate with fewer clouds than the surrounding area, which makes it one of the best aurora spots in the world. In summer the midnight sun lets you hike all night in light. Lapland is also the best place in Sweden to learn about Sami culture from Sami people themselves.

Getting there

Fly from Stockholm to **Kiruna** in about an hour and a half, or take the **night train** from Stockholm, which runs north to Kiruna, Abisko and on to Narvik in Norway. The train is a memorable journey in itself. Other airports in Lapland include Luleå, Gällivare and Arvidsjaur.

Kiruna

Kiruna is a mining town built over the world's largest underground iron ore mine. Because the ground is shifting, the whole town centre is being moved a few kilometres east, and historic buildings, including the wooden **Kiruna Church**, are being moved too. Guided tours take you down into the mine. The town is the main base for tours across the region.

Jukkasjärvi and the Icehotel

Just outside Kiruna, the village of Jukkasjärvi is home to the **Icehotel**, built every winter from the ice of the Torne River, with rooms carved by artists. A permanent ice building keeps some of it open all year. Even if you do not stay a night, you can visit on a guided tour. Dog sledding, snowmobiling and reindeer visits leave from the area too.

Abisko

Abisko is a small village beside a national park and the huge Torneträsk lake. In winter, the **Aurora Sky Station** on Mount Nuolja is reached by chairlift and is a classic place to watch the lights. In summer, Abisko is the start of the **Kungsleden**, the King's Trail, and the mountain station run by the Swedish Tourist Association is a base for hikers.

Sami culture

The Sami have lived in the north for thousands of years. Visit **Jokkmokk** for the Ájtte museum and the **Winter Market** held every February for over four hundred years. Choose Sami-owned experiences when you can, ask before photographing people or reindeer, and remember that reindeer belong to herders.

Seasons

From roughly early December to early January, the sun barely rises. From late May to mid July it never sets. Winter temperatures can drop far below freezing, so proper layers, boots, gloves and a hat are essential. Many tours supply thermal suits.

Safety

Weather in the mountains changes fast. Follow guides, tell someone your plans, check avalanche warnings in winter and carry proper gear on hikes. Mobile coverage can be patchy away from towns.

What to pack and book

Book winter tours, the Icehotel and sleeper cabins well ahead, especially around Christmas, New Year and February. Pack thermal base layers, wool socks, a warm hat, mittens rather than gloves, and boots with good grip. A headtorch helps in the dark afternoons, and spare phone batteries matter because cold drains them fast. In summer, bring insect repellent for the mosquitoes, waterproof layers and an eye mask for the midnight sun. Remember that you are a long way from big hospitals, so carry any medicines you need and arrange travel insurance that covers outdoor activities.