Abisko Northern Lights Tours — The Blue Hole & Sweden’s Clearest Aurora Skies
Where the aurora meets the blue-sky bubble of Lapland.
The blue hole never disappoints!
We’ve chased the aurora across every corner of the Arctic — Norway, Sweden, Finland, Greenland, Alaska — and Abisko is the one place where we show up relaxed. Clear skies are simply more common here. Locals from Kiruna drive to Abisko when it's cloudy. Photographers love it. And if you’re tired of stressing about forecasts, this is where you go to calm down and actually enjoy the night.
And if you want the deep science, season-by-season breakdowns, and photography settings, our full Northern Lights Hub waits for you here.
Plan your Abisko trip:
Compare northern lights tours, rent a car to chase the aurora (winter driving requires extreme caution), and explore very “cool” places to warm up.
❄️ Why Abisko is so good for northern lights
Lake Torneträsk is stunning with northern lights or not
The “Blue Hole”
Abisko National Park has a unique weather phenomenon: a recurring pocket of clear sky above the valley.
That means you can see the aurora even when nearby towns are fully clouded over. It’s not a myth — it's the entire reason the Aurora Sky Station was built here.
Dry air + mountains = perfect visibility
Swedish Lapland is drier than coastal Norway. This means crisper skies, sharper aurora, and less cloud drama.
Lake Torneträsk = natural reflector
This huge frozen lake gives you big open views with reflections. Photographers go nuts here.
Calm, quiet, and slow tourism
No cruise ships, no chaos, no city glow.
Just snow, silence, and sky.
🐾 Best northern lights tours in Abisko (and who they’re for)
Northern lights or not, mushing in Abisko is a must — Can you spot me?
👉 Explore the best northern lights tours in Abisko here
⭐ 1. Aurora Chase in Abisko
Best for: first-timers, couples, anyone who wants the highest chance of success.
A minivan, a local guide who knows the valley like their living room, and a willingness to move around when the weather changes. These are the tours with the reputation for turning a “cloudy forecast” into a “wow, that was incredible.”
Why it works:
Abisko isn’t about driving far — it’s about knowing where the gaps open.
👉 Check availability for Abisko Aurora Chase tour
⭐ 2. Aurora Photo Tour
Best for: photographers or anyone who wants to come home with real “shut up, you took this?” pictures.
You get:
• manual settings help
• tripods
• composition tips
• warm cabins/teas/coffees
• access to spots normal tours skip
Abisko remains one of the easiest places to photograph the northern lights because the conditions are stable.
👉 Check availability for an aurora photo tour with dinner
👉 Check availability for an aurora photo tour without dinner
⭐ 3. Aurora Sky Station Night Visit
Best for: bucket-list travelers.
You take a chairlift into the mountains and spend the night under a sky so open it feels like the universe enlarged the roof. It’s not cheap, but it’s iconic. We watch their webcam from home all the time, so it was awesome to finally go there! We also hiked to it in summer.
Good weather = top-tier aurora.
Bad weather = no lift.
⭐ 4. Abisko Snowmobile Northern Lights Tour
Best for: adventurous travelers.
Gliding across frozen valleys under the aurora? It’s cinematic.
Also surprisingly peaceful once the motor cuts.
👉 Check availability for a snowmobile tour under the aurora
⭐ 5. Snowshoe Northern Lights Tour
Best for: people who want silence, scenery and a slow-paced night.
Snowshoeing is underrated — you move quietly through the national park, stop when the sky opens, and enjoy a much more grounded experience than chasing in a van.
Perfect if you want something peaceful and personal.
👉 Check availability for a snowshoe hike under the northern lights
⭐ 6. Northern Lights Tours From Kiruna (Going to Abisko)
Best for: travelers based in Kiruna who still want Abisko’s clearer skies.
This is extremely common: Kiruna gets cloudy → Abisko stays clear → tour companies drive you there.
These usually include:
• transport from Kiruna
• warm gear
• hot drinks
• multiple viewing stops
• photography support
And because Abisko performs better than Kiruna on tricky-weather nights, these tours genuinely save trips.
👉 Check availability for an evening tour from Kiruna
🏔️ Best places in Abisko to watch the northern lights (without a tour)
Abisko or anywhere else, a frozen lake is a always a prime spot for aurora watching — Here Lake Torneträsk
1. Lake Torneträsk
Huge, open, perfect reflections on water or ice when not covered in snow.
2. Abisko National Park valley
Mountains on both sides = a sky bowl.
3. STF Abisko Turiststation area
This is the hub for aurora travelers — and for good reason.
🏨 Where to stay in Abisko for the northern lights
You don’t need many hotels when the ones that exist are excellent:
STF Abisko Turiststation
A mountain lodge at the trailhead for Aurora Sky Station. You can book rooms, dorms, and cabins.
Abisko.net Hostel & Huskies
Friendly, social, very affordable. Offers amazing dogsled tours. It’s the best mushing experience I (Eli) ever had, and I had many). Also love the shared sauna!
Abisko Guesthouse & Activities
A cozy, family-run stay with simple rooms, a shared kitchen, and aurora tours.
You’ll find more options in our selection of the best Hotels in Abisko.
Zoom in the map below to find a hotel or guesthouse near Abisko
❄️ What to wear for northern lights in Abisko
A few essentials:
• merino base
• fleece/wool mid-layer
• down parka
• snow pants
• warm boots
• gloves + liner gloves
• balaclava
• hot pads (life savers)
👉 Check our Arctic packing list on Amazon, and get more tips in our article: What to wear for a northern lights trip.
Penguin Trampoline tip:
Go northern lights chasing in Abisko with Heymondo! Their plans cover snowmobiles, dog sledding and all the winter fun.
👉 Get 5–15 % off your policy here and travel insured, not worried.
🚗 How to get to Abisko
From Kiruna:
• 1.5 hours by car
• 1.5–2 hours by train
• Bus connections and transfers available
From Stockholm:
• Night train
• Flight to Kiruna + transfer
For more details, check our Kiruna Travel Guide and Kiruna Winter Guide.
⭐ Best time to see the northern lights in Abisko
This show happened in February!
• Late September to late March
• Peak visibility: December–March
• Longer nights = more chances
• February has the best balance of stable weather + darkness
For your best chances, read our guide to the best times to see the northern lights.
📷 Why choose a tour instead of going alone?
Seeing the northern lights alone in Abisko is absolutely possible…
But tours add:
• mobility (huge when clouds drift)
• safety in deep winter
• warm shelters
• local knowledge
• photography help
• proper planning
• no stress
And honestly? Sometimes it’s just nice to sit back with a warm drink while someone else does the thinking.
🧳 Plan your Swedish Lapland adventure
✈️ Find flights to the Arctic — fly into Kiruna for the best aurora access.
🏨 Find hotels for Northern Lights trips — glass igloos, cozy cabins, and aurora lodges we love.
🚗 Compare Arctic car rentals — chase the lights on your own schedule.
🧭 Heymondo Travel Insurance (5–15% off) — protect yourself (and your camera gear) from Arctic surprises.
🧳 Arctic gear — check our travel essentials on Amazon.
🐾 Fahlo Wildlife Bracelets (20% off) — track a real Arctic animal and stay connected to the north.
❓ FAQ – Northern lights tours in Abisko
Why is Abisko one of the best places in the world for the Northern Lights?
Because of the famous “Blue Hole” — a recurring pocket of clear sky formed by mountain winds and the valley’s unique microclimate. Even when surrounding towns like Kiruna are fully clouded over, Abisko often stays clear, giving travelers far more usable nights.
Do I need a Northern Lights tour in Abisko, or can I go on my own?
ou can absolutely see the aurora alone — the lake shore and valley are excellent — but tours give you mobility, warm shelters, photography help, and guides who know where the sky is about to open. It’s the difference between hoping for a good night and maximizing your chances.
When is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Abisko?
Late September to late March. Peak aurora season is December through March, when long nights and stable weather come together. February often delivers the best balance of darkness, clear skies, and comfortable temperatures.
Where are the best places in Abisko to watch the Northern Lights?
Lake Torneträsk, the national park valley, and the area around STF Abisko Turiststation all offer big open skies and very little light pollution. The Aurora Sky Station is also a bucket-list location on good-weather nights.
Is Abisko better than Tromsø or Rovaniemi for seeing the Northern Lights?
If your main goal is clear skies, yes — Abisko often outperforms both because it’s not coastal and doesn’t get locked under the same low clouds. Tromsø has dramatic scenery, Rovaniemi has Christmas magic, but Abisko has reliability.
Do Northern Lights tours in Abisko sell out?
Yes, especially photo tours and small-group chases from late December to early March. Accommodation also fills up fast around STF Abisko Turiststation, so booking early is smart.
Is Abisko good for families?
Very. The park ad surroundings are calm, distances are short, and many tours are beginner-friendly. Just be prepared for cold nights and early sunsets — winter in Lapland is beautiful but intense.
If Tromsø is aurora chaos and Rovaniemi is aurora Disneyland, Abisko is aurora zen.
Calm, quiet, predictable weather, and scenery that keeps your photos honest — no over-the-top fjords, just pure Lapland wilderness under a huge sky.
Whether you join a chase, ride a snowmobile, or walk straight from your hotel to the lake, Abisko is one of the easiest places on Earth to turn a Northern Lights dream into an actual memory.
For more aurora kowledge, smart planning, gear tips, and the best times to go, you’ll find everything in our Northern Lights Hub.
Planning a trip to Swedish Lapland? Explore our guides:
🏔️ Best Hotels in Abisko — lodges, cabins and Sweden’s Blue Hole sky.
🏨 Best Hotels in Kiruna — Ice rooms, riverside cabins, and skies that glow in green.
🦌 Things to do year round in Kiruna, Swedish Lapland — Aurora skies, Sámi culture, and the northern edge of cozy.
❄️ Things to Do in Kiruna in Winter — Blue-hour days, husky trails, and Northern Lights that light up the whole sky.
🧊 Kiruna vs. Rovaniemi: Swedish Lapland vs. Finnish Lapland — Two Arctic capitals, one epic showdown.
🏨 Hotels in Luleå, Sweden — Modern stays, design retreats, and Arctic cabins under the Northern Lights.
🇸🇪 Winter Travel to Luleå, Sweden — Frozen seas, saunas, and Arctic calm
🌌 Luleå Northern Lights — Ice roads, frozen seas, and aurora skies across Swedish Lapland.
🏠 Best Hotels in Swedish Lapland — Icehotels, glass igloos, and cozy cabins under the northern lights.
❄️ Our Ultimate Arctic Travel Guide — How to explore, survive, and avoid becoming a polar bear’s lunch.
✨ Northern Lights for Dummies — How to actually see the aurora (without freezing your butt off or waiting 12 nights in vain).
