Best Hotels in Abisko (+ Cabins and Björkliden)
A handful of hotels, one Blue Hole, and some of the clearest skies in Lapland
Northern lights or not, mushing in Abisko is awesome — Can you see me?
There aren’t many hotels in Abisko — and that’s exactly why we love it!
You’re staying in the middle of a national park under one of the clearest aurora skies on Earth. No city glow, no chaos, just snow, mountains and open sky.
Keep reading to find your perfect Abisko hotel — we promise you an unforgettable Swedish Lapland experience!
And if you’re here for the aurora, you’ll find our best proven tips, the science, season-by-season breakdowns, and photography settings in our full Northern Lights Hub.
Plan your Abisko trip:
Compare tours, rent a car, and explore cozy places to warm up.
🏨 Where to stay in Abisko
Lake Torneträsk is gorgeous in every season!
⭐ 1. STF Abisko Turiststation — The iconic northern lights hotel
Still the king of the valley. If you want to stay inside Abisko National Park with the shortest walk to the lake and the clearest view of the Blue Hole, this is it.
Why stay here:
• Best location for aurora
• Cabins + hostel + hotel rooms
• Trails start at your door
• Aurora Sky Station next door
⭐ 2. Abisko Mountain Lodge — Cozy, warm & perfectly Lapland
Wooden interiors, good food, and owners who know the mountains like family. A relaxed, low-key hotel for travelers who want comfort + adventure.
⭐ 3. Abisko Guesthouse & Activities — Social, practical, affordable
Probably the friendliest place in the area. Basic but warm rooms, apartment-style spaces, cabins, and an on-site activity center that runs the most popular tours in Abisko.
⭐ 4. Abisko.net — Cabins, apartments & budget rooms
Often overlooked but ideal for people who want their own kitchenette or a quiet, self-catering stay. Their hostel has a great shared kitchen and access to a sauna. Great for socializing!
Options include:
• lodge-style cabins
• small apartments
• basic hostel rooms
This is a lovely spot for long stays or anyone doing photography trips where you need space for gear. It’s also worth noting that they offer amazing dogsled tours. Actually, it’s the best mushing experience I (Eli) ever had, and I had dozens.
⭐ 5. Private cabins & apartments in Abisko
There aren’t many, so make sure to book in advance.
Good for:
• families
• longer stays
• photographers with lots of gear
• people who want their own kitchen
Zoom in and out on the map to find an accommodation in and around Abisko
🎿 BONUS: Hotels & cabins in Björkliden (5 minutes from Abisko)
Björkliden is one train stop or a 5-minute drive from Abisko and has some of the best aurora-facing mountain views in the region.
It ALSO has a ski resort — making it perfect for people who want both Northern Lights + skiing. Imagine that!
⭐ 6. Hotell Fjället (Björkliden)
Think of this as the “mountain hotel” version of Abisko Turiststation.
Why stay here:
• Huge windows facing Lapporten
• Ski-in/ski-out
• Amazing winter sunrises
• Quiet, isolated, and stunning
Perfect for combining skiing with aurora nights.
Zoom in and out on the map to find an accommodation in and around Björkliden
🏔️ Should you stay in Abisko or Björkliden?
Stay in Abisko if:
• Northern Lights are your #1 priority
• You want to walk everywhere
• You want fast access to tours
• You came for the Blue Hole
Stay in Björkliden if:
• You want skiing + aurora
• You want cabins with big mountain views
• You want something quieter than (already quiet) Abisko
Both work perfectly for aurora trips and hiking (in summer & early fall, or snowshoeing).
🌌 Where to stay for the best northern lights views
The blue hole always delivers!
For maximum sky:
STF Abisko Turiststation → directly inside the national park.
For cozy nights & great food:
Abisko Mountain Lodge.
For budget + easy access to tours:
Abisko Guesthouse or Abisko.net.
All these have direct access to the Blue Hole, which is really what you’re here for.
Is Abisko Good for Northern Lights Trips?
Yes. This is one of the most reliable aurora destinations in the world.
While Tromsø fights coastal snowstorms and Rovaniemi gets swallowed by cloud waves, Abisko quietly sits under its own weather bubble. It sounds like marketing, but it’s genuinely physics.
👉 Explore our selection of the best northern lights tours in Abisko here
🚗 How to get to Abisko
From Kiruna:
• 1.5 hours by car
• 1.5–2 hours by train
• Bus connections and transfers available
Many tours from Kiruna drive you to Abisko on cloudy nights:
👉 Check availability for an evening tour from Kiruna
👉 Check availability for a one-night tour from Kiruna
👉 Check availability for a two-day tour from Kiruna
From Stockholm:
• Night train
• Flight to Kiruna + transfer
To learn more, check our Kiruna Travel Guide and Kiruna Winter Guide.
🎒 Tours & activities near Abisko hotels
In Abisko, many activities are centered around Lake Torneträsk
• Aurora chases
• Aurora photography tours
• Snowmobile aurora tours
• Dog sledding under the aurora
• Snowshoe Northern Lights walks
• Aurora Sky Station
• Day trips from Kiruna
• Sami cultural experiences
❄️ When to book your hotel (Important!)
Abisko is tiny → accommodation sells out MONTHS ahead between:
mid-December → late March
February is always the first to go.
Late Jan + early March also disappear quickly.
If a room is available, book it. You can cancel later — but availability does not come back.
Penguin Trampoline tip:
Explore Abisko National Park with Heymondo! Their plans cover hiking, snowmobiles, dog sledding and all the winter & summer 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.
🧳 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 – Abisko hotels & accommodation
What is the best hotel in Abisko for the Northern Lights?
STF Abisko Turiststation is the most iconic place to stay for aurora viewing. It sits inside Abisko National Park with direct access to Lake Torneträsk and the clearest views of the Blue Hole. Abisko Mountain Lodge and Abisko Guesthouse are also excellent, with quick access to open skies and popular tours.
Is it better to stay in Abisko or Björkliden?
Stay in Abisko if your main goal is seeing the Northern Lights — the village sits closer to the Blue Hole and most tours start here.
Stay in Björkliden if you want a ski resort atmosphere, cabin views over Lapporten, or a more secluded setting. Both are only a few minutes apart and share the same aurora sky.
Do Abisko hotels sell out in winter?
Yes. December through March is peak season, and both hotels and cabins often sell out months in advance — especially STF Turiststation and the Björkliden cabins. February is the most competitive month. If you see availability, book it early.
Are cabins available in Abisko?
Yes. Abisko has several self-catering cabins and apartments, including options at Abisko.net, private rentals on Booking, and larger cabin villages in Björkliden (such as Kåppas). Cabins are ideal for longer stays, photography trips, and anyone who prefers their own kitchen and more space.
How far is Björkliden from Abisko?
Only 5 minutes by car or one train stop. Many travelers stay in Björkliden and take tours from Abisko without any issues.
Can I see the Northern Lights from my hotel in Abisko?
Often, yes. Many hotels face open sky, and Abisko’s microclimate means clearer nights than most of Lapland. Walk a few minutes to the lake or the national park and you’re standing under one of the best aurora-viewing areas in the world.
Do I need a car to stay in Abisko?
Not necessarily. If you stay in central Abisko (Turiststation, Mountain Lodge, Guesthouse), you can reach trails, the lake and most tours on foot. A car is helpful if you’re staying in Björkliden or want flexibility, but not essential for aurora hunting.
How do I get to Abisko?
Most travelers fly to Kiruna, then take a train, transfer or rental car to Abisko (1.5 hours). You can also arrive by night train from Stockholm directly to Abisko Turiststation.
What should I wear in Abisko in winter?
Abisko gets very cold in peak season, especially at night. You’ll need a thermal base layer, fleece or wool mid-layer, a down jacket, insulated pants, warm boots, gloves, hat and balaclava.
👉 Check our Arctic packing list on Amazon, and get more tips in our article: What to wear for a northern lights trip.
Abisko isn’t a city.
It’s not a resort.
It’s a handful of hotels sitting quietly under one of the clearest aurora skies on Earth.
You come here to breathe cold air, walk along a frozen lake, listen to the snow crack under your boots, and look up at a sky that feels too wide to be real.
Whether you stay at Turiststation, Mountain Lodge or the Guesthouse, you’re staying in the right place — because in Abisko, the sky is the attraction.
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:
🌌 Abisko Northern Lights Tours — Clear skies, the Blue Hole and Sweden’s most reliable aurora nights.
🏨 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).
