Northern Lights Hotels in Sweden: Icehotel, Glass Igloos & Cabins in Kiruna, Abisko & Luleå (We Stayed at a Few)
Our favorite hotels and cabins in Swedish Lapland to watch the aurora — Icehotel, glass igloos, design icons, and cozy cabins in Kiruna, Abisko, and Luleå. We stayed at a few!
Each year, the ICEHOTEL is a completely new experience!
Last update: August 2026
There’s cold, and then there’s Lapland cold—the kind that makes the air taste clean and turns silence into music. Well, actually, there’s Svalbard cold, which takes it to another level, but that’s another story. You probably came to Swedish Lapland for the Northern Lights, but you’ll stay for the cabins that smell like pine, the saunas with a view of forever, and the hosts who still cut firewood by hand to prepare a delicious suova (more on Arctic Food here).
We’ve crossed Swedish Lapland roughly a dozen times, from Luleå’s frozen archipelago to Abisko’s star-soaked skies to find the best stays—those that feel remote yet reachable, wild yet warm. This is our guide to the best northern lights hotels in Sweden, divided by region.
Planning a full aurora chase? See our Best Hotels to See the Northern Lights in Europe for even more Arctic stays.
🛌 Where to stay:
• Camp Alta, Kiruna — we stayed here. Lakeside cabins with wood stoves, walking distance to winter tours, open sky over the frozen lake.
• Abisko.net Hostel & Huskies, Abisko — we stayed here. Friendly and affordable, with some of the best dog sledding we've done and a shared sauna.
• Arctic Bath, Harads — floating spa hotel on the Lule River near Luleå. Cold-plunge under the stars, then straight to the sauna. Splurge-worthy and genuinely relaxing.
🇸🇪 Top experiences:
• Northern lights minibus chase tour, Kiruna — a small-group chase with a guide driving toward clear sky instead of parking in one spot.
• Aurora Chase tour, Abisko — a local guide who knows exactly where the valley's clouds break.
• Sámi culture, reindeer and northern lights in Luleå — a combo of the coolest things to do on the frozen archipelago.
🚗 Compare car rentals: Booking.com car rentals — worth it mainly if you want to chase clearer skies on your own schedule.
What are the best northern lights hotels in Sweden?
If you just want the shortlist: Aurora River Camp near Kiruna, for glass-roof pods you can watch from bed. Camp Alta, also near Kiruna, for lakeside cabins with an open line to the sky over the water. Camp Ripan, right in Kiruna, for its hilltop position and outdoor Aurora Spa. STF Abisko Turiststation, for sitting inside the "blue hole" itself. Arctic Bath in Harads, for watching from a cold plunge under a properly dark sky. Full details on each and more options below, sorted by region.
Northern lights hotels in Kiruna & Jukkasjärvi — Classic Arctic, easy access
Enjoying Camp Ripan fabulous Aurora Spa!
Aaah, my dear Kiruna. Where it all began. Long story short, I (Eli) studied in Sweden and visited Kiruna. In just 3 days, I fell in love with the Arctic and changed my master’s thesis topic to polar tourism! Yep, that’s how powerful Kiruna is!
Here is a selection of our favorite accommodations to watch the northern lights in Kiruna and around.
ICEHOTEL(Jukkasjärvi) - We visited 7 times
The legend. Do one cold night for the ice-art suite magic, then switch to a warm room so your eyelashes recover. Restaurant, sauna circuit, and guided activities right on site. If you can’t afford to stay there, at least visit it during the day! Jukkasjärvi is accessible by bus or cab (more expensive) from Kiruna. Read our dedicated article about the ICEHOTEL, Sweden.
Did you know?
The ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi began by accident in 1989, when visitors to an ice art show asked to sleep inside. Reindeer hides, sleeping bags—and history was made. Each winter since, artists rebuild it from scratch, turning the frozen Torne River into a living, melting piece of Arctic art. Eli’s been seven times, and it’s never the same twice.
Camp Ripan (Kiruna)
Family-owned chalet hotel with a superb Aurora Spa and a kitchen that actually deserves your splurge night (featured in our article on Arctic Food). Walkable to town; great for couples and families. It’s on a small hill, so it’s a great spot for the northern lights.
Camp Alta (Kiruna) - We stayed there
Lakeside cabins, wood stoves, and winter tours from the door. Rustic, affordable, and properly Arctic. It’s a bit outside of town, so ideal to watch the northern lights from the frozen lake. We feature it in our guide to the Northern Lights in Kiruna!
Hotell Samegård (Kiruna) - We stayed there
Sámi-owned guesthouse with a small on-site culture museum; simple rooms, big heart, lovely breakfast, central location. Of course, central means some light pollution, but Kiruna's outskirts are a short walk away if the sky lights up.
Aurora River Camp — Glass Igloos & Cabins (near Kiruna)
Glass-roof pods and cozy cabins along a frozen river; sauna available. Great “see-it-from-bed” odds when skies are clear.
The Northern Lights House (Jukkasjärvi, independent stay) - We stayed there
Lovely and comfy apartment in the middle of the village, right between the Icehotel and the church. You can reach the frozen lake or the river in a few minutes, perfect for aurora watching. We got it for a steal; hope you get lucky too!
Zoom in the maps below to find hotels & holiday rentals near Kiruna and Jukkasjärvi
Aurora hotels in Abisko — For northern lights purists
We had a lovely wasa snack in the middle of the Torneträske lake in Abisko after our snowshoe hike!
A one-road “town” and national park where the sky almost guarantees auroras. Abisko sits beneath a “blue hole” in the clouds — the driest, clearest pocket of the Swedish Arctic. Come for the lights, stay for the wilderness that starts at your doorstep. Awesome in any season!
STF Abisko Turiststation
Classic mountain lodge right at the trailhead for Aurora Sky Station. Rooms, dorms, and cabins; professional staff; and instant access to trails.
Abisko.net Hostel & Huskies - We stayed there
Friendly, social, affordable. Offers amazing dogsled tours (the best mushing experience I ever had, and I had many), aurora chases, and access to a shared sauna.
Abisko Guesthouse & Activities
A cozy, family-run stay with simple rooms, communal kitchen, and nightly aurora tours.
Zoom in the map below to find a hotel or guesthouse near Abisko
🗓️ When to see the northern lights in Swedish Lapland?
The aurora season in Swedish Lapland runs from late September to early April, with the best viewing usually between December and February, when nights are longest and skies clearest.
For photo settings, gear advice, and the best Northern Lights destinations across Scandinavia, check out our full Northern Lights Hub and our guide to the Northern Lights in Lapland.
Northern lights hotels in Luleå & the frozen sea (Harads nearby)
Island-hopping on foot is so cool!
Luleå is Swedish Lapland’s coastal escape — a mix of frozen sea roads, island villages, and modern cafés. In winter you can drive or hike across the ice to nearby islands, and watch the northern lights from there; in summer, paddle between them under midnight light. Harads, an hour inland, hosts two of the region’s most famous design hotels.
Treehotel (Harads)
UFOs, mirrored cubes, bird’s nests — all suspended in the forest canopy. Equal parts surreal and stunning. Not cheap, but sooo cool. Deep in dark forest well away from any town glow, a solid bet if the sky cooperates, though it's worth checking a room's window angle before booking if aurora views are the priority.
Arctic Bath (Harads)
You might have seen this work of art. Floating spa hotel on the Lule River. Cold-plunge under the stars, then sprint for the sauna. Splurge-worthy, photogenic, and genuinely relaxing. That same open-sky moment during the plunge is exactly when an aurora would show up overhead, if you're lucky with timing.ice-road
First Camp Arcus–Luleå (Cabins)
Year-round holiday park with heated cabins and a sauna by the river. A practical, wallet-friendly base for ice road adventures.
Luleå Village Cabin (independent stay)
Quiet and private cabin with self-catering facilities, ideal for couples or small groups wanting their own Arctic base.
Zoom in the map below to find a place to stay in Luleå
When to book & what to expect
Catching the last rays in Camp Alta, Kiruna
| Month | Daylight hours | Average temp (°C) | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| December – January | 0 – 3 | –18 to –9 | Polar night (blue light), cool for dogsledding |
| February – March | 6 – 10 | –17 to –7 | Prime aurora season, crisp snow |
| April – May | 12 – 18 | –5 to +5 | Spring snow and long days |
| June – August | 20 – 24 | +10 to +20 | Midnight sun, kayaking, hiking |
| September – October | 8 – 14 | 0 to +10 | Fall colors and early auroras |
🧭 It’s generally a few degrees milder around Luleå’s coast — technically subarctic — compared to the higher-altitude inland regions like Abisko and Kiruna.
Not sure about the best season for your trip? Read our guide: Best time to visit Lapland.
Penguin tip:
High season in Swedish Lapland is actually… winter. If you’re planning to visit in February or March, we recommend booking 3–6 months ahead — especially for Abisko and Kiruna. Accommodation options are limited and can get very expensive.
How to choose your northern lights stay in Sweden
Aurora first? Base in Abisko or Kiruna/Jukkasjärvi.
Design lover?Treehotel or Arctic Bath.
Budget with character?Camp Alta or Abisko.net.
Easy logistics? Start in Luleå and ride the Arctic Circle Train north, or stay in Kiruna and take a train to Abisko and a bus to Jukkasjärvi.
Round out your route with our Best Hotels to See the Northern Lights in Europe — perfect for linking Sweden with Norway and Finland.
✈️ Find flights
🏨 Explore hotels, apartments, guesthouses, cabins
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FAQ: Northern lights hotels in Sweden
View from the Northern Lights House in Jukkasjärvi
Which hotels in Sweden are best for seeing the northern lights?
Aurora River Camp and Camp Alta near Kiruna, Camp Ripan on its hilltop, STF Abisko Turiststation inside the "blue hole," and Arctic Bath in Harads all give you a real shot at watching from the property itself. Full picks by region above.
Can you see the northern lights from your hotel room in Swedish Lapland?
At a few properties, yes. Aurora River Camp's glass-roof pods are built for exactly that. Most other hotels, including in-town options like Camp Ripan or Hotell Samegård, mean stepping outside, usually no further than the parking lot or a short walk.
Is Kiruna or Abisko better for a northern lights hotel?
Abisko has the edge on clear skies thanks to its "blue hole" microclimate. Kiruna has more hotel choice, the ICEHOTEL nearby, and better infrastructure if a cloudy night means you're stuck indoors. Full comparison in our Northern Lights in Kiruna guide.
Is the ICEHOTEL good for seeing the northern lights?
The ICEHOTEL experience itself is about the ice art, not aurora-watching from your room. Plan on stepping outside onto the frozen Torne River after dark for the best chance.
Do any hotels offer a northern lights wake-up call?
We don't have a verified list of which specific properties currently offer this, and policies change season to season, so check directly with the hotel when booking if that's a priority for you.
When's the best time to book a hotel for the northern lights in Sweden?
December through March gives you the longest, darkest nights. Book three to six months ahead for Kiruna and Abisko specifically in February and March, since rooms sell out early in peak season. Read our guide to the Best Time to See the Northern Lights for more.
Do I need a car to reach the best aurora-viewing hotels?
Not necessarily. The Arctic Circle Train connects Luleå, Kiruna, and Abisko, and several properties above, including Camp Ripan and STF Abisko, are walkable or offer pickup. A rental car helps most if you want to chase clearer skies on your own schedule.
Get in the Swedish Lapland vibe with this awesome Sámi playlist from Camp Ripan Kiruna’s aurora spa:
Swedish Lapland isn’t one place; it’s a rhythm — trains that hum through frozen birch forests, saunas that steam under the dancing aurora, hosts who hand you reindeer stew, after a whole day mushing in the cold, and it’s the most delicious thing in the world.
Whether you stay in a glass igloo near Kiruna, a designer treehouse in Harads, or a cabin by the Torne River, the north rewards you with something few destinations still offer (besides the northern lights, that is): space to breathe.
Finally, explore all our Lapland Travel Guides here. And if you want to combine with Finnish Lapland, explore our guide to the Best Northern Lights Hotels in Finland.
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Best Hotels in Kiruna
ICEHOTEL Sweden
Things to Do in Kiruna & Swedish Lapland Year Round
Things to Do in Kiruna in Winter
Northern Lights in Kiruna
Northern Lights Tours in Kiruna
Car Rental in Kiruna
Abisko:
Abisko Northern Lights Tours
Best Hotels in Abisko
How to Get to Abisko from Kiruna
Luleå Northern Lights
Hotels in Luleå, Sweden
Winter Travel to Luleå
Swedish Lapland in general:
Best Hotels in Swedish Lapland
Northern Lights Tours in Sweden
Best Time to Visit Lapland
Northern Lights in Lapland
One Lapland Trip, Three Countries
Our Ultimate Arctic Travel Guide
Northern Lights for Dummies
