Best Hotels in Swedish Lapland — Icehotel, Glass Igloos & Northern Lights Cabins
Each year, the ICEHOTEL is a completely new experience!
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 (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.
(Planning a full aurora chase? See our Best Hotels to See the Northern Lights in Europe for even more Arctic stays.)
And before getting your snow boots, make sure to get a good travel guide!
🇸🇪 Field Notes
When we went: January, February, March, August
Where we stayed: We stayed several times at LKAB’s rental apartments in Kiruna (simple but super cheap). We also rented a few cabins in Jukkasjärvi and around Paksuniemi, and we spent a couple of nights at Camp Alta, Sámi-owned Hotel Samegård (both in Kiruna) and and abisko.net hostel (Abisko). In summer, we camped. In Luleå, we rented a cabin.
How we got around
Always fly to Stockholm → then fly to Luleå or Kiruna. We also took the train a few times between Kiruna and Stockholm (looove it). In summer, we rented a car (watch out for reindeer!). Abisko is reachable by train or private transfer from Kiruna.Average costs
€140–€300 / night — mid-range hotels & spa cabins.
€60–€120 / night — guesthouses & simple cabins.
€400 + — ICEHOTEL, glass-igloo or design splurge nights.Mistake we made
Eating butter we found in the fridge without checking the expiration date, in a cabin with outdoor bathroom (-30ºC).
Kiruna & Jukkasjärvi — Classic Arctic, easy access
Enjoying Camp Ripan fabulous 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:
ICEHOTEL(Jukkasjärvi)
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.
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)
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.
Hotell Samegård (Kiruna)
Sámi-owned guesthouse with a small on-site culture museum; simple rooms, big heart, lovely breakfast, central location.
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).
Lovely and comfy apartment in the middle of the village, right between the Icehotel and the church. We got it for a steal; hope you get lucky too!
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
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.
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; 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.
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.
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.
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.
Penguin Trampoline 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 Swedish Lapland stay
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.
Round out your route with our Best Hotels to See the Northern Lights in Europe — perfect for linking Sweden with Norway and Finland.
FAQ: Planning your Swedish Lapland stay
View from the Northern Lights House in Jukkasjärvi
When’s the best time to visit Swedish Lapland?
February to March are the sweet spot: long enough days for exploring, nights dark enough for auroras, and plenty of snow.
If you’re chasing the midnight sun, want to swim in pristine lakes and hike, come June to July instead.
In fall/autumn, you can already see northern lights if the weather cooperates (see our guide: When to see the northern lights), and accommodation is much cheaper. Bear in mind that snow is not guaranteed then.
Where’s the best place to see the Northern Lights?
Statistically, Abisko wins — it sits under a rare “blue hole” in the clouds that keeps skies clear most of the winter.
You can compare hotels across the region in our Best Hotels to See the Northern Lights in Europe.
Do I need a car in Lapland?
Not necessarily. The Arctic Circle Train connects Luleå, Kiruna, and Abisko, and many tours include hotel pickup.
Renting a car (with real snow tyres) helps if you want to explore side roads or photograph the aurora on your own schedule. Drive very slowly, check weather conditions and look out for reindeer.
Can you visit Swedish Lapland in summer?
Absolutely — it’s a completely different world. Think kayaking between islands in Luleå, hiking in Abisko National Park, and sleeping through the brightest nights on Earth. If you don’t mind the mosquitoes!
If you’re curious about the softer side of the Arctic, see our Arctic Travel Hub for more routes and seasonal guides.
How cold does it really get?
It can get down to -25, -30°C on clear January/February nights in Jukkajärvi and Abisko, and up to +20°C in summer.
Every cabin, hostel, and hotel listed here has proper heating — and sometimes a sauna, because this is Sweden. If you book a wilderness cabin, check if it has heating (some only come with a fireplace), and bear in mind that the toilet might be outside.
Get in the Swedish Lapland vibe with this awesome Sámi playlist:
Swedish Lapland isn’t one place; it’s a rhythm — trains that hum through frozen birch forests, saunas that steam under dancing skies, 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: space to breathe.
Planning a trip to Swedish Lapland? Check out our guides:
🌌 Kiruna in Swedish Lapland — Aurora skies, Sámi culture, and the northern edge of cozy.
🇸🇪 Winter Travel to Luleå, Sweden — Frozen seas, saunas, and Arctic calm
🎄 Kiruna vs. Rovaniemi: Swedish Lapland vs. Finnish Lapland — Two Arctic capitals, one epic showdown.
❄️ 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).
🦌 Arctic Food Guide — Whale steak? Cloudberries? Reindeer stew? What to eat (or not eat) in the high North.
