Kiruna to Abisko: How to Get There by Train, Bus, or Car
Kiruna is a fantastic base for Abisko and the rest of Lapland. Find out the cheapest, fastest, and coolest ways to get to Abisko National Park and its famous northern lights Blue Hole.
Driving from Kiruna to Abisko in August
Abisko sits about 94 kilometers northwest of Kiruna, Swedish Lapland, on the same rail and road corridor that continues on to Riksgränsen and across the border into Narvik, Norway. Most people making this trip are headed for Abisko National Park, the Aurora Sky Station, or a stretch of the Kungsleden, and there are three ways to get from Kiruna to Abisko: train, bus, or car. We did the three, and here's how each one works.
🛌 Where to stay:
• Camp Alta Kiruna — simple cabins on the Torne River, away from town lights, we stayed there
• Scandic Kiruna — modern hotel right in the relocated town center
• Abisko.net — cabins and hostel rooms with a shared sauna and great dogsled tours, we stayed there
• STF Abisko Turiststation — the mountain station itself, inside the national park, steps from the Aurora Sky Station chairlift
🇸🇪 Top experience:
• Northern lights tours in Kiruna — a solid backup if the train or bus timing doesn't work out for a night in Abisko
• Abisko northern lights tour and dogsledding — our two favorite Arctic things in one tour
🚗 Car rental:
• Rent a car in Kiruna — the most flexible way to do the drive on your own schedule
Jump to: By train · By bus · By car · Getting back to Kiruna · Where to stay in Abisko · FAQ
How to get from Kiruna to Abisko: quick answer
The train is the easiest option if the timing works for you, about an hour, no traffic or road conditions to think about, and it drops you right in Abisko. The bus covers the same distance in a similar amount of time and also continues on to Björkliden and Riksgränsen, but it's seasonal, so check that it's actually running before you plan around it.
Driving takes about the same time as the train and gives you full control over your schedule, worth it if you're already planning to rent a car in Kiruna anyway.
Whichever way you go, pay attention to which of Abisko's two stations you need, because Abisko Östra and Abisko Turiststation aren't the same stop. The ride is beautiful in all cases!
How to get to Abisko by train
Making fluffy friends at Kiruna train station! (He was on his way to early retirement — not all huskies are made for dogsledding!)
SJ runs the train between Kiruna and Abisko, part of the same Malmbanan line that continues on toward Riksgränsen and across the border to Narvik, sometimes beautifully called the Arctic Circle Train (wanderlust sigh). The ride takes roughly an hour, and there are a couple of trains a day in each direction, so it's worth checking SJ's current timetable before you build a day around it.
This is also where the two-station thing matters. Abisko Östra is the stop for the village itself, close to the small supermarket and most of the guesthouses. Abisko Turiststation is a separate stop a few kilometers further along the line, and it's the one you want for the national park entrance and the Aurora Sky Station chairlift. Some trains serve both, so check which station your ticket gets you to, especially if the Sky Station or the park entrance is the whole point of the trip. And don’t wait until you’re on the train, at the first Abisko stop, to frantically wonder if that’s where you’re getting off (true story, won’t mention any name).
How to get to Abisko by bus
I had my best mushing experience in Abisko!
Länstrafiken Norrbotten's route 91 runs from Kiruna out to Riksgränsen, stopping in Abisko and Björkliden along the way, and in season a few departures start right from Kiruna Airport. Journey time is similar to the train, right around an hour. The catch is that it's a seasonal service rather than a year-round one, running through the winter months and again in summer with a gap in between, so confirm it's actually operating for your dates on Länstrafiken Norrbotten's site before counting on it.
How to get to Abisko by car
Reindeer own the road across Arctic Europe — drive carefully!
It's a straightforward drive up the E10, about 94 kilometers and just over an hour, with a part along the Torneträsk Lake (stunning in all seasons). This is the option that gives you the most flexibility, especially if you want to stop along the way or you spot some northern lights! If you don't already have a car, our renting a car in Kiruna guide (coming soon) will cover airport versus downtown pickup and what to know about winter driving conditions on this stretch.
A private transfer or taxi is also an option if you'd rather not drive or deal with the train and bus timetables. If you have a tour around Kiruna before getting to Abisko, ask the operator if they offer private transfer services to Abisko. It’s not that expensive for groups and super convenient. Check our favorite things to do in Kiruna.
Getting back to Kiruna from Abisko
Back in the “city”!
The same train and bus run in both directions, so getting from Abisko back to Kiruna is exactly the same process in reverse. Just check the timetable for the return direction. If you came up by train, double-check whether you're returning from Abisko Östra or Abisko Turiststation, since they're not interchangeable. If you drove, the return leg is just the E10 back the way you came.
Where to stay in Abisko and Kiruna
If you're staying in Abisko itself rather than day-tripping from Kiruna, our best hotels in Abisko guide covers the village options near Abisko Östra as well as the mountain station right by the national park entrance and the Aurora Sky Station chairlift. If you'd rather stay in Kiruna and do Abisko as a day trip, our best hotels in Kiruna guide has that covered instead, from the elegant ICEHOTEL to the more rustic Camp Alta in detail.
Or zoom in and out on the map below to explore accommodations in Abisko and around:
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🧳 Get travel gear
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FAQ: How to get from Kiruna to Abisko
How do I get from Kiruna to Abisko? Three ways: the SJ train, which takes about an hour and runs a couple of times a day, Länstrafiken Norrbotten's bus route 91, a similar journey time but seasonal, or driving yourself up the E10, also about an hour.
Should I take the train or the bus from Kiruna to Abisko? Both take roughly the same amount of time. The train tends to be the more dependable year-round option, while the bus is seasonal and also continues on to Björkliden and Riksgränsen if you're headed further up the line. Check both timetables for your dates before deciding.
Which Abisko train station should I use, Abisko Östra or Abisko Turiststation? Depends on where you're headed. Abisko Östra is closer to the village and its guesthouses and shop. Abisko Turiststation is a separate stop further along the line, right by the national park entrance and the Aurora Sky Station chairlift.
How do I get from Abisko back to Kiruna? The same train and bus operate in both directions, so it's the same journey in reverse. Just check the return timetable and confirm which Abisko station you're departing from.
Can I drive from Kiruna to Abisko? Yes, it's a straightforward drive of about 94 kilometers up the E10, just over an hour with no real navigation to worry about.
Getting from Kiruna to Abisko is one of the easier legs of a Swedish Lapland trip, but it's worth planning. The train and the seasonal bus both cover it in about an hour, driving takes roughly the same, and the only real trap is showing up at the wrong Abisko station.
Check the current timetable before you go, pick the transport that fits your dates, and don’t hesitate to ask the locals in case of any doubt — they’ll be happy to help (you can thank them with a “Tack så mycket”!)
And if you’re there for Lady Aurora, read our guide to Northern Lights Tours in Abisko.
Finally, explore all of our Lapland Travel Guides here.
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
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, Sweden
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
