My Northern Lights Sweden Trip spanned three nights and four days. We stayed in Abisko National Park (arguably one of the best places to spot the Auroras) and one night in Kiruna, Sweden, an adorable little town (and the biggest town) in the Arctic Circle in Sweden.

Disclosure: This Northern Lights Trip: Swedish Lapland guide may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.

Northern Sweden Travel Tips

• TRAVEL INSURANCE: Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world. We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance. 

SWEDISH LAPLAND PACKING TIPS: IT’S FREEZING IN THE ARCTIC CIRCLE! But it is so gorgeous, so don’t let it deter you. Make sure you are prepared for alllll freezing weather. YOU NEED Serious Snow Boots. There really is no way around it; there are multiple feet of snow in all locations! I highly suggest these Sorel Women’s Joan of Arctic Boots (buy here). I have them and wore them everyday and they were AMAZING. Another MUST are these Hand/Toe Warmers they are my life savior in all cold destinations! I recommend these hand & toe warmer combos you can buy here. For more of my fave travel essentials I bring on any trip compiled together, head to my influencer page on Amazon here for a complete list or my descriptive carry-on packing guide here!

How To Get To Lapland

• FLY: There is only one airport near Lapland Sweden, Kiruna Airport. There are 3 nonstop flights there from Stockholm daily on SAS and Norwegian Air. It is about an hour and a half flight from Stockholm. There are also direct flights to Kiruna from a few European cities (specifically London) so if you live in the UK/Europe or are coming from there first it is pretty easy to get to Lapland.
• TRAIN: You can also get from Stockholm to Abisko National Park or Kiruna via long overnight trains. The train is 8 hours from Stockholm, all overnight. The Swedish railway isn’t as high-tech and advanced as in other countries, so I would fly if possible, but if you love the overnight train route then this is your go-to.

We arrived at Kiruna airport at around noon and went straight to Abisko National Park. We booked a private transfer through Visit Abisko and it worked out great. You can also take a train or bus there (depending on the season) but the timings didn’t work out in our favor. The train also leaves from outside Kiruna City Center, not the airport, so we would have had to transfer a few times (and cabs are ridiculously expensive in Sweden) so the private transfer was the best bet. It was a massive bus with USB ports, nice guides, and even a stop to see reindeer on the way!

Related Post: Sweden Travel Guide

FULL NORTHERN LIGHTS SWEDEN TRIP ITINERARY

1. ABISKO NATIONAL PARK

Abisko National Park has been named one of the top places to view the Northern Lights and Midnight Sun due to the Aurora Sky Station it has built on top of a mountain, where 90% of the nights per year are completely clear! It is a stunning place with so many different activities to do to cater to all types of people. It is by far the best place in Sweden for Northern lights viewings.

ABISKO HOTELS

There are only three main hotels to stay at in Abisko. We stayed at STF Turist Station and I highly recommend (click on the link to book!). These places book up fast since there are only 3 hotels so I would book this ASAP after planning your trip. We liked STF Turist Station because it had a great restaurant, was the main base for many excursions, and had multiple on-your-own marked hikes to do right from the base. There are also many different types of room options (hostel dorm situation, private twins, private doubles, etc) that it caters to families, solos, and friends alike. The other hotels are Abisko Mountain Lodge and Abisko Guesthouse and are just a little further down the same road.

Book STF Turist Station here and read Abisko hotel reviews on TripAdvisor here!

ABISKO ACTIVITIES: WHAT TO DO IN ABISKO

TOUR EXCURSIONS: There are at least 50 different Abisko activities to do in Abisko: Dogsledding, snowmobiling, Sami culture tour (the indigenous culture here), a day tour to Norway, skiing, snowshoeing and more. They also have all these activities paired with Aurora searching at nighttime. The possibilities are endless and vary across seasons. You can book any of these tours on the Visit Abisko site here.

• We chose to do dogsledding as our main daytime excursion and I LOVED it. It was a magical experience and a top highlight of my trip. The dogs were beautiful and friendly and our sled navigator couldn’t have been nicer. You even stop in the middle of the mountains and go inside a teepee where they build a fire and give you coffee and cinnamon buns. I booked this through the Visit Abisko site here. It is pricey but SO worth it.

Related Post: Reykjavik Iceland Travel Guide

ABISKO NATURE HIKES: There are SO many hiking trails around the surroundings that you can do on your own and are gorgeous. One walk I suggest, in the winter, is the short walk (30 minutes from STF Turist Station) down to the lake. This is Lake Tornetrask, one of the largest lakes in Sweden. In the winter, it is totally frozen and you can walk, sit, jump all over it (see main picture at top of article!). It is so awesome and the views are amazing. You can do any of the hikes available (maps at hotel desk) on your own or book a guided tour in advance here.

NORTHERN LIGHTS & MIDNIGHT SUN: If you want to see the Northern Lights in Sweden, Abisko is your number one spot due to their famous Abisko Sky Station! This tiny 1-room building is high on top of a mountain with the best viewing spot. You take a 25 minute ski lift up late at night (in the pitch black) and stay up there for hours. As I said above, 90% of the nights are clear here so your odds are good. The Abisko Sky Station is not cheap however, so make sure you budget for it and it’s not guaranteed to see them. Of course, the two nights we were in Abisko were both cloudy so we didn’t get so lucky, we only saw them very faintly on our way up. Do not forget to wear layers and layers and layers. The ski lift was beyond freezing, snowing and windy. You can book the Aurora Sky Station here (must reserve in advance!).

• There are also plenty of excursions at night time instead of the Abisko Sky Station that are also perfect for a northern lights trip and if you have more nights in Abisko I suggest checking them out. This Auroras photo tour is one of the best – book here.
• You can read more here about seeing the Northern Lights in Sweden.
• TIP: Make sure you have the right camera settings to capture the Northern Lights!

ABISKO RESTAURANTS

There are limited restaurants in Abisko, just as there are limited accommodations. The one restaurant in STF Turist Station is actually amazing, but it is expensive. I suggest doing the big lunch; its only around $12 and all you can eat. If you do this you can choose the one-course meal at dinner instead of the three-course $45 meal. The food is delicious though so if you can splurge, do it! Make sure to try reindeer, Sweden’s speciality food!

Related Post: Stockholm City Guide

2. KIRUNA, SWEDEN

Kiruna is the main and most populated town in Swedish Lapland and where you fly into as noted above. We took a train directly from Abisko National Park to Kiruna, which took about 1 hour and was extremely easy! Kiruna is a small mining town that has a really cool history and are currently undergoing transformation, the whole town is moving a few kilometers over because of the mining. I would definitely talk to your hotel or guides about this, it is fascinating. You can learn more in depth about Kiruna here.

KIRUNA HOTELS

There are limited hotels and hostels in Kiruna since it is so remote and small. We stayed at SpIS Hotel (book here) and I couldn’t recommend it more! It is a 5 minute walk from the main bus stop and is centrally located. The best part is the restaurant in the hotel is the top restaurant in the entire time and was delicious. There is also a bar here and a great breakfast. We stayed in the hostel side to save money and it was about $60/night per person. We still had a private room for two of us and just shared a bathroom down the hall so it was perfect.If you want to splurge then I highly suggest staying at the Do book SpIS Hotel here. You can read reviews for SpIS Hotel on TripAdvisor here!

Alternatively, stay at the Ice Hotel for a night or two! You can stay in the ice rooms or the warm rooms. These are very expensive but an unbelievable experience nonetheless and I definitely would do it if you can splurge.

You can book the Ice Hotel here. You can read reviews for the Ice Hotel on TripAdvisor here.

KIRUNA ACTIVITIES: WHAT TO DO IN KIRUNA SWEDEN

• ICE HOTEL SWEDEN: If you are anywhere near Kiruna you must go to the Ice Hotel. It is the first ice hotel in the world and it is beyond mind blowing. EVERYTHING is made out of ice right down to every detail. You can take a quick 30 minute bus here from Kiruna bus station. It is Bus #501 and is ~$10 roundtrip. 
• Take an organized tour of the Ice Hotel where you will learn about the history & see some of the main features- I highly suggest this. Afterwards you can walk around the hotel yourself and look at all the different art installations in each room! The Ice Hotel is a major tourist trap but it is a must see. And if you can splurge, stay IN the Ice Hotel for a night (book here!)! Make sure to spend sometime in the Ice Bar here as well (more details below!)

KIRUNA TOURS AND EXCURSIONS: Like Abisko, Kiruna is another amazing destination for a northern lights trip. There are various excursions leaving from Kiruna to chase the Northern Lights and Midnight Sun. Here are a few links to tour companies – they’re all amazing! Kiruna Northern Lights tours are very popular so you should book in advance.

You can book the Kiruna Northern Lights photo tour HERE, a dogsledding day tour HERE, or a snowmobiling northern lights tour HERE.

KIRUNA RESTAURANTS

• SpIS Mat & Dryk: best restaurant in town, in SpIS Hotel. Not cheap.
• Cafe Safari: good cafe for lunch.
• Arctic Thai: really delicious & affordable restaurant.
• Restaurant Pizzeria Palladium: really good casual pizza place.

KIRUNA BARS

• The Bishop Arms: good beer pub
• Icebar at Icehotel: If you visit the Ice Hotel you have to stop for a drink at the Ice bar here! It is the original ice bar of all ice bars and is amazing!

Related Post: 6 Day Iceland Itinerary

Like this Northern Sweden Guide? Pin it for later or share with friends!

Did I miss something in my Northern Lights Trip: Swedish Lapland travel guide that you loved? Let me know in the comments for my next visit! Looking for a Stockholm guide? Head here! See the rest of my full country Sweden travel guide here!

About The Author

Rachel Shulman is the owner of From East To West and a seasoned traveler having been to 45+ countries and no intention of stopping soon. She is obsessed with planning and specializes in creating detailed, efficient travel itineraries and guides so you don’t have to when planning your next destination.

The post NORTHERN LIGHTS SWEDEN TRIP IN SWEDISH LAPLAND GUIDE appeared first on From East to West | Detailed Travel Guides.

Disclosure: This One Day in Reykjavik guide may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As always, all opinions are my own and I would never post about something I have not personally used/verified.

Reykjavik Travel Tips

• Looking for Iceland travel gear tips and other Iceland general tips? Head to my Iceland country travel guide by clicking here. Looking for a detailed itinerary around Iceland? Head to my 6 Day Iceland Itinerary by clicking here.
• TRAVEL INSURANCE: When visiting Reykjavik, I highly recommend getting travel insurance. You never know what may happen to your flights, a death/personal emergency in your family, or an accident happening while traveling (think: getting mugged, falling while hiking and spraining your ankle, literally any accident than can happen ANYWHERE!). World Nomads makes it super easy and I never leave for a trip without getting their insurance. Most importantly it’s extremely affordable: get your World Nomads travel insurance before your trip here!

ICELAND PACKING TIPS: Iceland is pretty cold year-round! Make sure you’re prepared with my favorite winter travel items and travel gear! You also NEED hiking boots – it is a necessity if you want to do any of the glacier hikes – they don’t let you go without them. Buy the ones I use here. For all of my travel/packing essentials I bring on any trip compiled together, head to my influencer page on Amazon here for a complete list or my descriptive carry-on packing guide here.

ONE DAY IN REYKJAVIK: TOP THINGS TO DO IN REYKJAVIK ICELAND

I visited Reykjavik in the fall so these mostly apply to the best things to do in Reykjavik in September, but I gave some other springtime options at the bottom of the list! Check out what to do in downtown Reykjavik in a day.

Hallgrimskirkja

Reykjavik’s famous church, Hallgrimskirkja is what you see in all of the pictures and postcards of Reykjavik. It is stunning architecture and the view from the top gives you panoramas of the entire city and ocean. Taking the elevator up to the top is an absolute must and this is the highlight of the best things to do in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Harpa Concert Hall

Harpa Concert Hall is a famous concert hall built with interesting architecture right on the waterfront in downtown Reykjavik. Definitely go here to see a show if you have more than just one night in Reykjavik.

Sun Voyager

Another one of the best things to do see in Reykjavik is the famous Sun Voyager statue and walking around the Reykjavik waterfront; it is gorgeous.

Old Town District

Walk around the Reykjavik Old Town District, which is laid out around Lake Tjornin, a beautiful lake in the middle of the city. Downtown Reykjavik is the prettiest area and you should walk around for a while.

Kolaportio

Head to Reykjavik’s main buzzing flea market to shop around for some Icelandic goods! Opens at 11AM.

Laugavegar Street

This is the main street in downtown Reykjavik and stretches pretty long. It has all the best shopping on it for anything you may want or need. We basically spent at least 5 hours walking up and down this street a few times because there are so many places to go.

Reykjavik Helicopter Tour

I highly, highly suggest doing a helicopter tour while in Iceland. Reykjavik helicopters are one of the best things to do in Reykjavik, Iceland. The terrain is so drastic and gorgeous in Iceland that just walking around doesn’t do it justice. This helicopter tour was definitely a highlight of our trip to Reykjavik. The main helicopter tour company is Nordurflug and they provide a few different tour options. We opted for the Geothermal Tour and we loved it! You go to a secluded, inaccessible area and witness the geothermal activity and lava fields on top of volcanoes. I am positive that all the different options are great, just pick one that caters to your interests. This was our favorite activity and I highly suggest it during your day in Reykjavik!  The helicopter tours leave from the local Reykjavik airport.

Other things to see in Reykjavik if you have more time and depending on the season: Whale Watching Boat Tour, National Museum of Iceland, Grotta Lighthouse and The Culture House Museum. 

Click on any of the activity titles above to learn more!

Best Reykjavik Restaurants

Iceland isn’t known for its food scene but it does have some good new culinary options popping up. Some of the foods that Iceland is known for that you should try: Puffin and Shark!

Breakfast in Reykjavik

• Eldur and Is: Crepes & coffee (also good for ice cream)
• Mokka – Oldest coffeehouse in Iceland
• Stofan – Cute and cozy cafe
• Baejarins Beztu Pylsur – Best hot dog in the world. It is a hot dog stand and is the most famous food in Iceland. Everyone famous has come here when they visited, must go

Dinner in Reykjavik

• Laundromat: Newly opened and very popular (American food; omelettes, burgers, salads, etc)
• Hamborgarabulla: Good burgers, casual
• Mar: Good dinner variety
• Grillmarkadurinn: Meats and fish. Fancy & best restaurant in Reykjavik
• Vitabarinn: Best burgers in Reykjavik. Get Forget-Me-Not burger
• Kruska: Good vegetarian options
• Snaps: Good bar food & drinks! Caesar salad, fries, fish, steaks
• Fishkmarkadurinn (The Fish Market): Fancy famous restaurant with amazing fish. Good pre-fix menu

BARS IN REYKJAVIK

• Lebowski Bar: Bowling and drinks. Super fun bar
• Slippbarinn: Cool cocktail bar located in Reykjavik Hotel Marinz
• Kaldi Bar: Fun bar for a night out

WHERE TO STAY IN REYKJAVIK

There are a range of luxury and regular Reykjavik hotels to stay at for all budgets. For mid to high-end, I suggest the Fosshotel Reykjavik; my family loved it and it is in the middle of the city. I also suggest the IcelandAir brand hotels around Reykjavik (IcelandAir Reykjavik Marina or IcelandAir Reykjavik Natura) and around the entire country are high-end and recommended. Click on the hotel names above to learn more and book quickly! Hotels in Iceland sell out fast. Check out reviews for any Reykjavik hotel on TripAdvisor here.

AIRBNB Reykjavik: There are also so many cute apartments in downtown Reykjavik with extra nice hosts that I highly recommend for a group or for mid-range places. They are generally cheaper than hotels so if you like the Airbnb route instead of hotels I definitely recommend it in Reykjavik, especially since you’ll likely be out of the accommodation the whole day anyway. Some of them even come with the rental car. Also, if you use my Airbnb link here you get $40 off your first stay!

OTHER THINGS TO DO IN REYKJAVIK: NORTHERN LIGHTS TOURS

If you are visiting Reykjavik during September-March, you are trying to see the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), and you should do anything in your power to do so. Clearly this is what everyone comes to see in Reykjavik. In the countryside hotels it is much easier to see them, but with the lights of Reykjavik, you need to go outside of the city. A bunch of different companies offer Northern Lights tours in Reykjavik where they take you driving for a few hours and stop at secluded dark locations to (hopefully) watch. The Auroras are never guaranteed, but all of the companies decide at 6PM the day of if they are going to proceed (depending on the forecast) and if they don’t, you can reschedule for another night for free.

You can also decide to do them the day of if you only have one day in Reykjavik and can’t reschedule. Any of these companies are reputable. Click the links to find out more and book!

• Northern Lights – Trips.Is
• Northern Lights Mystery Tour – Grayline.Is
• Northern Lights Bus Tour – Sterna Travel – We did this one; they provided hot chocolate and they were great!

TIP: Download the iPhone app called “NorthernLights”. I swear it will be the best .99 cents you ever spend. You cannot photograph the northern lights on your regular phone camera. Someone told me about the app when we were on the tour and the pictures were amazing. Read here for more tips to photograph the Northern Lights.

Like this One Day in Reykjavik guide? Pin it for later or share with friends!

Did I miss one of the best things to do in Reykjavik Iceland that you loved? Let me know in the comments for my next visit and check out my full Iceland Travel Blog here or my 6 Day Iceland Road Trip Itinerary here. 

About The Author

Rachel Shulman is the owner of From East To West and a seasoned traveler having been to 45+ countries and no intention of stopping soon. She is obsessed with planning and specializes in creating detailed, efficient travel itineraries and guides so you don’t have to when planning your next destination.

The post ONE DAY IN REYKJAVIK: THINGS TO DO IN REYKJAVIK ICELAND appeared first on From East to West | Detailed Travel Guides.