Abisko: Guided Aurora Chase with Hotel Transfers
From Abisko3.5 hGroup n/aCamera gear
Hotel pickup, hot drink and warm clothing; the guide drives to clear sky.
from €90 per personCheck dates
Swedish Lapland · 68° N · under the auroral oval
Abisko
Abisko
Northern Lights
The mountains around lake Torneträsk often keep Abisko's sky clear when the rest of Lapland is under cloud. Watch from the shore on a clear night, or let a guide drive you to the gap in the clouds.
Where do you sleep?
Most booked from Abisko
3.5 h · from €90
★ 4.5 · 359 reviews
Abisko tours ↗3.5 h · from €90
★ 4.5 · 359 reviews
Most booked from Kiruna
4.5 h · from €103
★ 4.4 · 501 reviews
Kiruna tours ↗4.5 h · from €103
★ 4.4 · 501 reviews
Top walk under the lights
3 h · from €90
★ 4.7 · 65 reviews
Walking tours ↗3 h · from €90
★ 4.7 · 65 reviews
Aurora season
Sep → Mar
dark nights only
A night out
3–5.5 h
most leave after dinner
Guests rate
4.6 ★
1,555 reviews, 6 tours
Quick answer
Go between September and March, sleep in Abisko if you can, and book a chase that drives towards clear sky rather than one fixed spot.
Price from
€57
Most Abisko tours €90
Pickup
Hotel
Abisko hotels, or Kiruna
Sky
Clearer
the “blue hole” over Torneträsk
From Kiruna
≈95 km
≈1 h 15 by car
Key takeaways
- Dark nights run from late August to April; most tours run September to March.
- Three nights in Abisko give far more chances than one evening trip.
- Every tour on this site can be canceled free up to 24 h before the start.
Start here
Abisko Northern Lights Sweden — Is the Trip Worth It?
Yes, if you come in the dark season and give yourself three or more nights. Abisko sits at 68° N, under the band where auroras are most frequent, and its “blue hole” — a patch of sky that often stays clear thanks to the mountains and the steady wind over Torneträsk — improves the odds on cloudy weeks. No night is guaranteed, so more nights mean better chances.
3 waysto spend the night
≈95 kmKiruna → Abisko
24 hfree cancellation
Free cancellationUp to 24 h before start on every tour
Go if
- You can spend three or more nights between September and March
- You want a quiet base under a clearer sky than most of Lapland
- You are happy to stand outside at −10 °C for an hour
- You fly into Kiruna and can add the 95 km to Abisko
Skip if
- You only have one night — no tour can promise the lights
- You travel between late May and mid-July, when the sun never sets
- You need a big choice of hotels and restaurants on the doorstep
- You cannot face long waits in the cold
Your night
Choose Your Abisko Northern Lights Night
Where you sleep decides most of it: a short chase from Abisko, a longer evening from Kiruna, or a free night on the lake shore.
€903–3.5 h
out
Sleep in Abisko, join a short chaseHotel pickup, the clearest sky in the region, back by late evening.Tours from Abisko↗out
€984.5–7 h
out
Stay in Kiruna, ride out for the night≈95 km to Abisko National Park and back with a guide who reads the clouds.Tours from Kiruna↗out
freeflexible
out
Watch from the lake shore yourselfA short walk from the village on a clear night — but no plan B when it clouds over.See the spots↗out
Most booked
Most-Booked Trips for the Abisko Northern Lights
The most-booked evening in Abisko is a 3.5 h guided chase with hotel pickup; from Kiruna it is a 4.5 h minibus trip into Abisko National Park. All lend warm clothing and can be canceled free up to 24 h before.
Abisko: Aurora Car Chasing Tour with Photographer
From Abisko3.5 hGroup max 8Aurora photos included
A pro photographer chases with you; digital photos after.
from €131 per personCheck dates
Abisko: Aurora Chasing with Snowmobiles
From Abisko3 hGroup n/aNo photos
Drive a snowmobile yourself (18+) or ride the sled behind it.
from €90 per personCheck dates
swipe →
From Kiruna: Abisko National Park Northern Lights Tour
From Kiruna4.5 hGroup max 8Photo help
Heated minibus to Abisko National Park, fika, snowsuits.
from €103 per personCheck dates
Kiruna: Aurora Tour with Professional Digital Photos
From Kiruna5.5 hGroup n/aAurora photos included
Cheapest well-rated night. Stays near Kiruna — it does not go to Abisko.
from €57 per personCheck dates
Kiruna: Abisko Northern Lights Tour with Dinner
From Kiruna5.5 hGroup max 8Tripods
Three-course dinner and tripods on the way; few reviews yet.
from €234 per personCheck dates
swipe →
Abisko: Aurora Snowshoeing
From On foot3 hGroup max 8No photos
A quiet walk in the birch forest with hot drinks.
from €90 per personCheck dates
Highest ratedAbisko: Northern Lights Huskie Hike
From On foot3 hGroup n/aNo photos
Hike with retired huskies, then a fire in a Sámi-style tipi.
from €126 per personCheck dates
Abisko: Guided Arctic Snowshoe Hike with Photos & Snacks
From On foot5 hGroup max 8Aurora photos included
A longer hike with a wilderness fire; new on GetYourGuide.
from €108 per personCheck dates
swipe →
Your evening
How an Abisko Northern Lights Evening Runs
A guided night in Abisko lasts 3–3.5 h and most of it is waiting, not driving. The guide reads the sky, moves the group when clouds roll in and lends the warm layers; from Kiruna add about 2.5 h on the road.
1
Hotel pickup
Most Abisko tours collect you from your hotel in a van or minibus; the husky hike offers a transfer from STF on request.
2
First spot
A short drive or walk to a dark spot by the lake, in the national park or along the E10.
3
Waiting game
Hot drinks and snacks while the guide watches the sky and the cloud maps.
4
Move if needed
If clouds close in, the group drives on — guides often try several spots in one night.
5
Photos and home
Many guides photograph you under the lights; back at the hotel 3–3.5 h after pickup.
Clouds beaten
“Despite poor conditions, he “found” the northern lights by constantly changing locations.”
Sharp eyes
“An excellent guide who could spot even the faint aurora far away.”
Honest night
“No northern lights (the sky was almost completely overcast), but a very pleasant and relaxing outing.”
swipe →
Spots
Where to See Northern Lights in Abisko
The easiest spot is the Torneträsk shore, a short walk from the village with no street lights. For darker skies, go into the national park with a guide, ride the chairlift to the Aurora Sky Station, or join a tour from Björkliden.
On foot · freeTorneträsk shore
Open view north over the frozen lake, a short walk from the village.
Walks by the lake
With a guideNational Park
Canyon and birch forest just off the E10; tours stop here on clear nights.
Tours into the park
STF ticketAurora Sky Station
Lookout ≈900 m up Mount Njullá, chairlift from the STF station.
How to visit
Tour pickupBjörkliden
Small ski village west of Abisko; snowmobile and snowcat tours start here.
Snowmobile toursPhotos · Wikimedia Commons: Pavel.shyshkouski (CC BY-SA 4.0), Zaki Habibi (CC BY-SA 4.0), slub10saker (CC BY 2.0), Kabelleger / David Gubler (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Honest answer
What to Know About Aurora Sky Station Abisko Northern Lights Visits
A lookout at about 900 m on Mount Njullá, reached by a 20–40 min open chairlift ride from a base near STF Abisko Turiststation. STF sells it directly — as a chairlift ticket, a guided night visit or a dinner — and it is not on GetYourGuide.
Altitude≈900 m
Way upChairlift, 20–40 min
Base≈10 min walk from STF
Sold bySTF only
Closest bookable alternative
Blue Hole tour — STF area & national park
★ 5.0 (2) · 5 h · from €163Check dates
Blue Hole tour — STF area & national park
★ 5.0 (2) · 5 h · from €163Check dates
Source · STF Aurora Sky Station page, checked October 2026
Forecast
How to Read the Abisko Northern Lights Forecast
Check the clouds first, the Kp index second and the darkness third. Guides make the same call every evening and drive to wherever the clouds break.
1Clouds first
A clear gap matters more than a strong forecast.
A clear gap matters more than a strong forecast.
2Kp index second
A higher Kp raises the odds, but at 68° N even a low Kp can show.
A higher Kp raises the odds, but at 68° N even a low Kp can show.
3Darkness
The hours around midnight are usually the most active.
The hours around midnight are usually the most active.
Kp index0 → 9
At 68° N even a low Kp can light the sky — clouds matter more.
Myth vs reality
Abisko Northern Lights Myths vs Reality
Most first-timers arrive expecting the wrong things: a strong forecast, the coldest night or the colors from photos. In Abisko the sky's clarity and darkness matter more, and the lights often look paler to the eye than to a camera.
Myth
You need a high Kp to see anythingReality
At 68° N Abisko sits under the auroral oval, so even a low Kp can bring the lights overhead. Clouds matter more.
Myth
The colder the night, the better the lightsReality
Cold does not cause auroras. Very cold nights are often clear nights, and a clear sky is what helps.
Myth
It will look like the photosReality
Faint displays look pale gray-green to the eye; cameras collect more light and color. Strong displays do show green and pink to the eye.
Myth
The blue hole means a clear sky every nightReality
Abisko is one of the driest places in Sweden and often stays clearer, but it still has cloudy weeks. Plan three or more nights.
Season
When the Abisko Northern Lights Season Runs
The sky is dark enough from late August to April, and most tours run from September to March. From late May to mid-July the midnight sun hides the lights.
Month by month →Dark nights — aurora tours run · tap a monthApril → August: nights too short or too bright
Aurora season · coldest
JanuaryThe coldest month, with night lows around −15 °C. The sun returns around 6 January, but days stay short, so the dark hours are long.
Night low
−15°average
No sun
21 hmid-month
Darkness
Deeplong nights
Aurora season
FebruaryStill deep winter at about −14 °C, but daylight is back to some 7.5 h — time for park walks or huskies between night tours.
Night low
−14°average
No sun
16.5 hmid-month
Daylight
7.5 hmid-month
Aurora season · milder
MarchMilder nights around −10 °C and days longer than nights by the equinox. The lights keep coming until the evenings get too bright.
Night low
−10°average
No sun
12.5 hmid-month
Daylight
11.5 hmid-month
Edge of season
AprilEarly April can still bring the lights; by mid-month the sun is down for only about 8 h and twilight fills most of it.
Night low
−5°average
No sun
8.5 hmid-month
Darkness
Fadingtwilight
Tours
Season ends — check live dates firstAurora tours wind down
Midnight sun
MayThe nights are too bright for the aurora. The midnight sun starts around 25 May.
No sun
≈2 hmid-month
Aurora
Nonesky too bright
Tours
Offaurora season
Tours
Come back in SeptemberDark nights return in late August
Midnight sun
JuneThe sun never sets, so there is no aurora to see. Abisko switches to hiking season.
No sun
0 hmidnight sun
Aurora
Nonesky too bright
Tours
Offaurora season
Tours
Come back in SeptemberDark nights return in late August
Midnight sun
JulyMidnight sun until mid-July, then only short bright nights — still no aurora.
No sun
0–2 hthrough July
Aurora
Nonesky too bright
Tours
Offaurora season
Tours
Come back in SeptemberDark nights return in late August
Edge of season
AugustDarkness returns late in the month, and the first auroras can show from late August on clear nights.
No sun
6.5 hmid-month
Aurora
Possiblelate August
Tours
Fewcheck dates
Tours
Season opens in SeptemberMost tours start in September
Aurora season · autumn
SeptemberMild nights around +3 °C, autumn colors and an unfrozen lake that can mirror the lights. Nights already last about 11 h.
Night low
+3°average
No sun
11 hmid-month
Lake
Openreflections
Aurora season · autumn
OctoberNights grow fast — about 15 h without sun by mid-month — while lows stay near −2 °C. A comfortable month for long waits outside.
Night low
−2°average
No sun
15 hmid-month
Cold
Mildfor Lapland
Aurora season
NovemberDarkness deepens towards the polar night, with lows around −7 °C and under 5 h of daylight by mid-month.
Night low
−7°average
No sun
19.5 hmid-month
Daylight
4.5 hmid-month
Aurora season · polar night
DecemberPolar night from about 6 December: the sun stays below the horizon, and around 5 h of blue twilight light the middle of the day. Lows near −10 °C.
Night low
−10°average
No sun
24 hfrom ≈6 Dec
Twilight
≈5 hmidday
Night lows · SMHI 2002–2020 via Wikipedia. Hours without sun · calculated for 68.35° N, mid-month; polar night ≈ 6 Dec – 6 Jan matches timeanddate.com. Checked October 2026.
Getting there
Getting from Kiruna to the Abisko Northern Lights
Abisko is about 95 km from Kiruna on the E10, roughly 1 h 15 by car or about an hour by direct train to Abisko Östra, with only a few trains a day. A Kiruna tour includes the transfer both ways.
By car
≈1 h 15
E10 from Kiruna, ≈95 km; winter roads.By train
≈1 h
Kiruna → Abisko Östra on the Narvik line.On a Kiruna tour
Pickup
Hotel pickup and drop-off included.Cold
What to Wear for the Abisko Northern Lights
Dress for −10 to −15 °C on a winter night and expect to stand still for long stretches. Most tours lend snowsuits or overalls, boots and mittens, so your job is the base layer.
+3°Sep
−2°Oct
−7°Nov
−10°Dec
−15°Jan
−14°Feb
−10°Mar
Average night low, °C · SMHI 2002–2020 via Wikipedia, checked October 2026
Bring
- Thermal underwear, top and bottom
- Wool socks and a warm hat
- A fleece or down mid-layer
- Spare phone battery in an inner pocket
Tours usually lend
- Snowsuit or warm overalls
- Winter boots
- Mittens
- Headlamp on walking tours
Camera
How to Photograph the Abisko Northern Lights
A phone in night mode, held still against something solid, captures most displays; a camera on a tripod does better. The sensor picks up more green than your eye, so a faint gray arc can turn out bright in the photo.
Phone
Night mode3–10 s exposure, phone braced or on a mini tripod.
Camera
ISO 1600–3200Widest lens, f/2.8 or wider, 5–15 s on a tripod.
Focus
Manual, infinitySet it on a bright star; autofocus hunts in the dark.
Battery
Keep it warmCold drains batteries fast — carry a spare inside your jacket.
Rather not fiddle with settings?
The photographer chase · ★ 4.9 (82) · from €131Check dates
The photographer chase · ★ 4.9 (82) · from €131Check dates
Plan B
What Can Stop an Abisko Northern Lights Night
Clouds stop more nights than anything else, followed by a bright moon, strong wind and simply a quiet sun. None of them can be fixed on the night, but each has a way around it if you plan the trip with spare evenings.
Clouds
The most common reason for a night without lights.
For clouds
Book a chase that drives, and take it early in your stay so a canceled night can move.
Book a chase that drives, and take it early in your stay so a canceled night can move.
Bright moon
Around full moon faint displays wash out; strong ones still show.
For bright moon
Check the moon phase before you book the dates.
Check the moon phase before you book the dates.
Wind and storms
Snowmobile and lake activities can be called off in bad weather.
For wind and storms
Ask what happens to the booking — some switch to a van chase.
Ask what happens to the booking — some switch to a van chase.
A quiet sun
Some clear nights simply have no aurora.
For a quiet sun
Stay three or more nights; it is the only real fix.
Stay three or more nights; it is the only real fix.
Late arrival
One train line and one road link Kiruna and Abisko.
For late arrival
Leave a buffer between arrival and your first tour.
Leave a buffer between arrival and your first tour.
By day
What to Do by Day Between Abisko Northern Lights Nights
Abisko National Park, founded in 1909, starts at the edge of the village, so the daytime plan is mostly walking. Around the winter solstice the sun does not rise at all, but about five hours of blue twilight still light the trails.
From the village
Abisko Canyon
The Abiskojåkka river cuts a short canyon right by the village — an easy walk on marked paths.
Viewpoint
Lapporten
The U-shaped valley on the horizon, visible from the lake shore on a clear day.
Trail
Kungsleden start
Sweden’s best-known long-distance trail begins in Abisko; walk the first stretch along the river.
Lake
Frozen Torneträsk
The lake freezes in winter; tours with snowmobiles and snowshoes use its shore.
swipe →
Source · Sweden's national parks; timeanddate.com for Abisko twilight, checked October 2026. Photos · Wikimedia Commons: Timme1195 (CC BY-SA 4.0), Ximonic (Simo Räsänen) (CC BY-SA 4.0), Zaki Habibi (CC BY-SA 4.0), L'Astorina (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Book an Abisko Northern Lights Evening
Live dates and prices for the most-booked Abisko evening. Free cancellation up to 24 h before.
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Guest reviews
What Guests Say About Abisko Northern Lights Nights
Six tours on this page average 4.6 out of 5 across 1,555 reviews, and guests most often praise guides who keep driving until the sky clears — even honest reviews of cloudy nights still rate the evening highly.
4.6average · 1,555 reviews
of six tours on this page
of six tours on this page
★★★★★Catherine · United Kingdom · verified booking on GetYourGuide
“Our guide took us to many different locations, meaning we got to see the northern lights even though it was really cloudy. He shared his photos so we will never forget the experience.”
★★★★★Samantha · United Kingdom · verified booking on GetYourGuide
“The night sky was so clear and full of stars, away from the lights of Abisko. We went to a couple of frozen lakes and were extremely lucky to see the northern lights coming and going throughout the hike.”
★★★★★Anthony · April 2026 · verified booking on GetYourGuide
“Her photos of us with the Aurora in the background were amazing. An unexpected and unique gift to all of her guests.”
FAQ
Abisko Northern Lights FAQ
Ten short, direct answers.
See Abisko toursLast updated October 2026 · prices are GetYourGuide's advertised “from” per person
Is Abisko good for the northern lights?
Yes. Abisko sits at 68° N under the auroral oval, and its sky often stays clear when clouds cover the region around it. No night is guaranteed, so plan for at least three nights.
When is the best time for the Abisko northern lights?
Between September and March. The sky is dark enough from late August to April, December and January are the darkest months, and autumn and March bring milder nights.
How far is Abisko from Kiruna?
About 95 km on the E10 — roughly 1 h 15 by car or about an hour by direct train to Abisko Östra. Kiruna tours include the transfer.
Is it better to stay in Abisko or Kiruna for the northern lights?
Abisko, if you can find a room. You are under the clearer sky every night and tours last 3–3.5 h; from Kiruna each evening adds about 2.5 h on the road, but there are more hotels and flights.
Can I book the Aurora Sky Station on GetYourGuide?
No. The Abisko northern lights Aurora Sky Station visits are sold only by STF Abisko Turiststation — as a chairlift ticket, a guided night visit or a dinner. The Blue Hole tour visits the STF area and the national park.
Is there an Abisko northern lights live cam?
Yes. Lights Over Lapland runs a sky camera in Abisko National Park, streamed on SkylineWebcams; it is sometimes offline, so check it together with a cloud forecast.
Can I see the lights without a tour?
Yes, from the Torneträsk shore on a clear night, a short walk from the village. A tour adds transport, warm clothing and a guide who drives to clear sky.
What should I wear?
Most tours lend snowsuits or warm overalls, boots and mittens. Bring thermal underwear, wool socks and a hat — the BBQ tour lists them as not included.
Can children join an Abisko northern lights tour?
Many can, with limits. The Abisko chase takes children from 5, the photographer tour from 3; the Kiruna to Abisko National Park tour is not for children under 12, and snowmobile drivers must be 18.
Can I cancel if it is cloudy?
Every tour on this site can be canceled free up to 24 h before the start, with a full refund. After that, operators decide; none guarantees the lights.