The 77-square-kilometre Abisko National Park is within the Swedish province of Lapland and offers a variety of memorable outdoor experiences throughout the year. Situated just north of the Arctic Circle, the national park is a great place to see permafrost and dense snowfall. During summer, hikers typically tackle the 440-kilometre-long Kungsleden trail along the Scandinavian mountain range, enjoying the midnight sun.
During winter, Abisko National Park is one of the best places for viewing the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) thanks to the absence of light pollution. It’s also a popular spot for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and adventurous backcountry skiing and snowboarding.
In winter, don’t forget to visit the Aurora Sky Station, a mountaintop observation centre offering excellent aurora borealis viewings. It also has informative museums and a small cafe overlooking the snowy landscapes. The 112-metre-high Njullá is a popular mountain for backcountry skiing, while the Abiskojaure lake is often encircled by campers during summer.
Getting there
Abisko National Park is located near the Sweden-Norway border, about seven hours’ drive from Oulu in Finland, 15 hours from Stockholm in Sweden or 19 hours from Oslo in Norway. These three cities are the most accessible gateways to the national park and are home to Oulu Airport, Stockholm Arlanda Airport and Oslo Airport. You can also drive there in four hours from Tromsø.