Abisko

Abisko is a popular outdoor destination due to its proximity to nature and relatively easy accessibility. Abisko is near many great national parks and hosts a trailhead on the spectacular Kungsleden hiking trail; at the same time, it is on the malmbanan railway between Narvik in Norway and Luleå, which means it can be reached by an overnight train from Stockholm quite easily. Abisko village is around the train station "Abisko Östra". The large and well equipped hostel/hotel "Abisko turiststation" lies at the train station of the same name, two kilometres further west.

By car

Abisko is located 80 km east of Narvik and is easily accessible by car by the European route E10. Cars can be rented at the Tourist Office in Kiruna (closed from Friday 18:00 to Monday morning).

By plane

There are three main airports serving Abisko:
# Narvik/Harstad Airport in Norway, 120 km west of Abisko, has direct flights to/from Oslo Gardermoen (operated by SAS, Norwegian), Trondheim Værnes (operated by Norwegian, Widerøe) and Bodø (Widerøe) Airports.
# The smaller Narvik Framnes Airport, 86 km west of Abisko, has only fights to/from Bodø opeerated by Wideroe.
# Kiruna Airport, 100 km south-east of Abisko, has daily direct flights to Stockholm Arlanda Airport (operated by Norwegian and SAS). It is connected to Abisko by train and buses run by "Länstrafiken Norbotten".

By train

The two nightly trains from Stockholm to Narvik stop in Abisko. One is direct, whereas the other has a change in Boden. There are also two daily trains from Luleå or Narvik. Timetables can be found through Samtrafiken (look for Nr. 30, Narvik-Kiruna-Boden-Luleå).

There is a chair lift up Nuolja mountain operating in the summer from the tourist station.
It also runs from 8pm to midnight during the aurora season and is operated by the nearby STF hostel.
The Abiskojåkka delta is off limits in summer, to protect the nesting of birds.
There is a snowmobile route to Abiskojaure and onwards, turning back towards Riksgränsen along the border to Norway.

Abisko is a great place to observe Northern lights thanks to the location within the Auroral belt and its relatively dry climate and low cloudiness. Aurora Sky Station (a part of STF Abisko Mountain Station) is located on the top of the mountain Nuolja and can be reached by a 10 min walk from STF Mountain Station and from there by a chair-lift.

• Aurora Sky Station

  phone: +46 980 402 00
  address: STF Abisko Mountain Station, Sweden
  The night visit to the station includes return ticket by chair-lift, guided tour and an aurora watchers overall. Alternatively, an aurora photo tour with professional photographers can be arranged.

The tourist station organises various activities throughout the year, but the real attraction is hiking on the many trails, out in the spectacular wilderness of the national parks of the area. Winter offers cross country skiing and even some alpine skiing. There is a chair lift on Nuolja and two more alpine areas nearby at Björkliden and Riksgränsen.
There are three (partly coinciding) long distance hiking trails from or passing Abisko.

• Kungsleden (440km), probably the best-known hiking trail is Sweden, to the south.
• Nordkalottleden, the southern part of which partly coincides with Kungsleden and Padjelantaleden, continuing north via Kilpisjärvi in Finland (190km) to Kautokeino (190km more) in Norwegian Finnmark.
• European long distance path E1 from Italy, north of Abisko mostly coinciding with Nordkalottleden.

Kebnekaise, the highest mountain in Sweden, can be reached from Abisko by Kungsleden, although Nikkaluokta is closer (see Kebnekaise and Nikkaluokta). Kebnekaise fjällstation at the root of the mountain can be used as base for expeditions (also guided tours in season).
There are also other mountains in the 2,000 m (6,000 feet) range in the area.

There is a shop at the tourist station which caters for hikers' daily needs and also carries a selection of outdoor equipment, and some other shops:

• MakoMat

  phone: +46 980-669 30
  address: Kalle Jons Väg 1, 98107 Abisko
  A shop with a petrol station and a restaurant/bar.

• Tjuonavagge

  address: Abisko Östra
  Serves up great organic food, buffet style, taking inspiration from the nature around it - reindeer meat with cloudberry jam anyone?

• MakoMat

  phone: +46 980-402 55
  address: Kalle Jons Väg 1, 98107 Abisko
  The restaurant offers à la carte food and a lunch menu.

The Storstugan pub inside the tourist station is the friendliest place in town, rather fortunate, since it's also the only place in town, to go for a drink.

There's a bed'n'breakfast in Abisko village, as well as some summer cottages. The tourist station has hostel, hotel and cottage accommodation available. It is run by STF, Svenska Turistföreningen; as accommodation is considerably cheaper for members it may be advisable to sign up for membership before booking. Membership is also available at the reception. There is also a camping ground – although the right to roam basically entitles you to sleep anywhere except in the Abisko national park or by private houses, as there are not really any cultivated lands. In the national park camping is allowed at the tourist station, at Nissonjohka and at the Abiskojaure cabins.

• STF Mountain Station Abisko

• Abisko FjällturerLonely Planet describes it as a "backpackers delight", and few would disagree. Good-value accommodation in twin and dormitory-styles rooms.

• Abisko Mountain Lodge

  phone: +46 980 401 00
  address: Lapportsvägen 35 Box 86, SE-981 07 Abisko
  Abisko Mountain Lodge is a small hotel surrounded by cosy cabins that offers a relaxation only possible in a rustic setting.

There is a quite good network of cabins, day huts and shelters along Kungsleden, other trails and commonly used routes. Mostly there is a moderate fee for lodging. Also camping by cabins is usually subject to a fee (giving access to the facilities, such as possibly a sauna).

STF Abisko (Abisko Tourist station) +46 980-402 00, .

• Laponia, several national parks and nature reserves forming a UNESCO World Heritage site, some 100 km southward
• Kiruna, the nearest city
• Narvik, Norway, a port town at the end of the railway; the Narvik mountains are an important hiking destination