Abisko and Björkliden
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Abisko is a tiny town in Norrbotten County and the Lappland province in northern Sweden.
Understand
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" and the large and well equipped hostel/hotel "Abisko turiststation" at the train station of the same name, two kilometres further west.
Get in
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 servin Abisko:
- The 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.
- The Kiruna Airport, 100 km southeast of Abisko, has only one regular direct flight to Stockholm Arlanda Airport (operated by Norwegian and SAS) and is an alternative and is connected to Abisko by train or buses ran 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).
Get around
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.
See
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.
- 1 Aurora Sky Station, STF Abisko Mountain Station, Sweden, ☏ +46 980 402 00, lapplandsbokning@stfturist.se. In 2013/2014 winter season: Sep 5 - Sep 28 and Nov 1 - Nov 30: Thu-Sat 21:00-1:00; Guided tour: 22:00, 22:30, 23:00 and 23:30. Dec 1-Mar 30 Mon - Sun (except Dec 24 and Dec 31): 21:00-1:00; Guided tour 22:00, 22:30, 23:00 and 23:30. 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. Sep, Nov 625 SEK, STF member: 525 SEK; Dec-Mar 695 SEK, STF member: 595 SEK.
Do
The tourist camp 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.
Buy
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:
- Coop Lapporten, Kalle Jons Väg 5, 98107 Abisko (near Abisko Östra station), ☏ +46 10 7474190. M-F 11:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-19:00, Su 11:00-17:00. Well stocked with food and drinks, and also hiking/sporting equipment.
- MakoMat, Kalle Jons Väg 1, 98107 Abisko (connected with the petrol station), ☏ +46 980-669 30, info@abiskomackomat.se. M-Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 11:00-17:00. A shop with a petrol station and a restaurant/bar.
Eat
- , Abisko Östra (Inside the tourist station). Serves up great organic food, buffet style, taking inspiration from the nature around it - reindeer meat with cloudberry jam anyone?
- MakoMat, Kalle Jons Väg 1, 98107 Abisko, ☏ +46 980-402 55, info@abiskomackomat.se. M-Th 10:00-17:00, F-Sa 10:00-21:00, Su 11:00-19:00. The restaurant offers à la carte food and a lunch menu.
Drink
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.
Sleep
There's a bed'n'breakfast in Abisko village, as well as some summer cottages. The tourist station has both 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 Every man's right basically entitles you to sleep anywhere except in the Abisko national park), as there isn't really any cultivated lands.
- STF Mountain Station Abisko.
- Abisko Fjällturer, ☏ +46 980-401 03. Lonely Planet describes it as a "backpackers delight", and few would disagree. Good-value accommodation in twin and dormitory-styles rooms. SEK250.
- Abisko Mountain Lodge, Lapportsvägen 35 Box 86, SE-981 07 Abisko, ☏ +46 980 401 00. Abisko Mountain Lodge is a small hotel surrounded by cosy cabins that offers a relaxation only possible in a rustic setting. SEK990.
Connect
STF Abisko (Abisko Tourist station) +46 980-402 00, info@abisko.nu.
Go next
- Narvik, Norway
| Routes through Abisko and Björkliden |
| Lofoten ← Narvik ← | W  E
|
→ Kiruna → Luleå |