Abisko

Sweden

Abisko is a village in Norrbotten County and the Lappland province in northern Sweden.

Abisko nationalpark is a national park around Abisko, .

Björkliden is a resort village 7 km northwest of Abisko.

View from Björkliden over the national park until Lapporten (the Gate to Lappland)

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, 2 km further west.

Torneträsk, on the shore of which Abisko is located, is the sixth largest and second deepest lake of Sweden, and the largest fell lake in Scandinavia.

Aurora near Abisko

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, STF Abisko Mountain Station, Sweden, +46 980 402 00. In 2013/2014 winter season: Sep 5–Sep 28 and Nov 1–Nov 30: Th–Sa 21:00–01:00; Guided tour: 22:00, 22:30, 23:00 and 23:30. Dec 1–Mar 30 M–Su (except Dec 24 and Dec 31): 21:00–01:00; 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.

Aurora Sky Station, STF Abisko Mountain Station, Sweden, +46 980 402 00. In 2013/2014 winter season: Sep 5–Sep 28 and Nov 1–Nov 30: Th–Sa 21:00–01:00; Guided tour: 22:00, 22:30, 23:00 and 23:30. Dec 1–Mar 30 M–Su (except Dec 24 and Dec 31): 21:00–01:00; 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.

Abiskojåkka river and Torneträsk lake (Abisko national park) in June

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. They can be used also for shorter hikes, especially Kungsleden has good infrastructure.

  • Kungsleden (440 km), probably the best-known hiking trail is Sweden, to the south.
  • Nordkalottleden (800 km), the southern part of which partly coincides with Kungsleden and Padjelantaleden but also meanders among the Norwegian fells. To the north the trail continues via Norway, northernmost Sweden, the tripoint Sweden/Norway/Finland and Kilpisjärvi (190 km) to Kautokeino in Norwegian Finnmark (190 km more).
  • 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 is the most common base for expeditions (also guided tours in season). The Singi mountain cabins (Singistugorna) at Kungsleden are another option for independent expeditions.

There are also other mountains in the 2,000 m (6,000 feet) range in the area.

  • Björkliden. A downhill snowsport system.

Björkliden. A [[downhill snowsport]] system.

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, Kalle Jons Väg 1, 98107 Abisko (near Abisko Östra station, connected with the petrol station, +46 980-669 30. M-Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 11:00-17:00. A shop with a petrol station and a restaurant/bar.

MakoMat, Kalle Jons Väg 1, 98107 Abisko (near Abisko Östra station, connected with the petrol station, +46 980-669 30. M-Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 11:00-17:00. A shop with a petrol station and a restaurant/bar.

  • Tjuonavagge, 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 (by the Abisko Östra station, +46 980 402 55. 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.

Tjuonavagge, 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 (by the Abisko Östra station, +46 980 402 55. 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.

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

STF Abisko (Abisko Tourist station) +46 980-402 00, [mailto:info@abisko.nu info@abisko.nu].

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