Abisko Ski Resort Sweden
Abisko ski resort in Sweden's Arctic Lapland is a fabulous combination of lift assisted off-piste skiing & heli-skiing plus sightseeing for the amazing northern lights. Also known as 'Nuolja Offpist' to the locals, Abisko provides a haven in the Arctic, connected by a fascinating train to the rest of the world.
Whilst not a huge ski area, Abisko has been described as Sweden’s version of the legendary French ski resort of La Grave - as in all freeride, no groomed piste trails. And even though it definitely doesn’t have the La Grave extreme terrain. Abisko's 500m skiable vertical down from the Aurora Sky Station can certainly have extreme weather & snow conditions. Its terrain will satisfy any advanced & expert freeriders looking for a different adventure experience. To make the best of the sunshine & snow, winter operating of the chairlift during the day is from late February to early May.
Check out the ski trail map for Abisko-Nuolja below.
Backcountry Skiing
Swedish Lapland has the top 10 highest mountains in Sweden, and most are in the range extending south of nearby Riksgransen. The backcountry skiing options are endless & a major reason to visit the region.
Where is Abisko Sweden?
Abisko is in Swedish Lapland, about 200 km north of the Arctic Circle & 1,329km (15½hr) by road north of Stockholm. The closest major centres are Narvik on the coast in Norway (80km, 1hr15min by road to the west) and Kiruna (94km, 1½hr to the south-east). The ski area is 3km west of town surrounded by the Abisko National Park.
Abisko is connected to the rest of world by road & rail between Kiruna & Narvik via the Swedish ski resorts of Riksgransen & Bjorkliden! The fascinating railway line is called the Arctic Circle Train. It runs twice daily in both directions between Kiruna and Narvik, stopping at Abisko as well as Riksgränsen and its sister resort, Bjorkliden. There are two train stations in the area. The station in the main village is Abisko Östra & the station near the ski lift is just plain old Abisko.
Search & book train tickets from Narvik, Kiruna or Stockholm to Abisko.
The closest major Swedish airport is Kiruna (KRN) which has several daily flights from Stockholm. From the airport, a bus shuttle can take you directly to the ski resort or you can take your time and catch the train from the station in the Kiruna city centre. An alternative airport is Evenes (EVE) in Norway, also known as the Harstad-Narvik airport. It has flights via Oslo. A bus shuttle will get you to Narvik where the train can complete a journey to Abisko. Search & book flights to Evenes or Kiruna.
Alternatively, for any true lovers of railway journeys, an overnight train makes the epic journey from Stockholm to Abisko and on to Narvik in Norway. The train leaves Stockholm at 5.30pm and arrives at Abisko at around 11.00am the next day.
Abisko Accommodation
Abisko has a small number of lodging options in tow locations. At the base of the ski lift in the National Park, across from the Abisko train station is the Abisko Turiststation STF Hotel. It offers hotel & lodge-style rooms plus self-contained cabins within a 5min stroll from the chairlift. In the main village near the Abisko Östra train station there is the Abisko Mountain Lodge, Abisko Guesthouse & 2 hostels (the Abisko Hostel & Abisko net Hostel & Huskies). If busy, you may have to opt for a shared bunk room to get a bed. Så var det!
Search & book here for all Abisko ski accommodation.
Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) Viewing
Another of Abisko’s geographical benefits is its remoteness (lack of man-made light) and proximity to the stunning phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis (otherwise known as the Northern Lights). The Northern Lights can be viewed from late September to April. Whilst they can occur anywhere in the region, the Abisko National Park is touted as the best place in the world to see the phenomenon. You need a clear night with no light (artificial or moon!) & the right solar activity.
Nearby Ski Resorts
Between Abisko and the Norwegian coastline, there are 3 ski resorts all accessible by the train. The Riksgransen ski resort has a linked lift pass with its sister resort of Bjorkliden (30km apart). A 30min bus shuttle runs daily between the two resorts, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Taking the train to Riksgransen (twice daily) takes about 1¼hr but is NOT convenient if looking to use the ski lifts due to awkward arrival & departure times.
Across the border in Norway, nearby Narvik has a stunningly located ski hill, a step from the train station and overlooking the fjords. Called Narvikfjellet, the mountain has over 800m of lift served vertical - amongst the longest in Scandinavia, plus some very tasty off-piste. Ski 'hill' indeed!
Review
The Powderhounds will endeavour to review Abisko & the rest of Sweden & Norway in the coming season. Stay tuned for our sparkling repartee, new photos & insights.
See how all the European ski resorts compare on the Europe ski resort ratings page.
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