Swedish Lapland
Swedish Lapland is Sweden's Arctic north, where visitors go for winter northern lights, summer midnight sun and Sámi culture around Kiruna and Abisko.
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Swedish Lapland is the far north of Sweden, above the Arctic Circle. It is the traditional homeland of the Sámi people, and Sámi reindeer herding and culture are still part of life here. Kiruna and Abisko are the main bases for visitors. Mountains, forests and lakes surround them, and villages sit far apart, so the distances are long and the land feels empty.
The season sets the trip. From about September to March you get long nights, snow and a chance to see the northern lights. In early summer the midnight sun keeps the sun up through the night, and a winter visit and a summer visit feel like different places. Pick your dates for the light you want. The night train from Stockholm is one way north, and it is a long ride, so build your first day around it.
Swedish Lapland in five
- Time the aurora seasonDark enough skies for the northern lights come from about September to March. Clear nights matter more than the month.
- Dress for minus 20°CMidwinter days in Kiruna often sit well below freezing. Pack wool base layers, a warm parka, boots and mittens, or rent them locally.
- Take the night train from StockholmOvernight trains run from Stockholm to Kiruna and Abisko. Book a sleeper berth early for winter dates.
- Respect the right of public accessAllemansrätten lets you walk and camp on most land, but not near homes, and reindeer herds need space. Drive slowly on rural roads.
- Clear EES at your first Schengen stopStockholm to Kiruna is a domestic flight, so Entry/Exit System registration happens at your first Schengen entry. Allow for it before a tight connection north.EES explained
Need to know
- Airport
- Kiruna (KRN) and Luleå (LLA)
- Getting there
- Flights from Stockholm, or the night train north
- Getting around
- Trains and buses between towns; tours or a car beyond
- Best base
- Abisko for aurora and hiking, Kiruna for flights and tours
- Time needed
- 4–5 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCloudy12 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh-10°Low-16°Polar dark endsJanuaryCloudy
Poor
- High
- -10°
- Low
- -16°
- Precipitation
- 39 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Polar dark ends
- FebruaryCloudy9 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh-8°Low-14°Aurora, snowFebruaryCloudy
Poor
- High
- -8°
- Low
- -14°
- Precipitation
- 32 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Aurora, snow
- MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh-4°Low-12°Aurora, more lightMarchPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- -4°
- Low
- -12°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Aurora, more light
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh0°Low-7°Spring snowAprilPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 0°
- Low
- -7°
- Precipitation
- 42 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring snow
- MayPartly cloudy9 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh7°Low0°ThawMayPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 46 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Thaw
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh14°Low7°Midnight sunJuneRain
Best
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Midnight sun
- JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Midnight sun, hikesJulyRain
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 105 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Midnight sun, hikes
- AugustRain16 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°HikingAugustRain
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 101 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hiking
- SeptemberRain12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low4°Aurora returnsSeptemberRain
Good
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Aurora returns
- OctoberCloudy12 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh1°Low-3°First snowOctoberCloudy
Poor
- High
- 1°
- Low
- -3°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 4
- Days with storms
- 0
First snow
- NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh-5°Low-9°Dark, coldNovemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- -5°
- Low
- -9°
- Precipitation
- 40 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 4
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, cold
- DecemberSnow13 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh-7°Low-13°Polar darkDecemberSnow
Poor
- High
- -7°
- Low
- -13°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Polar dark
Average daily high and low in Kiruna, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Swedish Lapland
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
0
- Feels like
- -6°
- Humidity
- 71%
- Wind
- 20 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 84%
Swedish Lapland
09:48 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today3°-4°84%Monday: Snow. High 3°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 84%.
- Tue2°-1°45%Tuesday: Snow. High 2°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 45%.
- Wed7°2°16%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 7°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 16%.
- Thu3°1°4%Thursday: Cloudy. High 3°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Fri4°1°13%Friday: Drizzle. High 4°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Sat3°-2°20%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 3°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Sun4°-1°12%Sunday: Cloudy. High 4°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 12%.
Updated 05:40 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 9.823 SEK
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Abiskoabout 1 hour by trainA national park with mountain trails and a lake, reached by the Arctic railway.
- Jukkasjärviabout 20 min by carThe Icehotel, rebuilt from ice and snow each winter.
- Narvik, Norwayabout 2 hours by carA fjord port on the Norwegian side of the border. Carry your passport for the crossing.
- Jokkmokkabout 3 hours by carA small town with the Ájtte Sámi museum and a winter market in February.
Before you go to Swedish Lapland
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Rules for Swedish Lapland, checked
- Sweden is part of the Schengen area. Check whether your passport needs a visa before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Sweden.
- Freedom to roam (allemansrätten) lets you walk and camp on most land, but not close to houses. Check the rules before you camp.Source
- Reindeer graze across much of Norrbotten. Keep gates closed, give herds room, and stay on marked roads.
- Campfires can be banned in dry weather. Check the fire rules set by the county administrative board (Länsstyrelsen) before you light one.
Plan around Swedish Lapland
Cities, trains, entry rules and money
Read the guideStockholmThe gateway: flights and the night train
Read the guideFinnish LaplandThe next Arctic region east
Read the guideTromsøNorwegian aurora city to the northwest
Read the guideCold-weather clothingWhat to wear at minus 20°C
Read the guideTravel insuranceCover for storm-delayed flights
Read the guideSwedish Lapland FAQ
When is the best time to see the northern lights in Swedish Lapland?
From about September to March, on clear, dark nights. Abisko often has clearer skies than much of the region.
How cold is Swedish Lapland in winter?
Daytime highs in Kiruna average around minus 8°C to minus 9°C in January and February, and nights can drop far lower.
When is the midnight sun in Swedish Lapland?
In Kiruna and Abisko the sun stays above the horizon from about late May to mid-July.
How do I get to Kiruna from Stockholm?
Fly in about 1.5 hours, or take the overnight train, which takes most of a day and a night.
What should I pack for Swedish Lapland in winter?
Layers: wool base layers, an insulated mid layer, a windproof parka, insulated boots, a warm hat and mittens. Many operators rent suits and boots, which saves luggage space.