What to Know Before Visiting Abisko in Summer (Tips & More)

I recently had a chance to stop by Abisko in summer and thoroughly enjoyed my day there! I had no idea what to expect with a summer trip to Swedish Lapland (except maybe mosquitoes), but it was a blast and leaves me ‘itching’ for a return trip.

I had previously only visited during the winter, and while I think it is a worthwhile trip in the colder months, I didn’t have a great time (for personal reasons… I had a freshly torn ACL). This summer trip redeemed that winter trip… and then some!

In this guide, I recap my experience and detail some of the best things to do during summer in Abisko, Sweden. You’ll also get some weather and daylight information, insight on where to stay, and my thoughts about traveling to Abisko during summer.

If you have any questions about traveling to this part of Swedish Lapland in summer, let me know in the comments. Thanks!

Summer Weather in Abisko

The summer in Abisko is usually pretty mild. These are the average temperatures for the summer months:

• Abisko in June: highs of 14C (57F), lows of 5C (41F)
• Abisko in July: highs of 17C (62F), lows of 8C (46F)
• Abisko in August: highs of 15C (58F), lows of 7C (44F)

July is the rainiest month of the year in Abisko, on the other hand. But the good news is that there is only rain around 8 days a month (on average). June has 5 days and August has 7 days.

Midnight Sun in Abisko

When you’re visiting Abisko, prepare for a lot of light. In fact, from May 27 until July 18, the sun does not set in Abisko. From July 18 until the end of summer, it will also be pretty light and you will have twilight.

Civil twilight lasts until early August and then you’ll have nautical twilight until the end of August. This just means that there is a sunset, but it will still be light at night. But progressively darker as the days edge the autumn season.

How to Get to Abisko

You can get to Abisko by train (all the way from Stockholm or even from Narvik, Norway) or you can drive there. You can also fly into Kiruna and take the train from there (I give some details in my Kiruna Airport guide).

The train from Stockholm to Abisko takes around 17 hours and may (or may not) have one change in Boden throughout the journey. Prices can be extremely expensive if you don’t book ahead of time, however. And many of the direct trains fill up far ahead of time. Prices fluctuate a lot with this, so check the ticket prices and availability.

If you are coming to Abisko from Narvik, there are two trains daily and the prices are (on average) 110 SEK, or $11. The journey takes anywhere from 1.5 hours to just over 2 hours. Take the train in the direction of Kiruna. See more here.

Driving to Abisko? There are roads all the way there and it is a pretty easy, albeit long, drive. Here are some of the drive times from different places:

• Stockholm to Abisko: 14.5 hours
• Gothenburg to Abisko: 19.5 hours
• Rovaniemi to Abisko: 5 hours
• Tromsø to Abisko: 4 hours, 15 minutes
• Narvik to Abisko: 1 hour, 8 minutes
• Svolvær (start of Lofoten Islands) to Abisko: 4 hours, 15 minutes

In Abisko, there is only ONE gas station. It is at the supermarket (which has an amazing candy shop) in Abisko village. It is called Bilisten and it takes credit cards only.

Things to Do in Abisko in Summer

Summer Hiking in Abisko

When I was there, I went hiking. I had previously missed winter hiking in Abisko because of my knee, so I was keen to do what I could this time around.

There are a few trails around Abisko and, to be honest, I wasn’t dressed for hiking, so I stuck to an easy route. Here are some of the most popular hikes in Abisko National Park:

🥾 Abisko-Kårsavagge: A 14 km (8.7 mi) out-and-back of moderate difficulty.

🥾 Njakajaure Nature Trail: An easy 4.8-km (3-mi) loop that takes you to the Marmorbrottet Quarry after following along the Abiskojokk River.

🥾 Trail to the Canyon combined with the trail to Lake Torneträsk: This is what we did. I didn’t have proper hiking clothing on me, so I couldn’t have done anything more. The Trail to the Canyon is partially accessible and it is 1.4 kilometers (0.9 miles). You can either loop back around from here or cross the bridge to another trail. We crossed over to the trail to Lake Torneträsk. This trail is 1.4 kilometers (0.9 miles) and an out-and-back.

Abisko is actually the end (or the start!) of the Kungsleden, so you will see a lot of people embarking on this incredible 440-kilometer (273-mile) trail. There are also several challenging trails within the park, but you will need to set aside a fair amount of time to do them and not merely on a day trip like I had!

If you want to do some hiking but are solo or would like to participate in a group hike, this Kärkevagge and Trollsjön Lake day hike is a pretty solid option! It is a full-day hike, limited to 8 participants, and is the perfect way to discover some parts of Abisko NP that are truly away from the easier trails. You will be picked up in Abisko and will have the opportunity to swim in Trollsjön, one of Europe’s clearest lakes. Click here to check hiking tour rates and availability.

There is not much else to do in Abisko in summer aside from just enjoying nature. You can rent a canoe, mountain bike, or other equipment from STF Abisko or other rental companies. You can also enjoy fires in the evenings and soak up the slow life of Swedish Lapland.

Naturum Abisko

Another place to stop into is the visitor center, Naturum Abisko. They often have lectures and workshops, along with some interactive experiences. It is an educational place where you can learn all about the park. It is located right next to STF Abisko Turiststation.

Where to Eat

Abisko does not have nearly the same number of dining options as other popular travel destinations in the Arctic have. But that is not really why people head to Abisko in the first place. Below are a few options in Abisko (and two in Kiruna that I love).

Abisko

🥘 STF Abisko Turiststation: The food leaves something to be desired, but the dinner at Restaurant Kungsleden is far better than the lunch buffet (Bistro Storstugan).

🥘 Brasserie Fjällköket: Abisko Mountain Lodge’s restaurant…absolutely delicious food and open in the evenings from 6pm until 10pm.

Kiruna

🥘 Stejk Street Food: I have eaten here on both trips and boy, do you get your value for money here. Stejk is owned by locals (and they run tours too… that is how I found out about it years back) and specializes in reindeer and moose sandwiches and more.

I usually get the mix on a plate with fries. There is so much food that I usually pass it off to my partner to finish. You can eat in their tent by the fire.

🥘 Camp Ripan: This hotel has one of the best restaurants in Kiruna! They specialize in local ingredients and seasonal menus. I thoroughly enjoyed my meals here when I stayed at Camp Ripan for a few days.

Alternatively, there is a grocery store in the village where you’ll find everything you need, including candy (there is a large candy store there… it’s divine).

What to Bring With You

This is a pretty difficult section to write because it really depends on what you’re going there for. I reckon most people visiting during this season are Swedes and they will know what to bring along, given the remoteness of Abisko.

But if you’re coming from afar and are not doing the Kungsleden or one of the longer trails, I would advise packing the following:

• light jacket (that is waterproof)
• a sweater (always good to have just in case)
• hiking boots or trail shoes
• mosquito repellent (they weren’t around in late June when I was there but I know they make an appearance shortly after)
• water jug (Swedish water is superb)
• plenty of food and drinks (if you’re not eating at a restaurant in the evenings… STF Turiststation has a small shop for essentials though)
• sunscreen (24 hours of daylight can take its toll!)

Cards are accepted everywhere, so you don’t need to bother getting cash.

Places to Stay in Abisko (and Nearby)

There are limited places to stay in Abisko and even though summer isn’t the high season, things do book out! Hence why I chose to stay overnight closer to Kiruna instead of Abisko on this trip. Here are a few popular options for where to stay in Abisko (I have stayed at or been to them all):

STF Abisko Turiststation: Closest to the national park and has a restaurant that offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A small shop inside, lots of parking, and right next to the Naturum Visitor Center. Several options for accommodation here.

Abisko Mountain Lodge: Located in Abisko Village and home to the best restaurant in Abisko! This is more luxurious than other places in town, but it books up fast.

Abisko Guesthouse & Activities: Accommodation in Abisko village. Offers a plethora of tours and activities and a variety of lodging options (suitable for all budgets). I loved staying here, but my room was one of the cheaper ones and had no windows, which left me slightly claustrophobic.

I loved my summer mini-trip to Abisko, and I plan to go back this autumn and do a little more hiking.

Do you have any questions about visiting Abisko in summer? Let me know in the comments. Thanks!

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