How to Get from Kiruna to Abisko (5 Options for All Budgets)

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Post overview: This guide details exactly how to get from Kiruna to Abisko (and back). It covers getting to Abisko from Kiruna by bus, train, shared transfer, a rental car, and by taxi. I list prices and processes for each (some are quite cumbersome).

At the bottom, I answer some frequently asked questions, hoping to make this as seamless a process as possible!

I sat down to write this guide a year ago, as a Facebook group I run is constantly asking questions about how to get from Kiruna to Abisko… but I put it aside because, to be honest, I wasn’t entirely confident about writing it.

I even visited the tourism office then to confirm everything, and their uncertainty made me quickly realize that, for a time, no one really knew how to get to Abisko from Kiruna on public transportation.

But finally… I have some answers. I recently met with the tourism office, and we sorted it all out with the local buses once and for all, and I can finally write with (95% confidence) that these are the best ways to get from Kiruna to Abisko.

Okay, let’s dive in! Let me know if you have any questions at the end of this guide.

How to Get from Kiruna to Abisko (Overview)

There are 5 ways to get from Kiruna to Abisko that I am covering in this guide:

• Public bus
• Train
• Shared transfer with Kiruna Transfers
• Rental car
• Taxi

The easiest way to get between the two is by rental car. But this will be pretty expensive if you rent for multiple days. The public bus is an easy option… in summer and parts of shoulder season (not in winter). The train is easy if you have flexibility on time and book in advance.

Abisko Östra vs. Abisko Turiststation

One thing that is very important to know before embarking on this journey to Abisko from Kiruna is knowing where to get off! There are two main stations serving Abisko, and they are 2.4 kilometers (around 1.5 miles) apart.

➡️ Abisko Östra: Get off here to go into Abisko village. This is the station for Abisko Mountain Lodge, Abisko Hostel, Abisko Guesthouse & Activities, and Abisko net Hostel & Huskies. This is also where the village grocery store (Godisfabriken Abisko) is located.

➡️ Abisko Turiststation: Get off here if you want to visit Abisko National Park or are staying at STF Turiststation.

Useful Apps to Download

If you’re really planning ahead, it may be worth downloading a couple of apps before your trip. Here are two worth downloading:

• Länstrafiken Norrbotten (actually a pretty good app that has timetables, tickets, and important information in English)
• VY or SJ (VY is a Norwegian site and SJ is the Swedish version – you can purchase a train ticket on either for this route)

It is also useful to have Google Maps downloaded for your journey if you’re going by bus, as you can ensure you get off at the right stop. Google Maps isn’t perfect in Kiruna’s new city just yet, but it works pretty seamlessly for the route between the two places.

How to Get from Kiruna to Abisko (With Details)

Kiruna to Abisko by Bus

Congratulations, you have probably picked the most difficult mode of transportation between Kiruna and Abisko. But it is affordable and may suit your travels, so it is definitely an option.

Here’s the thing: there are two buses that go from Kiruna to Abisko… but one only runs seasonally (ending toward the end of September). Bus 91 is the seasonal option that runs from Kiruna to Riksgränsen and Bus 505 runs from Kiruna to Rensjön, a village 61 kilometers from Abisko. This runs year-round, from my understanding. I explain more below.

Bus 91 (Kiruna to Riksgränsen)

This bus runs seasonally and ends in September. It starts in Kiruna and ends in Riksgränsen, on the Norwegian border. It stops at both Abisko Östra and Turiststation. This is operated by Länstrafiken Norrbotten. You can view the timetable here.

Tickets on Bus 91 are 232.50 SEK per person and the route takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes. You can purchase your ticket on Länstrafiken Norrbotten’s app or on the bus.

Bus 505 (Kiruna to Rensjön)

This bus runs regularly, as well as through the winter. But there’s a catch; you will need to call a day before to get the route to run to Abisko. Bus 505 starts at Kiruna Stadshustorget (the new city center) and ends in Rensjön, which is a little less than halfway to Abisko.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, however, it will run all the way to Abisko, but you have to call on Mondays and Wednesdays to request the service for the following day (I know, I know).

The number to call is +46 0771-100 110. If you downloaded the Länstrafiken Norrbotten app I mentioned above, they do list this number directly in there under that route, so this will work. I just don’t know if it is worth it.

When I called Länstrafiken Norrbotten alongside Kiruna’s tourism office, they informed us that the ticket was going to be the same flat fare of 186 SEK for this route, but I do believe it could be slightly more expensive since it requires an extra 60 kilometers of driving. Just a heads up about that.

This route that runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays, will take approximately 1 hour and 35 minutes. It will pick up from Kiruna Stadshustorget at 4:10pm on those days and arrive in Rensjön at 4:45pm (before continuing to Abisko, arriving at 5:45pm).

Sigh…

Kiruna to Abisko by Train

Whew, this is a bit of an easier way to get between the two destinations! But there are a few things you need to know before booking.

First of all, this route seems to be a cooperation between Sweden’s and Norway’s national railways. You can book a ticket on either VY (Norway) or SJ (Sweden). The route is often used for industrial purposes, so that is likely why.

Secondly, you NEED to book this ahead. I cannot stress this enough. Often, the train will be canceled, and they will run the route with a bus instead. And SJ prioritizes passengers with pre-purchased tickets and will leave those without one behind if they can’t fit on the buses.

The Kiruna train station is not in the center of the town (old or new town), so you will need to get a taxi there (Uber works in Kiruna) or take the free shuttle over there. The free shuttle bus runs year-round and goes between the train station and the city center (via the bus station).

The bus departs around 15-30 minutes before the train is scheduled to leave Kiruna Railway Station. If your train is scheduled to be delayed, the free shuttle will still run on the original schedule. 

You can read more about this option here. It’s only in Swedish, but your hotel in Kiruna should be able to help you at the last minute (and the timetable is pretty easy to figure out because there is English at the bottom).

The train from Kiruna to Abisko is currently 186 SEK one-way when pre-booked. The train ride is around 51 minutes (it will be longer if they switch the train for a bus, though). Please remember to book your ticket to the right station (I give information about the differences between Abisko Östra and Abisko Turiststation).

Kiruna to Abisko by Shared Transfer

Honestly, after reading all that mess above, I would just opt for this. Kiruna Transfers (also called Abisko Transfers… it’s the same company) offers a shared transfer service that is 499 SEK one-way (plus a small credit card fee which brings the final price to 521 SEK).

They run a few times a day and even though it says that they pick up at Kiruna Airport, they actually also pick up at the following places:

• Kiruna Airport
• Stadshustorget (new city where Scandic Kiruna and Elite Frost Hotel are located)
• Kiruna Studios
• Laplanders Room 14
• Hotel E10/Coop
• OK-Parken
• Camp Ripan
• STF Malmfältens Folkhögskola
• Best Western Kiruna
• Stejk Street Food
• Kiruna Train Station

They literally cover the entire city, so you should have no issue finding a stop. You can bring one suitcase and one carry-on for this journey. It is around a 1.5-hour drive from Kiruna to Abisko, pending the weather plays nice. You can see more about this shared transfer service here.

Kiruna to Abisko by Rental Car

If you have the budget for it, renting a car in Kiruna is a pretty good idea! However, if you’re planning to rent a car in winter and have no regular experience driving in winter conditions, please don’t!

Kiruna Airport offers plenty of rental car options like Hertz, Budget, Europcar, and Avis. I use Discover Cars when I rent cars around the world as they compare companies and always find me the cheapest rates available. You can compare rental car rates in Kiruna with Discover Cars here.

Kiruna to Abisko by Taxi

The fare from Kiruna to Abisko is high. Uber now operates in Kiruna, but I am not sure I would recommend it during the winter season, as many drivers flock to the Arctic to work the winter season and their driving skills can often be subpar (sorry, it’s true).

The price for a taxi to Abisko from the Kiruna Airport can be around 3,100 SEK (about $310), so I wouldn’t really recommend this option. If you are still considering and have a group, I would contact Abisko/Kiruna Transfers and get a quote with them instead.

They have reliable drivers who know the area well and are the same company that offers the transfer service I discussed above.

Getting from Abisko to Kiruna

Returning back to Kiruna from Abisko is pretty much the same as above but in reverse. I would avoid getting a bus for this route during Abisko’s winter season, as it will require a lot of hassle. The train (or the substitute bus) and the shared transfer service are really your best bets.

You can check the Kiruna Transfers bus service from Abisko back to Kiruna here. Please note that the transfer back from Abisko to Kiruna varies in price depending on the time and date.

FAQ about Getting to Abisko from Kiruna

Here are some frequently asked questions about getting from Kiruna to Abisko (and back!).

Do you have any questions about getting from Kiruna to Abisko? Or in reverse, from Abisko to Kiruna? Let me know below or feel free to send me a message. You can also join my Abisko and Kiruna Facebook group to help you plan your trip north!