Abisko Nationalpark Transportation

Location:
Abisko is in the most northern part of Sweden. It is located south of Torne Träsk and 100 kilometres northwest of Kiruna, county of Norrbotten. See the little red dot on the map for the exact location.

How to get to the park:
By car go road E10 northwest from Kiruna to Abisko which is in the National Park.

By train: from Kiruna to Abisko National Park (don't get off at Östra Abisko, that is a couple of kilometres to the east). There goes a night train from Stockholm directly to Abisko NP (see next tip)

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There are really only two ways to get to Abisko: by train or by car. Probably the easiest way is by train from Stockholm or Narvik. Veolia overnight trains run daily from Stockholm to Narvik, as well as an overnight train from Stockholm and Boden, with connections to Abisko and Narvik. There are also 1 or 2 local trains between Narvik and Kiruna. In 2010, the direct train departs Stockholm at 6:12 PM, while the train to Boden departs at 8:12 PM. Travel time is just under 2 hours from Narvik, 17-19 hours from Stockholm.

Eurail and Scanrail are both valid for the base fare, but if you're coming from Stockholm, note that night trains departing before 7PM require the use of 2 Flexi days. Also, coming from or going to Stockholm, reservations are required and cost extra. I strongly recommend you book sleeping accommodations for this long trip. In 2006, Sara and I booked couchettes (beds in a unisex 6-bed compartment) for SEK 300 each, which worked just fine. Note: Connex, the company that ran the train when we traveled, has been taken over by Veolia Transport.

Current fares start at SEK 443 for seat reservation and passage. Couchettes and sleepers will cost more, exact price based on availability. Passholder (e.g., Scanrail) fares are largely showing "unavailable" in summer 2010, so it might be better to skip the pass and just buy the ticket outright. At least check the website before purchasing your pass.

If you're going up in the summer, advance reservations are critical. Foreign tourists can go to the Veolia Transport ticket booking website (www.bokatag.se , then click on the British Flag for English) and book using the "ticketless travel" option. You'll be given a booking code -- don't forget it. When you get to Sweden, go to an automated kiosk, punch in your booking code, and the machine will print out your tickets.

One final note: Be sure to get off at Abisko Turiststation, which is the stop just after Abisko Town (if you're coming from Stockholm, that is). If you get off early, you'll have to walk 2km to the turiststation.

Nothing could be easier as Abisko Turist has its own train station (see picture)! Just two minutes from Abisko village stop, there are direct night trains from Göteborg and Stockholm (19 hours) and a day train at least to Boden and Luleå for further connections south. The train ride is quite exotic as it gets snowier or sunnier as you go north, depending on season. Should train be an absolute no no for you, catch a plane to Kiruna and then the same train or a local bus for an hour's travel westwards.

I am arriving in Kiruna airport on Aug 19th. Please let me know how can I reach STF Abisko Turiststation by train?

Then how can I reach Narvik by train from there?

Finally from Narvik to Kiruna Airport on Aug 23rd?

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The best way to get here is by your own car, but there is also a train stop here which is only 5 minutes walk from the visitors centre.

This is detailed map of the National Park (from the parks website). On the map you can see the hiking trails, roads how to get to the park, the places where you can stay overnight, etc.

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There are lots of sign marks around the park which will show you directions and distances. I also notice sign for snow mobiles, but that was not useful on July ;-)

With lots of water and big lakes around a boat can be a good transportation possibility, especially during the summer.