Destination Comparison
Kiruna vs Abisko
Sweden's Arctic hub city versus the world's clearest aurora viewing location — both in Swedish Lapland, just 90 minutes apart.
✦8/10
Aurora Score
✓✦9/10
$160/day
Daily Budget
✓$155/day
Easy ✈️
Accessibility
Easy ✈️
Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Best Months
Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
✓20h
Dark Hours (Winter)
20h
Arctic
Region
Arctic
16 types
Activities
✓17 types
Our Verdict
Abisko wins on aurora purity; Kiruna wins as a base with airport access, the Icehotel, and broader infrastructure
Choose Kiruna if:
Travellers who want the Icehotel experience and better transport links but still outstanding aurora
Choose Abisko if:
Aurora purists wanting the clearest possible skies and the Aurora Sky Station experience
Sweden
Kiruna
Couples wanting the Icehotel experience combined with excellent aurora viewing and dog-sledding
Sweden
Abisko
Aurora purists who want scientifically the clearest skies on Earth for northern lights viewing