Add organization

Where should you stay in Kiruna to see the northern lights?

What the official sites say about light, season and where to base yourself.

Answered at: Checked at:

Short answer

Kiruna works as a base for the northern lights from September to March, but the town centre has light pollution, so plan to move to darker spots. Stays such as Camp Ripan, ICEHOTEL or a base in Abisko are named by the official tourist sites as examples.

Lapland: Kiruna and Abisko Illustration of a red Swedish cabin, a tent and a hotel bed under pine trees

Why

  1. Kiruna Lapland says the lights are typically visible from September to March, with the most active period usually between 9 and 11 pm.
  2. Kiruna Lapland says central Kiruna has light pollution and recommends moving further out, and that the municipality has many dark spots, including the city mountain Luossavaara.
  3. Visit Sweden says Camp Ripan has an outdoor pool where guests can watch the aurora, that the Icehotel is about 20 minutes' drive from Kiruna, and that Abisko is about 100 km to the west.

Details

Kiruna Lapland also lists an ICEHOTEL Northern Lights Winter Package, and says guided tours use local knowledge of clear skies and forecasts. The same site describes a tour as worthwhile whether the aurora appears or not. For the town as a base, see our Lapland guide for Kiruna and Abisko and the weather in Kiruna.

Tip

Check the cloud forecast before you go out, because clouds sit lower than the aurora and can block it, but a few clear patches may be enough. For a broader comparison with Norway and Finland, see where to see the northern lights.

What may differ

Kiruna Lapland presents Abisko as the classic destination with minimal light pollution, and Kiruna as a broader option with many dark places across a large municipality. In winter the lights can appear as early as 4 pm.

Common misconception

You can only see the northern lights from Abisko, not from Kiruna.

What actually happens

Kiruna Lapland says Kiruna municipality is large with many dark places for viewing, even though central Kiruna has light pollution. Abisko is the classic option, not the only one.

People also ask

  • Where to stay in Kiruna for the northern lights?
  • Which hotels in Kiruna are good for aurora viewing?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Offers and opening seasons change, so check Kiruna Lapland before you book.

Lapland: Kiruna and Abisko
Help