Staying at one of the best hotels in Sweden to see the Northern Lights will make your aurora chasing much easier. You will not only have all the resources of your accommodation on hand, but also potentially get the chance to see the aurora borealis from the comfort of your room.
Swedish Lapland is by far the best place to see the Northern Lights in Sweden, since its location far up north, partly within the Arctic Circle, and far away from light pollution provides the ideal conditions for seeing aurora displays.
Many hotels in Sweden offer specialized aurora borealis accommodations and experiences, but the Sweden Northern Lights hotels I have included in this article stand out above the rest for their location, their level of privacy and seclusion, and/or their unique architecture and design.
In this article, you’ll find everything from a Sweden Northern Lights igloo hotel and cozy Sweden aurora hotels to a unique Sweden Northern Lights treehotel. Any of these options will help you get that much closer to seeing the beauty of the aurora borealis for yourself.
Best Hotels in Sweden to see the Northern Lights
In summary, these are the best Northern Lights hotels, Sweden:
- Icehotel, Jukkasjärvi: The best Northern Lights ice hotel in Sweden.
- Treehotel, Harads: A unique Sweden Northern Lights hotel.
- Camp Ripan, Kiruna: The best place to see the Northern Lights in Sweden from a spa.
- STF Abisko Turiststation, Abisko: A Northern Lights Sweden hotel in an incredible location.
- Pinetree Lodge, Särkimukka: The best aurora lodge in Sweden.
- Arctic Colors Northern Lights Apartments, Porjus: Where to stay to see the Northern Lights in Sweden if you want privacy.
- Aurora River Cabin, Luleå: A cozy Sweden aurora hotel.
- Máttaráhkká Northern Light Lodge, Kiruna: A conveniently located Northern Lights hotel, Sweden.
1. Icehotel, the best Northern Lights ice hotel, Sweden
Icehotel is one of the most iconic Sweden Northern Lights hotels. This accommodation made entirely of ice and snow was the first of its kind in the world. Every year since 1989, the structure has been rebuilt with ice and snow from the nearby Torne River, so it’s never quite the same.
1. Icehotel, the best Northern Lights ice hotel, Sweden
Icehotel offers standard ice rooms, where you’ll stay warm with sleeping bags and reindeer hides, as well as ice art suites with designs that have been hand carved by artists from all over the world. For guests who want a more ice-free experience, there are also warm hotel rooms and chalets. (Icehotel recommends booking only one night in an ice room and spending the rest of your time there in warm rooms, especially if you will be embarking on any cold-weather excursions.)
If you prefer a more luxurious icy experience, you can stay in a year-round, permanent ice structure called Icehotel 365, which has art and deluxe suites. Icehotel 365 is also home to Icebar, an ice bar that serves drinks in glasses made of ice.
2. Treehotel, a unique Sweden Northern Lights hotel
Want to know where to stay to see the Northern Lights in Sweden from an utterly distinctive accommodation? There’s no other place quite like Treehotel, where you can choose from one of seven unique treehouse rooms.
Whichever room you choose, you’ll get stunning views of the surrounding pine forest and nearby Lule River. There’s the Mirrorcube, with reflective glass walls that blend perfectly into the forest and a hidden balcony so you can get some fresh air without even being seen. You can also stay in the Bird’s Nest, the exterior of which, as the name implies, looks exactly like a giant bird’s nest.
2. Treehotel, a unique Sweden Northern Lights hotel
Maybe you’d prefer the Cabin, a capsule-shaped treehouse with a wall made up entirely of windows so you get sweeping views of the forest and river. If you’re a sci-fi fan, try the UFO, an alien-saucer-shaped treehouse with starry décor.
Want to be able to see an aurora display from your room? The Seventh Room is a suite with panoramic windows that face the river valley and any Northern Lights displays, as well as a bedroom with skylight windows so you can sleep under the aurora. Otherwise, there’s the Dragonfly, which is perfect for larger groups and has multiple panoramic windows, so you can look out over the forest and take in any aurora displays in the sky.
If you want a more traditional cabin, stay in the Blue Cone, a wooden structure on stilts that has a large window with gorgeous views of the sky and surrounding forest. Alternatively, if you’re not interested in staying in a treehouse, the Guesthouse is a charming, more traditional accommodation with several rooms.
3. Camp Ripan, the best place to see the Northern Lights in Sweden from a spa
Kiruna is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights, so staying at Camp Ripan in the heart of Kiruna will certainly up your chances of catching an aurora display. Even better, this Sweden Northern Lights hotel’s Aurora Spa is the best way to watch an aurora display from the comfort of a pool or sauna.
3. Camp Ripan, the best place to see the Northern Lights in Sweden from a spa
The spa’s indoor pool has panoramic windows so you can peer up at an aurora display while you swim, while the outdoor pool allows you to soak and watch the aurora light up the sky overhead. You can even see the Northern Lights from the comfort of the sauna, which has large windows so you can see the sky and landscape outside.
In terms of accommodation, you can stay in one of the camp’s four cabins or even camp in the camping area if you really want to rough it. The camp also offers many amenities in addition to the spa: a tennis court, playground, restaurant, pub, and mini golf.
4. STF Abisko Turiststation, a Northern Lights Sweden hotel in an incredible location
One of the best hotels in Sweden to see Northern Lights is STF Abisko Turiststation, which is located right in Abisko National Park.
4. STF Abisko Turiststation, a Northern Lights Sweden hotel in an incredible location
Abisko National Park is home to the Aurora Sky Station, an observation tower with sweeping views of the sky and park that is staffed with aurora experts who can answer any questions you may have. You won’t find a much better located Sweden aurora hotel than this. The national park also offers plenty of hiking trails as well as downhill skiing on Mount Njullá, so you’ll find plenty to do here.
STF Abisko Turiststation offers accommodation options for many different types of budgets: you can choose from a private cottage, private hotel room, or shared hostel room with bunk beds. This Sweden Northern Lights hotel also has a restaurant that offers panoramic views of Lake Torneträsk and the surrounding mountains and serves Lapland cuisine. There’s even a sauna for guests to relax in.
5. Pinetree Lodge, the best aurora lodge, Sweden
If you’re looking for a great aurora lodge in Sweden, look no further than Pinetree Lodge, one of the best Northern Lights hotels in the world. Located by a lake in a forest, this Sweden aurora borealis hotel offers serenity and beautiful views of the surroundings. If you’re a dog lover, you won’t find a better place to stay, as there are more dogs than people in the area.
5. Pinetree Lodge, the best aurora lodge, Sweden
You can certainly stay busy, even though Särkimukka is a tiny village; make friends with the huskies at the lodge’s Husky Camp or unwind in the hot tub and sauna. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head over to the lodge’s restaurant, which serves modern versions of traditional Swedish food, or soak up the atmosphere at the Brown Bear Bar.
Accommodation options include rooms at the lodge, wooden cabins, Northern Lights apartments (with windows that face north for optimal aurora viewing), Arctic Living apartments, Wilderness Cabins (with no electricity or running water!), or Aurora Hideaways, glass igloos for seeing the Northern Lights in Sweden.
6. Arctic Colors Northern Lights Apartments, where to stay to see the Northern Lights in Sweden if you want privacy
Arctic Colors Northern Lights Apartments are the ideal choice if you are dying to have some peace and quiet as you chase the Northern Lights. These two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments with fully equipped kitchens have everything you need to rest and refuel before embarking on your Northern Lights adventure, including an on-site restaurant and sauna.
6. Arctic Colors Northern Lights Apartments, where to stay to see the Northern Lights in Sweden if you want privacy
The apartments are located in Porjus, a peaceful, remote area with low light pollution and one of the best places to see the Northern Lights in Sweden. You will also be near four national parks, including Muddus and Stora Sjöfallet, if you want to see the Northern Lights over stunning scenery that includes mountains and waterfalls.
7. Aurora River Cabin, a cozy Sweden aurora hotel
Cozy up in front of the fireplace and enjoy lakeside views at Aurora River Cabin. This Sweden aurora borealis hotel has a sauna and grill for guests to use, and each individual cabin has a terrace that looks out over the nearby lake. You’ll also have access to a garden and a private beach area.
7. Aurora River Cabin, a cozy Sweden aurora hotel
One of the best trips to see the Northern Lights you can take is to Luleå, where Aurora River Cabin is located. When you’re not watching aurora displays, you can go hiking, skiing, or, in the summer, fishing.
8. Máttaráhkká Northern Light Lodge, a luxurious Sweden aurora borealis hotel
Staying in the middle of the Swedish wilderness doesn’t have to mean sacrificing comfort. At Máttaráhkká Northern Light Lodge, you’ll find everything from lovely mountain views and a sauna to a hot tub and a cozy lounge with a fireplace. On top of that, this Sweden aurora hotel provides free coffee, tea, and biscuits to any guests looking for a snack or pick-me-up.
8. Máttaráhkká Northern Light Lodge, a luxurious Sweden aurora borealis hotel
The lodge’s rooms have décor inspired by traditional Sami (indigenous Scandinavian people) art and breakfast is included in the rooms’ price. Guests looking to keep busy can go cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or Northern Lights hunting.
No matter which Sweden Northern Lights hotel you stay at, remember to check the Northern Lights forecast every day on the official NOAA website, as well as the cloud forecast in Sweden on the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute website to see if there will be clear skies in your area.
If you’re a photographer seeing the aurora borealis for the first time, have a look at my ultimate guide to photographing the Northern Lights before your trip.
Good luck chasing the Northern Lights!
