Getting around Abisko

Abisko stretches along the E10 between two railway stops, and most of what visitors need lies within walking distance of one of them. For Björkliden, Riksgränsen and Kiruna you take the bus, the train or a car.

Empty two-lane road through snowy birch scrub under aurora and clouds at night — A road through the birch scrub near Abisko on a winter night. Photo: David Becker / Unsplash

5 min read Updated October 2026

Abisko is not one compact village. It has two parts along the E10, each with its own railway stop: Abisko Östra, the village with the shops and petrol stations, and Abisko Turiststation inside the national park, about 2 to 3 kilometres further west. Between them run the road, the railway and a handful of buses. Most visitors get by on foot and on tour pickups, and only need public transport for trips to Björkliden, Riksgränsen, Kiruna or Narvik.

On foot around the park entrance

The area around Abisko Turiststation is easy to manage without transport. From the station it is about 800 metres to STF Abisko Turiststation and the naturum visitor centre, and the lower station of the chairlift to the Aurora Sky Station is a ten-minute walk away. The yellow canyon loop along the Abiskojåkka starts at the naturum and takes about an hour, and the gravel road down to the shore of Torneträsk is about 1.2 kilometres long. A reconstructed Sámi camp lies about 300 metres behind the station.

For visitors with limited mobility, Länsstyrelsen Norrbotten describes adapted sections of both routes. From the naturum, about 150 metres of sloping gravel path without a handrail lead towards the canyon, with gradients of up to 8 percent, before a boardwalk with railings. Holders of a disabled parking permit can use a car park below and west of the tourist station, which shortens the way to the canyon, or drive down to a lay-by at the lake shore.

Rocky canyon in winter with frozen waterfalls and a green pool partly covered by ice — The Abiskojåkka canyon in winter, a short walk from the station. Photo: Nikola Johnny Mirkovic / Unsplash

Tour pickups

For activities you rarely need your own transport. Most aurora, snowmobile, ice climbing and day trips on this site list pickup points at the lodges and hostels in Abisko and at Hotell Fjället in Björkliden. A few start from a fixed meeting point instead, such as Lapportsvägen 32 in Abisko for the husky walks and one ecology tour, so check the meeting point on each tour page. Some snowmobile tours add about 30 minutes to the stated time for collecting guests.

Buses along the E10

Two bus services connect Abisko with the places nearby.

Bus 91 of Länstrafiken Norrbotten runs from Kiruna to Riksgränsen via Abisko and Björkliden. It is a seasonal line that runs in late winter and spring and again in summer; check the exact dates with Länstrafiken, since the published months vary slightly. For the national park, get off at the stop Abisko Turiststation E10. From Kiruna bus station to Abisko Turist takes about an hour and a quarter.
The Arctic Route runs twice a day in each direction between Kiruna Airport and Narvik station and stops in Abisko, Björkliden and Riksgränsen. Seats can be booked online or bought on board if there is space.

By bus, Björkliden is about 15 minutes from Abisko and Riksgränsen about 40 minutes. Länstrafiken tickets are sold in its app, on its website and by card on the bus.

By train

The railway from Kiruna to Narvik stops at both Abisko stations, at Björkliden and at Riksgränsen. SJ runs trains on this line every day of the year. Kiruna Lapland points out that tickets cannot be bought at the station or on the train, so you need to book online before you travel, even for a short hop. Björkliden station is about a kilometre from Hotell Fjället, and from Riksgränsen to Björkliden the train takes about 30 minutes.

Driving

A car gives you freedom for early starts and for photography, but it is not essential. Rental cars are available in Kiruna, at Kiruna Airport and in Narvik or Harstad. Länsstyrelsen Norrbotten gives the distance from the naturum at Abisko Turiststation as 6 km to Björkliden and 34 km to Riksgränsen. Riksgränsen gives about 20 minutes by car to Björkliden.

In winter conditions Swedish law requires winter tyres from 1 December to 31 March. The road over the border is closed now and then, mostly in strong wind with snowfall, and reindeer and elk on the road are a real risk at dusk and dawn. Inside Abisko National Park, motor vehicles are only allowed on the designated roads, car parks and snowmobile trails. Check the road report from Trafikverket before you drive towards Norway, and Statens vegvesen once you cross the border.

Skiers and taxis

Riksgränsen includes the bus transfer between the two ski areas in all lift passes when it is booked in advance. Taxis are a different matter. The Aurora Sky Station names taxi firms in Kiruna and Narvik, and Björkliden advises booking a taxi ahead because cars are not always available. Visit Abisko, the local transfer company, also advertises a taxi service. Read our page on getting to Abisko for the trains and flights, and the guide to Björkliden and Riksgränsen for the ski areas.

Questions travellers ask

Do I need a car in Abisko?

Not for a typical winter stay. Most tours on this site collect guests from the lodges in Abisko and Björkliden, and the national park entrance, the naturum and the chairlift are within walking distance of Abisko Turiststation station.

Is there a bus between Abisko and Björkliden?

Yes. Bus 91 and the Arctic Route both stop in Abisko and Björkliden, and Björkliden gives about 15 minutes for the trip. Bus 91 runs only in certain seasons, so check the timetable first.

Are there taxis in Abisko?

The Aurora Sky Station lists taxi companies in Kiruna and Narvik, and Björkliden recommends booking a taxi in advance because cars are not always available. The local transfer company Visit Abisko also advertises a taxi service.

Can I drive a snowmobile myself in the national park?

Motor vehicles are only allowed on the designated roads, car parks and snowmobile trails in Abisko National Park. Guided snowmobile tours from Abisko keep to these trails.

How do I pay on the local buses?

Kiruna Lapland says Länstrafiken tickets can be bought in the app, on the website or by card on board. For bus 91 it notes card payment only on the bus.

Where these facts come from

Dates, opening hours and rules change. We checked these pages in October 2026; the official source has the final word.