Night train through Sweden's Northern Lights
Some journeys are as important as the destination. When the Snälltåget train rolls north from Malmö on November 23, 2026, such an experience awaits.
During one night, the train travels through Sweden, from south to north, before the landscape changes and the traveler wakes up far north of the Arctic Circle – among mountains, snow, and some of Scandinavia's best places to experience the Northern Lights.
It's a trip for those who want to experience Swedish Lapland differently. Not from the airplane window and not behind the wheel, but comfortably aboard a classic night train where the landscape slowly changes outside the window.
On November 23, 2026, Snälltåget's northern lights journey will depart from Malmö. The route goes via Stockholm and further north to Kiruna, Abisko, and Björkliden, before continuing across the Norwegian border to Narvik. The total distance between Malmö and Narvik is approximately 2,156 kilometers.
From Skåne to the Arctic Circle
In the afternoon, the train leaves Malmö and heads north. After stops in Lund, Hässleholm, Alvesta, Nässjö, Linköping and Norrköping, the train reaches Stockholm in the early evening. The journey then continues through the Swedish winter landscape.
When darkness falls, travelers have the opportunity to settle down in the train's restaurant car, Krogen, eat dinner, and let the landscape pass outside the window. There is something special about eating dinner on board a night train while the train slowly works its way further and further north.
After Stockholm, Gävle and Ånge await, among others. During the night, the train continues towards Boden and further towards the Arctic Circle. In the morning, the journey approaches the real Arctic environment. The timetable indicates arrival at the Arctic Circle just before ten in the morning, and then the train continues towards Gällivare and Kiruna. At 2:45 p.m., the journey reaches Abisko, and just fifteen minutes later it is time for Björkliden. The final station, Narvik, is reached in the afternoon.
Abisko
For those who dream of the Northern Lights, Abisko is one of the most tempting stops on the trip.
Here, Abisko National Park lies in the heart of the Arctic mountain world, with Torneträsk and the dramatic mountain formations as a backdrop. The area is also a classic starting point for those who want to experience Sweden's mountain landscape.
The Northern Lights are of course the big attraction during the winter months. As darkness descends over the mountains, the sky can suddenly shimmer in green, white, and sometimes violet. It's a phenomenon that can never be booked in advance – and perhaps that's what makes the experience so special.
In Abisko you can find, among other things, STF Abisko Turiststation, where you can combine Northern Lights experiences with accommodation, mountain activities and excursions. Also nearby is Aurora Sky Station. For many travelers, the train journey is therefore just the beginning of the adventure.
The mountains
The next stop is Björkliden, located high above Torneträsk and in the middle of the Arctic mountain world. Here awaits a landscape that feels far from everyday life. Mountains, snow, silence, and an open horizon create ideal conditions for those who want to get close to nature. When evening comes and the daylight disappears, there is the opportunity to go out under the dark sky and keep an eye out for the Northern Lights.
Björkliden is also a destination where you can make the accommodation itself part of the experience. Hotels and cabins are located in a mountain environment with views of Lapporten and Torneträsk, among other places. It's the kind of place where you like to let the clock tick a little slower.
Kiruna
The journey also passes Kiruna, Sweden's northernmost city and a place that has undergone one of the country's most spectacular urban transformations over the years. Kiruna is a natural base for those who want to discover Sweden's Arctic and combine Northern Lights hunting with other winter experiences. Here, you can experience the surrounding mountain world, Sami culture, and the unique landscape far north of the Arctic Circle.
For those who want to make the trip more than just a short excursion, it is therefore an excellent option to get off the train in Kiruna, Abisko or Björkliden and stay a few days before continuing the journey – or returning south. The fast train makes it possible to combine the journey with accommodation, northern lights experiences, and other activities in the mountain environment.
Dinner on rails
An important part of the experience is that the trip doesn't have to mean living on sandwiches you bring with you. On board is Snälltåget's restaurant car Krogen, where passengers can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner while the train travels through Sweden. For those who want to make the journey a little more comfortable, you can pre-order both a table and a meal.
According to Snälltåget's current information, dinner costs 299 kronor and lunch 199 kronor. They also offer vegetarian options, and you can pre-order breakfast either to be served in the restaurant car or as a breakfast bag to take to your compartment. It's easy to imagine the scene: dinner is served, the coffee is poured, and outside the window, Sweden is getting darker and whiter.
Sleep your way north.
There are also several ways to travel comfortably overnight. For a more private experience, you can book a private compartment for up to six people. The compartment serves as a seating area at the start of the journey, then converts into a sleeping area at night. Bed linen is included, and the beds are made by the passengers themselves.
For those who travel more price-consciously, you can book a berth in a shared compartment. There too, the seats are transformed into sleeping places when it is time to sleep. And perhaps this is where the train journey gets its special charm. You fall asleep somewhere in Sweden and wake up considerably further north.
Where Sweden meets Norway
After Kiruna, Abisko and Björkliden, the train continues towards Riksgränsen and further into Norway. The final station is Narvik, dramatically situated between mountains and sea. Here the journey takes on another dimension. From Malmö to Narvik, the train crosses Sweden from south to north, then crosses the border into Norway.
The first departure from Malmö is on November 23, 2026, and the return from Narvik is scheduled for November 27. For those who book a return trip and choose a private compartment, Snälltåget also offers a 20 percent discount on the compartment, according to its information.
Interrail is also valid on the train, but seat reservations are required.
A new kind of luxury
Modern travel is not always about getting there as quickly as possible. Sometimes it's about the opposite. To gain time. To see the landscape change. To have dinner on board, crawl into a sleeping compartment, and wake up to a completely different Sweden. To travel through the darkness towards a destination where the mountains rise from the winter landscape and where the Northern Lights can appear when you least expect it.
Snälltåget's new Northern Lights trip is therefore more than an alternative to flying. It is a destination in itself. From Malmö in the south to Kiruna, Abisko and Björkliden far north of the Arctic Circle – and on to Narvik – the train journey itself becomes part of the adventure. And when the sky over Lapland suddenly starts to glow green, there's a good chance that the traveler has already understood the point.
FACTS
Premiere: November 23, 2026 Departure: Malmö Via: Stockholm, Gällivare, Kiruna, Abisko, Björkliden and Riksgränsen Final destination: Narvik, Norway Return: November 27, 2026 Distance Malmö–Narvik: approximately 2,156 kilometers On board: Restaurant car, tavern, sleeping compartments and shared compartments Booking: www.snalltaget.se
The timetable is preliminary and may change due to track work. Please check the current timetable and prices when booking.
Source: Snälltåget. Photomontage. Northern lights: Nico Grütter. Picture of train: Snällposten