A land of snow, the magical midnight sun and the spectacular northern lights, the Swedish Lapland has dramatic wilderness areas with alpine mountains, glaciers, lakes, valleys, tundra, forests and a beautiful coastline. A perfect destination for hikers, skiers and nature lovers, the Lapland region of Sweden has numerous national parks inhabited by wild animals. In the interesting towns and picturesque fishing villages along the eastern coast you can get in touch with the traditional way of life in Swedish Lapland.
Hiking & skiing. A popular hiking trail which runs through Norrland following the Scandinavian mountain range, Kungsleden offers excellent opportunities for trekking in Swedish Lapland. The ski resorts of Riksgransen and Bjorkliden are blessed with lots of snow from October to May and are ideal destinations for skiing in Swedish Lapland.
The numerous national parks in Swedish Lapland are inhabited by wild animals such as moose, reindeer, bear, lynx and wolverines. There are many operators organising wildlife tours in Swedish Lapland. One of the most popular national parks Sweden, Abisko National Park offers good opportunities for outdoor activities. The abundant rivers, streams, lakes and long coastline by the sea are excellent for fishing in Swedish Lapland.
Kiruna is the northernmost city of Sweden located approximately 150 kilometers north of the Arctic circle. It often serves as a starting point to trips to Swedish Lapland. Both Kiruna and the nearby Jukkasjärvi have old wooden churches. In the picturesque villages in Swedish Lapland you can get in touch with the Sami people, the indigenous inhabitants of Lapland who lived by fishing, hunting and sheep and reindeer herding. The Sami have their own distinct languages and traditions.
Wilderness areas of Swedish Lapland
The wilderness areas of the Swedish Lapland offer many kinds of outdoor activities and adventures. For mountain climbing in Swedish Lapland you can head for the magnificent Kebnekaise which is the highest mountain in Sweden at 2,110 meters. The mountain is surrounded by large wilderness areas. The wild rivers and rapids in the region offer exciting rafting in Swedish Lapland.Hiking & skiing. A popular hiking trail which runs through Norrland following the Scandinavian mountain range, Kungsleden offers excellent opportunities for trekking in Swedish Lapland. The ski resorts of Riksgransen and Bjorkliden are blessed with lots of snow from October to May and are ideal destinations for skiing in Swedish Lapland.
The numerous national parks in Swedish Lapland are inhabited by wild animals such as moose, reindeer, bear, lynx and wolverines. There are many operators organising wildlife tours in Swedish Lapland. One of the most popular national parks Sweden, Abisko National Park offers good opportunities for outdoor activities. The abundant rivers, streams, lakes and long coastline by the sea are excellent for fishing in Swedish Lapland.
Kiruna is the northernmost city of Sweden located approximately 150 kilometers north of the Arctic circle. It often serves as a starting point to trips to Swedish Lapland. Both Kiruna and the nearby Jukkasjärvi have old wooden churches. In the picturesque villages in Swedish Lapland you can get in touch with the Sami people, the indigenous inhabitants of Lapland who lived by fishing, hunting and sheep and reindeer herding. The Sami have their own distinct languages and traditions.
Practical information for your trip to Swedish Lapland
Swedish Lapland is located in the northernmost part of Sweden and it covers about a quarter of the area of the country. The southern Lapland is covered with green forests, while the northern Lapland consists of treeless tundra. Swedish Lapland has a continental climate with long, cold and dark winters. The summers are short and cool.
Photo: bjaglin, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
Since most of Swedish Lapland lies north of the Arctic Circle, the legendary midnight sun lasts from the end of May to mid-July. The long ski season in Lapland is lasts from October to May.
Visitor services. There are numerous high-quality hotels in Swedish Lapland, the world famous Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi being the most remarkable of them. In the luxurious spas in Swedish Lapland you can relax and pamper yourself. Restaurants in Swedish Lapland serve both local specialties and international gourmet. The small cities in Swedish Lapland have relatively quiet nightlife: there are some bars and nightclubs which are often located at the hotels or in the biggest cities. English is widely understood and spoken in Swedish Lapland.
Flights to Swedish Lapland arrive at small Kiruna Airport. There are also regular, fast and comfortable bus connections to Swedish Lapland from all over Sweden. Kiruna receives trains from Gothenburg, Stockholm, Uppsala, Gävle and Sundsvall among others. Swedish Lapland is also easily reachable by car via the excellent highways.
Local transport. Car rental in Swedish Lapland is a good option but the distances are very huge in the area. The roads are generally in good condition. The public transportation is handled by buses. Taxis are widely available but they are often quite expensive. Hiking and dog-sledding are popular ways of getting around in the wilderness areas of Swedish Lapland.
Safety. Swedish Lapland can be regarded a very safe destination. The extremely cold weather in winter and wild animals on the roads are the major security concerns.
