How to see Swedish Lapland on a budget, Routes North
Whether it’s the lure of seeing the northern lights, trying a new outdoor activity or learning about Sámi culture, Swedish Lapland is an enticing rugged wilderness with lots to offer travellers.
But it also has a reputation for being expensive – and a visit to this remote part of northern Sweden can easily blow your budget.
With some planning, however, you can see the highlights of this Arctic wonderland in 3–4 days on a budget of 1000–1500 SEK ($100–150) a day, including accommodation, one meal out and an outdoor activity like one of these guided tours.
Here’s how you can see Swedish Lapland without spending all your savings!
Where to stay in Swedish Lapland
Sure, Swedish Lapland is home to some incredible design hotels – including options that are carved from ice – but there are also plenty of budget accommodation options in Swedish Lapland.
One of the best ways to save money is to opt for a hostel (these are normally comfy and family friendly in Sweden) or an Airbnb rental with its own kitchen. Then you can stock up at a local supermarket and you won’t have to spend a fortune on eating out.
In out-of-the-way parts of Lapland it’s normally easy to find places to stay. But in tourist hotspots like Kiruna, Abisko and Jukkasjärvi, it pays to book ahead – try this page on Booking.com if you want to see a mix of hotels, hostels and vacation rentals.
Alternatively, Airbnb has a good selection of affordable Swedish cabins located in idyllic forest surroundings.
Cheap things to do in Lapland
Aside from hiking, hanging out with reindeer, going cross-country skiing and sweating it our in a sauna, there are plenty of other affordable must-do activities in Swedish Lapland.
Search for the northern lights
The elusive dancing spectacle of the northern lights is one of the biggest draws of Swedish Lapland.
While you can join tours that range from photography-focused excursions to snowmobile trips to chase the lights, the good news is that, if you are on a budget you can skip these – this natural phenomenon is completely free.
Ask locals for advice on the best viewpoints to see the northern lights, download an aurora activity app like My Aurora Forecast, and simply look up to the skies.
Ice skate on a frozen archipelago
With so many frozen lakes to choose from, ice-skating is a fun and cheap activity that can be enjoyed pretty much anywhere in Swedish Lapland.
For example, the vast Bay of Bothnia off Luleå freezes over during winter and wide ice paths and roads are groomed for cars and people to use. It’s a magical experience to skate between the islands and look back over Luleå from the ice.
The local council puts out free kick sledges for people to borrow at various points along the Isbanen route, or you can hire them and long-distance skates from local sports store Hägglunds from around 200 SEK a day.
Alternatively, you can simply go for a stroll with the locals also out enjoying the winter trail.
Listen to a free ice music concert
For something totally different, how about listening to musicians play instruments made of ice, backed by a colourful light display?
These incredible ice concerts take place on winter weekends from mid-January until the end of March in an igloo concert hall in Gültzauudden nature park, about 15 minutes’ walk from Luleå city centre.
Visit the Jokkmokk winter market
Every February for more than 400 years Sámi people have been gathering in Jokkmokk, deep in Swedish Lapland, to trade, eat, drink and make merry.
Where to eat in Swedish Lapland
Eating out is an easy way to break the bank in Swedish Lapland. To stay on budget, choose accommodation with self-catering facilities and eat out at lunch time whenever possible, making the most of Sweden’s renowned dagens (daily) lunch specials.
Good options include Bastard Burgers in Luleå, where the dagens includes a delicious burger, chips and drink for 109 SEK (around $10). Pretty much every small town has a casual pizzeria, a Thai place, or both – you can normally grab lunch or dinner at these joints for around 120 SEK too.
If you do go out on the ice in the Luleå Archipelago, be sure to skate or walk across to the hut on the island of Gråsjälören where they serve waffles, sausages and coffee. You can even bring your own food and use their grill!
Getting there and around
The cheapest way to get to Swedish Lapland from Stockholm is usually by train to Lulea or Kiruna (you can see the train times and buy tickets here).
A bunk on the overnight train from Stockholm Central Station to Kiruna, for example, costs from 845 SEK. You can also fly to Lapland from Stockholm, but the prices are normally much higher. There’s more on the options for the journey from Stockholm to Kiruna in this guide.
If you do go by train, book in advance and be flexible with your dates for the best ticket prices. Once you’re in the north, you can get around pretty easily by taking a train between the bigger towns and cities – consider getting an Interrail pass if you’re staying for a while.
Cheap, local buses take care of trips to smaller places, but if you really want to explore under your own steam, the best option is to hire a car.
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