A serene winter woodland scene with sunlit snow-covered trees and a clear blue sky.

A 10-Day Northern Lights Journey by Train Through Norway, Sweden & Finland

February 25, 2025 Francesca 6 min read

For travelers dreaming of the Northern Lights but wary of crowded tours, Scandinavia’s winter trains offer a magical alternative.

Glide past snow-draped fjords, frozen lakes, and birch forests aboard cozy railcars, chasing the aurora borealis from Norway’s Arctic coast to Finland’s Lapland.

This 10-day itinerary skips generic stops, focusing on lesser-known villages, wilderness lodges, and cultural gems—all connected by Europe’s most scenic winter railways.

Days 1–3: Norway – Coastal Lights & Sami Culture

Destination 1: The Arctic Coastal Railway (Bodø to Fauske)

Breathtaking aerial view of a quaint village in Lofoten, Norway, surrounded by majestic mountains and calm seas.

Intro: Start your journey in Bodø, where the Arctic Circle meets the Norwegian Sea. The Arctic Coastal Railway (Nordlandsbanen) winds northward, offering fjord views and frequent aurora sightings away from light pollution.

Start Point: Bodø Station, Stationsgata 1, 8006 Bodø
End Point: Fauske Station, Jernbanegata 4, 8200 Fauske
Train Distance: 61 km (1 hour)
Experience Duration: Evening ride (2–3 hours)
What Makes It Unique: Book the “Night under the Aurora” package with Vy Railway: reserved seats in panoramic cars, hot lingonberry cider, and a Sami guide sharing folklore about the “fox fires” (Northern Lights).

Pro Tip: Stay overnight at Fauske Fjordhotell (Strandgata 54, 8200 Fauske), where rooms face the fjord for midnight aurora alerts.

Destination 2: Saltstraumen & the World’s Strongest Maelstrom

Intro: From Fauske, take a short train to Saltstraumen, home to the planet’s most powerful tidal whirlpool—a natural wonder framed by the aurora in winter.

Start Point: Fauske Station
End Point: Saltstraumen Bridge, 8064 Rognan (20-minute train + 10-minute taxi)
Train Distance: 34 km (25 minutes)
Experience Duration: Half-day (4 hours)
What Makes It Unique: Join a “Frozen Whirlpool Safari” (saltstraumen-guide.no), walking on ice-covered shores as the maelstrom roars beneath. Warm up with reindeer stew at a lavvu (Sami tent) under the Northern Lights.

Days 4–6: Sweden – Wilderness Cabins & Aurora Science

Destination 3: Abisko National Park & Aurora Sky Station

Illuminated fish market hall with reflections in Gothenburg at night.

Intro: Cross into Sweden via the Arctic Circle Train (Narvik to Kiruna), arriving at Abisko, a remote village with the clearest aurora skies on Earth.

Start Point: Narvik Station, Kongens gate 2, 8514 Narvik (Norway)
End Point: Abisko Östra Station, 981 07 Abisko (Sweden)
Train Distance: 150 km (3 hours via Ofotbanen)
Experience Duration: 2 nights
What Makes It Unique: Stay at Abisko Turiststation (Abisko National Park, 981 07), where the Aurora Sky Station offers a chairlift to a mountaintop observatory. Join a “Science of the Lights” workshop (9 PM nightly) with astrophysicists explaining solar storms.

Pro Tip: Hike the Kungsleden Trail by day—snowshoes provided—to frozen waterfalls and moose tracks.

Destination 4: Jukkasjärvi Ice Hotel & Torne River

Intro: Head south to Jukkasjärvi, home of the original Icehotel, rebuilt annually with ice from the Torne River.

Start Point: Abisko Östra Station
End Point: Kiruna Station, Järnvägsgatan 35, 981 32 Kiruna (1.5-hour train)
Train Distance: 95 km
Experience Duration: Overnight
What Makes It Unique: Sleep in an Art Suite carved by global artists (-5°C) or a warm “Nordic Cabin.” Dine on Arctic char in the ice restaurant, then husky-sled under the aurora.

Address: Icehotel, Marknadsvägen 63, 981 91 Jukkasjärvi

Days 7–10: Finland – Lapland’s Snow Villages & Reindeer Rides

Destination 5: Rovaniemi to Kemijärvi via Santa’s Arctic Railway

Cozy Finnish village with snow, reindeer rides, and wooden houses under a clear winter sky.

Intro: Cross into Finnish Lapland aboard the Santa Claus Express (VR Night Train), waking up to frosted pine forests.

Start Point: Rovaniemi Station, Ratakatu 3, 96200 Rovaniemi
End Point: Kemijärvi Station, Asematie 3, 98100 Kemijärvi
Train Distance: 95 km (1.5 hours)
Experience Duration: Full day
What Makes It Unique: In Kemijärvi, visit Lumina Park (luminapark.fi), an enchanted forest illuminated by ice sculptures and Northern Lights projections. Ride a reindeer-pulled sleigh to a smoke sauna by Lake Kemijärvi.

Destination 6: Pyhä-Luosto National Park & Amethyst Mine

Captivating northern lights illuminate a snowy igloo in the Arctic landscape at night.

Intro: Finland’s oldest national park hides an ancient amethyst mine, where visitors can dig for gems under the aurora.

Start Point: Kemijärvi Station
End Point: Luosto Station, 99555 Luosto (1-hour bus from Kemijärvi)
Train Distance: Not applicable (bus transfer)
Experience Duration: Overnight
What Makes It Unique: Stay at Aurora Cabin Pyhä (Pyhätunturintie 21, 98530 Pyhä), glass-roofed cabins with private saunas. By day, ski through Pyhä-Luosto’s snow-covered “devil’s chasms”; by night, warm up with cloudberry liqueur by a firepit.

Amethyst Mine Tour: Lampivaara Amethyst Mine, Luostontie 4, 99555 Luosto

Practical Tips for Northern Lights Train Travel

Best Time: December–March for darkness and clear skies.

Rail Pass: Eurail Scandinavia Pass covers Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

Gear: Pack thermal layers, a power bank (for camera batteries in the cold), and a red-light headlamp (to preserve night vision).

Aurora Alerts: Use apps like My Aurora Forecast or ask hotel staff for wake-up calls during strong solar activity.

Where Rails Meet the Radiance

Scandinavia’s winter trains are more than transport—they’re moving observatories.

Whether sipping cocoa under the aurora in Abisko or digging for amethysts in Finnish Lapland, this journey proves that the Northern Lights aren’t just a sight but a story. One written in solar winds, Sami legends, and the rhythm of wheels on icy tracks.