Photographer in Swedish Lapland

Best time

Seasons

There are two photographic years here. From about late August to early April the nights are dark enough for northern lights, with the best overlap of darkness and comfort in September, October, February and March. From about 25 May to mid-July the sun does not set at Abisko or Kiruna, so there is no aurora at all, only long, low light at any hour. Around the turn of the year the sun stays below the horizon for about three weeks at Kiruna and about a month at Abisko, leaving a few hours of blue twilight at midday. Early September brings ruska, the autumn colour on the birch slopes, along with the first properly dark nights.

Time of day

Choose the light first and the place second. For aurora, plan a window of several hours after dark, often around midnight; there is no schedule. For winter daylight, the useful hours are around midday in December and early January, and the afternoon by March. For the midnight sun, the sun stays low in the north around midnight, which suits north-facing shores such as Torneträsk.

Weather

Winters are long and dry, with snow on the ground from around October to May in most years. Temperatures below −20 °C are possible in mid-winter, and clear nights are the coldest. Cloud is the main variable for aurora, and it can differ sharply between Kiruna and Abisko on the same evening, which is why the road between them matters. Summer is mild and changeable, with mosquitoes in the forest in July. Lakes and rivers freeze, but ice thickness varies: never walk onto it without someone who knows that stretch.

Getting there

Fly to Kiruna, or to Gällivare or Luleå for the southern part of the region. A night train runs north from Stockholm; from December 2026 SJ operates it on a state contract, with a through service to Narvik via Kiruna and Abisko, so check the timetable at sj.se when you book. Distances are long and winter driving needs experience on snow and ice. Tell us your base and we match you with a professional who works in that part of the region.

Good to know

Allemansrätten, the right of public access, lets you walk in open nature, but national parks have their own regulations, and Abisko National Park is one of them; see our Abisko guide. This is reindeer-herding land, organised through Sámi herding communities called samebyar. Give reindeer space, never follow them, and keep well away during spring calving. Sámi dress, ceremony and reindeer are not props: ask before photographing anyone, and if you want to learn more, book a Sámi-owned experience. Drones need a separate check for every place and date, and national parks and reindeer are both reasons for a pilot to say no; read our drone rules guide. Sessions start from 4,990 kr, proposals with film from 7,990 kr and weddings from 14,900 kr. See pricing.

• Pick one base per two or three nights; moving between Abisko and Kiruna eats most of a day.
• Plan the trip around the light you want, then choose the place.
• Dress for standing still in the dark, which is colder than any walk.
• Book flights and rooms early for February and March.
• Do not ask anyone to pose in Sámi dress, and do not hire it as a costume.
• Have a daylight plan for every night you hope for aurora.