Is Abisko Mountain Lodge Worth It? [Review + Honest Experience]

Let’s clear one thing up quickly: when you travel to Abisko, you’re shouldn’t expect a luxury experience the same way you might in other parts of the Arctic. Abisko is for nature and the Northern Lights, not super-plush luxe stays.

You see, this tiny Arctic village has only about 85 residents, and its accommodation options are limited to a handful of small lodges and guesthouses. And when I say handful, I mean it: there are actually fewer options than I can count on one hand (four, to be exact).

No matter where you stay in Abisko, you won’t exactly be “roughing it,” but you also won’t find 4- and 5-star wilderness resorts like the ones that dominate Finnish Lapland around Rovaniemi, or large upscale hotels like you’ll find in the relative metropolis of Tromsø.

That’s honestly part of Abisko’s charm. It’s quieter, more relaxed, and refreshingly free of mass tourism in the way both of its corresponding neighboring Northern lights tourism hubs in Norway and Finland are not.

But there is a small caveat to that: it means your choices are limited to a certain tier, which is more along the budget to mid-range end of the spectrum and has no true luxury options.

On my first visit to Abisko (a winter visit), I stayed at STF Turiststation, which I loved for its upscale amenities in a hostel-style setup. It was great for my budget at the time and I loved the location in the national park, which made it so easy to spot the Northern lights!

This time around, though, I wanted something a little more private and hotel-like, and Abisko Mountain Lodge had always caught my eye when I was researching Abisko for my guides. From the pictures, the lodge looked cozy, inviting, and, dare I say, almost little luxurious in the photos.

So when my friend and I planned a visit, we finally booked it to see for ourselves. Spoiler: it wasn’t quite what I pictured on the luxury front, but it still had plenty of charm. Read on to see if Abisko Mountain Lodge is the right place for your upcoming visit!

About Abisko Mountain Lodge

Abisko Mountain Lodge is one of the most booked-and-busy places to stay in Abisko, as it’s located right in the heart of the village, not far from the train station.

Compared to the other accommodations in Abisko which are closer to hostels, the mountain lodge offers a range of rooms from simple doubles to more premium chalets. I stayed in one of the standard twin rooms, which is the most affordable option. In the off-season, we paid about €140 for the room.

The lodge is quaint and charming, with an excellent on-site restaurant, Brasserie Fjällköket, which is absolutely worth eating a meal at even if you don’t stay at Abisko Mountain Lodge. I’ll go into the pros and cons of my stay at Abisko Mountain Lodge below, so you can see if it’s right for your upcoming stay.

Want to check its availability first? Abisko Mountain Lodge is popular, so make sure your dates are still available here!

Pros of Abisko Mountain Lodge

Abisko Mountain Lodge really shines in its cozy atmosphere and amenities. The reception area is really warm and welcoming, with a cozy fireplace and plenty of plush, comfortable seating — perfect for curling up with a book after a day bounding about in the snow, going for hikes in the forest trails, or in between waiting for the aurora to pop out.

The bar was another highlight, offering an impressive range of beers and wines, including non-alcoholic wine options (which is such a rare and appreciated touch, for a tee-totaler like me who used to really love wine).

I found myself using the shared spaces at Abisko Mountain Lodge more often than I typically do (although this is also partly because our room was on the small side — but more about that later!)

But the real standout here is the restaurant. The dinner I had was easily one of the best meals I’ve ever had in my three visits to Sweden!

I ordered the halibut in a crayfish sauce with chunks of crayfish, fregola (a Sardinian pearl-shaped pasta), and shaved reindeer on top.

I wasn’t sure to expect by the shaved reindeer, but it ended up being one of my favorite parts of the dish: flaky, savory, and rich in umami, adding a flavor almost like parmesan.

My friend’s moose schnitzel was equally spectacular, to the point where I had some mild jealousy even though I loved my dish so much.

The schnitzel was thinly pounded (super important with such a lean meat like moose, which can easily get tough) and it was perfectly fried. Better yet? It was served with potatoes and chanterelles in a creamy sauce. It’s the kind of dish you still think about weeks later…. and I didn’t even eat it!

Cons of Abisko Mountain Lodge

While the photos of Abisko Mountain Lodge make it look like it’s on the boutique side of the spectrum, I think the shared spaces are way nicer than the private spaces, at least in their standard rooms. If you’re looking for something with more space or comfort, it’s worth upgrading to one of the lodge’s higher-end rooms or chalets.

However, when speaking to them in 2025, they let us know that they are thinking of removing the few chalets they do have and instead building out more guest rooms.

To be honest, I think that news was a bit of a disappointment since I think the guest rooms are probably their weakest spot. However, if they’re able to make larger guest rooms that cater a bit more to a luxury-expecting clientele, it could be an excellent addition though.

As for the room itself… let’s just say it was “cozy.” The space is definitely rather snug. As a result, the two twin beds were squeezed in together in a sort of Tetris-like configuration, which made it a bit chaotic for where to put our stuff. It worked fine for a single night, but for a longer stay, it might start to feel cramped.

My other gripe was the bathroom, which is a wet room style rather than a proper enclosed shower, meaning the floor would get wet after showers. One of my biggest pet peeves is stepping onto a damp floor when I’m just trying to brush my teeth or use the toilet, so this wasn’t something I was a huge fan of.

That said, the rest of the property absolutely made up for it, from the hospitality to the excellent lobby and restaurant areas to the food and bar offerings to the location. The downsides mostly come down to the room size and quality, and we did stay in one of the more budget-friendly rooms.

Now that you know the pros and cons, check to see if Abisko Mountain Lodge has availability if it’s right for you!

So, Is It Worth It?

After speaking about some of the room cons of Abisko Mountain Lodge, you may think that my consensus would be no, it’s not worth it. But actually, I do think Abisko Mountain Lodge is worth a stay. Why?

Despite the smaller-than-expected rooms, it’s still the only guesthouse-style accommodations. The other accommodations are more hostel-style.

Also, the prices between Abisko Mountain Lodge and my runner-up choice for where to stay in Abisko, STF Turiststation, are really about the same if you are two people.

And I think you get a better experience by staying at the Mountain Lodge than you do at STF, unless you don’t have a car and you want to spend a lot of time in the national park.

So, my conclusion is yes, Abisko Mountain Lodge is worth it, but temper your expectations for your room size and luxury of the rooms itself, and enjoy all the lovely amenities and shared spaces.

Allison Green

Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016, visiting 75+ countries in total. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. As a former educator, she merges her writing and educational experience to encourage ethical, sustainable travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and TBEX. Her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. When she’s not on the road, she lives in Bangkok, Thailand.