How do you fancy exploring the Northern Lights? Forget the coach trips where you are with 50 other people fighting for photos, and explore both Sweden and North of the Arctic Circle on this trip.
On 21st January, you will fly from London to Stockholm Arlanda, which is the best airport, as it is quick and easy to get into the city rather than the two other airports miles away and an hour plus bus journey. You will stay at the Login - a boat hotel with a nice breakfast included which is great value given the cost of everthing in Stockholm!
On 22nd January you wake and have the full day exploring as your overnight train journey is not until 5:30pm so you have a full day in Stockholm (you could leave any excess luggage at the Login if you didn't want to take it on the train). You will board your train and spend overnight on the train in a sleeper cabin. I've done this journey and it is brilliant! Pack some food, some nice drink and enjoy your journey North. You may even be lucky and see the Northern Lights from the train as you head towards the Arctic Circle. Bathrooms/toilets are at the end of the carriage, but are lovely and clean and sleep is suprisingly easy too!
On 23rd January, you wake up in Kiruna at 9:30am. You will spend 2 nights in Kiruna, which gives you ample opportunity to take in the snow and ice activities and look out for the aurora. You also get breakfast again included.
After two nights in Kiruna, you will check out on the 25th January and depart at 6:30pm, giving you another full day before taking the overnight train back to Stockholm, before arriving back at around 9:15am into Stockholm Central. As your flight isn't until later you can spend the final day in Stockholm again. In Stockholm I recommend the Vasa museum, Gamla Stan area and walking around the city - it's a very walkable place - even if it may be cold in January, wrap up warm!
Book overnight train return on sj.se **Important, the trains are yet to go on sale, the screen shot is an example, but this is a set price, just diary in to book the trains as soon as they go on sale (normally 3 months before)** 3580 SEK £334.67
I did something very similar en-route to China (bizarrely)! Stayed a couple of nights in Sweden on a boat hotel, then headed on the overnight train to the Arctic circle. Amazing, overnight train was warm and comfy and actually one of the best overnight trains I've been on, and I've been on a lot in Europe/Worldwide. Its a great trip and saves a night in a hotel and transportation costs.
Midge
25 Jul 17#3
Nice find. :sunglasses:
Inverbreakie
25 Jul 17#4
So it's another £334.67 for the train on top of the £320.81pp for flights/hotel ?
rachelandgromit to Inverbreakie
26 Jul 17#5
No, the price includes the train, you just can't book it yet, similar to our trains here where booking opens up around 3 months in advance it's the same. That price is how much it will cost though going off prices for October, the train prices will be the same. Just diary it in to book roughly 3 months before, so around September/October time. I remember I emailed the train company and asked them exactly when tickets would go on sale so I could book right away.
a_ghara to rachelandgromit
26 Jul 17#26
Risky if a lot of people book it from hotukdeals.
jumpinoffthbed
26 Jul 17#6
Wish I'd known about this train when I was in Stockholm a few months back, would have been very glad to escape after 1 day :disappointed:
Rooms are ensuite, private rooms. Can you see the screen shots?
seeweed
26 Jul 17#9
Just back from Stockholm. Do the Oceanbus tour if you go there. It's fantastic, sight seeing by road then water on the same vehicle.
pete1993
26 Jul 17#10
Thanks for this! Very useful. I'm trying to plan a trip to see the Northern Lights.
What's the attraction of booking the over-night train instead of flying?
I could book flights with Norwegian on 22nd-26th Jan for £92pp return from Stockholm Arlanda to Kiruna. The train cost is £334.67, or £167.34pp.
The same hotel for 4 nights, instead of 2, would be £288. £128 more, or £64pp extra.
So, taking the flight would be £156pp including the extra 2 nights you get for free on the train, compared to £167.34 for the train. Flights are significantly quicker (1.5 hour total), and arguably more comfortable sleeping in a hotel room than on a moving train. You wouldn't get the benefit of exploring Stockholm on the way out, unless you stay up late to do so, but you'd have 5/6 hours between flights on the way back. I'm not a big city person, so wouldn't feel like I missed out. :smile:
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Opening post
On 21st January, you will fly from London to Stockholm Arlanda, which is the best airport, as it is quick and easy to get into the city rather than the two other airports miles away and an hour plus bus journey. You will stay at the Login - a boat hotel with a nice breakfast included which is great value given the cost of everthing in Stockholm!
On 22nd January you wake and have the full day exploring as your overnight train journey is not until 5:30pm so you have a full day in Stockholm (you could leave any excess luggage at the Login if you didn't want to take it on the train). You will board your train and spend overnight on the train in a sleeper cabin. I've done this journey and it is brilliant! Pack some food, some nice drink and enjoy your journey North. You may even be lucky and see the Northern Lights from the train as you head towards the Arctic Circle. Bathrooms/toilets are at the end of the carriage, but are lovely and clean and sleep is suprisingly easy too!
On 23rd January, you wake up in Kiruna at 9:30am. You will spend 2 nights in Kiruna, which gives you ample opportunity to take in the snow and ice activities and look out for the aurora. You also get breakfast again included.
After two nights in Kiruna, you will check out on the 25th January and depart at 6:30pm, giving you another full day before taking the overnight train back to Stockholm, before arriving back at around 9:15am into Stockholm Central. As your flight isn't until later you can spend the final day in Stockholm again. In Stockholm I recommend the Vasa museum, Gamla Stan area and walking around the city - it's a very walkable place - even if it may be cold in January, wrap up warm!
Details:
Flights book on easyjet.com £88.96
Book 1 Night in Stockholm at booking.com £58
Book overnight train return on sj.se **Important, the trains are yet to go on sale, the screen shot is an example, but this is a set price, just diary in to book the trains as soon as they go on sale (normally 3 months before)** 3580 SEK £334.67
Book 2 Nights in Kiruna at booking.com £160
Total £641.63/£320.81
All comments (32)
Rooms are ensuite, private rooms. Can you see the screen shots?
What's the attraction of booking the over-night train instead of flying?
I could book flights with Norwegian on 22nd-26th Jan for £92pp return from Stockholm Arlanda to Kiruna.
The train cost is £334.67, or £167.34pp.
The same hotel for 4 nights, instead of 2, would be £288. £128 more, or £64pp extra.
So, taking the flight would be £156pp including the extra 2 nights you get for free on the train, compared to £167.34 for the train. Flights are significantly quicker (1.5 hour total), and arguably more comfortable sleeping in a hotel room than on a moving train. You wouldn't get the benefit of exploring Stockholm on the way out, unless you stay up late to do so, but you'd have 5/6 hours between flights on the way back. I'm not a big city person, so wouldn't feel like I missed out. :smile: