Abisko Guesthouse & Activities

Small, cosy private rooms, friendly staff, and really clean shared spaces. The no-outdoor-shoes rule indoors is one every hostel should have! The location is amazing. It got somewhat noisy late at night when people came back from excursions after midnight, and the duvets didn’t seem wide enough for the beds. Otherwise, no complaints.

Being right by the only supermarket in town was handy, and the guesthouse has rooms that are all different from each other. We did find a few bugs in our first cabin, though, and there was no shampoo or body wash. As international travelers, we hadn’t packed either, so that surprised us. The checkout arrangements were difficult. We had to change rooms because of the reservations and were told to leave at 11:00 AM, then come back at 3 PM. It was snowing, we had two young kids, and in a village of around 140 people there wasn’t much to do in between. They suggested we use the shared bunk-bed area, which made the place feel more like a hostel. The Mountain Lodge is my first choice if I return, but there’s only one full restaurant in the village, and it’s there. Walking over in heavy snow, especially with kids, can be quite a trek, so location matters. Abisko Guesthouse is a solid option if you know what to expect.

Our room hadn’t been cleaned properly before we arrived. There were food wrappers from the previous guests under the bed, dust covering the floor, and the bedding smelled used. The location is great and the staff were kind, which made the poor cleaning all the more disappointing.

We were lucky enough to see the Aurora twice just by stepping outside the building. The rooms and kitchens were clean, and the people were very friendly. Abisko guesthouse was a nice place to stay in an amazing setting. One issue: even the smallest movement, including opening or closing a door, made a lot of noise. I woke up often during the night or early in the morning, so earplugs might help if you stay here.