Abisko for the aurora: what the 'blue hole' really buys you, and when to go
If you want to see the aurora from Europe this winter, Abisko in Swedish Lapland is the place I’d shortlist first. It sits at 68.35° north, roughly 195 km inside the Arctic Circle and under the auroral oval itself, so you aren’t waiting for a once-a-cycle storm to push the lights down to you. The Aurora Sky Station on Mount Nuolja runs its 2026–27 evening season from 19 October to 27 March 2027. The hard part is clouds, and Abisko’s famous “blue hole” is the reason most people pick it. This guide covers what that rain shadow actually does and what it doesn’t, then works through the darkness and Moon calendar for this season, the costs, and how to get there. ...