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Travel the spine of Sweden aboard one of the world’s last great wilderness railways, from the forests of Dalarna to the Arctic Circle in Swedish Lapland.
Laid by hand between 1908 and 1937, the Inlandsbanan was built to connect Sweden’s remote interior long before highways reached the far north. Today, this historic single-track route carries travelers through pine and birch forests, rolling moorlands, and reindeer territory across Swedish Lapland—a vast wilderness few tourists ever get to experience.
Total Distance
Journey Time
Rivers & Bridges
ARCTIC CIRCLE LATITUDE
There’s no dining car on the Inlandsbanan — instead, the train stops twice each evening so every carriage gets an unhurried sitting at a local restaurant along the line. Dinner arrives from small kitchens in villages the railway itself helped build, plated the way it’s always been done here: honest, hearty, and served with a view of the forest outside the window.
Regional Norrland plates from family-run kitchens along the route, built around what the forests, rivers and lakes provide.
A proper Swedish fika at every extended stop — coffee and a cinnamon bun fresh from a local bakery.
Smoked Arctic char, slow-cooked reindeer, and cloudberry preserves unique to the interior.
Vegetarian, vegan and allergen-aware options available when flagged ahead of departure.
Panoramic windows reveal birch forest, open moorland, wild rivers and lakes, through some of the least-populated land left in Europe.
Travel at a gentle 80 km/h on a single-track heritage line, built for looking out the window — not watching the clock.
Journey from Östersund to Gällivare, crossing 746 kilometres, 90-plus rivers and bridges, and the Arctic Circle itself.
Enjoy hearty Norrland cooking served at local restaurants along the line, with a proper fika break at every extended stop.
Ride in refurbished heritage railcars with panoramic windows, comfortable seating, and an onboard host throughout.
Crossing the Arctic Circle by rail is one of only a handful of ways to do it in Europe — and a trip every rail traveler should experience once.
The full line runs 1,318 kilometres between Kristinehamn/Mora in the south and Gällivare in the north. Our most popular leg, Östersund to Gällivare, covers 746 kilometres in around 13.5 hours.
Full tourist service runs daily from mid-June to late August. Outside this window, sections operate for chartered groups, including select winter departures such as the Jokkmokk Winter Market.
Both directions cover the same scenery. Traveling north to south ends at Lake Siljan in Dalarna; south to north builds toward the Arctic Circle crossing and finishes in Gällivare. Most travelers choose north-to-south for the sense of arrival at the Arctic Circle partway through.
Accessibility varies by railcar and station. Our team can confirm suitable departures and arrange assistance in advance — just let us know when booking.
Sightings of reindeer, elk and birdlife are common along the route, and the train will often slow or stop when animals are near the tracks.
A reserved seat and onboard host commentary are included on every departure. Meals, overnight hotels and dietary requests depend on the package you choose — see our Panorama, Classic and Hop-On Explorer options.
“Crossing the Arctic Circle by train was unforgettable! The local meal stops for Arctic char and wild cloudberries were fantastic, and our onboard host made the history of Swedish Lapland come alive.”
July 2025
“The hop-on explorer pass gave us total freedom to explore remote towns, pine forests, and lakes. GoRailTours made the entire seat reservation process smooth and stress-free. Highly recommended!”
June 2025
“An incredible 1,288 km journey through pure wilderness. We spotted wild reindeer right from our seats! The slow-paced travel and scheduled fika breaks made it a truly unique Swedish adventure.”
August 2025
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