Åre is the ski resort you can reach by night train and step off into the village. This guide covers the 2026–27 season area by area, how to get there by rail, what each lift pass covers, when Swedish school holidays fill the slopes and where to check the avalanche forecast before leaving the piste.
When you need this
- You are planning a ski week in Åre from abroad or from southern Sweden.
- You are choosing between the central village, Björnen and Duved/Tegefjäll for your group.
- You want to travel by night train instead of flying or driving.
- You plan to ski off-piste and need to know who forecasts avalanches.
The three ski areas
Åre is a mountain village in western Jämtland, built at the foot of Åreskutan. The lifts are run by SkiStar, which describes 89 runs, 47 lifts and 890 vertical metres. Its own fact box says 91 runs, and the local destination company counts 41 lifts and calls Åre Scandinavia’s largest ski area. Treat the exact number as marketing; the 890 m of vertical is the figure that matters on the hill.
One ordinary SkiPass covers all three areas:
| Area | Character | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Åre by | Steep runs, off-piste access, the upper mountain (högzon), village nightlife | Strong skiers, off-piste, après-ski |
| Åre Björnen | Broad gentle runs, ski-in/ski-out lodging; SkiStar calls it the most family-friendly area | Beginners and small children |
| Duved and Tegefjäll | About 10 km west at the foot of Mullfjället, mostly red and blue runs, two chairlifts, linked by T-bars | Cruising, families, bad-weather days |
Duved/Tegefjäll lies below the tree line. That gives shelter in wind and flat light, and good tree skiing after snowfall. Duved also has a snow park, opened in 2022/23, and a quiet beginners’ area with a button lift and a conveyor. A free ski bus, included with several passes, links Åre, Björnen, Rödkullen, Duved and Tegefjäll.
New for 2026–27: the 1000-metersliften is back, with a top station at 1,319 m. A cheaper pass now covers Duved and Tegefjäll alone. And SkiStar’s snow guarantee promises at least 30 open runs from 18 December 2026 to 4 April 2027, with a rebooking or refund under its terms if it fails.
Season 2026–27 by area
The most common planning mistake is treating “opening day” as one date. In Åre each area opens and closes on its own schedule, and SkiStar marks all of them as subject to change.
| Area | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Åre by | 11 December 2026 (Ski Test Weekend; earlier if snow allows) | 2 May 2027 |
| Gondolen (upper-mountain gondola) | 18 December 2026, depending on snow and weather | 25 April 2027 |
| Rest of the upper mountain | 8 February 2027 | 2 May 2027 |
| Björnen | 18 December 2026 | 11 April 2027 |
| Duved & Tegefjäll | 18 December 2026 | 4 April 2027 |
A few rules follow from that table. A December or January trip is mostly lower-mountain skiing, because apart from the gondola the upper mountain opens only in February. Early April visitors lose Duved/Tegefjäll after the 4th and Björnen after the 11th. In the last week, 26 April to 2 May, only the cable car (Kabinbanan) and the 1000-metersliften run.
Hours change with the light. Until 7 February most lifts run 09:30–15:00, and from 8 February 09:00–16:30. All lifts close at 15:00 on Christmas Eve. Between 25 December and 3 January there is evening skiing in Åre by, 18:00–20:00, except Wednesdays and New Year’s Eve, and Björnen has lit runs until 18:00 all season.
If you book a SkiStar trip arriving between 2 November and 17 December 2026, you can cancel or rebook free until the day you arrive.
Getting there by train
Åre station sits in the middle of the village, so the train is the easiest way in. Three operators serve it in winter:
| Train | Route | 2026–27 notes |
|---|---|---|
| SJ night train | Stockholm – Östersund – Åre – Duved, one each way per night | New contract from 13 December 2026 to 13 June 2027, with options to extend. Tickets for 11 January–4 April 2027 go on sale at the end of October 2026 |
| Snälltåget night train | Malmö – Stockholm – Uppsala – Östersund – Åre – Duved (most continue to Enafors and Storlien) | Runs 16 December 2026 – 2 May 2027; leaves Malmö in the afternoon, arrives next morning |
| Norrtåg regional train | Sundsvall – Östersund – Åre – Duved – Storlien | Daytime; Östersund to Åre took about 70 minutes in the 2025–26 timetable |
From Gothenburg: Snälltåget’s winter trains take one of two routes south of Stockholm, either through Småland and Östergötland or along the west coast. The west-coast departures stop at Göteborg-Mölndal, not Göteborg Central, and only on certain dates, so check the train number before you book. Some departures (trains 3904/13904 and 3905/13905) must be booked as a return at the same time.
From Stockholm: SJ’s night train is the direct option. If you are reading this before the end of October 2026, the winter-sports weeks are not yet on sale, so watch for the release and book as soon as it appears. Snälltåget also calls at Stockholm and Uppsala, and its departures are timed for the usual changeover days, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
Snälltåget warns that track work can move its times, so check the time in your booking before you arrange onward transport. Rules for carrying skis differ between train companies. Flying is the alternative: Åre Östersund is one of Swedavia’s ten state airports. For sleeper classes and booking tips, see our guide to the night train north, and for delay rights our train travel guide.
Lift passes
SkiStar publishes pass types but not list prices. The price appears when you book online or in its app, and SkiStar says booking early costs less. The main types:
- SkiPass (all of Åre) — Åre by, Björnen, Duved and Tegefjäll, for one or more days.
- Destination pass Duved/Tegefjäll — 12 lifts and 19 runs in the west only, now bookable for longer periods.
- 6–8 day SkiPass — eight days of skiing for the price of six.
- Family pass — two adults share one pass and take turns with the children.
- Children’s-area pass — for the smallest skiers in the button-lift areas.
- Short passes — afternoon (from 12:00), 2 hours, evening (18:00–20:00), or four optional days within a week.
- Ski & Cross-Country and Cross-Country passes — for the prepared cross-country tracks; see cross-country skiing in Sweden.
Every pass is personal except the family pass. Round-trip lift tickets are not valid in the Kabinbanan or the Gondolen, which need their own tickets. You need a SkiPass card; a new one costs extra, and pre-booked passes are collected from a pick-up machine with a QR code. You can cancel until the day before first use, though conditions and a fee may apply.
Off-piste and avalanche forecasts
SkiStar states there is never avalanche danger on its open runs and lifts. It controls avalanches in terrain reached from open lifts, while the lifts are closed to the public. Those areas are then a work zone and you may not enter them. Everything outside prepared runs is at your own risk.
Two forecasts matter:
| Source | Covers | When |
|---|---|---|
| SkiStar’s daily Åre avalanche report | Terrain reached from open lifts and runs | Daily in season |
| lavinprognoser.se (Naturvårdsverket), area Södra Jämtlandsfjällen | Terrain next to and outside the ski areas, incl. Åre, Bydalen, Storulvån, Sylarna | Preliminary start 11 December 2026 |
The industry body SLAO puts the line where you can glide back to an open lift or run: inside it the resort’s assessment applies, beyond it the national forecast. The forecast gives a danger grade, the main message, the avalanche problems, recent observations and the mountain weather. It supports your decision but does not make it for you.
SkiStar says slopes steeper than 20–30 degrees always carry risk, even when they look tracked. Carry a transceiver, probe and shovel and know companion rescue. Never ski alone. Fjällsäkerhetsrådet adds that most avalanches happen the day after a heavy snowstorm, and advises staying off slopes steeper than 25° then. Signs with terrain classification stand at the most-used exits from the resort. Without avalanche training, go with a guide; SkiStar offers guided off-piste. For wider advice see our mountain safety guide and, for the cold itself, cold safety in Sweden.
Sportlov and Easter crowds
Sportlov, the February school sports holiday, is when Swedish families head for the mountains. The week depends on the municipality, so the crowd arrives in waves:
| Week 2027 | Dates | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Week 7 | 15–21 February | Gothenburg, Jönköping, Borås |
| Week 8 | 22–28 February | Malmö, Uppsala, Örebro |
| Week 9 | 1–7 March | Stockholm, Karlstad, Luleå |
| Week 10 | 8–14 March | Östersund, Sundsvall |
SkiStar calls sportlov one of the most popular periods in the mountains and adds extra lifts in Björnen from 15 February to 14 March. Påsklov (Easter holiday) is the second peak: extra lifts run 22 March–4 April 2027, and on Good Friday and Easter Saturday (26–27 March) all lifts stay open until 18:00.
Åre in summer
The lifts reopen for downhill biking and hiking. In 2026 the trail park opened on 5 June, the cable car and VM8:an lift on 19 June, and several lifts ran daily from 29 June. Åre Bike Festival is set for 7–11 July 2027. For the wider region see Jämtland in summer.
Practical information
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Season 2026–27 | 11 December 2026 (Åre by) – 2 May 2027; other areas 18 December to 4 or 11 April; upper mountain from 8 February |
| Lift pass price | Not listed; quoted in SkiStar’s booking, cheaper early (checked 2026-09-25) |
| 6–8 day pass | Eight days for the price of six (checked 2026-09-25) |
| SkiStar All Year (multi-resort) | From SEK 895 per month (checked 2026-09-25) |
| Snow guarantee | At least 30 runs open, 18 December 2026 – 4 April 2027 |
| Night trains | SJ from Stockholm; Snälltåget from Malmö 16 Dec 2026 – 2 May 2027; dynamic fares |
| SJ winter-sports tickets | On sale end of October 2026 |
| Avalanche forecast | lavinprognoser.se, Södra Jämtlandsfjällen, free |
FAQ
When does the Åre ski season 2026–27 start and end?
SkiStar plans to open Åre by on 11 December 2026 with the Ski Test Weekend, earlier if snow allows. The gondola, Björnen and Duved/Tegefjäll open on 18 December, and most of the upper mountain on 8 February. Duved/Tegefjäll closes 4 April, Björnen 11 April, and Åre by 2 May 2027, with only the cable car and 1000-metersliften in the last week.
Can you take the train to Åre?
Yes. Åre station is in the middle of the village. SJ runs one night train each way daily between Stockholm, Östersund, Åre and Duved under a contract that starts on 13 December 2026. Snälltåget runs winter night trains from Malmö from 16 December 2026 to 2 May 2027. Norrtåg regional trains connect Åre with Östersund and Sundsvall by day.
Is there a night train from Gothenburg to Åre?
Some winter departures, yes. Snälltåget’s Jämtland trains run from Malmö either through Småland or along the west coast, and the west-coast departures stop at Göteborg-Mölndal on the way to Stockholm, Åre and Storlien. Only certain dates take that route, so check the train number. SJ’s night train to Åre starts in Stockholm.
Which ski area in Åre is best for beginners and families?
SkiStar pitches Åre Björnen as the most family-friendly area, with broad gentle runs and ski-in/ski-out lodging. Duved and Tegefjäll in the west are calmer too, mostly red and blue runs, with children’s areas. Åre by is the steep, busy centre with off-piste access and nightlife. One ordinary SkiPass covers all three areas.
What lift pass do I need in Åre?
A standard SkiPass covers Åre by, Björnen, Duved and Tegefjäll. New for 2026–27, a cheaper destination pass covers only Duved and Tegefjäll, with 12 lifts and 19 runs. There are also family, children’s-area, afternoon, 2-hour, evening and cross-country passes. A 6–8 day pass gives eight days for the price of six.
Where do I check the avalanche risk in Åre?
Two places. SkiStar publishes a daily Åre avalanche report for terrain reached from its open lifts, and Naturvårdsverket’s lavinprognoser.se forecasts the Södra Jämtlandsfjällen area around Åre, with the 2026–27 season preliminarily starting on 11 December. Open pistes are protected; everything off them is at your own risk.
When is sportlov and how busy is Åre then?
Sportlov 2027 falls in weeks 7 to 10, depending on the municipality: Gothenburg week 7, Malmö week 8, Stockholm week 9 and much of Norrland week 10. SkiStar calls it one of the most popular periods in the mountains and extends lift hours in Björnen from 15 February to 14 March. Book lodging and passes early.
Is Åre worth visiting in summer?
Yes, for mountain biking and hiking. In 2026 the trail park opened on 5 June and the cable car and VM8:an lift opened on 19 June, with several lifts running daily from 29 June. Åre Bike Festival is set for 7–11 July 2027. See our Jämtland summer guide for the wider region.
Related guides
- Skiing in Sweden — how Åre compares with the other Swedish resorts
- The night train north — sleepers, couchettes and booking with SJ
- Mountain safety in Sweden — avalanche advice and calling for help off the piste
- Sweden in winter — daylight, weather and holidays around your trip
- What to pack for a Swedish winter — layers for the lift and the platform
Facts verified 2026-09-25. Sources: SkiStar, SJ, Snälltåget, Norrtåg, Trafikverket (via SJ and Järnvägsnyheter), Naturvårdsverket (lavinprognoser.se), Fjällsäkerhetsrådet, Svenska Skidanläggningars Organisation — full register in this topic’s source file. Lift-pass prices and train fares are quoted only in the operators’ booking systems and are deliberately not published here. Found something outdated? Tell us and we’ll fix it.