The Inlandsbanan: Sweden's Scenic Inland Railway

Inlandsbanan runs through Sweden’s forested interior, far from the coast. The summer train is slow on purpose, with a guide and long stops. Here is how the route, the season, the tickets and the night-train connections actually work.

When you need this

You’re thinking about summer 2027 and wondering when to book. Or you have an Interrail pass and want to know whether the inland train is covered. You may be choosing between a slow route north to Lapland and the night train. Or you’re looking at the timetable and wondering what all the 20- and 60-minute stops are.

The 2026 season is over. Trains ran from 15 June to 12 August, and nothing runs in autumn, winter or spring. Booking for 2027 (tickets, seat reservations and the Inlandsbanan Card) opens in spring 2027. An old inlandsbanan.se article that still ranks well gives the 2016 season, so go by the operator’s current timetable instead.

One line, two kinds of train

Inlandsbanan (“the inland railway”) is a single-track line with no overhead wires. The original line runs 1,296 km from Kristinehamn on Lake Vänern to Gällivare in Lapland, and the operator rounds that to 1,300 km. Construction started in 1907, and the last gap closed at Kåbdalis on 6 August 1937.

Two kinds of traffic use it today:

Regular passenger service was wound down between 1969 and 1992, and the tourist trains began in June 1993. Inlandsbanan AB is owned by 19 municipalities along the line and manages the Mora–Gällivare track for the state. Its subsidiary Destination Inlandsbanan AB runs the tourist train and sells the tickets.

The route and how long it takes

The guided train runs Mora–Östersund–Gällivare. In 2026 it ran daily in three parts: Östersund–Mora and back, Östersund–Gällivare, and Gällivare–Östersund. Östersund is the hub where every service starts or ends.

Mora to Gällivare therefore takes two days, with a night in Östersund. Most travelers break the trip in more places.

South of Mora it’s a different train. The Kristinehamn–Mora train is run by Tågab. In 2026 it ran only on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays from 18 June to 13 July. It has no guide, no meal or sightseeing stops, and no advance bike booking. If you plan the “whole 1,300 km” as one daily train, the plan fails south of Mora.

Along the way the line passes through four regions:

• Dalarna (Mora, Orsa): the southern end of the guided train. From Mora, Tåg i Bergslagen’s line 50 runs toward Borlänge and Sala.
• Härjedalen and Jämtland (Sveg, Östersund): Östersund, the hub, with night trains to Stockholm.
• Southern Lapland (Dorotea, Vilhelmina, Storuman, Sorsele, Arvidsjaur): the longest stretch without a big town, where the long meal stops are.
• Norrbotten (Jokkmokk, Gällivare): the Arctic Circle stop, and the night train at Gällivare.

What a day on board is like

The train stops for meals, coffee and sights, and a guide talks over the sound system. The printed timetable marks each stop as a food or coffee stop (mat- eller fikastopp) or a sight (sevärdhet), with the length in minutes.

• The Arctic Circle is a stop. In 2026 northbound trains halted for 10 minutes at the marker, listed as Geografiska Polcirkeln.
• The longest stops are the meal stops. In 2026 the train stopped for 60 minutes at Vilhelmina Norra and 35 at Arvidsjaur. Southbound from Mora, it stopped for 20 minutes at Fågelsjö and 60 at Åsarna.
• Some days run to different times. In 2026, Mora–Östersund ran different times on five Tuesdays. The operator warns that times can change, so check its traffic information on the day.

Tickets, the Inlandsbanan Card and Interrail

There are three ways to pay:

The card suits travelers who stop over. With 14 days you can leave the train, stay a night or two in a town like Jokkmokk or Arvidsjaur, and take the next day’s train. Up to two children aged 15 or under travel free with a card-holding adult. Ages 16–25 and students get 25% off, and those 65 and over get 10% off.

With a pass, book the seat. When you book only a seat reservation, tick “Holder of Interrail, Eurail or Inlandsbanan card”. A child who wants their own seat needs a child’s seat reservation.

Bikes need one reservation per stretch, and you can’t book several stretches for a bike at once. See bikes on Swedish trains for the rest of the network. The operator’s price page says pets travel free, on the floor in the pets section (seats 37–60). That page also shows old prices, so confirm when you book.

The booking terms are strict. Payment is due 30 days before departure, or straight away if you book later. Cancellation is free until 30 days before; after that it costs 15%, then 50% from 14 days out, and 100% within 24 hours. Tickets aren’t refunded once the journey has started. If the train is more than an hour late, the operator offers a new ticket for that stretch or compensation of 25% at 60 minutes and 50% at 120 minutes. On a Resplus ticket combined with another operator, you claim through Samtrafiken instead. Train delay compensation covers the wider rules.

Two price lists on one site. The operator’s booking pages give 2,645 kr for the card and 60 kr for a seat. An older prices page still shows 2,545 kr and 50 kr. Go by the booking pages.

Connecting with night trains

Inlandsbanan pairs well with a fast night train in one direction. Both hubs have one:

• Gällivare is on SJ’s Stockholm–Narvik night train. Since April 2026, travelers on that line have changed trains at Boden. SJ expects that change to end on 13 December 2026, before the 2027 season.
• Östersund has night trains to Stockholm. In summer 2026 Snälltåget also ran a night train from Malmö via Stockholm on Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 24 June to 4 October.

Book each train separately with its own operator, and allow time between them, because the inland train doesn’t wait for other trains. Every night train needs a paid reservation, even with a pass. Plan the legs in Resrobot, the national journey planner, and see night trains to Lapland for classes and booking.

Mistakes to avoid

• Treating it as a quick way north. Take the night train for speed and Inlandsbanan for the journey.
• Assuming the guided train starts in Kristinehamn. It starts in Mora; south of Mora there is only the Tågab train on selected days.
• Riding on a pass without a seat. Book the 60 kr seat reservation.
• Planning Mora–Gällivare as one day. Plan a night in Östersund.
• Trying to book next summer in autumn. Booking opens in spring. You can email [email protected] and ask to be told when it does.

If you need step-free boarding, ask the booking office before you book. See accessible travel in Sweden for more.

Practical information

All prices are the operator’s figures for the 2026 season. 2027 prices are published when booking opens in spring 2027.

FAQ

Is Inlandsbanan running now?

No. The 2026 summer season ran from 15 June to 12 August between Mora, Östersund and Gällivare, and it is over. Booking for 2027 opens in spring 2027, when the new timetable and prices appear. Freight trains use the line year-round, but there is no tourist train outside the summer season.

How long does the Inlandsbanan take?

Two days from Mora to Gällivare with a night in Östersund. In 2026 the train took about six and a half hours from Mora to Östersund and about 14 hours from Östersund to Gällivare. The long stops for meals, coffee and sights are part of the timetable. Most travelers break the trip into more stages.

Is Inlandsbanan included in Interrail?

Yes. Interrail lists Inlandsbanan as fully included. A seat reservation costs 60 kr and is recommended but not compulsory. When booking only the seat, tick the box for holders of an Interrail, Eurail or Inlandsbanan card. Night trains that connect at Gällivare or Östersund need their own paid reservation.

How much is the Inlandsbanan Card?

For the 2026 season, the 14-day card cost 2,645 kr for an adult, with extra weeks at 600 kr. Two children aged 15 or under travel free with a card-holding adult. Ages 16–25 and students get 25% off, and those 65 and over 10%. Seat reservations cost extra. 2027 prices arrive with spring booking.

Does Inlandsbanan go all the way from Kristinehamn?

The line does, but the guided train does not. It runs Mora–Östersund–Gällivare. In 2026 a separate Tågab train ran between Kristinehamn and Mora on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays from 18 June to 13 July. It had no guide and no stops for meals or sights.

Can I combine Inlandsbanan with a night train?

Yes, at both main hubs. Gällivare is on SJ’s Stockholm–Narvik night train, and Östersund has night trains to Stockholm. In summer 2026 Snälltåget also ran a twice-weekly night train from Malmö via Stockholm. Book each train separately and allow time between them, because the Inlandsbanan timetable does not wait for other trains.

Related guides

• Interrail in Sweden — which other Swedish trains your pass covers, and where reservations are compulsory.
• Night trains to Lapland — the fast way north or home from Gällivare.
• Traveling Sweden without a car — getting from an inland station to a trailhead or town.
• Buying train tickets in Sweden — booking the connecting trains.
• Train travel in Sweden — how the whole rail network fits together.

Facts verified 2026-09-25. Sources: Destination Inlandsbanan AB, Inlandsbanan AB, Interrail B.V., Trafikverket, Snälltåget, Tåg i Bergslagen and Samtrafiken (Resrobot) — full register in this topic’s source file. Found something outdated? Tell us and we’ll fix it.