Hera are a few examples of the different types of huts, stations and shelters you will see on the trail. In southern Sweden the open type (vindskydd) is often seen with a fireplace and a toilet (bring your own TP). They are free to use.
In Middle Sweden, from Mora and up, huts are more common. Sometimes they are free, and sometimes there is a small charge (100 – 200 SEK/2025).
Further North, there will be a mix of huts, security shelters and mountain stations. Some are run by The County Administrative Board (Länsstyrelsen), some by Laponia Tourism (Padjelanta) or The Swedish Tourist Association STF (the latter manned, pricy and with rather low standard, membership will give you a small rebate when staying).
Service charge for campers next to STF mountain cabins
If you are on a budget you can stay close to a STF hut with your tent and use the facilities for a minor sum. At STF, tent sites and day fees cannot be booked in advance.
Payment for service fees and any purchases made in the cabin shops is done on-site. Pay with card, but bring some cash as well. The STF huts are manned (except for Pålnostugan and the tiny Tsielekjåkkstugan which is in bad shape).
For 2025: adult 200 SEK, youth (16-25 years): 140 SEK. Nota bene: the prices are STF-member prices. If you are not a member, an additional fee of 100 SEK applies (for both adults and youths).
Service fee for day visits without overnight stay at mountain cabins
Adult and Youth (16-25 years): 40 SEKThe price above is STF-member prices. If you are not a member, an additional fee of 40 SEK applies (for both adults and youths).
Many, but not all, huts in the mountains have a small food shop.
If you need to avoid spending too much staying in your tent at a site you can ask the cabin host (stugvärden) where to pitch it up to be clear. Many hikers just use the shops and stay clear of the sites due to the priceing although sometimes it’s nice to stay there if the weather is bad. Some STF huts have saunas (fee).
The Via Suecia goes through Padjelanta where there is a mix of STF huts and Laponia Tourism huts, the latter often with a lower fee for tents and sauna.
DNT – Den Norske Turistforening
If you choose to hike the last part of The Via Suecia through Norway, that is from Abisko to Treriksröset, you will meet the Norwegian way of hiking and their huts. The standard and comfort is much higher than in Sweden.
There are usually several cosy huts grouped together with warying age and style. There is firewood and you collect water from a nearby river. The beds have sheet, pillows and down duvets but you need to bring a liner.
The huts in this part are unmanned and locked with a DNT-key (you need to be a member of the DNT). For Altevasshytta you even need a code supplied when you book.
Several huts have charging facilities (USB) but no food store/shop meaning you must carry your food until you come to Kilpisjärvi (Fin) where there is a shop, hotel and camping.
If you are a DNT-member staying in a hut its only 250 NOK (2025). To better plan this part, use www.ut.no (also as an app) which is a Norwegian trip-planning website where the huts and trails are. Very useful.
Hiking in Norway comes with more river crossings, tougher terrain and no shelters between the huts. The cell connection wary, but surprisingly often you will have service.
Below you’ll find a few examples of Swedish huts, shelters and one station (Grövelsjön).
A few examples of the Norwegian huts.
