In the most northern part of Sweden, lies one of the least known corners of all the country, but it is certainly a secret worth knowing, as there is a lot to see in Kiruna, the city of iron and ice. It is a very important city for the country and is home to Kiirunavaara, the deepest iron ore mine in the world, embedded in the impressive mountains that adorn the skyline of the remote and often snowy Kiruna.
Kiruna’s impressive mountains, filled with vast acres of imposing trees, add to the city’s extensive artistic heritage. Various museums, such as the Sami Museum, add a unique beauty to all that Kiruna has to offer. If you want to know more about this special place and find out how to appreciate the beauty of the aurora bolearis that can be spotted in Kiruna, read on about everything to do and see in Kiruna.
What are the best places to visit in Kiruna
1. Kiruna’s iron mine
Nestled in natural landscapes (although they are so impressive that we could call them supernatural) lies one of the main attractions in Kiruna: its huge iron mine. This deposit produces practically all the iron of the European Union. And visiting it is a unique experience, for you will feel as if you were entering the deepest part of the earth.
Such is the magnitude of the excavation work at this mine that, despite efforts to preserve the town, in order to continue this activity they will have to move the entire village of Kiruna and provide a new location for them (a process that is currently underway).
Today the only active and visitable site is Kiirunavaara. While Luossavaara, the other magnetite excavation site, has been converted into a recreational area: the slope of the homonymous mountain where the mine is located has now been converted into a ski slope.
2. The Sami Museum
As we explained earlier, Kiruna also has an amazing cultural, historical and artistic heritage and it is one of the main attractions of this town. In this particular museum, the history of the Sami people, who once inhabited this land, is told through the collection of different elements.
The Sami used to live in Kiruna and in fact, to this day there are still descendants of the Sami people among the residents of the city. The small Sami museum (or Såmegarden museum) shows the way of life of the ancient inhabitants of Kiruna, explaining their customs, the territories they dominated, as well as their hunting habits and the importance of fishing for them. You can also see the different clothes they used and, to be honest, the whole experience is very enriching.
3. The northern lights in Kiruna
No doubt one of the biggest attractions of traveling to such a remote place, to the far reaches of Sweden and Swedish Lapland, is to try to spot the unique Northern Lights. This unique phenomenon illuminates the night skies with spectacular beauty.
There are many people who go into this region to witness this light phenomenon, although it is a difficult task. Even though there are times of the year when it is easier to see the northern lights appear, you will not always be lucky.
In certain places you can see this kind of phenomena in a better way, and since it is something you have to try in Kiruna, we recommend you to go to the Aurora Sky Station, a unique place where you can see them better. In addition, the best months to see the northern lights are usually between September and October, as well as February and March.
4. Kiruna Ice Hotel, a unique site in Kiruna
Rising as a very representative (and certainly quite unique) enclave in Kiruna, this special hotel receives many visitors throughout the year and we are not surprised at all. The Ice Hotel is a unique accommodation in the whole world and in fact it is the largest on the planet.
It is located a little further away from the city center, near Jukkasjärvi airport. This hotel is peculiar because it is constantly being rebuilt, as the materials that give it shape are ephemeral. But this is part of the magic of the place, since every year it reappears with a new structure.
In addition to being a very unique place to stay, the owners put a lot of effort into making the experience of visiting the Ice Hotel unique. Inside you will find different and amazing ice sculptures, as well as a chapel made purely with blocks of ice and of course, you can also find a bar located inside the hotel.
5. Kiruna Church
This church (also known as Kiruna Kyrka) built purely of wood, has a strident red color, which stands out from many other buildings among the snowy streets of Kiruna. It is a unique building in Kiruna, with a style typical of the buildings of the Sami people who used to inhabit this land.
Influenced also by the art nouveau style, the church of Kiruna surprises by the use of wood in its construction, which is present in all the building. Its dark wooden interior is especially remarkable, which makes you feel as if you are shrinking when you enter it. It is a very charming building to visit in Kiruna and should be on your list.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to see in Kiruna and its surroundings
1. Skiing in Luossabacken
Although Kiruna is a municipality that offers many things to do, some of the most striking activities in these lands take place in the winter season. So if you decide to visit Kiruna during this time, skiing in Luossabacken is highly recommended.
Just 20 minutes from the center, you will find the exceptional ski slope, which sometimes surprises ski enthusiasts, since the light conditions are adverse due to the situation so close to the north pole of Kiruna. It’s a fairly complete slope, so if you like doing sports, don’t hesitate to come and enjoy the experience.
What to see in Kiruna in 1 day
Kiruna is an amazing town that is not particularly large, so you can see it in just 1 day if you have little time to visit it. We recommend that you spend the first few hours of your visit in the city center, visiting the Kiruna Church and the Sami Museum, two perfect places to understand more about the history of the city.
After visiting these central locations, you can head outside to admire the Kiirunavaara mines, the main deposit that has the largest iron production in Europe. It is a unique site that represents the essence of Kiruna. Afterwards, you can head to the Ice Hotel if it’s open, where the icy north takes shape in an awe-inspiring way.
Where to stay in Kiruna
Sometimes planning everything that goes into a trip is a bit tiring, so to make your stay much more enjoyable, we’ve put together a list of some accommodation options for your days in Kiruna:
- SPiS Hotel & Hostel: A carefully decorated hostel and hotel, in the purest Swedish style, with comfortable spaces that radiate relaxation. The price for a weekend for two people is 242€.
- Hotel Bishops Arms Kiruna: One of the best hotels in Kiruna, with classic decor that takes you back decades. The price for a weekend is 293€.
- Camp Alta Kiruna: Slightly further from the city center and facing a peaceful lake that affords stunning views. It is a perfect place to be in contact with nature. Its price for a weekend is around 102€.
Where and what to eat in Kiruna
The gastronomy of Sweden is, without a doubt, one of the main attractions of traveling to the country. For this reason, we have prepared a recommendation of some places where you can enjoy it on your visit to Kiruna:
- Stejk Street Food: Street food, with an unpretentious atmosphere that contrasts with its delicious gastronomic offer. The price per person is between €6 and €19.
- Cafe Safari: A coffee shop with a brutal offer of sweets, which also has a very good coffee, so do not hesitate to visit it to treat yourself.
- Camp Ripan Kitchen: A more demure option, with an excellent menu of haute cuisine dishes that perfectly represent Swedish and Scandinavian cuisine.
What should I consider before traveling to Kiruna
- The official currency of Sweden is the Swedish Krona (SEK)
- The best time to travel to Kiruna is from May to September
- There are many establishments where cash is not accepted.
- The tap water is safe to drink.
- From Spain it is not necessary to have a visa. With the DNI is enough.
- Be covered for possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
- The country is generally very safe, but just in case be careful with your belongings.
- To take public transportation, it’s best to download the Skånetrafiken app
How to prepare what to see on your trip to Kiruna
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travelers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions into it.
- Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest we indicate in this post as a reference).
- Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes we present in the post).
- There are restaurants that only accept credit cards.
- Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make any modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travelers what to see in Kiruna.
If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Kiruna
It depends on what you want to visit, since to see the northern lights you should visit Kiruna during September and October, or in February and March. It is also a very good time for activities such as skiing.
But to see a more summery Kiruna with more hours of sunshine, it is best to travel here in summer.
If you travel from Spain it is not necessary to have a visa.
Stejk Street Food, Cafe Safari and Camp Ripan Kitchen.
SPiS Hotel & Hostel, Hotel Bishops Arms Kiruna and Camp Alta Kiruna.
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