Kiruna holidays

How to reach Kiruna

Flight time: Flights to Kiruna from London take around 5 to 6 hours, including a layover in Stockholm. Flights to Stockholm are available from several UK cities as well as London.

Transfer time: From Kiruna Airport, 10km to the east, the town centre is just 15 minutes away by taxi or the airport bus, which aligns with flight arrivals and departures. For those heading straight to the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi, it’s a 20-minute taxi ride.

Price: A taxi from Kiruna Airport to the town centre costs approximately £20, while the airport bus costs around £10. Many visitors find it convenient to book a transfer service to their hotel, especially in winter when roads can be icy.

Best time to visit Kiruna

This will really depend on what you want to do and see on your Kiruna holidays; winter is arguably the most obvious time for a visit, but the other seasons have their own attractions.

• April to May: The slow transition to spring sees the snow slowly melt and temperatures rise to around 5°C. The days start to become longer, averaging 10 hours of sunlight in April, but there’s still enough snow for skiing and snowshoeing, a good time for those looking for a quieter winter escape.

• June to August: From late May to mid-July the sun never sets in northern Sweden, which can be slightly disorientating. Temperatures are pretty mild, ranging between 10°C and 20°C, ideal for outdoor activities like hiking and fishing. Rainfall is light, at around 50–70mm.

• September to November: The onset of autumn and the return of darkness. This is a quieter period with cooler temperatures dropping from 10°C to -5°C and less daylight, around 6–8 hours daily. It’s also when the Northern Lights start to appear, making it an exciting time for night photography.

• December to March: Kiruna transforms into a snow-covered wonderland, making this the perfect time for all kinds of activities: ice sculpting, dog sledding and Northern Lights viewing. Temperatures range from -15°C to -5°C, with around 3–5 hours of daylight; pack plenty of warm clothing.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: Swedish is the official language, although the Sámi have their own language - it’s one of the Finno-Ugric group of languages, which also contains Finnish and Hungarian, and is barely comprehensible to outsiders. However, locals in Kiruna are used to international visitors, so English is widely understood.

• Local habits and customs: On meeting, friends of both sexes usually hug rather than kiss each other. In more formal situations, people shake hands while saying their name. Removing outdoor shoes when entering homes or cabins is also customary.

• Currency: Sweden uses the Swedish Krona (SEK), and most places in Kiruna accept card payments. Cash can be useful though.

• Getting around: The Kiruna area is best explored by car or guided tour. Car rentals are available but keep in mind that winter driving conditions can be challenging. Local buses are limited but available for getting around the town and to nearby attractions like Jukkasjärvi. Single bus fares cost around £3, and tickets can be purchased through the Länstrafiken Norrbotten app.

• Electricity and plug types: Kiruna uses the standard European Type C and F plugs with a 230V supply. UK travellers will need an adaptor.

• Time zone: Kiruna operates on Central European Time, 1 hour ahead of GMT, with daylight saving time in summer.

Best things to do in Kiruna

Although there are a few sights in Kiruna itself, Sweden’s northernmost town is an excellent base for exploring the region’s national parks and the world-famous Icehotel in nearby Jukkasjärvi.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Nuolja mountain: In the Abisko National Park, you can take a chair lift 500m up Nuolja mountain (1169m) from where there are fantastic views of the surrounding wilderness, including the 70km-long Torneträsk Lake and the spectacular u-shaped mountain-tops of Lapporten.

Museums

• Hjalmar Lundbohmsgården: A country house once used by the former managing director of LKAB, who was the town’s “founder”. Displays consist mostly of early 20th-century photographs featuring the man himself and his personal study, much as he left it.

• Kiruna Samegård: For the most rewarding exhibition of Sámi culture in town, head for the handicrafts centre, featuring a small but impressive display of Sámi art. It also has a souvenir shop, where you can pick up a piece of antler or reindeer skin.

Historical monuments

• Stadshus: A strident metal pillar, designed by Bror Marklund and harbouring an intricate latticework clock face and 23 sundry bells that chime raucously.

• Kiruna Church: Built in 1912, this beautiful wooden church is one of Sweden’s largest wooden structures, its architecture resembling a traditional Sami hut.

Day trips in the area

• Lappstaden, Arvidsjaur: The 80 or so square timber huts and cabins at this 18th-century Sámi church town offer fascinating insight into the life of Sweden’s indigenous people.

• Jukkasjärvi village: An obvious destination for any tourist travelling around Kiruna in winter is this tiny village, the location of Swedish Lapland’s blockbuster attraction: Icehotel. What’s effectively the world’s largest igloo, Icehotel is built every year by the side of the Torne River in late October, from when it stands proudly until temperatures rise definitively above zero in May, when it finally melts away back into the river.

• Esrange Space Centre: Kiruna is home to Europe’s only civilian rocket range, and space enthusiasts can visit this unique scientific site dedicated to space and climate research; tours include insights into atmospheric testing and research on the Northern Lights.

Activities for families in Kiruna

While there’s little to do for families in Kiruna itself, the surrounding countryside offers a wealth of fantastic and occasionally unusual activities for families.

• Mine tours: The tourist office arranges guided tours around the mines, where you’ll see facilities such as petrol stations, a workers’ canteen and mining paraphernalia, including trains for transporting ore and equipment, and mills for crushing the ore-bearing rock.

• Dog sledding: Dog sledding is a magical way to see northern Sweden in winter, and both kids and adults alike will love the thrill of riding through snowy landscapes on a dog sled. Many local operators offer family-friendly tours, with options to meet the huskies, help harness them and learn about their training.

• Icehotel: One of the most unusual structures in Europe, the Icehotel is a masterpiece of snow and ice sculpture. Guided tours allow families to see its intricately carved ice rooms and sculptures. Kids can marvel at the stunning icy creations and there’s even an ice carving class for a hands-on experience. Bring your thermals!

Free things to do in Kiruna

Kiruna offers a wonderful chance to experience its natural beauty without stretching your budget.

• Northern Lights: Arguably the best place in Sweden to catch a glimpse of the aurora, particularly during the coldest winter months from December to February. Although displays can range from just a few minutes to several hours, the night sky must be clear of cloud to see the northern lights. You might also want to check out our Northern Lights holiday packages.

• Midnight sun viewing: For those visiting in summer, experiencing the midnight sun is unforgettable – and of course free. Walk up Luossavaara or drive to a nearby viewing spot for the best perspective on the land of the midnight sun.

Nature and outdoor activities in Kiruna

Kiruna’s stunning natural landscape, perched high above the Arctic Circle, is an outdoor paradise that makes for unforgettable adventures.

• Hiking: Don your hiking boots and discover Sweden’s longest trail, which winds its way through some of the most haunting scenery the north has to offer.

• Snowmobiling: Scudding across the snowfields of northern Sweden on a snowmobile is one of Lapland’s quintessential experiences.

• Skiing and snowboarding: Riksgränsen, just north of Kiruna, is Sweden’s northernmost ski resort and one of the best places for powder skiing in the world - with spring’s long daylight hours, you can even experience some midnight sun skiing.

• Snowshoeing: Kiruna’s wilderness allows lots of possibilities for trekking through virgin snow. Guided snowshoeing tours are available in places like the Torne River Valley, where you’ll also learn about Sami culture.

• Ice fishing: For a quintessentially Arctic experience, try your hand at ice fishing. Local operators provide all the necessary equipment, drilling holes in the frozen lakes and guiding you through the process.

Local dishes in Kiruna

Kiruna’s cuisine draws heavily on both Sami traditions and Swedish classics, with unique Arctic flavours that will add something just that little bit special to your holidays to Kiruna.

Some typical dishes

• Suovas: Classic Sami cuisine, this is smoked reindeer meat sautéed and served with lingonberry jam and mashed potatoes.

• Älggryta: Thick stew made with slow-cooked elk meat, vegetables and a rich, creamy sauce, before being served with potatoes.

Meat dishes

• Reindeer stew: Known locally as renskav, this dish features thinly sliced reindeer meat cooked with mushrooms and cream, creating a rich, warming meal that’s a staple in Arctic Sweden.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Gravad lax: A Swedish take on cured salmon, this dish is marinated with dill and sugar and served with mustard sauce on crisp bread.

• Surströmming: Baltic herring fermented for months until it’s rotten and the tin it’s in buckles – very smelly and eaten in very, very small quantities. Not for the faint-hearted!

Sweets and desserts

Kiruna has some unique desserts, notably klappgröt, a soft porridge made from whipped semolina and berries; and gingerbread cookies best nibbled with a warming mug of mulled wine known as glögg.

Local drinks

• Cloudberry liqueur: Made from cloudberries, a rare Arctic berry with a tangy-sweet flavour, this liqueur is usually served after meals as a digestif.

• Swedish beer: Local craft breweries produce excellent ales and lagers, often incorporating flavours from the region: Kiruna Bryggeri offers a range of beers inspired by the Swedish Lapland landscape.