Explore The Top Tourist Attractions and Things to Do in Kiruna
Kiruna is a town in the Lapland province of Sweden. It is the northernmost town in the country and was originally developed around late 1800s to support the iron ore mining industry. You can explore the mines among places to visit in Kiruna. But, it is the outdoors that attracts most people to come to this town. Majority of top things to do in Kiruna, Sweden are centered around wonders of the arctic. Snow-clad months are the most popular for exploring this region. You get to enjoy unique things to see in Kiruna such as the Northern Lights, Midnight Sun and Polar Night.
People also come to this town to adventurous experience such as the skiing, snowboarding, hiking, ice-fishing, cross-country skiing and so on. The interesting modes of transport such as dog sleigh, reindeer sleigh and snowmobiles are also Kiruna tourist attractions in their own right. It is also well known for wonderful landscapes which drastically change with seasons. The places to visit in Kiruna offer different experiences, activities and sights in winter than they do in summer. The Abisko National Park is the prime example of this phenomenon and can be enjoyed differently at different time of the year. It is also famous for hiking, wildlife safari, sleigh rides and northern lights tour in Kiruna.
Aside from natural wonders, there are quite a few manmade creations to explore during Kiruna sightseeing. The Ice Hotel and Solar Egg Sauna will leave amazed with their ingenuity and creativity. On the cultural side, you can check out the Sami Museum, Kiruna Church and Reindeer Park. These Kiruna attractions give insight about the people of the region and their lifestyle.
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Table of Contents
The Best 10 Tourist Places to Visit in Kiruna
1. Abisko National Park
This National Park is a wonderful expanse of mountains, plains, forest, river, canyon and lakes. It is most known for Northern Lights Tour in Kiruna. But there is much more to explore here besides that. The National park houses a variety of plant and animal life. Some of the animals you may encounter while exploring this place include Reindeer, Arctic Fox, Bears, Lynx, Moose, Lemming and so on. Abisko is known for several fun things to do in Kiruna in summer and winter. You can easily spend a couple of days exploring the Abisko National Park.
I suggest you can go for below mentioned tours in Abisko National Park
- Northern Lights Tour
- Guided Hiking Trip in Abisko National Park
- Snowmobile Trip in Abisko National Park
2. Kiruna Pastorat Church
This church is the largest wooden building in Sweden. It was first built in 1912 and is one of the best places to visit in Kiruna concerning history and culture. The architecture of the church resembles a traditional Sami tent. It will take you about 30 to 45 minutes to explore this church.
3. Nutti Sami Siida
This cultural center focuses on the Sami people, the local inhabitants of the region. This museum delves into the history, culture, lifestyle and traditions on the people. It is among the most interesting Kiruna tourist attractions. You will need an hour to tour this museum.
4. Northern Lights Tour
Also known as Aurora Borealis, the northern lights phenomenon is one of the most breathtaking natural wonders. It is phenomenon is among the most beautiful things to see in Kiruna. The night sky lights with colourful lights owing to magnetic fields. There are several places near Kiruna called Aurora Zones where this phenomenon can be experienced. You will need a day’s time to experience it.
I suggest you should book below mentioned trip to Northern Lights according to your interest.
- Snowmobile Aurora Expedition
- Experience the Northern Lights from the top of Mount Ednamvárri
- Ice Fishing Tour with Northern Lights
5. Skiing
The snowy mountains, frozen lakes and iced plains provide a variety of landscapes to enjoy skiing and other snow sports. You get to enjoy several fun things to do in Kiruna in winter. The snow slopes of Mount Loussavaara are most popular for skiing and snowboarding. There are several tours for cross-country skiing. You can dedicate an entire day for this experience.
6. Ice Hotel
This hotel is entirely made from Ice and also has a church made from Ice situated in its complex. You will get to see sculptures, utensils, glasses, rooms, furnitures and many more things made entirely of ice. It is one of the most fascinating Kiruna attractions. You will need a couple of hours to explore this hotel.
I suggest you should book your Ice Hotel Tour in Advance.
7. Reindeer Farm
This farm explores the significance of Reindeers in the Nordic culture. You can watch and interact with these amazing creatures at this farm. It is a popular stop during Kiruna sightseeing. You should definitely enjoy the Reindeer sleigh ride while at this farm. It will take about an hour or so to explore this place.
I suggest you should go for Full Day Reindeer Tour.
8. Adventure Sports
Alongside places and sights, Kiruna travel is also known for a variety of activities. In summer, you can enjoy hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, wildlife safari, kayaking, river rafting and so on. During winters, you can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, ice-fishing, northern lights camping, dog sledging, snow mobile ride, reindeer sledging and so on. There are numerous adventurous things to do in Kiruna, Sweden.
I suggest you can do below mentioned multiple adventure activities in Kiruna.
- Husky Dog Ride Sled
- Aurora Hunting Tour with Reindeer Sledding
- Autumn Husky Sit and Drive Cart Tour
- Snowmobile Arctic Adventure
9. Solar Egg Sauna
While you are surrounded by snow, a little can be quite relaxing. This particular sauna is built in shape of an egg, is golden in color and is operated with solar energy. If not for sauna, you can also be here to see its futuristic design. You will need about an hour for this experience when you visit Kiruna.
10. LKAB Mine Tour
This is one of the oldest mine in the region and is the largest underground iron ore mine in the world. You will be taken a few kilometers below the earth’s surface to see how the mine operates and also visit a mini-museum. You will need about 2 hours for this tour.
If are still wondering what to see in Kiruna, check out the sections below. We have compiled an exhaustive list of places, experiences and activities which you would come across during Kiruna tour.
Things to do in Kiruna
Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Kiruna
- Kiruna Pastorat
- Nutti Sami Siida
- Konstmuseet i Norr
- Kirunavaara Iron Ore Mine
- Lkab Mines
- Jukkasjarvi
- Swedish Institute of Space Physics
- Esrange Space Center
- Stadshuset
- Jukkasjarvi Church
Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Kiruna
- Mount Loussavaara
- Abisko National Park
- Lake Loussajarvi
- Dag Hammarskjoldsleden
- Nikkaloukta Valley
- Lake Tornetrask
Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Kiruna
- Loussabacken Ski Slope
- Midnattssolstigen Ski Slope
- Gruvstadsparken
- Ice Hotel
- Sami Reindeer Farm
- Aurora Sky Station
- Solar Egg Sauna
Shopping in Kiruna
- Vildmarkshonan
- Kvadrat Inredning and Design
- ICA Kvantum
- Wennberg Sameslojd
- City Galaxan
- Arent Grapegatan
Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure Activities to Do in Kiruna
- Skiing
- Hiking
- Northern Lights Tour
- Dog Sledge Tour
- Snowmobile Tour
- Arctic Wildlife Safari
- Ice Fishing
- Hunting
- River Rafting
- Kayaking
- Cross-Country Skiing
Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Kiruna
- Camp Ripan
- Cafe Safari
- The Bishop Arms
- Ice Hotel
- Pizzeria Palladium
- Mommas Steakhouse
- Arctic Eden
- Annis
- Empes Gatukok
- Arctic Thai & Grill
- Landstroms Kok & Bar
Where to Stay in Kiruna?
Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range and Budget Hotels in Kiruna. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Kiruna.
Luxurious Hotels
Mid-Range Hotels
Budget Hotels
Custom Tours Package in Kiruna
How to Reach Kiruna?
By Air
Kiruna Airport gets direct flights from Stockholm, Dusseldorf, London and Amsterdam. If you are planning for Kiruna travel from anywhere else you will need to get a connecting flight. You best option is Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport as you get regular flights.
You have the option of getting cabs and buses to get around for Kiruna sightseeing.
By Road
There are two trains available to reach Kiruna. These originate from Goteborg and Stockholm. These are overnight trains as the distance is quite significant.
You can also take bus to visit Kiruna from several Swedish cities including Lulea, Gallivare, Jokkmokk, Haparanda and so on.
If you are planning to take the road to explore Kiruna tourist attractions, you should head along route E10 towards the north.
By Water
There are no direct water routes to reach Kiruna.
Image Reference
- Abisko National Park – Syrok / Flickr
- Kiruna Pastorat Church – Christoffer Sawicki / Flickr
- Nutti Sami Siida – Andrew Crump / Flickr
- Northern Lights Tour – Martin Str / PixaBay
- Skiing – Georg H. / PixaBay
- Ice Hotel – Isen Majennt / Flickr
- Reindeer Farm – Mats Andersson / Flickr
- Adventure Sports – Public Domain Photo / Piqsels
- Solar Egg Sauna – Sofie Hedenstierna / Wikimedia Commons
- LKAB Mine Tour – Bengt 1955 / Flickr
