Kiruna
Sweden’s northernmost town, Kiruna, is an ultimate destination for an Arctic adventure. No matter the season, there is always plenty to do and explore – from the biggest underground iron ore mine in the world to snow-capped mountain peaks, from the Midnight sun to Northern lights, from fascinating Sámi history and traditions to modern solutions in an ever-changing urban scenery.
With the tourist infrastructure Kiruna has to offer, you can plan a holiday full of extraordinary experiences that will allow you to explore Lapland in the best way possible. Whether it’s dogsledding, snowboarding, snowmobiling, Northern Lights expeditions, camping, fishing (or ice-fishing), hiking, or nature watching, Kiruna has it all and more. Camp Alta is the ultimate destination for your Arctic adventure, conveniently located on the E10 road, just a 15-minute drive from Kiruna.
THE PLACE OF MANY EXTREMES
The Arctic is for true adventurers. Kiruna is located about 200 km above the Arctic circle, which makes it a place where you can experience the polar night with sun never rising above the horizon and temperatures that can drop to even -40°C (however, usually they would be around -15°C to -25°C). The snow remains until May, but the winter does not last forever, and soon the endless nights are replaced with endless daylight during the period of the Midnight Sun. Don’t forget the bathing suit if you visit us in the summer, as the temperatures can reach even 30°C (however, it will mostly be around 10°C-20°C during the summer months).
POLAR NIGHT AND MIDNIGHT SUN
The polar night in Kiruna lasts for about a month, from mid-December till the beginning of January. During this time, the sun never rises above the horizon, but we don’t experience complete darkness. The winter days are short but incredibly pretty with the sky full of stars, Northern lights and the pinky-blue hues illuminating the entire horizon during the “blue hour”. On the other hand, between May and July, you can experience the magical Midnight sun in Kiruna. It gives you freedom to explore Lapland 24 hours around the clock, hiking and camping at midnight. It’s time when the forest berries grow and you can go fishing for salmon, perch and trout in the thousands of Arctic lakes or the Torne River.
CITY ON THE MOVE
Kiruna is a mining town established in the late 19th century above one of the world’s richest iron ore deposits. Up until now, Kiruna’s economy is vastly dependent on the mining industry and the mining operations expand deeper and further beneath the town. Continuous mining operations have led to cracks and subsidence that threaten the stability of buildings and infrastructure, making parts of the town unsafe. In result, the city is being relocated to a new location, approximately 3 kilometers east of the original town center. New houses, apartment buildings, as well as schools and other essential buildings are constructed in the new center, while several historical structures are being relocated to its new location, including Kiruna's famous church. This relocation is expected to continue for several years. So far, we have two centers of Kiruna, old and new, both offering an array of sites, shops and restaurants to visit.
PLACES TO SEE AROUND KIRUNA
- ICEHOTEL: located in the village of Jukkasjärvi, about 17 kilometers from Kiruna, the ICEHOTEL is the world’s first hotel made entirely of snow and ice. Reconstructed from scratch each year around December, it melts back into the Torne River in spring, making each iteration a one-of-a-kind experience. Inside the hotel, you can admire unique art suits with intricate ice carvings and sculptures, crafted by artists from around the world.
- Nutti Sámi Siida: a cultural center based in the village of Jukkasjärvi, about 17 kilometers from Kiruna, offers its visitors an immersive experience into the life, culture, and traditions of the Sámi people, the indigenous inhabitants of the region. They offer unique experiences, such as feeding the reindeer, as well as traditional food at a café.
- Esrange Space Center: situated about 45 kilometers from Kiruna, the space center has carried satellite operations, sounding rocket and balloon launches, as well as atmospheric and space technology research since 1966. You can get an insight into what is happening behind the Esrange gates at an unmanned and free visitor center, open every day from 8:00 to 18:00.
- Kiruna new city center: inaugurated in 2019, the new city center of Kiruna is expanding quickly to offer visitors a variety of dining options, cozy cafes, specialty stores and souvenir stores. Kin Museum of Contemporary art (free entry) hosts contemporary art exhibitions and events, while in Aurora Kultur i Kongress has a cinema and library. Explore modern architecture in the new center of Kiruna and witness one of the largest urban transformations of our time.
- Abisko National Park: known as one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights, Abisko National Park offers many stunning locations for observing Aurora Borealis, due to minimal light pollution and statistically many cloudless nights. On top of that, you can spend hours hiking in the mountains and famous Abisko Canyon, as well as try a range of outdoor activities including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and wildlife watching. Abisko National Park is located approximately 95 kilometers west of Kiruna, with convenient train connections, making it easy for visitors to travel between Kiruna and Abisko National Park.
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