The Hidden North
North European travel guide
Population 23,000 / 67.5 degrees north
Kiruna, Sweden
While the Sami have lived here for thousands of years, Kiruna was settled by Swedes in the late 19th century thanks to the discovery of iron ore. Today Kiruna is primarily a mining town, but the town is famous for something else. it is currently being moved 3km to the east as the mine will run under the old town. Kiruna is also the northernmost city in Sweden.
About Kiruna
Latitude: 67.5 degrees north
Population: 23,000
Hottest month: July
Coldest month: January
Wettest month: July
Windiest month: March
Annual precipitation: 355mm
Kiruna Municipality
In this Travel Guide...
Map of Kiruna
Uniquely Kiruna
Here are some things that you must do and try in Kiruna
Reconstruction
The Town on the Move
There’s no other place like it. As Kiruna is moved east, buildings are being torn down and new ones are being constructed. Some of the important buildings, such as the church, are being lifted up and moved to the new town. Many of the old stone buildings are being demolished. It makes for an interesting visit – be sure to ask the locals for their opinion on all of this.
Mining
LKAB Mine
It is possible to join a guided tour down into the mine. LKAB is the name of the state-owned company that runs the mine, and the tour is a fascinating look at how the mine works. These tours last for three hours and take you into the mine about 310 metres. You walk around the tunnels of the closed-off mine and learn about the machines and lifestyle of the workers here.
Things to See & Do
Here’s an overview of some of the best things to see and do in Kiruna
Church
Kiruna Church
Kiruna Church is one of the few buildings that will be moved to the new town. It is designed to look like a huge Sami kota.
Hikes, Day Trips & Experiences
Looking to go for a hike or take part in a unique experience? Here are our recommendations!
Village
Jukkasjarvi
A short drive from Kiruna is Jukkasjarvi. This small village has an excellent Sami museum, one of the oldest churches in Lapland, and the original Snow Hotel.
Northern Lights
Abisko Northern Lights Tour
From Kiruna it’s possible to book a northern lights tour that will take you to Abisko, which is generally considered to be one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights.
Road-Trips
We currently have no road-trips out of Kiruna
Self-Guided Walks
We currently have no self-guided walks for Kiruna
Kiruna on YouTube
Watch our YouTube videos featuring Kiruna
Kiruna to Harstad via Narvik
Follow this scenic drive from Kiruna to Harstad, passing through Abisko National Park and crossing the Norwegian border.
Tarendo to Kiruna
Follow this scenic drive across Swedish Lapland from Tarendo to Kiruna.
History of Kiruna
It is believed that the area around Kiruna has been inhabited for at least 6,000 years, and the mountains Kiirunavaara and Luossavaara have been known by the Sami people.
The area has been known for being rich in minerals since the 17th century, but due to the harsh climate it wasn’t possible to mine here. Once the railway was constructed between Luleå and Narvik in 1884, it was finally possible to start mining. The mining company was founded in 1890 and is called LKAB (named after the two mountains and ‘ab’ is a term for a company in Swedish). The town was constructed for the workers and the population boomed. During World War II, Swedish iron ore from Kiruna was of major importance for the Nazis.
Kiruna got city rights in 1948 and started to get large amounts of money from the mine. The city centre was renovated in 1953 and most buildings from before 1920 were destroyed.
Kiruna Today
In 2004, it was decided that the town had to be moved east or risk collapsing into the mine. In 2010, the council chose the location for the new town.
As of October 2023, most of the old town buildings have been torn down, and residents have been moved into the new town.
Travel Information
Getting Here
Fly: Kiruna has an airport with direct flights to Stockholm and other destinations in Sweden.
Drive: Kiruna is located on the E10 highway that runs across Swedish Lapland towards Norway.
Train: There are daily overnight trains to Stockholm, or you can take a train to Narvik in Norway.
Ferry: No ferries
Getting Around
It takes approximately 40 minutes to walk between the old town and the new town, or you can take a 15 minute bus ride.
Shops
Carl Wenneberg specialises in knives, wooden scoops and cups.
Ateljenord sells ceramics, jewelry, Sami knives and other handicrafts.
Places to Eat
Cafes & Bakeries
SPiS Mat och Dryk has a bakery and well-priced breakfast and lunch buffets. For dinner there are multi-course menus.
Quick Bites
Arctic Thai and Grill has Thai curries, stir-fries and other dishes.
Reasonable Restaurants
Camp Ripan has delicious Swedish food and seasonal tasting menus.
High End & Unique Eats
Places to Stay
Hostels
SPiS is one of the more affordable places to stay and has a communal kitchen and living area along with a deli, bakery and restaurant.
B&Bs and Guesthouses
Camp Ripan is a campground with hotel rooms and chalets located on a mountain in the old town. Great for those who want to be outdoors.
High End & Unique Properties
Scandic Kiruna is in the new town and is a very nice, new hotel.
Sunrise/Sunset & Weather Averages
January
Sunrise: 10:10am
Sunset: 1:26pm
Average Temperature: -12C (10F)
February
Sunrise: 7:58am
Sunset: 3:49pm
Average Temperature: -11C (12F)
March
Sunrise: 5:58am
Sunset: 5:39pm
Average Temperature: -7.1C (19F)
April
Sunrise: 4:47am
Sunset: 8:33pm
Average Temperature: -1.3C (30F)
May
Sunrise: 2:27am
Sunset: 10:48pm
Average Temperature: 5C (40F)
June
Midnight sun
Average Temperature: 10C (50F)
July
Midnight sun until 17 July
Average Temperature: 14C (57F)
August
Sunrise: 4:01am
Sunset: 9:22pm
Average Temperature: 12C (53F)
September
Sunrise: 5:57am
Sunset: 7:08pm
Average Temperature: 6.5C (44F)
October
Sunrise: 7:43am
Sunset: 5:04pm
Average Temperature: -1C (31F)
November
Sunrise: 8:51am
Sunset: 1:54pm
Average Temperature: -6.5C (20F)
December
Polar night
Average Temperature: -9C (15F)