Information
City: KirunaCountry: Sweden
Continent: Europe
Kiruna, Sweden, Europe
Overview
Kiruna sits high above the Arctic Circle in Sweden’s Lapland, a remote city where winter skies glow with streaks of green light.Perched at the very top of Sweden, it’s the northernmost city, famous for its sweeping forests, brutal winter cold, and nights when the Aurora Borealis spills green light across the sky.Kiruna is well known for its iron ore mines, and the ground tremors they’ve caused are forcing the city to slowly shift to a new location.Kiruna sits in Sweden’s far north, roughly 145 kilometers (90 miles) from Norway’s border and about 200 kilometers (124 miles) from Finland, where winter snow can linger well into spring.Perched just above the Arctic Circle, the city basks in round-the-clock sunlight during summer’s midnight sun and endures deep, lingering darkness in winter, all while being wrapped in wild forests, jagged mountains, and cold, glassy lakes fed by rushing rivers.Kiruna sits near several national parks, among them Abisko National Park, a favorite for hikers and winter adventurers.The town’s subarctic climate means long, punishing winters-snow piles high, the air bites at your face, and daylight can shrink to just a few pale hours.Summer warms the air, yet the sun never truly sets for weeks, casting a golden glow over the hills at midnight.Kiruna’s story is rooted in its mining past.In 1900, the city sprang up after miners struck rich veins of iron ore deep beneath Kiirunavaara Mountain.LKAB (Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara AB) has driven Kiruna’s growth for decades, with the city’s economy rooted in iron ore mining.Now, as the mine pushes deeper, the ground in some neighborhoods cracks and sinks, forcing parts of the town to be moved.Because of this, the city’s slowly shifting to a new site a few kilometers away, hauling entire buildings, utility lines, and even its busy central square to fresh ground.This is among the most remarkable urban relocations ever attempted, and it’s still unfolding.One highlight is the Kiruna Church, a towering wooden structure whose red-painted walls make it one of Sweden’s largest and most beloved landmarks.Built in the early 1900s, the church stands with its warm wooden frame and rises in the shape of a traditional Sami lavvu.With its glittering ice walls and breathtaking design, the Icehotel is a must-see in Jukkasjärvi, a small village just outside Kiruna and one of the area’s most famous attractions.The Icehotel, famous around the globe, is crafted entirely from glistening ice and packed snow, with delicate sculptures, frozen rooms, and even a bar where the glasses are carved from ice.Each winter, the hotel rises again from blocks of glittering ice, inviting guests to sleep in rooms carved entirely from frozen walls and crystal-clear beds.It also unveils an Art Suite exhibition, where sculptors from around the globe shape intricate scenes from ice and snow.Just a short way off, Abisko National Park offers one of the clearest, most breathtaking views of the Northern Lights.From the park’s trails, you can take in sweeping views of the mountains, their peaks dusted with snow, and it’s a favorite spot for hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.High above Abisko, the Aurora Sky Station draws visitors eager to watch the Northern Lights, with a chairlift carrying them up the mountain to a sweeping view of stars and green-lit skies.Farther north, Kiruna stands as a vibrant hub for Sami culture, the heritage of Scandinavia’s indigenous people.You can explore Sami traditions-everything from intricate handicrafts to the rhythm of reindeer herding-by stopping at cultural centers or stepping into Sami villages.In Kiruna, home to Sweden’s Sami Parliament, the streets come alive during festivals and seasonal events.Tucked inside a converted power plant, the Kraftstation offers a striking space for art and culture.It highlights contemporary art and traces the city’s history, while also capturing its changing skyline shaped by the mining industry.It’s a fascinating spot to explore Kiruna’s culture and what lies ahead for the city.The Kiruna Mine isn’t your usual tourist stop, but you can join a guided tour to the LKAB Visitor Centre, where you’ll hear the mine’s history, see how it’s shaped the town, and glimpse the plans for its future.One of the world’s largest iron ore mines dominates the town and fuels its economy.Kiruna also hums with Sami traditions-shops sell hand-stitched gákti, carved wooden cups, and the rich scent of smoked reindeer meat drifts through the air.Visitors can immerse themselves in lively Sami festivals, with drumbeats echoing through the crisp air, celebrating the deep heritage of Lapland’s indigenous people.In winter, Kiruna turns into a playground for snow lovers.In winter, people flock to the slopes for skiing or snowboarding, rev up snowmobiles across frozen trails, drop a line through the ice, or race across the snow behind a team of eager dogs.The wild landscape around Kiruna is perfect for adventure, from carving down the slopes at Kiruna Ski Resort to gliding through quiet forests on cross-country skis.In summer, the Midnight Sun bathes the horizon in gold for weeks, while winter brings the long, star-filled Polar Night and the dance of the Northern Lights.Tourists flock to Kiruna for the Northern Lights, where ribbons of green and violet often ripple across the night sky, thanks to the city’s prime spot in the auroral oval.On most clear nights from September to March, the Northern Lights sweep across Kiruna’s sky, brightest between December and February.In summer, the trails open up, and hikers tackle routes like the Kungsleden, where wooden bridges cross rushing streams and the air smells of pine.The stretch from Abisko to Nikkaluokta draws plenty of travelers, thanks to its sweeping views of mountains and valleys dusted with snow.In Kiruna, you can race across the glittering winter terrain on a dog sled, the icy air biting your cheeks as the huskies charge ahead.Several local outfitters run guided dog sledding tours in the area, where you can hear the soft hiss of runners over snow.Snowmobiling’s just as popular in Kiruna, with winding trails cutting through pine forests and skimming across glittering frozen lakes.Guided tours let you venture deep into Lapland’s far-off corners, where the snow crunches under your boots and the air feels sharp and clean.You can fly into Kiruna Airport (KRN), just a few kilometers from the city.The airport runs domestic flights to cities across the country, from small coastal towns to bustling hubs like Chicago.
Landmarks in kiruna
