Discover Kiruna

Kiruna combines vast natural landscapes with hiking trails, winter sports and cultural experiences. The municipality has more than 530,000 hectares of protected areas, including national parks and nature and wildlife reserves. There are also around 6,000 lakes and six rivers within the municipality’s boundaries. Long hiking trails lead to scenic places; given the municipality’s vast area, it makes sense to choose destinations and routes carefully for your stay.

Hiking and Winter Activities

The summit of Kebnekaise is about 2,100 metres above sea level. In winter, it can be reached on skis, and in summer in hiking boots; actual route conditions vary with the season. For your planning, this means that the possible route to the summit and the equipment needed differ depending on the season.

Other winter activities also vary in scale. The ski area on Luossavaara is Kiruna’s central slope for skiing and snowboarding. It has three lifts, four runs and a park with jumps and rails; the piste is 2,500 metres long, with a vertical drop of 156 metres. These facility details may change, so check them before making specific plans. Kiruna also has 63 kilometres of cross-country ski trails, including 28 kilometres of lit trails. A different kind of training is offered by the 7.6-kilometre roller-ski track: it starts at the Matojärvi sports ground, loops around the area and returns to the sports ground.

The municipality of Kiruna also has around 1,500 kilometres of snowmobile trails. Together with the long hiking trails, these offer a wide range of ways to get outdoors. Which activity suits your stay also depends on whether you want to experience Kiruna in winter or summer.

Abisko and Its Trails

The Kungsleden runs through Abisko National Park. There, it follows the Abiskojåkka through Abisko Canyon to the river delta in Lake Torneträsk. The national park is accessible via the E10 and by rail. The tourist station and Naturum are within walking distance of bus and train stops, as well as several hiking trails. If you plan to travel by public transport, check the timetables separately.

Naturum Abisko is next to the tourist station and offers nature guides, exhibitions, a film and lecture hall, and a shop. The exhibition covers, among other things, the effects of climate change on sensitive mountain ecosystems and presents the geology, flora and fauna of the national park. This lets you combine time on the trails with insights into the park’s natural environment.

Mining, Architecture and Culture

Guided bus tours to a demonstration mine 540 metres underground depart from the LKAB Visitor Centre. The tour includes a 20,000-square-metre visitor facility with exhibitions and mining machinery. A mining museum complements the visit with historical settings, work tools and photographs from the early 20th century. For a different perspective on the city, guided tours and a QR-code city tour explore Kiruna’s history, architecture and ongoing urban transformation.

Kiruna Church was inaugurated in 1912 and built in the shape of a Sámi kåta. Visitor access is subject to the ongoing relocation programme; check current access arrangements before visiting. Recurring cultural events include the Arctic Light Film Festival in November, with venues including Kiruna Folkets Hus, outdoor locations, the ICEHOTEL and the LKAB mine 540 metres underground. The main event at the annual Snöfestivalen is the international snow sculpture competition, which attracts artists from around the world. Since its launch in 2000, Kirunafestivalen has been a regular fixture of the cultural summer season.

Ice Art and Experiences in Jukkasjärvi

The ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi combines a hotel with an art exhibition made of snow and ice. At ICEHOTEL 365, you can visit ice creations year-round in a solar-powered, refrigerated environment kept at a constant minus 5 degrees Celsius. As operating details may change, check them before your visit. A guided ice-sculpting course introduces participants to the tools and the basics of carving. Participants work with a block of clear ice from the Torne River.

For a day visit, Márkanbáiki in Jukkasjärvi is another cultural destination. Its offerings include a Sámi museum exhibition, encounters with reindeer, and a short nature and culture trail. At Restaurant Ovttas, traditional Sámi flavours are given a modern interpretation. Hjalmar Lundbohmsgården also combines culture with a place to stop for refreshments: during the week, it is a museum and café where visitors can get coffee or a simple lunch during opening hours. As café operations may change, it is worth checking the latest visitor information in advance.

Plan Timetables and Your Base

Distances in Kiruna are long, and public transport is seasonal. Regional buses connect Kiruna town with villages and mountain destinations in the municipality; many services operate seasonally. If you want to visit mountains, villages or border areas, plan carefully, check timetables and book in advance. When choosing your base, first consider which experiences and dates matter to you. That way, you can match your planned destinations with the relevant connections and visiting times.

Discover more destinations: Vittangi, Abisko, Kiruna, Karesuando, Riksgränsen, Björkliden, Lannavaara, Gällivare.

Back to the main travel overview: Norrbotten.