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Europe Sweden Kiruna Do & See Northern Lights

Overview

Northern Lights

The guide was updated: 2023-12-21

Between September and April, there is the chance of experiencing the northern lights, provided that it is a starry night. The aurora borealis, or Northern Lights, is a stunning natural light display in the Earth's sky, caused by solar winds disturbing the magnetosphere and ionizing atmospheric particles. You can look up the northern lights forecast online.

Useful Information

Website: northernlightssweden.se/aurora-forecast

Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

*this will be downloaded as a PDF.

Price

€4,95

Purchase

Midnight Sun

Midnight Sun

If you have never been in Northern Scandinavia during the midsummer period, the bright nights are perhaps the most fascinating and apparent phenomenon. The sun doesn’t set at all. You can get spectacular views of the surroundings from the city mountain, Luossavaara, about 4 km outside Kiruna. The midnight sun can be experienced between 27 May and 14 July in Kiruna.

Northern Lights

Northern Lights

Between September and April, there is the chance of experiencing the northern lights, provided that it is a starry night. The aurora borealis, or Northern Lights, is a stunning natural light display in the Earth's sky, caused by solar winds disturbing the magnetosphere and ionizing atmospheric particles. You can look up the northern lights forecast online.

Esrange Space Center

Esrange Space Center

Situated 40 kilometres from Kiruna, the Esrange Space Center is Europe's premier civilian space base. It's a hub for high-altitude balloons, aurora borealis studies, rocket launches, and soon, satellite launches. Esrange offers guided tours year-round, where visitors can delve into both its rich heritage and exciting future. Learn about the significance of space exploration and the impending advancements in the industry at the unmanned exhibition outside its gates.

Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi

Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi

The world-famous Ice Hotel is located in Jukkasjärvi, 17 km from Kiruna. The world’s largest hotel of its kind, made out of thousands of tonnes of snow and ice, is rebuilt every winter. You’ll be nice and cool as you sleep after a drink in the Icebar, beautifully chiselled out of pure blue ice from the River Torne. Open from mid-December to the end of April. In the summer, you can experience ice art in the hotel’s Art Centre.

Kebnekaise Peak & Mountain Station

Kebnekaise Peak & Mountain Station

From Nikkaluokta, 66 km west of Kiruna, there are first-rate skiing and trekking trails to, among other places, the top of Sweden’s highest mountain — Kebnekaise (2,096 m). Walk the first 19 km to Kebnekaise mountain station, where you register for the next day’s guide-led route to the top. The trip takes about 8–10 hours and requires a good level of fitness. Minimum age is 16.

Kungsleden — The Royal Trail

Kungsleden — The Royal Trail

The famous long-distance hiking trail offers spectacular vistas of the natural world. It's 467 km long and starts in Abisko, 93 km northwest of Kiruna. STF Singi mountain cabin lies directly west of Kiruna. For information on suggested routes and accommodation, visit Svenska Turistföreningen’s (the Swedish Tourist Organisation) website.

Kiruna Mine

Kiruna Mine

Experience the world’s largest underground iron ore mine from the inside. Visit the mine: the café, the machinery, the theatre and museum, all located 540 meters underground. You can join the daily tour that starts at the LKAB's Visitor Centre in central Kiruna. Book well in advance! The mine is operated by Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag (LKAB), a state-owned Swedish mining company.

Samegården — Sami Cultural Centre

Samegården — Sami Cultural Centre

One in ten of Kiruna’s residents is of Sami origin. The Sami people have their own national anthem, flag and language, one of five national minority languages recognized by Swedish law. Samegården is a Sami cultural centre and museum.

Kiruna Church

Kiruna Church

Kiruna Church, a remarkable example of Sweden's largest wooden structures, blends Gothic Revival architecture with an Art Nouveau altar. Designed by Gustaf Wickman and completed in 1912, its unique shape mirrors a Sami hut (lavvú), with coloured glass lower windows and clear upper ones. Dubbed the "sanctuary of the wandering people", it was envisioned as an inclusive space with minimal Christian symbols. Amidst Kiruna's transformation, this architectural gem is set for relocation in 2025, preserving its historic and cultural significance.

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