2025 Kiruna Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in June)

For those who want to escape the heat and come to experience the cold, the snow, and the twilight atmosphere, come here. The northernmost part of Sweden, "Kiruna" 🛩🚙🚂 You can travel from Stockholm to Kiruna conveniently by car, train, or plane. Weather❄️ -6 to -25 It snows every day. The sunlight can be seen from 9 am to 1:30 pm or 2 pm and then it disappears. 😆😆 There is a reindeer farm where you can feed them. It fits in perfectly with the approaching Christmas. 🫎🫎 It is also the time to hunt for the northern lights. Every house here has started to light up and decorate their houses. ✨️✨️ Most of them will hang star-shaped lights in front of the windows. They are so cute. #kiruna #sweden #travelinkiruna

1. Why is Kebnekaise Worth Visiting? Kebnekaise is Sweden's highest peak, featuring the glaciated southern summit (approx. 2,095 m) and the rocky northern summit (approx. 2,096 m) . Even without hiking the entire Kungsleden trail, you can reach Kebnekaise Fjällstation (mountain lodge) to admire glaciers, rugged peaks, and vast valleys—a breathtaking natural experience. ⸻ 2. How to Reach the Base: Kebnekaise Fjällstation? 1. Take a train or flight to Kiruna • Train: SJ night or daytime trains directly to Kiruna, offering scenic views and eco-friendliness  . • Flight: Arrive at Kiruna Airport. 2. From Kiruna to Nikkaluokta (road’s end) • Summer (June–Sept.): Daily Nikkaluoktaexpressen buses stop at Kiruna’s bus/train stations and airport . • Drivers can park for free at Nikkaluokta’s large lot. 3. Final Stretch: Nikkaluokta to Kebnekaise Fjällstation (round-trip required) • Option 1: Hike 19 km (Dag Hammarskjöld trail, rocky terrain, 3–8 hours). We took 5 hours with our dog . • Option 2: Summer sightseeing speedboat/helicopter; winter snowmobile. We hiked up and helicoptered back—super cool! [CoolGuy] ⸻ 3. Kebnekaise Fjällstation: Lodging & Services • Rooms: Doubles or dorms (Lillstugan, Tuolpa, etc.; 200 beds total) . Book ahead in summer. • Facilities: Restaurant, shared kitchen, showers, sauna, gear rental, and drying room. • Camping: Tent camping allowed; lodge facilities require a fee . ⸻ 4. Recommended Itinerary • Day 1️⃣: Arrive in Kiruna. (If time/energy allows, proceed to Nikkaluokta → hike/boat/heli to lodge). • Day 2️⃣: To Nikkaluokta → hike/boat/heli to lodge. • Day 3️⃣: Short glacier hikes or photography. For summit attempts, start early (8–15 hours round-trip)  . • Day 4️⃣ (optional): Return to Nikkaluokta via hike/heli/boat. 3–4 days total for a relaxed pace. ⸻ 5. Summit Routes & Tips • Western Route (Västra leden): 18 km round-trip, 1,800 m elevation gain, 8–15 hours. Trekking poles recommended . • Eastern Route (Östra leden): Shorter but technical—ice axes, glacier crossing, via ferrata. Guide advised . ⸻ 6. Weather & Gear • Best season: Late June–early Sept. (July–Aug. ideal). Winter requires alpine gear. Crowded summers—no solo isolation [Joyful] • Climate: Lodge at 500 m; summit below 0°C. Long daylight but strong winds/rain. • Essentials: Shell jacket, insulation, trekking poles, gloves, warm hat, food/water. ⸻ 7. Cost Estimate (annual variations) • Kiruna–Nikkaluokta bus: ~150 SEK/person . • Lodge: Dorms 300–400 SEK/night; doubles 600–800 SEK. • Meals: 150–250 SEK/day (light meals 60–120 SEK). • Guide: 1,200–2,000 SEK/day; summit routes ~1,490 SEK/person. • Camping: 250–350 SEK/night. ⸻ 8. Who Should Go & Tips • ✅ Adventurous hikers. • ✅ Photographers: Sunrises, ice crevasses, and northern lights are unforgettable.

In Sweden, an extraordinary fantasy of nature can unfold before your eyes at any moment: the dancing auroras on winter nights, dreamlike hotels carved from ice and snow, and the royal trails stretching through forests and lakes... This is not just a journey, but an opportunity for a profound dialogue with pristine nature. This guide takes you from the magical polar region of the Arctic Circle all the way south to the royal nature trails near Stockholm, fully covering three iconic Nordic nature experiences: aurora hunting, ice hotel stays, and forest hiking. Highlights Overview Abisko: Aurora viewing & polar hiking, 2–3 nights Kiruna: Ice hotel, dog sledding & ice fishing, 2–3 nights Kungsleden (Royal Trail): 400km hike (duration depends on ability) [Scowl] First Stop: Abisko – World-Class Aurora Viewing Spot Located in Swedish Lapland, Abisko is one of Earth's few aurora hotspots with exceptionally high clear-sky rates year-round, attracting aurora hunters from around the globe. Must-Experience: Aurora Sky Station Take the night cable car to the summit and watch the auroras slowly cascade across the sky, free from light pollution. Book the evening dinner + guided tour package in advance, including northern lights lectures and hot drinks. Abisko National Park Hiking Well-maintained snow hiking routes perfect for beginners. Explore the snowy forests by day and await sudden aurora appearances by night. ✅ Tip: Aurora season peaks from September to March. Use apps like Aurora Forecast to track KP values and cloud predictions. Second Stop: Kiruna – Ice Hotel & Arctic Charm Just 1.5 hours by train or car from Abisko lies Kiruna, the largest city within Sweden's Arctic Circle. Must-Visit: Jukkasjärvi ICEHOTEL The world's first hotel built entirely of ice and snow, reconstructed annually with different artistic themes. Choose between "cold room accommodation" + "warm backup cabin" or simply visit the art ice suites. Dog Sledding & Reindeer Farm Experiences Diverse day-tour options ideal for families and couples, with Chinese-speaking guides increasingly available. Ice Fishing Led by polar fishermen, experience the thrill of ice fishing, with catches possible for on-site charcoal grilling. ✅ Practical Advice: Kiruna city offers reasonably priced accommodations as a great polar expedition base. The ice hotel is located in the suburbs – consider using ICEHOTEL's shuttle service. Third Stop: Kungsleden (Royal Trail) – This is premium-level adventure. Follow me for a dedicated post coming soon! [Coke] Pre-Trip Prep & Practical Tips Best Seasons: December–March (auroras & ice hotel), September–October (fall auroras + optimal hiking) Transport: Northern travels recommend SJ Arctic trains or domestic flights (e.g., to Kiruna Airport) Intercity travel passes like Eurail Sweden Pass available Gear Tips: -30°C polar gear rentable at the ice hotel Manual camera + tripod recommended for aurora photography Language: High English proficiency; major attractions often have Chinese brochures Recommended Apps: Aurora Forecast, SJ Train Tickets, ICEHOTEL Official App

| Scandinavian Ice Kingdom. 7-Day Aurora and Design Tour, Unlocking the Magical Levels from the Arctic Circle to the Baltic Sea 【Highlights】 ▫️ The world's first ice hotel + the Northern Lights Sky Station double wonder ▫️ Stockholm Subway Art Tour VS Kiruna Ice and Snow Project ▫️The filming location of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is deeply restored 🗺️ Core route (Arctic Circle to Capital Circle) Day 1-3 Kiruna Polar Circle → Jukkasjärvi Ice Hotel (ICEHOTEL 365 open all year round) → Abisko Aurora Sky Station (microclimate with a clear sky rate of up to 89%) → Reindeer sledding at the Sami camp (including traditional Joik chanting ceremony) → LKAB Iron Mine Underground City Expedition (540 meters deep into the earth's core) Day 4-5 Lulea Islands → Picking cloudberries in Raspberry Town (with local cheese) → Gammelstad Church Village UNESCO Heritage (417 red wooden houses) → Floating on ice experience (Suspended meditation at -8℃ on Lake Tone) → Polar Post Office sends star map postcards (with Beidou positioning coordinates) Day6-7 Stockholm → Metro Blue Line T-Centralen Cosmic Mural → Vasa Shipwreck Museum (17th century warship frozen in ice) → Södermalm District Vintage Design Shopping (AYAB Graffiti Wall Check-in) → Winter Maze at Drottningholm Palace (Nordic Mirror Image of Versailles Palace) ❄️ Ice and snow limited experience 🔹 Kiruna Ice Church Wedding (booking required 6 months in advance) 🔹 Jokkmokk Dog Sled Race (Arctic Circle Carnival in February) 🔹 Luleå Ice Sculpture Workshop (Professional Ice Axe Teaching) 🍴 Taste Viking Code ✔️ Polar feast: smoked reindeer heart with juniper berry sauce (Spisen Restaurant) ✔️ A century-old classic: Meatballs with cranberry sauce (the same as Prinsen’s royal style) ✔️ Dark aesthetics: canned salted herring opening ceremony (recommended for outdoor operation) ✔️ Sweet crit: Semla butter almond bun (February national dessert) 🏨 Accommodation Revolution ▪️ Ice Art Suite: ICEHOTEL custom-made room by an ice sculpture master ▪️ Arctic Treehouse: Treehotel Mirror Cube (with sauna and observatory) ▪️ Design Heritage: Grand Hôtel Nobel Banquet Main Venue 🚞 Traffic black technology 1️⃣ Arctic Night Train: Stockholm→Kiruna (sleeper with private bathroom) 2️⃣ Snowmobile license: A temporary license is required for outdoor driving in Kiruna 3️⃣ SAS Airlines "Aurora Flight": Select a left window seat (ARN-KRN section) 📸 Visual Alchemy ① Ice Hotel Photography: Dawn and dusk blues moment + warm light contrast composition ② Subway Art: Prismatic Reflection Technique at T-Kungsträdgården Station ③ Aurora portrait: Use a red flashlight to fill in the light to avoid overexposure 💡 Off-season privileges (December-March) ✅ ICEHOTEL room rates drop by 35% ✅ Contracting the entire frozen Baltic Sea ✅ The aurora observation window is up to 14 hours ✅ Avoid the crowds during the Viking cruise season When your breath at -20℃ condenses into ice crystals, under the aurora curtain of Abisko, you will understand the profound meaning of the Swedish saying "Lagom är bäst" (moderation is best) - coldness and warmth are precisely balanced here.

We went to supermarket at the village nearby, and joined the snowmobile tour at night. We slept at the aurora igloo and that was excellent.

#favouriteitinerary Kiruna Airport is a small airport in Sweden. We took a taxi from Abisko for an early morning red-eye flight to Stockholm Arlanda with SAS Airlines. It was on a cold winter morning, and snow was piling up outside, creating a true arctic atmosphere. Inside, a small café offered breakfast for travellers needing a warm start. The boarding hall was compact but bustling with people. Despite the crowd, the boarding process was impressively smooth and fast.

#auroralight Attraction: Sweden' Aurora light Location: Kiruna City, Sweden. Best time to visit: Autumn - Spring Due to its lanscape and infrastructure, sweden is considered to be one of the best places to observe the Northern Lights. Last year, I had a memorable and successful Aurora-light experience in Sweden, and below, I wanted to share with you the tips to have a successful experience: - Go very far in the north of the country and away from the cities or the towns. This will increase the possiblity of having successfull experience. - Avoid staying in cities. Street lights may affect the Aurora light experience. - Do not select dense forest or deep observation points. - Best time for the experience is Spring and Autumn for more stable weather conditions. How to be in a good place for the experience? - Travel by train from Stockholm to the city Kiruna, which is very far in the north, where the experience will be at its best. It was a perfect and amazing trip, and you should try this experience once you are in Sweden. #auroralight #kiruna #sweden #myhiddengems

#auroralight Nestled in the heart of Swedish Lapland, Kiruna is one of the best places in the world to witness the breathtaking Aurora Borealis. As the northernmost town in Sweden, Kiruna offers a prime location for chasing the Northern Lights, thanks to its minimal light pollution and long, dark winter nights. From September to March, the skies above Kiruna come alive with shimmering waves of green, pink, and violet light. The auroras are caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with Earth’s atmosphere, but no scientific explanation can fully capture the wonder of standing beneath this celestial display. Kiruna offers a range of unforgettable ways to experience the aurora. Join a guided aurora safari and venture into the Arctic wilderness by snowmobile or husky sled, where the vast, open skies offer perfect conditions for aurora spotting. For a more serene experience, watch the lights dance from the comfort of a glass igloo or a cozy wooden cabin surrounded by snow-covered forests. Beyond the aurora, Kiruna is a winter wonderland of activities. Explore the famous ICEHOTEL in nearby Jukkasjärvi, try your hand at dog sledding, or immerse yourself in Sami culture. Each adventure feels like part of a magical Arctic fairytale. Seeing the Northern Lights in Kiruna is more than a visual feast—it’s a profound connection to the beauty of nature. With its remote charm and surreal landscapes, Kiruna offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to chase the lights and create unforgettable memories.

#myhiddengems

After leaving the nature-filled Abisko, we took a two-hour train ride to Kiruna. This town is very peaceful and quiet, with famous attractions like the Ice Church and snow fields. Walking into the city, I was shocked by the snow that reached up to my waist. For three consecutive days, I truly experienced the abundance and annoyance of snow. The hotel owner mentioned that the snow can reach up to 4 meters at its peak, and it snows for seven months a year. One night, there was a major aurora borealis display, but unfortunately, it was snowing heavily in Kiruna that night. P.S. Make sure to secure your headphones; it took me a while to dig them out after they fell into the snow.

Today, I'm sharing my experience hunting for the Northern Lights in Kiruna, Sweden. We flew to Stockholm and took a sleeper train to Kiruna (in the north). Anyone who goes there must bring a lot of warm clothing because it's really cold. The day we go hunting must be a dark day. We have to leave the city to look at places without lights and it must be a clear day. When we went, we looked at the app and saw that the intensity of the Aurora was quite high. But there were also a lot of clouds, so we couldn't see the Northern Lights. When we could see the Northern Lights, they were small and disappeared quickly. LOL. When we looked with the naked eye, they were white lines. We had to aim for a long time. We used the iPhone's camera the whole way until we could see the green lines. Because we were fighting for our lives, we sat in the car for several hours. The weather was very cold, -20 degrees. The later it got, the colder it got. #AuroraMagic #HuntingForAurora #Kiruna

Review of dog sledding in Kiruna Sweden from beginning to end 🐶 A must-do activity when visiting a city with snow is to ride a dog sled!! Start by making an appointment with the farm owner (when we went, there was only our tour group of 8 people, no one else mixed in). Then the farm will send a car to pick us up in front of our accommodation at the agreed time and drive us to the farm. It's very convenient. When we arrive at the farm, they will let us change into the clothes they have prepared for us, which will be worn over the clothes we are wearing. There are boots, hats, gloves, and face masks. 🧦🧤🧣👕👖 The kind that can sit and chill in the middle of -10 ❄️❄️ temperatures without feeling cold at all 555555 After changing, there will be an officer to explain how to ride. 1 sled can seat 2-3 people. After pulling halfway, the dog will stop to rest and we will move to sit in the house, warm ourselves by the fire. There will be tea and snacks for us to eat + take pictures with the dog. After that, we will take a ride back through the frozen lake and the church. The atmosphere is sooo good! ⏰️⏰️Time spent on the ride ~ 1.30 hrs. 💸💸Price per person: 1300kr (3.4 baht/kr) In case of cash, if paying by card, 1400kr P.S. Someone I know did a Norway-Sweden tour. He helped book a dog sled. If anyone is interested, please contact me for contact details. #dog sled #must-visit activities #kiruna #sweden

Anyone who is planning a trip to hunt for the Northern Lights in Kiruna Sweden but misses Thai food or sushi, come to Sushi Take Away🍣🍣. I can tell you in one word that "It's really great and good." The sushi is freshly made, premium ingredients, clean, and delicious like the original. 🫠🫠 🍥🍴There are a variety of Thai and Japanese dishes. The menu is posted in the picture. You can scroll down to see. The price is not expensive. Fresh and big portions. Shrimp, salmon, and avocado 🍤🍣🥑 are the best here. 🍽 The shop is simply decorated in warm tones, giving a homey, comfortable feel. There is a bar where you can sit and enjoy the view outside or sit inside as a group or family. 🥗 There is a free salad bar! Plus, there is free self-service water. But if anyone wants to drink wine, alcohol, Coke, or Fanta, you can choose from the refrigerator. 👩🦰🧑🦰The shop owner and most of the staff are Thais. The service is good, they speak politely and are very attentive. I give them ten stars. 💖💖 🇸🇪🇸🇪 The location is near the Scandic Hotel in Kiruna. If you stay at this hotel, you can walk to eat sushi. P.S. We have stayed at this hotel before. The quality is good and the facilities are complete. I will review it in the next post. #ThaiSwedishFood #SushiKiruna #WhereToEatInKiruna #Kiruna

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💙Share a series of photos from a trip to Northern Europe. Sunset glow, seeing the true lonely planet. This belongs to the unique coldness and pride of the Nordic. 💙In Kiruna, Sweden, located in the Arctic Circle, the sunset begins at 3 pm. The evening glow dyes the entire sky, with a leisurely and dreamlike beauty. 💙The vastness of the universe will eventually lead to loneliness. A solo trip always allows one to experience their own growth, Some unexpected moments calmly settle in the mind. White, simple, quiet. Perhaps, what memories leave behind is what you want to remember. 💙I hope everyone can have time to stop and think, no matter where you are, you can find yourself. 💙The air is cold, but the stunning scenery is incredibly healing. Grateful for every little surprise encountered during travels. The world is so big, let's go see it together 🌍. ➕Follow 🐷, share the latest travel information every day 💙

Go to the Nordic snowfield and live with the Sami. Remember the magical Lapland in the cartoon "Niels on the Goose Travel"? Lapland refers to the north of the Arctic Circle, from Norway, Sweden, northern Finland to the northwest corner of Russia, it is known as "the last piece of pure land in Europe." The people who live in Lapland are the Lapps - they have lived on this pure land for thousands of years, but they call themselves Sami. Like the Inuit of Greenland, the Sami are the last indigenous people in Europe. They live in the snowfields, rely on domesticated reindeer for their livelihoods, and they also dig deep ice in the winter, so their food sources are salmon, reindeer meat and autumn harvested potatoes, living in the Sami tents. Enjoy the bonfire and hot springs, and the feeling of happiness comes to life.

Kiruna relies on a huge lake called Lake Rosa. In winter, the lake will not freeze. The deep dark green lake is pressed against the shore, and the snow-covered mountains are far away. The scenery is good. Its just that we have barely seen the sun in Sweden for a few days, the thick clouds are pressing low, the road is very rare, passing through a whole piece of bare forest, and only our figure, the scene is quite There is a feeling of "doomsday" movies. To be honest, I don't want to stroll outside. I want to know that I am the southernmost person in the South. In the winter in northern Europe, I can stay up to ten minutes in the outdoor. Moreover, it is really bad to freeze on the road. Rosa Lake is very suitable for taking some "emotional" films. After a while, I was very keen to take a photo of the same scene to compare and see who's technology is better. But every time I lose, who makes the opponent's model too strong, how to shoot is good.

Arriving at Kiruna Airport, bursts of snow and snow, the outside is already a snowy world. Later, Lao Meng said from the window that he saw a light, and ran out to see it. It was really a green light belt. Even the photographer frunk who was resident in the guesthouse came in, let us Pack up the equipment and take us to a better place to watch the aurora. Although it is cloudy weather, but still can see the green light in the air, and a little starlight as the background, this moment, in addition to excitement and moved. After all, I had a friend who spent tens of thousands of dollars running to Norway for a few days. Actually, the traces of aurora were not seen, and we were so twisted and twisted that we could finish our biggest wish this year. Look up at these green elves, like a light tulle, fluttering in the wind.

It seems that people subconsciously think that the fleeting beauty is more romantic and valuable. The light of the sunrise, the afterglow of the sunset, the time of flowering and flowering, the moment of fireworks bloom, the beauty of snow and ice... Most people yearn for romantic feelings and feelings. Some people are good at making romance. Imagine if a couple can sleep in the snow and ice, what kind of romantic feeling? Ice and snow are not permanent beauty, romance and the pure form of ice crystal itself, always lead to romantic and beautiful imagination. Therefore, there is an Ice Hote where natural conditions permit. Staying at the ordinary Hotel, in the important days of Christmas, in the Nordic atmosphere of the festive atmosphere, such a snow and ice hotel is bound to have the most romantic feelings, the most memorable memories. The crystal clear snow and ice space also offers a variety of special ice and ice food services. If you want to go there, you can act now!

December to April, come to ICEHOTEL in the village of Jukkasjarvi, Sweden to experience the ice romance ~ Every year, this ice and snow hotel will undergo a melt and reconstruction, nearly 9000rmb a night, cold to sleep, or often can not be ordered. It seems that everyone cherishes the fate of this one-time meeting, and it is impossible to live in the same room in the future. Icehotel is located in Jukkasjari, northern Sweden.

Ice and snow

I am going to see the Huskies tomorrow~~