//
Mining city in northern Sweden
Photo: Johan Arvelius, CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Kiruna (Sami: Giron) in Norrbotten County is Sweden's northernmost city and home to 18,000 citizens. It is the centre of Kiruna Municipality, Kiruna kommun, which also includes several small villages, resorts and settlements scattered around a large wilderness area. Kiruna has been selected for the EU capital of culture 2029.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Hjalmar Lundbohm was the first manager for the mining company LKAB that is the reason why the city of Kiruna was built in the first place. This museum in his old office and home is dedicated to the early days of Kiruna and the startup of LKAB and the building of the rail road Kiruna-Narvik.
Kiruna Church
Kiruna Kyrka is one of Sweden's largest wooden buildings and is famous for its special tent like structure. It was built 1907-1912 by architect Gustaf Wickman and was voted Sweden's best-looking church and the foremost Swedish pre-1950 construction.
The City Hall
Stadshuset is another landmark of Kiruna, it houses the local government and often hosts various exhibitions. It also has a small but quite well renowned art collection of famous Swedish artists.
This hotel also hosts a small museum about Sami culture.
Giron Sámi Teáhter
Professional theatre working based on the Sámi culture and identity, promoting the Sámi languages by raising current issues.
A hill with a beautiful view over Kiruna and the mountains. In winter and spring alpine skiing with ski lifts.
A community centre with a cinema and a theatre.
LKAB Visitor Center
Almost 3-hour guided tour to the iron mine takes you to the mininge company's (LKAB) visitor centre 540 metres underground. The history, as well as ongoing mining operations and Kiruna town moving due to the mine subsidence, effecting large parts of the city, is discussed. The tour can be booked in the information centre or online. The mine is part of the Norrbotten Megasystem, a 500-kilometre long industrial cluster.
A restaurant that serves burgers and Thai food. If you are in Kiruna on a Sunday, this is one of the few places that is likely to be open.
For the younger crowd and thus often a little bit noisier. Sometimes they also have 30+ nights.
Used to be the main nightclub in town. These days limited opening times, with a separate smaller bar and a pool table, open daily, inside the Ferrum hotel lobby.
Cabins, caravan parking, restaurant, activities.
Hotel, Sami museum and headquarters of a number of Sámi associations. Built 1971 on the site of an older accommodation for Sámi visiting town. The Kiruna relocation will probably extend to this building, but the time frame is uncertain as of 2024.
Has sauna, restaurant, free Wi-Fi.
Self-catering cottages, sauna, hot tub, activities
Offers sauna, massage, outdoor hot tub. Has restaurant and bar. Wi-Fi included.
A hotel which opened in 2022 to replace the dismantled Ferrum hotel.
The biggest food store in Kiruna. Includes a pharmacy, an electronics store and a burger restaurant. (These shops are separate, with more limited opening hours.) Quite a walk from the city centre. Few local buses are available.
Small local store, but with a good selection. The closest food store from city centre and the camping grounds.
By train
Vy operates two daily night trains, from Gothenburg and Stockholm, continuing north along the Baltic coastline, passing cities like Uppsala, Gävle and Boden, where sometimes a change of trains is…
By bus
Long distance buses serve towns and cities in Norrbotten County, such as Luleå, Gällivare, Jokkmokk, and Haparanda. Regional buses connect to Kebnekaise and Nikkaluokta, and other places.
By car
Kiruna is on the E10, which is considered to be one of Sweden's most scenic roads.
The city is small, and most attractions are within walking distance. Still, be sure to dress for the season, even for a short walk.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Kiruna · International · KRN
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Kiruna and Sweden.
Nature & adventureWhere to see the northern lights in 2026 and 2027 during Solar Cycle 25, comparing weather in Tromsø, Abisko, Fairbanks and Iceland.
7 min read
ItinerariesThe Norrbotten Megasystem, Norrbottens teknologiska megasystem, is a cluster of structures around the 500-kilometre long Malmbanan railway ("Iron Ore Line") in Norrbotten County in northern Sweden and Narvik in Norway,…
Wikivoyage
ItinerariesThe E10 is a European Route from Luleå in Norrbotten, Sweden to Å in Lofoten, Norway. With much of the 850 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, and a passage through the Scandinavian mountain range and along the…
Wikivoyage
Culture & historyThe Sámi are an indigenous ethnic group, endemic to the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Kola Peninsula in Russia. Their total population is just short of 100,000 people.
Wikivoyage
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.