Serving as the gateway to Swedish Lapland, Kiruna is a mining town with a whole lot of fun up its sleeve. Things to do in Kiruna take full advantage of the town’s remote setting; you can see the northern lights without light pollution and speed across the snow in a sled led by huskies. But that's not all—get an insight into the Sami culture of far-northern Scandinavia and marvel at the fairytale setting of the Ice Hotel in nearby Jukkasjärvi.
What you want to do and see in Kiruna will determine when’s the best time to visit. If you're hoping to see the northern lights, you'll have the highest chance between December and March, when it’s cold and the nights are longer. Alternatively, if you want to experience the midnight sun, plan your visit in summer between late May and mid-July.
Kiruna is a small and remote town in the far north of Sweden but does have a bus network to help you get around town if you don’t want to walk. Most activities in Kiruna take place outside of town though, such as visiting the Jukkasjärvi Ice Hotel, so you’ll either need a rental car to get around or to arrange transport as part of the activity.
Staying in rooms made of ice at the Jukkasjärvi Icehotel is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most visitors. But you can also stay in regular rooms at the hotel, tour the ice hotel, and enjoy access to its facilities such as the ice bar and sauna. Seeing the aurora borealis in the night sky is also a must, but bear in mind you need clear skies, magnetic activity, plus plain luck, to see it.
