The Sami Culture

If you have never been in Northern Scandinavia during the midsummer period, the light is perhaps the most fascinating and obvious phenomena. The sun doesn’t go down at all. There is a good view of the surroundings from the city mountain, Luossavaara, about four km outside Kiruna. The midnight sun can be experienced between …

Between September and April there is the chance of experiencing the northern lights, provided that it is a starry night. For a northern lights forecast, phone: 0900 100 10 …

Forty kilometres from Kiruna is Europe’s only civilian space base. Esrange is a centre for European space research and offers guided tours in the summertime (also wintertime on request). Learn more about the northern lights, rocket launches and micro …

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 Absolut Icebar, beautifully chiselled out of pure blue …

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 (2103 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 …

Sweden’s most well-known long-distance footpath offers spectacular experiences of the natural world. It is 500 km long and starts in Abisko, 93 km west of Kiruna. The Kebnekaise-Saltoluokta section is suitable as a shorter route with 5 days trekking. For information on suggested routes and accommodation, visit Svenska Turistföreningen’s (the Swedish Tourist Organisation) …

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. Daily trips from Kiruna Lappland Tourist Office. A minimum of ten persons during the winter season. Book well in advance! Tours depart from the tourist …

One in ten of Kiruna’s residents is of Sami origin, which creates a living culture. The Sami people have their own national anthem, flag and language. Samegården is a Sami cultural centre and museum, and Màttàrahkkà is a Sami handicrafts centre run by …