Kiruna

Day Trips

Wake up to the soft glow of the arctic dawn and enjoy a hearty Swedish breakfast at a cozy café overlooking the town square. Stroll along the snow-dusted streets of Kiruna as you inhale crisp, pine-scented air. Admire brightly colored wooden buildings set against the pristine white landscape.

Visit the iconic Kiruna Church, marveling at its unique pointed architecture inspired by Sami tents. Explore the local Sami museum to learn about indigenous traditions and hear stories of Lapland culture. Wander through small artisan shops and pick up handcrafted souvenirs.

Savor a dinner of traditional reindeer stew paired with lingonberry jam in a warm, candlelit restaurant. Take a leisurely walk under the starlit sky, listening to the soft crunch of snow beneath your boots. End the night with a cup of hot chocolate by a roaring fire.

Drive to the village of Jukkasjärvi, where the famous Icehotel emerges from the frozen Torne River each winter. Step inside grand halls sculpted from pure ice, illuminated by multicolored LED lights. Admire intricate ice carvings that blend whimsical fantasy with arctic motifs.

Join an ice sculpting workshop led by professional artists and learn how to shape towering pillars and delicate ornaments. Sip hot berry juice as you carve your own miniature ice creation to take home. Warm up in the Icehotel’s warm room with panoramic views of the surrounding snowfields.

Dine in the Icehotel’s crystal-clear ice restaurant on gourmet cuisine served on ice plates. Toast to the Arctic night with a cocktail from an ice glass at the Icebar. Finally, retreat to your ice suite and sink into a thermal sleeping bag for a once-in-a-lifetime sleep on a bed carved from ice.

Travel to a traditional Sami camp and meet the reindeer herders who welcome you with warm smiles. Learn how to feed and gently guide a herd of reindeer in their snowy enclosure. Feel the soft fur of a curious calf as it nuzzles your hand.

Embark on a serene reindeer sled ride across a frozen tundra, surrounded by vast white plains and distant snow-covered peaks. Listen to age-old Sami stories and joik songs as the reindeer glide through the silent landscape. Pause to admire footprints in the fresh snow and sip on hot Sami tea around a crackling fire.

Share a hearty meal of bidos stew heated over an open flame in a traditional lavvu (Sami tent). Gaze upward as the twilight sky dances with pastel colors and, if lucky, catch the first hints of the aurora. Spend the night in a lavvu with thick furs and endless stories under the Northern Lights.

Sleep in, recovering from the previous nights’ Arctic adventures, then enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel. Wander through the snow-kissed courtyard while watching sunlight shimmer on frozen tree branches. Warm up with locally roasted coffee and a freshly baked cardamom bun.

Visit Camp Ripan for a traditional sauna experience, alternating between hot steam and cool arctic dips. Relax at the cozy lounge area with panoramic windows overlooking snowy forests. Learn about the science behind the aurora borealis from resident guides in a fireside presentation.

Join a guided Northern Lights safari in a heated husky-pulled sled or comfortable minibus. Peer skyward as ribbons of green, purple, and pink swirl overhead, illuminating the silent wilderness. Conclude the night with thermoses of warm bilberry juice and stories shared around an outdoor campfire.

After breakfast, gear up in insulated suits and helmets for your snowmobile adventure. Set off across a frozen lake, feeling the engine’s thrill under the crisp Arctic sky. Stop at a lookout point to admire endless white expanses and distant mountain silhouettes.

Continue your high-speed tour through towering pine forests and over rolling hills draped in fresh powder. Pause for a packed lunch at a rustic wilderness cabin while breathing in the pure air. Learn about local wildlife tracks and survival techniques from your guide.

Return to Kiruna as the sun sinks low, painting the horizon in fiery hues. Warm up at a riverside café with piping hot reindeer soup and fresh bread. Optional evening snowshoe walk under a sky beginning to sparkle with stars.

Descend into the depths of the world’s largest underground iron ore mine on a guided tour bus. Feel the earth’s cold weight as you explore vast halls carved deep within the mountain. Hear the rhythmic hum of heavy machinery echoing through tunnels painted by miners’ lights.

Visit the LKAB Visitor Centre museum and interactive exhibits explaining the mine’s century-long history. Try on a miner’s helmet and touch real iron ore samples to connect with the region’s industrial heritage. Enjoy lunch in the mine’s panoramic cafeteria carved into bedrock.

Stroll back to the town center, passing industrial landmarks glowing against the twilight. Sample local ale at a brewery that sources crisp mountain water from nearby springs. Reflect on the day’s journey underground with new perspectives on human ingenuity.

Set out at dawn for the scenic 1.5-hour drive to Abisko National Park, traversing frozen lakes and birch forests. Ride the chairlift to the Aurora Sky Station perched above the park’s rugged plateau. Breathe in the fresh air while admiring panoramic views of snow-laden valleys.

Snowshoe along winding trails past frozen waterfalls and glacial formations. Capture the stark beauty of the Arctic landscape with your camera as sunlight glistens on ice crystals. Enjoy a packed picnic beside a tranquil, mirror-like lake.

Return to the Aurora Sky Station for an enlightening astronomy talk by expert guides. Witness the infinite expanse of the Arctic night sky dotted with stars. Warm up with hot chocolate inside the station’s cozy lounge before heading back to Kiruna.

Visit a lively husky kennel where enthusiastic dogs greet you with happy yelps and wagging tails. Learn the basics of mushing and hitch your team for an unforgettable ride. Feel the sled surge forward as eager huskies dash across the fresh snow.

Switch drivers with your guide and experience the thrill of leading the pack through silent forests and open tundra. Pause halfway for lingonberry tea served in the snow at a wooden lean-to. Snap action shots as dogs leap and bound through frosty trails.

Return to the kennel for playful husky cuddles and take memorable portraits with the dogs. Warm up in a nearby cabin over a meal of smoked salmon and barley stew. Drift off to sleep envisioning the day’s joyful canine antics.

Strap on cross-country skis at a local rental shop and glide effortlessly along groomed tracks winding through birch woodlands. Hear the swish of skis cutting through fresh powder and breathe the crisp forest air. Stop by a frozen stream to admire delicate ice formations.

Switch to snowshoes for a guided nature hike deeper into the wilderness, learning about arctic flora and fauna from your guide. Identify animal tracks and listen for the call of ptarmigan in the silent forest. Enjoy a light lunch of open-faced sandwiches and hot soup by an outdoor fire.

Head back to town to unwind at a spa offering hot tubs and saunas with panoramic winter views. Sink into warm mineral water as glowing lanterns flicker through frosted windows. Sip on a calming herbal tea and relish soft background music.

Take the morning at leisure for last-minute souvenir shopping at local boutiques. Sample artisanal chocolates and pick up hand-knitted woolen mittens crafted by Sami artisans. Return to your hotel to pack and reflect on your journey.

Board a comfortable boat on the Torne River for a scenic cruise under the never-setting midnight sun. Drift past icy riverbanks and mirror-like waters reflecting soft golden hues. Listen to traditional throat singing performed by local musicians on deck.

Enjoy a farewell dinner featuring freshly caught Arctic char and seasonal vegetables at a boutique riverside restaurant. Toast to your unforgettable Arctic adventure as the midnight sun bathes the sky in perpetual light. Bid a fond farewell to new friends and prepare for departure.