Kiruna is where most trips to Swedish Lapland start, and it is a town in the middle of moving itself. This page shows what you can see of that move today, how the mine tour works, and how the arrival, the cold and the seasons fit together.
When you need this
- You are flying or taking the night train to Kiruna and want to know what the town itself offers.
- You have read about “the town that moves” and want to know what you can actually see now.
- You want to go down the iron-ore mine, or to see Kiruna church.
- You are choosing between Kiruna, Abisko and Jukkasjärvi as a base.
For the region as a whole, start with our Swedish Lapland guide.
The town that moves
Kiruna sits north of the Arctic Circle, beside the Kiirunavaara mountain, where the mining company LKAB has mined iron ore since the early 1900s. It is the world’s largest underground iron-ore mine, and Kiruna is Sweden’s northernmost town. The municipality had 22,399 residents in mid-2026.
The mine is also why the town is moving. Ground deformation made it impossible to keep the old center, so the municipality drew up a development plan in 2014. The first stage of the new center opened on 1 September 2022, about three kilometers east of the old one.
The move is not finished. An expanded deformation forecast in 2025 showed that a larger area than previously calculated has to be vacated. LKAB’s preliminary timetable, published in May 2026, puts the next stage at 2028–2032, with more after that. So Kiruna looks different each time you come: new streets in the center, demolition in the old areas.
What you can see of it, all without a ticket:
| Place | What it shows |
|---|---|
| The new center | New streets, new buildings next to moved historic ones, older shops in new premises |
| Kristallen, the city hall | Open to the public; part of the municipal art collection and Kin, Norrbotten’s county art museum for contemporary art |
| Stadshustorget (city-hall square) | Its bell tower once stood on the old city hall’s roof; the arcade canopies copy the old city hall’s ceiling |
| Gruvstadsparken | A park where the old buildings were demolished, with a preserved staircase and marked foundations |
If you are looking for “the center”, it is the new one around Stadshustorget, not the old one that is being vacated.
Kiruna church: moved, and closed until 2027
Kiruna kyrka, inaugurated in 1912 and voted Sweden’s best-loved building in 2001, was moved in one piece on 19–20 August 2025. It weighs 672.4 tons, is 40 meters wide, and rolled along a five-kilometer route; its bell tower followed on 26 August. It now stands on a rise between the cemetery and the new center, turned 180 degrees so it still faces the town.
Many guides still describe the move as coming. It has happened, and the result matters for your plans: the church has been closed since June 2024 and stays closed while the groundworks and the interior are finished. The parish plans to reopen it during 2027. Until then you can see it only from outside.
It is worth the walk even so. The church was modeled on a Sámi kåta (hut), with light coming in through the upper windows. It is protected by law as an ecclesiastical heritage building.
Visiting the mine
You cannot visit the mine on your own, on foot or by car. The only way in is the guided tour to LKAB’s Visitor Center, which LKAB tells tourists to book through Kiruna Lappland, the local destination organisation.
A bus takes you from the tourist center at Malmvägen 9B into the mountain to a show mine at the 540-meter level; the mining itself now goes down to 1,365 meters. The tour lasts about three hours, runs year-round, and the guide explains why mining makes a town move. Seats are limited, so book online or at the tourist center before you arrive.
| Mine-tour rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum age and height | 6 years and 110 cm |
| Animals | None, service animals included |
| Arrival | 15 minutes early; after the departure time your seat is resold without refund |
| Language | Swedish tours June–August; otherwise English |
| Wheelchairs | Possible if you can board the bus, alone or with help, and the chair folds |
| Luggage | Free storage at the tourist center for tour participants |
There is no above-ground mine museum to fall back on, so a day without a seat means no mine.
Getting there and around
- By air: SAS and Norwegian fly Stockholm Arlanda–Kiruna all year in about 90 minutes. The airport is about 9 km from town. Its bus is timed to flights and you pay on board; there is no ATM at the airport, so carry a card. See flying to Kiruna.
- By night train: one train a day runs from Stockholm towards Narvik via Kiruna. Until 12 December 2026 you change at Boden; through cars are expected from 13 December. See the night train to Lapland.
- From the station: it is about 6 km from the center. A free shuttle bus meets every train, so do not try to walk.
- By car: winter tyres are required from 1 December to 31 March in winter road conditions, for foreign cars too. Reindeer stand on and beside the roads, most of all at dawn and dusk, and a collision with one must be reported to the police. See winter driving in Sweden.
Day trips from Kiruna
- Jukkasjärvi and the Icehotel: 17 km east along the E10. The site is open daily all year and day tickets are bought on site; the winter ice hotel opens December–April, and ICEHOTEL 37 opens on 11 December 2026. Details in our Icehotel guide.
- Abisko: about 100 km west, about 1.5 hours of pure driving, and the northern end of the 450 km Kungsleden. The train runs daily; bus 91 only in its winter and summer seasons. See Abisko National Park.
- Kebnekaise: the Nikkaluoktaexpressen bus runs from Kiruna to Nikkaluokta in its seasons; the mountain station is 19 km on foot from there. In summer 2026 summit tours used only the western route. The north peak, 2,096.8 m, is Sweden’s highest point. See climbing Kebnekaise.
- Winter activities: dog sledding runs roughly December–March; snowmobiling is not part of allemansrätten, the right of public access, so it keeps to marked trails or needs the landowner’s agreement. See dog sledding and snowmobile tours.
- Sámi culture: Kiruna lies in Sápmi and in the Sámi administrative area; our Sámi culture guide covers respectful visits.
When to go
| Period | What you get |
|---|---|
| September–March | Aurora season: visible on about every other clear night, most active usually 21:00–23:00 |
| From about 12 October | Meteorological winter begins at Kiruna Airport and lasts 194 days |
| Around 22 December | Polar night: about 27 days without sunrise, with a few hours of twilight |
| December–April | The Icehotel’s winter hotel; ICEHOTEL 37 from 11 December 2026 |
| January–February | Coldest months: normals of −11.3 °C and −11.2 °C |
| 29 May–14 July | Midnight sun |
| About 16 June–24 August | Meteorological summer; July averages 13.2 °C and is the wettest month |
| During 2027 | Kiruna church planned to reopen |
The temperatures are SMHI’s 1991–2020 24-hour averages at Kiruna Airport, so nights are colder. You can see the aurora from town, but a short trip away from the street lights helps; see our northern lights guide, plus polar night and midnight sun.
Mistakes to avoid
- Planning a church visit in 2026. It is closed until its planned 2027 reopening.
- Turning up for the mine without a booking. Seats are limited and there is no alternative display above ground.
- Walking from the station. Take the free shuttle; it is about 6 km.
- Counting on bus 91 to Abisko all year. It runs only in its seasons; the train is daily.
- Relying on cash at the airport. There is no ATM; the bus takes cards.
Practical information
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| LKAB Visitor Center tour, 2026 | SEK 590 adult; SEK 490 student or senior 65+; SEK 190 child 6–15; transfer, guide and coffee included (checked 2026-09-25) |
| Tour length and start | About 3 hours, year-round, from the tourist center at Malmvägen 9B |
| New center, Kristallen, Gruvstadsparken | No fee stated by the municipality |
| Kiruna church | Closed; reopening planned during 2027 |
| Station shuttle | Free, with every train |
| Airport | About 9 km out; bus paid on board by card; no ATM |
| Icehotel, Jukkasjärvi | 17 km east; day tickets on site — prices in the Icehotel guide |
| Population | 22,399 in Kiruna municipality (mid-2026) |
FAQ
Why is Kiruna being moved?
Iron-ore mining under the Kiirunavaara mountain deforms the ground under the old town, so it cannot stay. A new center about three kilometers east opened its first stage on 1 September 2022, and historic buildings, including the church, have been moved there. A 2025 forecast enlarged the affected area; LKAB expects the next stage in 2028–2032.
Can you visit the Kiruna mine?
Yes, but only on a guided tour. A bus takes you from the Kiruna Lappland tourist center to LKAB’s Visitor Center, a show mine 540 meters underground; the tour lasts about three hours and runs year-round. Book ahead because seats are limited. Children must be at least 6 and 110 cm, and no animals are allowed.
Is Kiruna church open to visitors?
Not yet. The church was moved in one piece on 19–20 August 2025 to a rise between the cemetery and the new center, and its bell tower followed on 26 August. It is closed while groundworks and the interior are finished, and the parish plans to reopen it during 2027. Until then you can see it from outside.
How do I get to Kiruna?
Fly from Stockholm Arlanda in about 90 minutes; SAS and Norwegian fly the route all year, and the airport is about 9 km from town. Or take the one daily night train from Stockholm, which until 12 December 2026 involves a change at Boden. Kiruna station is about 6 km out, and a free shuttle bus meets every train.
How cold is Kiruna in winter?
Cold and long. At Kiruna Airport, SMHI’s 1991–2020 normals give a January mean of −11.3 °C, February −11.2 °C and March −7.3 °C, and these are 24-hour averages, so nights are colder. Meteorological winter starts on average around 12 October and lasts 194 days. Around 22 December the sun does not rise for about 27 days.
Can you see the northern lights in Kiruna?
Yes, from September to March. Statistically the aurora is visible in Kiruna on about every other clear night, and displays are usually most active between 21:00 and 23:00. You can see it from town, but a short trip away from street lights helps. Clouds are the main obstacle, so plan several evenings.
How far is the Icehotel from Kiruna?
The Icehotel is in the village of Jukkasjärvi, 17 km east of Kiruna along the E10. The site is open daily all year and day tickets are bought on site, while the winter ice hotel is open December to April; ICEHOTEL 37 opens on 11 December 2026. Our Icehotel guide covers visits, prices and nights in the cold rooms.
Related guides
- Swedish Lapland — the region around Kiruna and which town suits which trip.
- Flying to Kiruna — routes, seasonal direct flights and the airport bus.
- Night train to Lapland — the Boden change and what changes on 13 December.
- Five winter days in Lapland — Kiruna, Jukkasjärvi and Abisko as a ready-made trip.
- Luleå — the coastal county seat, for a trip that includes the coast.
Facts verified 2026-09-25. Sources: Kiruna kommun, Svenska kyrkan (Jukkasjärvi församling, Kiruna pastorat), LKAB, Kiruna Lappland, SCB, SMHI, Rymdstyrelsen, Swedavia, Trafikverket, Transportstyrelsen and Icehotel — full register in this topic’s source file. The mine-tour price is the 2026 figure. Found something outdated? Tell us and we’ll fix it.