Located in Lapland, Kiruna is Sweden’s northernmost city, more than 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. In just a few years, it has become a popular winter destination for tourists. Served by an airport and train station, travelers can enjoy the many outdoor activities the town has to offer. Dog sledding, snowmobiling, snowshoe trekking… Everything is in place to ensure that visitors enjoy an unforgettable stay. To make the most of your trip and choose the hotel in Kiruna or accommodation best suited to your needs, it’s nevertheless crucial to ask yourself the question of where to stay in Kiruna when preparing your trip.
In this article, you’ll find different accommodation options in and around Kiruna, offering different experiences depending on what you’re looking for, as well as our recommendations for each area.
What you need to know before choosing your hotel in Kiruna
Before going into the description of the areas to target when selecting accommodation where to stay in Kiruna, here are the essentials to know about the city and its surroundings:
Climate and sunshine
Kiruna enjoys a special climate, typical of cities in the far north.
Polar night and midnight sun, it can sometimes be tricky to know when and where to book your stay. Here are our recommendations before setting off for the region.
Getting around
Despite the weather conditions, it’s easy to get around Kiruna.
Our rental cars are fully equipped and the roads are regularly cleared of snow. This means you’ll have no worries about staying outside the city.
Type of hotel
Kiruna and the surrounding area offer a wide range of accommodation to suit all budgets and tastes.
From standard hotel rooms to igloos and top-of-the-range lodges, discover our selection of hotels in Kiruna.
Areas to stay in and around kiruna
Here are the various places to stay in Kiruna.
Find a hotel in the center of Kiruna
Served by a train station and airport, the small town of Kiruna is the epicenter of the Norrbotten region. With a population of around 20,000, it's in the heart of the city that you'll find the main places of interest. If you're looking for a place to get out and about, Kiruna's center is the place to stay.
Near Lars Janssonsgatan street, you'll find the majority of restaurants, cafés and stores. However, this liveliness is relative: don't expect to enjoy the advantages of a big city. Kiruna is best known for the outdoor activities it has to offer, from dog sledding and snowmobiling to skiing and snowshoeing.
Touristically speaking, the town has little to offer, with buildings dating back to the 50s that don't necessarily merit much attention. However, the wooden church on the hill to the west of town is a must-see in Kiruna.
If you're looking for more unusual accommodation (cottages, for example), try heading a few kilometers north or east of Kiruna town center. You may not be as well located, but the experience is very different and may be worth the detour, depending on what you're looking for.
Finally, it's worth noting that the city of Kiruna has been undergoing a major urban redevelopment since 2007. Following the subsidence of the ground to the west of the city as a result of the repeated explosions at the LKAB mines, the buildings in the city center are all migrating to the new center of Kiruna, to the east.
The town hall is one of the first buildings to have moved, benefiting at the same time from a more modern architectural makeover.
Scandic FerrumWith its 24-hour reception, the Scandic Hotel Kiruna offers modern, comfortable rooms. With a restaurant, all-you-can-eat buffet, sky bar, gym and even sauna, you'll find everything you need for a successful stay.
Best Western Hotel Arctic EdenThe Best Western Arctic Eden Hotel offers upscale, well-equipped rooms. Located just 10 minutes from Kiruna city center, you'll have access to a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, gym and buffet featuring local cuisine, so you'll enjoy discovering what the hotel has to offer.
Camp RipanCertified environmentally friendly, Camp Ripan is a hotel offering cosy rooms, mostly in the form of individual chalets. A spa is available at extra cost. Camp Ripan's restaurant is unique in that it serves only unique, seasonal dishes, to avoid waste.
Accommodation in Jukkasjärvi, a few kilometers east of Kiruna
Jukkasjärvi is a village of just a few hundred inhabitants about twenty kilometers from Kiruna .
The village is best known for its Ice Hotel, a complex made entirely of ice and rebuilt every year in early autumn. It welcomes travelers from all over the world, curious to discover this hotel reputed to be one of Sweden's 7 wonders.
This unique establishment features rooms, a bar and even a chapel sculpted entirely from ice.
The experience lies mainly in staying in a room made of ice, where the temperature doesn't exceed 0°C. Sleeping bags and reindeer skins are provided by the hotel staff for a comfortable night's sleep. If you're on a budget and want to enjoy this experience, we recommend that you book one of the famous cold rooms for one night.
If you're just passing through Jukkasjärvi, the hotel is open to visitors. You can discover the works of art made of ice and the special history of the building. You'll even have access to the famous Ice Bar.
Located on the banks of the River Torne, you'll find many other establishments in this area. As with most accommodations, you'll have direct access to the various outdoor activities on offer. To stay in Jukkasjärvi, not far from Kiruna, means you can enjoy all this without having to travel out of town.
To find out more, take a look at our dedicated Jukkasjarvi guide.
The Northern Light ApartmentThe Northern Light Apartment is a first-rate rental located in the heart of Jukkasjärvi. Inside, you'll find all the comforts of home: terrace, games console in the living room, fully-equipped kitchen... Everything is in place to ensure you have a memorable stay close to Kiruna.
Ice HotelEnjoy a unique experience at the Ice Hotel and stay in a room built entirely of ice, sculpted by an international artist. Otherwise, enjoy top-of-the-range heated rooms with everything you need for a quality stay. Restaurants, sauna, jacuzzi, ice bath... You're sure to love the wide range of activities on offer!
Reindeer LodgeOn the banks of the Thorne River, enjoy typical Sami accommodation. If you choose to stay in a tent, you can try your hand at adventure and sleep on the ground in sleeping bags, watching over the fire that will keep you warm all night long! Alternatively, you can enjoy the comfort of wooden cabins inspired by reindeer herding houses.
Staying in a hotel near Kiruna
Beyond Kiruna and Jukkasjärvi, the main towns in the region close to the airport, you'll find accommodation offering even more different services.
Within a radius of twenty kilometers, you'll find unique accommodations where you can enjoy nature to the full and recharge your batteries in an isolated corner of the snow-covered landscape. What's more, being far from towns and cities and therefore from light pollution, you're more likely to spot the Northern Lights.
On the other hand, because of their remoteness, you won't find all the amenities that cities can offer, such as restaurants. So you'll need to rent a car to go out in the evenings or to access outdoor activities.
Lodging here can be a good compromise for a unique experience in the heart of Lapland without having to stay in an igloo. Value for money is generally good.
Think of these lodges as restful places to stay close to Kiruna, where you can wander in the heart of nature for 2 or 3 days.
Máttaráhkká Northern Light LodgeJust 5km northwest of Kiruna, this upscale lodge offers tastefully furnished and decorated rooms. It features a sauna and Jacuzzi.
Aurora Camp KurravaaraLocated some 15 km north of Kiruna, on the banks of the River Torne, this hotel offers individual rooms and chalets. The latter include a kitchen.
Arctic Gourmet Cabin25 km south of Kiruna, this hotel lost in nature is ideal for recharging your batteries. Rooms are in converted wooden cabins, and there's a Jacuzzi.
Stay in Abisko, an hour north of Kiruna
If you'd like to come and admire the natural landscapes of Sweden's far north, Abisko is the ideal destination.
In the heart of a nature park some 100 km north of Kiruna, you can enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities in unspoilt natural surroundings. The tourist offer is highly developed: dog sledding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing... Everything is done so that you can enjoy the calm and authenticity of this small village lost in the heart of the mountains.
You can reach Abisko by car, but also by bus or train directly from Kiruna.
Abisko is well known as a prime destination for viewing the Northern Lights. TheAurora Sky Station, located at the top of a mountain, is said to be the best place in Sweden to observe the meteorological phenomena.
Once up to the station on a chairlift, you can enjoy the resort and a gourmet meal with, if you're lucky, a breathtaking view of the northern lights.
You can stay in gites or hotels, as well as youth hostels located directly in the village. They offer all the comforts you need to spend a few days in Abisko. Whether you're looking for a dormitory bed, a single room or a private bungalow, you're bound to find something to suit your needs. What's more, their location is a real plus if you don't have a car and want to take advantage of the activities on offer.
To find out more, take a look at our guide to Abisko.
STF Abisko TuriststationLocated at the entrance to Abisko National Park, STF Abisko Turiststation offers a range of accommodation options. From youth hostels to hotel rooms and self-catering cottages, you're sure to find the right accommodation for you. You'll have access to a sauna, a restaurant and a range of activities.
Abisko Guesthouse & ActivitiesLocated in the heart of Abisko, facing Lake Torneträsk, these charming guest rooms offer quality common areas and a shared sauna. There are also self-contained apartments. The establishment offers a variety of activities.
Abisko Mountain LodgeJust 2 minutes from the train station, Abisko Mountain Lodge offers cosy rooms and cottages with sauna access. Here you'll find the Fjällköketbrasserie , a restaurant much appreciated for its intimate setting and seasonal menu. You can also take a stroll along the hiking trails around the Lodge.
before you book your hotel in kiruna
As you can see, the choice of accommodation in this region is vast . Whether you’re staying in a hotel in the heart of Kiruna or in a remote lodge deep in the Swedish wilderness, the experience won’t be quite the same depending on where you’re staying.
If you want to keep your accommodation budget in check, you may prefer a hotel or tourist rental in Kiruna itself. As well as saving on car hire (many outdoor activity agencies offer to pick you up right outside your hotel), you can also enjoy the nightlife.
If, on the other hand, you want to get away from the city and recharge your batteries in the heart of Swedish nature, we strongly advise you to get away from Kiruna. Please note, however, that the accommodations are more expensive, but the experience is nothing like that of a city hotel.
A good compromise we recommend for staying in the heart of Kiruna is the Hotel Eden. This Best Western establishment is conveniently located.
It also boasts its own pub-style restaurant with a warm ambience. With its indoor swimming pool, sauna, buffet breakfast and reasonable budget, it’s a good alternative for staying in Kiruna.
As this article draws to a close, you should now have all the information you need to choose your hotel in Kiruna!
