{"id":1970,"date":"2023-03-20T15:59:37","date_gmt":"2023-03-20T14:59:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/when-should-you-travel-to-kiruna\/"},"modified":"2024-11-29T14:13:52","modified_gmt":"2024-11-29T13:13:52","slug":"when-to-go-to-kiruna","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/en\/when-to-go-to-kiruna\/","title":{"rendered":"When should you travel to Kiruna?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-347a39b1 kbanner alignfull\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-3-color has-text-color\"><strong>When should you travel to Kiruna?<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-49819683 ksection\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<p><a href=\"\/en\/\">Kiruna<\/a>, located <strong>200 kilometers north<\/strong> of the Arctic Circle, has a <strong>very special climate<\/strong>. In fact, Swedish Lapland is a very special <strong> <\/strong>A destination that requires <strong>special preparation <\/strong>for those who want to go there, especially during the winter months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this guide, we detail the<strong> essential information<\/strong> you need to know, season by season, to decide <strong>when to go to Kiruna<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-cd4f574c ksection\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-kcolor-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" style=\"letter-spacing:0px;text-transform:uppercase\">The essentials before choosing when to go to kiruna?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-kcolor-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-kcolor-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-wrapper gb-grid-wrapper-b0c3df2a kessentials-grid\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-688d0cb3\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-688d0cb3 kessentials-item\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<i class=\"fas fa-clock fa-5x\"><\/i>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"kessentials-item-title\">The route<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kiruna is a small town with links to<strong> airports in northern countries such as Stockholm <\/strong>, and stopovers can sometimes be <strong>very long<\/strong> (up to a day)!  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We advise you to use a <strong>flight comparator <\/strong>to optimize your travel time and choose when to leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-e1485a7b wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-9d0acf0f\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-9d0acf0f kessentials-item\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<i class=\"fas fa-snowflake fa-5x\"><\/i>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"kessentials-item-title\">The climate<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned above, the climate in Kiruna can be <strong>very peculiar<\/strong> at times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From icy winters to rainy summers, here&#8217;s what you need to <strong>know <\/strong>to prepare for <strong>your trip <\/strong>to Swedish Lapland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons kbutton is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-e1485a7b wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-font-size is-style-outline kbutton has-small-font-size is-style-outline--1\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-kcolor-color has-base-3-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"#k-climat\" style=\"border-radius:4px\">more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-8aba1b33\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-8aba1b33 kessentials-item\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<i class=\"fas fa-sun fa-5x\"><\/i>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"kessentials-item-title\">Sunshine<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kiruna&#8217;s<strong> geographical location<\/strong> gives it a <strong>very specific type of sunshine<\/strong>, typical of the far north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>  From the <strong>midnight sun to the polar night,<\/strong> this article details the <strong>best times<\/strong> to leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-e1485a7b wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-font-size is-style-outline kbutton has-small-font-size is-style-outline--2\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-kcolor-color has-base-3-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"#k-soleil\" style=\"border-radius:4px\">more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-54c14bbd\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-54c14bbd kessentials-item\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<i class=\"fa-solid fa-star fa-5x\"><\/i>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"kessentials-item-title\">The northern lights<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A climatic phenomenon<\/strong> only visible at the <strong>Earth&#8217;s two poles<\/strong> and much sought-after by travelers in the <strong>far north<\/strong>, you&#8217;ll find all the <strong>tips <\/strong>you need to know before going hunting in Kiruna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-e1485a7b wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-font-size is-style-outline kbutton has-small-font-size is-style-outline--3\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-kcolor-color has-base-3-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"#k-aurores\" style=\"border-radius:4px\">more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-957a7df0 ksection\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\" style=\"letter-spacing:0px;text-transform:uppercase\">Things to consider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-kcolor-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-kcolor-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re taking a trip to the province of Kiruna, you&#8217;ll be aware that this region has a sometimes extreme climate. Here&#8217;s what you need to know before booking your vacation in Kiruna: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Traffic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on the season, Kiruna offers a wide range of <strong>outdoor activities <\/strong>. In summer, the region is ideal for <strong>hiking<\/strong>. But in winter, you can enjoy<strong> dog sledding<\/strong> or <strong>snowmobiling<\/strong>.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Swedes are very fond of this destination during the <strong>summer months<\/strong>. June, July and August are the <strong>busiest<\/strong> months for hotels and accommodation in Kiruna. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the region also attracts many <strong>foreign tourists<\/strong> during the winter months. It&#8217;s clearly during this season that people generally choose to visit Kiruna. They come to enjoy the <strong>snow-covered landscapes<\/strong> and related activities.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" data-id=\"438\" src=\"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/03\/motoneige-foret-kiruna.jpg\" alt=\"Snowmobiling in the forest near Kiruna\" class=\"wp-image-438\" srcset=\"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/03\/motoneige-foret-kiruna.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/03\/motoneige-foret-kiruna-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/03\/motoneige-foret-kiruna-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" data-id=\"463\" src=\"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/03\/attelage-chien-traineau-kiruna.jpg\" alt=\"Dog sledding in Kiruna\" class=\"wp-image-463\" srcset=\"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/03\/attelage-chien-traineau-kiruna.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/03\/attelage-chien-traineau-kiruna-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/03\/attelage-chien-traineau-kiruna-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Kiruna enjoys<strong> moderate influence on<\/strong> average, with peaks in July and December. <strong>However, don&#8217;t delay in booking<\/strong> your accommodation and activities, as you may not be able to do everything you&#8217;ve planned!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"k-soleil\">Sunshine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Located at the 68th parallel, 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, Kiruna has <strong>its own unique seasons<\/strong>. The Sami people, originally from Lapland, have<strong> 8 seasons <\/strong>a year.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, the sun <strong>doesn&#8217;t rise<\/strong> for around twenty days in December. This phenomenon is known as the <strong>polar night<\/strong>, and forces locals to <strong>adapt to the<\/strong> absence of <strong>sunshine<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/03\/coucher-soleil-kiruna.jpg\" alt=\"Sunset over Kiruna\" class=\"wp-image-736\" srcset=\"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/03\/coucher-soleil-kiruna.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/03\/coucher-soleil-kiruna-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/03\/coucher-soleil-kiruna-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Conversely, for around 40 days between late May and mid-July, we witness the phenomenon of the <strong>midnight sun or polar day<\/strong>. During this period, the sun <strong>never sets<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What&#8217;s more, from mid-April to the end of August, there are <strong>sleepless nights<\/strong>. Although the sun is setting, it&#8217;s <strong>never completely dark<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"k-climat\">Temperature and rainfall<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Kiruna enjoys a<strong> cold continental climate<\/strong>, with icy winters and mild summers. Occasionally swept by <strong>arctic winds<\/strong>, the region can experience <strong>extreme temperatures<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the course of a year, temperature variations are <strong>very significant<\/strong>. During the <strong>coldest months<\/strong>, from December to February, temperatures are <strong>strictly negative<\/strong>, fluctuating between -5\u00b0C and -20\u00b0C.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By way of example, the coldest temperature on record was -42\u00b0C in 1996! Between <strong>June and August<\/strong>, on the other hand, you can enjoy <strong>milder<\/strong> temperatures, between 5\u00b0C and 20\u00b0C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/03\/rue-enneigee-kiruna-hiver.jpg\" alt=\"Snow-covered street in Kiruna in winter\" class=\"wp-image-737\" srcset=\"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/03\/rue-enneigee-kiruna-hiver.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/03\/rue-enneigee-kiruna-hiver-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/03\/rue-enneigee-kiruna-hiver-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beware, however, that despite <strong>very dry weather<\/strong>, the Kiruna region becomes quite <strong>rainy <\/strong>in summer. See if it&#8217;s something that might bother you before you book your trip!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"k-aurores\">The best time to go to Kiruna to see the aurora<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>First of all, what is an <strong>aurora borealis<\/strong>? Called <em>Aurora Borealis<\/em>, it&#8217;s a physical phenomenon explained by the <strong>collision of <\/strong>electrically-charged <strong>sun particles <\/strong>in the atmosphere. The colors then depend on the <strong>level of oxygen<\/strong> in the atmosphere, from green to violet to red.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, the appearance of these luminous trails depends <strong>on a whole host of conditions<\/strong>: clear skies, geomagnetic activity, luminosity&#8230; To have a chance of seeing them, however, you need to travel to Kiruna <strong>between September and March<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/03\/aurore-boreale-jukkasjarvi.jpg\" alt=\"Aurora borealis at Jukkasjarvi\" class=\"wp-image-449\" srcset=\"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/03\/aurore-boreale-jukkasjarvi.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/03\/aurore-boreale-jukkasjarvi-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/03\/aurore-boreale-jukkasjarvi-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best time to see them is between <strong>7pm and 2am<\/strong>. In theory, the most impressive appearances take place <strong>between 10pm and 11pm<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Note that the best way to see them is to<strong> check<\/strong> their <strong>probability of appearance<\/strong><strong> on the Internet or on an application<\/strong> (there are several free of charge). Then go outside, in an <strong>open area<\/strong> with as little artificial light as possible, to hope to catch a glimpse. If so, enjoy the show, because <strong>sometimes<\/strong> they don <strong>&#8216;t last very long<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To find out more, take a look at our guide to watching the <a href=\"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/en\/northern-lights-in-kiruna\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2018\">Northern Lights in Kiruna<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-775b2e4c ksection\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<p>Because of <strong>these special conditions<\/strong>, we advise you to think carefully about your travel dates when choosing when to go to Kiruna. They will be decisive in organizing your program.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, if you want to go hiking or rafting, go during the summer months. But prefer the winter months if you want to go snowmobiling or hunt for the northern lights! In any case, whatever the season, if you want to enjoy outdoor activities on the Swedish plains, Kiruna and the surrounding area, especially <a href=\"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/en\/abisko\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"645\">Abisko<\/a>, is the perfect destination!<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When should you travel to Kiruna? Kiruna, located 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, has a very special climate. In fact, Swedish Lapland is a very special A destination that requires special preparation for those who want to go there, especially during the winter months. In this guide, we detail the essential information you &#8230; <a title=\"When should you travel to Kiruna?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/en\/when-to-go-to-kiruna\/\" aria-label=\"More on When should you travel to Kiruna?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":1725,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1970","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1970","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1970"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1970\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2110,"href":"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1970\/revisions\/2110"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1725"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/go-kiruna.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1970"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}