Best Hotels in Kiruna, Sweden — Where to Stay in Swedish Lapland’s Arctic Heart (We Stayed at a Few)
Our selection of the best hotels and cabins in Kiruna, Sweden — from the Icehotel and Camp Ripan to riverside aurora lodges and local Sámi stays in Swedish Lapland. We stayed at a few!
Enjoying Camp Ripan Aurora Spa!
Last update: August 2026
Browse our selection of the best hotels, lodges and cabins in Kiruna, including some we stayed at!
Kiruna, Swedish Lapland, holds a special place for me (Eli). That’s where my passion for the Arctic was born, back in 2007! As soon as I got off the plane, I knew it was true love at first sight. Maybe it’s the strange mix of mining town grit and Arctic wonder, or the way the Northern Lights appear right above the grocery store. Or the unpretentious authenticity and the friendly locals.
We’ve been here seven times — long enough to watch part of the town literally move east to escape the expanding iron mine — including the church this past summer (2025). What hasn’t moved is the atmosphere: cozy cafés to warm up while watching the snow fall, locals on snowmobiles or sleds doing their grocery run, and hotels that feel built to survive winter (yes, even made of ice)…
🛌 Where to stay:
• ICEHOTEL — in Jukkasjärvi, rebuilt fresh every winter from ice carved out of the Torne River. We've visited six times and counting.
• Camp Ripan — cabins scattered between birch trees, an outdoor pool steaming under the aurora, and a Sámi-inspired spa we've tested ourselves.
• Camp Alta — we stayed here. Simple cabins on the frozen banks of the Torne River, away from city lights, with a sauna and ice fishing right outside.
🇸🇪 Top experiences:
• Northern lights minivan chase — a guide drives toward clear sky rather than parking in one spot, usually with a stop for hot drinks or a fireside dinner.
• Dog sledding northern lights tour — huskies through the wilderness with the aurora as a bonus if the sky cooperates. Our favorite thing to do in Kiruna, lights or not.
🚗 Rental cars for the region — useful if you want to chase clear skies on your own.
Best hotels, cabins & apartments in Kiruna
Every year, the Icehotel is rebuilt from scratch and looks totally different!
Camp Ripan — Nature meets comfort (we tested the spa and restaurant)
If Kiruna had a heartbeat, it would sound like Camp Ripan’s sauna crackling at -20°C. Part hotel, part spa (with Sámi music), Camp Ripan blends Scandinavian design with Lapland soul — cabins scattered between birch trees, an outdoor pool steaming under the aurora, and local dishes served by firelight. After a day in the cold, it’s the best feeling ever — and if Lady Aurora shows up, you can only imagine!
If you can’t stay there, treat yourself to a spa + Nordic dinner.
They definitely deserve a spot in our selection of the Best Hotels in Swedish Lapland and in our guide to the Northern Lights in Kiruna!
👉 Book Camp Ripan here
ICEHOTEL — The original frozen dream in Jukkasjärvi (we visited it 7 times)
Only twenty minutes from town but a world away, Icehotel is Kiruna’s most iconic stay. Built fresh every winter from ice carved out of the Torne River, it’s part museum, part art gallery, and 100% unforgettable — I visited it 7 times and counting! If you don’t drive, you can take a cab or the bus directly from the city center. If you can’t splurge on a night there, at least visit it by day. We also included it in our favorite hotels in Swedish Lapland. Read our dedicated article about the ICEHOTEL, Sweden.
👉 Book Icehotel here
Penguin tip:
If you make it out to Jukkasjärvi — and you should — don’t just visit the Icehotel. Stop by Sámi Siida, a small open-air site where local Sámi guides share stories about reindeer herding, Arctic traditions, and daily life in Lapland. You can meet the reindeer up close, try a bit of smoked meat around the fire (suova), and learn how Sámi culture still shapes life in Northern Sweden today. Discover other things to do in Kiruna!
Scandic Kiruna — New town, northern lights views
The new Scandic Kiruna stands tall in the relocated part of town — sleek, sustainable, and designed to maximize light (even when there isn’t much). It’s practical, modern, and surprisingly cozy.
👉 Book Scandic Kiruna here
Sámegård Guesthouse — Culture and warmth (we stayed there)
A place that feels more like a home than a hotel. Sámegård combines comfort with Sámi culture — there’s art, storytelling, and genuine hospitality from people who’ve lived here for generations. It’s small, soulful, and full of heart. We absolutely love it, and breakfast is also delicious!
👉 Book Sámegård Guesthouse here
Camp Alta — Aurora by the River (we stayed there)
Just outside town, away from the city lights, on the frozen banks of the Torne River, Camp Alta is one of those places that makes you feel part of Lapland. You can stay in simple cabins, light your own fire, go ice-fishing, enjoy the sauna, and walk straight onto the snow to watch the Northern Lights. We’ve stayed here — it’s rustic, authentic, and the aurora views make it pure magic.
👉 Book Camp Alta here
Bishops Arms Kiruna — Pub below, comfort above
We never stayed there, but it’s a classic in Kiruna. You’ll smell the wood and malt before you even check in! Bishops Arms is a local favorite — a British-style pub downstairs, warm rooms upstairs, and a short walk to everything downtown. Perfect if you like your northern lights with a pint.
👉 Book Bishops Arms Kiruna here
Best Western Kiruna Arctic Eden — Family-friendly & functional
This morning view is priceless!
Set in a renovated school building, Best Western Arctic Eden offers roomy stays, a pool, and a surprisingly good restaurant. It’s ideal for families or anyone craving reliable comfort after a day in the snow.
👉 Book Arctic Eden here
Aurora River Camp Glass Igloos & Cabins — Firelight and fjord reflections
A few minutes outside Kiruna, Aurora River Camp offers that perfect mix of wilderness and comfort. You sleep in cozy wooden huts and glass igloos by the frozen river, step outside straight into snow, and if the skies are kind — the aurora dances right above camp. They even keep a fire burning in the tipi, so you can warm up between photo bursts.
👉 Book Aurora River Camp here
Reindeer River Lights Lodge — Remote and real Lapland
This small lodge feels like a secret. Reindeer River Lights Lodge sits deep in the forest, surrounded by nothing but snow and silence. Think wooden cabins, reindeer nearby, and auroras reflecting in the river. It’s the kind of place where you actually hear the Northern Lights — that soft crackle above the silence (if sled dogs are not howling).
👉 Book Reindeer River Lights Lodge here
Map of hotels and cabins in Kiruna
Zoom in below to explore the dreamiest hotels and cabins in Kiruna and around. All locations update live with real prices and availability.
Getting to your hotel in Kiruna and Swedish Lapland
If you’re planning to go aurora hunting, get away from city lights if you can! Frozen lakes and rivers are ideal for this.
Kiruna is compact — but the real magic (Abisko, Jukkasjärvi, the Icehotel) lies a short drive away. Winter roads are safe if you take it slow, but always check trafikverket.se before heading out.
In Kiruna, you can do pretty much everything walking. You can take a bus to the Icehotel and a train to Abisko. However, if you go aurora chasing, rent a car to get away from city lights.
To get there, you can fly, take the train, or drive. The quickest way is a 1h40 flight from Stockholm, landing right in Kiruna Airport (10 minutes from town). The overnight train from Stockholm is a favorite for slow travelers (like us!) — a 15-hour journey through forests, lakes, and Arctic tundra. We personally love it. Waking up to a moving snowy landscape, a hot coffee in your hands, is magical. If you’re driving, the E10 highway connects Kiruna with Narvik and Luleå, but winter roads demand snow tires and patience. Summer driving is lovely though — just watch out for the reindeer!
When to book your hotel Kiruna and Swedish Lapland
Arctic winter sunsets last forever and have this pink/purple hue. Kiruna’s beautiful church before it was moved in summer 2025!
December–March: Peak winter. Deep snow, dog-sledding, Icehotel in full form, and the best chance to see the northern lights.
April–May: Quieter, longer days, great for cross-country skiing and frozen-lake picnics.
June–August: Midnight sun, hiking, and fishing — endless daylight and green tundra.
September–October: Autumn colors, first snow, and early aurora shows with fewer tourists.
Read our guide to the Best time to visit Lapland for more details.
When to see the northern lights in Kiruna, Swedish Lapland
The aurora season in Iceland runs from late September to early April, with the best viewing usually between December and February, when nights are longest and skies clearest. Read our guide to the Northern Lights in Kiruna, and the Best Northern Lights Tours in Kiruna.
For photo settings, gear advice, and the best Northern Lights destinations across the world, check out our full 👉 Northern Lights Hub.
✈️ Find flights
🏨 Explore hotels, apartments, guesthouses, cabins
🧭 Browse activities and tours
🚗 Compare car rentals
🧳 Get travel gear (including our Arctic essentials)
🛡️ Travel safe with Heymondo Travel Insurance (5–15% off)
📱 Get a travel eSIM
🐾 Protect & track Arctic wildlife with Fahlo Bracelets (20% off)
FAQ: Best hotels in Kiruna, Sweden
If you rent a cabin in the woods, check if the toilet is outside (very common)
What's the best place to stay in Kiruna?
Depends on what you want from the trip. Stay in the town center for restaurants, shops, and everything in easy walking distance. Head to Camp Ripan or Camp Alta on the edge of town for darker skies and a better shot at the aurora right from your room. Or base yourself at the ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi, about 20 minutes away, if the experience itself is the point.
What's the best hotel for couples in Kiruna?
Camp Ripan, for the outdoor spa, private cabins, and genuinely good food, or the ICEHOTEL, for the kind of once-in-a-lifetime night you won't get anywhere else.
Is the ICEHOTEL near Kiruna, and is it worth staying there instead of a regular hotel?
Yes, it's in Jukkasjärvi, about 20 minutes from Kiruna, and most hotels in town can arrange transport, or you can take the bus from Kiruna's bus station. Whether it's worth it over a regular hotel depends on what you're after: the ICEHOTEL is the experience, but the rooms are, by design, cold and sparse. We'd recommend at least one night there plus a night or two in a warm hotel in town.
Can you see the northern lights from your hotel in Kiruna?
From some of them, yes. Camp Alta and Camp Ripan both sit on the edge of town, away from the worst of the streetlight glow, and several cabins are specifically positioned for aurora viewing right from the property. A hotel in the town center works too, you'll just want to walk a few minutes away from the streetlights.
Is it expensive to stay in Kiruna?
It can be, especially over Christmas and New Year's. That said, it's usually cheaper than Rovaniemi or Tromsø. Book early, look for a place with a kitchenette, and travel outside the Christmas and New Year's window if your dates are flexible.
When should I book a hotel in Kiruna?
As early as you can if you're traveling in December or over the holidays, that's when rooms, and the ICEHOTEL especially, fill up first. Outside peak season, a few weeks out is usually enough.
Kiruna isn’t luxury in the glamourous sense — it’s the kind that smells like wood smoke, and stays with you long after you’ve left (the wood smoke smell too!). Whether you sleep on ice, in a Sámi accommodation, or under the northern lights, you’ll wake up to silence, snow, and that feeling that you’re somewhere truly rare.
Finally, explore all our Lapland Travel Guides here.
Best Hotels in Kiruna
ICEHOTEL Sweden
Things to Do in Kiruna & Swedish Lapland Year Round
Things to Do in Kiruna in Winter
Northern Lights in Kiruna
Northern Lights Tours in Kiruna
Car Rental in Kiruna
Abisko:
Abisko Northern Lights Tours
Best Hotels in Abisko
How to Get to Abisko from Kiruna
Luleå Northern Lights
Hotels in Luleå, Sweden
Winter Travel to Luleå
Swedish Lapland in general:
Best Hotels in Swedish Lapland
Northern Lights Tours in Sweden
Best Time to Visit Lapland
Northern Lights in Lapland
One Lapland Trip, Three Countries
Our Ultimate Arctic Travel Guide
Northern Lights for Dummies
