Things to Do in Kiruna in Winter
Kiruna in winter: blue-hour days, hotels made of ice, husky trails, and Northern Lights that crack open the night sky
We’ve visited the ICEHOTEL 6 times and every time is a new experience!
Kiruna in winter feels like stepping into its own Arctic dimension — blue-hour days that stretch forever, forests that glow with frost, and nights where the sky tears open in green. We’ve returned here many times, and every time it reminds us why Swedish Lapland hits differently: it’s calm, quiet, and somehow deeply personal.
If you’re heading north, here are the winter experiences that make Kiruna unforgettable.
Plan your Arctic trip:
Find the perfect place to warm up, a car to rent (winter driving requires extreme precaution), and “cool” tours.
When to see the northern lights in Kiruna
The season runs from late September to early April, but November to March is peak. That being said, we had a wonderful aurora display in October!
For photo settings, gear advice, and the best Northern Lights destinations across the world, check out our full 👉 Northern Lights Hub.
Best things to do in Kiruna in winter - from northern lights tours to dog sledding
Mushing is addictive, and we join a tour every time we go to Lapland
🌌 1. Go on a northern lights tour in Kiruna
This is what most people come for — and Kiruna delivers.
The town sits at a perfect latitude for aurora, far enough north and far enough away from big-city light pollution. On clear nights you can often see the lights even from the outskirts of town.
But if you want the experience — campfires on frozen lakes, warm overalls, guides who read the clouds like a second language — join a Kiruna Northern Lights tour.
👉 Explore Kiruna’s northern lights tours on Viator
🐕 2. Go dog sledding through Kiruna’s winter forests
Kiruna’s sleddog tours are small-scale and intimate — the good kind.
Expect happy huskies, soft snow trails, and that feeling when the only sound is your sled gliding over the ice. You can drive (mush) your own team (our favorite part) or sit in the sled and enjoy the ride. Just note that dogsledding is not traditional in Lapland (Sápmi).
👉 Join a sled dog tour in Kiruna on Viator
❄️ 3. Visit the ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi
Just outside Kiruna sits the world-famous ICEHOTEL — rebuilt every winter by artists carving entire rooms from ice. We’ve visited multiple times, and every year looks completely different.
Come during the day to wander the corridors, look at the art suites, grab a drink in the ice bar… or go all in and sleep inside one of the ice rooms. Surreal. Frozen. Worth it. You can take the bus or a cab from Kiruna, or join a tour.
👉 Join an ICEHOTEL tour on Viator
👉 Book a room at the ICEHOTEL
🌄 4. Take a trip to Abisko for extra aurora chances
Abisko is a short transfer away and famous for its Blue Hole — a patch of sky that stays clear even when everything else turns cloudy.
If aurora is your mission, add one night here. Some of our strongest displays in Swedish Lapland happened in Abisko after cloudy afternoons in Kiruna.
👉 Join a tour to Abisko on Viator
🛷 5. Go snowmobiling across frozen lakes & tundra
Kiruna’s snowmobile tours take you into real wilderness — frozen lakes, birch forests, and big Arctic views that stretch toward Norway.
You speed across the snow, stop in absolute silence, look around, and think:
Yep… this is winter.
🐟 6. Try ice fishing on a frozen lake
A slow, peaceful, very-Lapland kind of experience.
You drill a hole through the ice, drop a line, sit by a fire, and listen to the world go quiet around you. The kind of afternoon that stays with you longer than you expect. You think it’s boring? It’s exhilarating when you catch a fish!
👉 Explore ice fishing tours on GetYourGuide
🦌 7. Visit a Sámi reindeer camp
Head to Jukkasjärvi and spend time with local Sámi herders — feed the reindeer, ride a traditional sled, and learn about a culture that defines Swedish Lapland.
It’s gentle, warm, and perfect for shorter daylight hours. You can combine this with a visit to the ICEHOTEL.
👉 Learn about the Sámi and their reindeer
🏛️ 8. Explore the LKAB Mine Experience
Kiruna is literally moving because of it (they moved the church last summer 2025), and visiting the underground exhibition gives you the clearest picture of why.
You descend deep underground, learn about the town relocation, and warm up nicely after outdoor activities. You can combine it with a walking tour to learn more about this unique move.
🥾 9. Go winter hiking under Kiruna’s blue light
In winter, Kiruna gets that long, dreamy blue-hour glow for most of the day.
Walk forest trails, frozen marshes, and open views just outside town — it feels like stepping into a painting, and you’ll see that the Arctic in winter is every color but dark.
🔥 10. Sauna + snow = Our favorite combo
After a night chasing the aurora, nothing beats a hot sauna and a cooling step into the snow.
Kiruna’s cabins and guesthouses take sauna culture seriously — and it hits even better when temperatures outside drop below –15°C. If your accommodation doesn’t have one, we recommend Camp Ripan’s fabulous Aurora Spa.
Explore more winter tours and fun activities in Kiruna and around
Planning the logistics?
Smile, reindeer, it’s for Penguin Trampoline! (At Nutti Sámi Siida in Jukkasjärvi)
We keep all the practical info in separate guides (so this page stays pure winter fun).
Here’s everything you need:
• Best Hotels in Kiruna
• Kiruna vs Rovaniemi
• Why We Love Kiruna and Things to Do Year Round
• Best Hotels in Swedish Lapland
🧳 Plan your Swedish Lapland adventure
✈️ Find flights to the Arctic — fly into Kiruna via Stockholm.
🏨 Find hotels for Northern Lights trips — glass igloos, cozy cabins, and aurora lodges we love.
🚗 Compare Arctic car rentals — chase the lights on your own schedule.
🧭 Heymondo Travel Insurance (5–15% off) — protect yourself (and your camera gear) from Arctic surprises.
🧳 Arctic gear — check our travel essentials on Amazon.
🐾 Fahlo Wildlife Bracelets (20% off) — track a real Arctic animal and stay connected to the north.
Penguin Trampoline tip:
Explore the Arctic with Heymondo! Their plans cover snowmobiles, dog sledding, and all the wild ideas that sound great until you have an issue in the middle of nowhere.
👉 Get 5–15 % off your policy here and travel insured, not worried.
What to pack for winter in Kiruna
If you’re patiently waiting for Lady Aurora (as you should), layer up!
Temperatures range from –25 °C to -5 °C, so layers are your best friend:
Merino base layers
Fleece or wool mid-layers
A waterproof down parka
Warm boots with grip (Sorel or similar)
Gloves, hat, and thermal socks
👉 Check our Arctic packing list on Amazon, and get more tips in our article: What to wear for a northern lights trip.
❓ FAQ – Things to do in Kiruna in winter
When is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Kiruna?
From late September to early April, with December–March offering the strongest, darkest nights.
Are Northern Lights tours worth it?
Yes — guides improve your chances significantly by driving to clearer skies and helping with photography and warm clothing.
Can you see the aurora from Kiruna without a tour?
Often, yes. On clear nights, the outskirts of Kiruna offer great visibility thanks to low light pollution.
How cold does Kiruna get in winter?
Usually –15°C to –5°C, with colder spells in January and February. Proper layering is essential.
Is dog sledding popular in Kiruna?
Very. Kiruna has some of Swedish Lapland’s best husky trails through forests and frozen lakes.
Are winter tours family-friendly?
Most are — especially Northern Lights tours, reindeer visits, and short dog sledding tours.
Do I need a car in Kiruna in winter?
Not for activities. Most tours include pickups, and transfers to Icehotel or Abisko are easy to arrange.
What should I wear in Kiruna in winter?
Thermals, wool or fleece mid-layers, a warm parka, insulated boots, gloves, hat, and hand warmers. Many operators provide thermal suits.
Kiruna in winter isn’t loud or showy (unlike other Lapland destinations we won’t mention) — and that’s why it feels so special.
It’s a place where the world slows down, where blue light turns the landscape into something dreamlike, and where the Northern Lights feel close enough to touch. Every winter activity here has that same rhythm: huskies running through snow-draped forests, snowmobiles crossing frozen lakes, reindeer waiting in quiet fields, the Icehotel glowing softly in the dark.
If you’re searching for a winter trip that feels raw, real, and deeply Arctic, Kiruna is the spot.
Come for the aurora and leave with that feeling Swedish Lapland gives you (at least, us) every time: like you’ve stepped into the north and found a different version of yourself.
Planning a Swedish Lapland adventure? Explore our guides:
🏨 Best Hotels in Kiruna — Ice rooms, riverside cabins, and skies that glow in green.
🦌 Things to do year round in Kiruna, Swedish Lapland — Aurora skies, Sámi culture, and the northern edge of cozy.
🧊 Kiruna vs. Rovaniemi: Swedish Lapland vs. Finnish Lapland — Two Arctic capitals, one epic showdown.
🏨 Hotels in Luleå, Sweden — Modern stays, design retreats, and Arctic cabins under the Northern Lights.
🇸🇪 Winter Travel to Luleå, Sweden — Frozen seas, saunas, and Arctic calm
🌌 Luleå Northern Lights — Ice roads, frozen seas, and aurora skies across Swedish Lapland.
🏠 Best Hotels in Swedish Lapland — Icehotels, glass igloos, and cozy cabins under the northern lights.
❄️ Our Ultimate Arctic Travel Guide — How to explore, survive, and avoid becoming a polar bear’s lunch.
✨ Northern Lights for Dummies — How to actually see the aurora (without freezing your butt off or waiting 12 nights in vain).
🦌 Arctic Food Guide — Whale steak? Cloudberries? Reindeer stew? What to eat (or not eat) in the high North.
