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Weather in Kiruna
ICEHOTEL and Lapland adventures in Arctic Sweden
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About Kiruna
Kiruna is Sweden's northernmost town and ice-hotel destination, where visitors sleep in beds carved from glacial ice and wake to Arctic silence. The ICEHOTEL, rebuilt annually from ice blocks harvested from the Torne River, is the world's largest seasonal ice structure. Beyond that famous novelty, Kiruna sits at the edge of genuine Sami land, where reindeer herds outnumber humans and the midnight sun (May-July) turns landscape into perpetual golden hour.
Best months to visit
Year-round
Things to do in Kiruna
Stay and sleep in the ICEHOTEL
Snowmobile safari and Arctic exploration
Reindeer herding with Sami guides
Dog sledding across frozen tundra
Ice hotel tours and ice sculpting
Northern lights viewing and photography
Weather by month
Click any month for detailed weather information and travel tips.
January
-10C
Cold, with some rainy days.
February
-7C
Cold, with occasional showers.
March
-4C
Cold, with occasional showers.
April
1C
Cold, with occasional showers.
May
7C
Cold, with occasional showers.
June
14C
Cool, with some rainy days.
July
17C
Cool, with some rainy days.
August
14C
Cool, with some rainy days.
September
9C
Cold, with some rainy days.
October
1C
Cold, with occasional showers.
November
-4C
Cold, with occasional showers.
December
-7C
Cold, with some rainy days.
Kiruna is Sweden's northernmost town, an extraordinary place where an entire town centre is being relocated, slowly, away from the iron ore mine that built it and now threatens to swallow it. It's also one of the best gateways to Swedish Lapland — a base for Northern Lights, the Icehotel nearby, and vast subarctic wilderness that feels genuinely remote.
Best areas to stay in Kiruna
Kiruna town centre
The town's main hub, partially being relocated, with shops, hotels and the striking Kiruna Church.
Jukkasjärvi
A small village near Kiruna and home to the original Icehotel, rebuilt each winter.
Esrange Space Center area
A research facility near Kiruna, occasionally open for tours, set in remote subarctic terrain.
Abisko (nearby)
A national park around an hour from Kiruna, popular for aurora viewing and hiking the Kungsleden trail.
Getting to Kiruna
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Flights
Kiruna Airport has direct flights from Stockholm; an overnight train from Stockholm is also available.
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From London
~4-5 hours by air from London via Stockholm.
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Getting around
A hire car or organised tours are useful for reaching the Icehotel, Abisko and other sights outside town.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Kiruna?
December-March for the Northern Lights, snow activities and the Icehotel; June-August for the midnight sun and hiking.
What is the Icehotel?
A hotel rebuilt each winter from ice and snow near Kiruna in the village of Jukkasjärvi, with rooms, an ice bar and art installations.
Why is Kiruna being moved?
The LKAB iron ore mine, the town's economic backbone, has expanded to the point where parts of the original town centre are being relocated to a new site nearby.
Is Kiruna a good base for the Northern Lights?
Yes — its far-northern location and relatively low light pollution make it one of Sweden's most reliable spots for aurora viewing in winter.
How do I get to Kiruna?
Kiruna Airport has direct flights from Stockholm; an overnight train from Stockholm is also a popular, scenic option.
Traveler reviews
★★★★★
Stayed a night at the Icehotel and saw the Northern Lights on the same trip — both exceeded expectations, though it's not a cheap visit.
Pernilla A. · December 2023
★★★★☆
Kiruna itself is more of a base than a destination, but the surrounding wilderness and the story of the town's relocation made it fascinating.
Greg T. · February 2024
★★★★☆
Visited in summer for the midnight sun and used it as a base for hiking near Abisko — very different experience from the winter crowds.
Astrid V. · July 2023
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