Kiruna đ¸đŞ Winter 4-Night Guide (Cold-Sensitive Version - Part 1) âď¸
On the winter solstice (the longest night of the year) and chilly Christmas, I got to witness two spectacular Northern Lights outbreaks! From snowmobiling to dog sledding⌠the secret to having fun in this icy wonderland? Donât stay outdoors for more than 2 hours at a time (activities labeled â3 hoursâ usually include round-trip travel and getting dressedâthese are perfect!). Also, donât plan more than 2 major activities a dayâwinter cold makes you sleepy super fast! Day 20: Arrive in Kiruna by Afternoon Flight âď¸ Airport Transfer: The airport has a shuttle bus (Falcks Omnibus) that stops near most hotels. The signs arenât very clearâyouâll need to head outside and look for it. Look for a big bus with âKiruna Transferâ or similar wording on it. It costs 110 SEK per person đ. Accommodation: We stayed at the Best Western Arctic Eden Hotel, which I highly recommendâyou can grab hot meals anytime! Right outside the hotel is Arctic Thai & Grill. Since transportation is inconvenient here, having a restaurant with a variety of dishes nearby is a huge plus. Note: The hotel might move to the new city center in a few years. Evening Plan: We just rested to adjust to the coldâno big plans for the first night đ´. Day 21: LKAB Mine Tour + Snowmobiling đđď¸ 1. LKAB Mine Tour (Important Tips!) Taxi Warning: Always arrive at least 30 minutes earlier than plannedâtaxis here often run 30 minutes late! We booked a taxi for 9:15 AM, but it never showed up. We ended up hitching a ride with someone elseâs pre-booked taxi to make it on time. The driver was actually the taxi company ownerâhis way of arranging rides is to stop random taxis on the street and ask if they can pick up people going to your destination. If yes, great; if not, he just says âfully booked.â Pro Tip: For faraway activities, try to book ones that include pick-up and drop-off servicesâit saves so much hassle! Fun Side Note: While hitching the taxi, we sat next to Air France staff. They said they were here to launch a direct flight from Paris to Kiruna âď¸! Mine Tour Highlights: Itâs a science-themed tourâdriving down into the mine was pretty thrilling! The guide talked about the mineâs history, why Kiruna is moving to a new city center, and the machinery/technology they use. Itâs super informative đ ď¸. 2. Snowmobiling (Last-Minute Fun!) We were wandering around the city center and stumbled upon Kiruna Guidetur. We found out there was a snowmobile slot available in 30 minutes (3 PM - 6 PM)âso we decided to go on a whim! Experience: We drove into the forest and even saw the Big Dipper đ. The experience was great, but you must bundle upâespecially if youâre not the one driving. The driverâs handlebars are heated, so they wonât feel too cold. But passengers? My toes froze solid (extra socks donât helpâhand warmers are a lifesaver! đ§¤). Trip Length: It depends on your group. We went with a family with two kidsâthey got cold fast, so we headed back early (I was freezing too!). Night: Northern Lights Outbreak! After dinner at the hotel, we stepped outside and saw a massive Northern Lights display! It was so bright that we could see it clearly even in an area with light pollution đ. #Artwork #Sweden #NorthernLights #IceHotel #PhotoSpot #NorthernEurope