Town in Norrbotten County, Sweden
Kiruna
Remote Arctic mining town and base for Northern Lights, dog sledding and the Icehotel in nearby Jukkasjärvi. Very expensive, tiny, dark in winter and best with a week of flexible plans.
At a glance
- Safety5/5Very safeDetails
- Monthly budget$2,190–3,190Comfortable, one person · kr22,000–32,000Details
- Value for money40/100Better value than 39% of places we coverDetails
- Best time to goFeb–Mar, Jun–Jul, SepWarmest: Jul, 16°CDetails
- Air quality2.6 µg/m³PM2.5 annual average (2022) · Meets the WHO guidelineDetails
- Internet196 MbpsFixed broadband, Sweden medianDetails
- Tap waterYes, drinkableExcellent tap water; refill freely.Details
- LGBTQ+4/5WelcomingDetails
- Solo travel3/5English: spoken almost everywhereDetails
- Doctor's visit$80–149Private clinic, without insuranceDetails
- Getting aroundLocal busesYou'll need transportDetails
- Cash or cardPractically cashlessPractically cashless; cards are accepted everywhere including tour operators.Details
Where to stay in Kiruna
Areas visitors base themselves in.
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| New Kiruna centre | Rebuilt town center with shops, restaurants and the station |
| Jukkasjärvi | 17 km east: the Icehotel and sled-dog lodges; needs transport |
Apps that work in Kiruna
No ride-hailing apps work here; see the taxi note below.
- Maps: Google Maps
- Messaging: WhatsApp, Messenger
- SL: Stockholm transit tickets and journey planner
- SJ: Train tickets and seat bookings
- Taxis: No ride apps; taxis are few and must be booked by phone. Plan ahead for airport pickups and evening tours.
Cash, cards and tipping
What to carry and how to pay. Money in Sweden.
- Practically cashless Practically cashless; cards are accepted everywhere including tour operators. Carry a card, not cash.
- Currency: Krona (SEK). US$1 ≈ kr10.04 on 03 Oct 2026.
- ATMs: ATMs (Bankomat) are scarce but usually add no local fee; avoid Euronet and decline currency conversion.
- Tipping: Not expected. Rounding up or 5–10% for good table service is common; nothing at counters.
- Paying by phone: Apple Pay and Google Pay work everywhere; Swish needs a Swedish bank account and BankID, so visitors can't use it.
Before you go
Visa and entry
- Schengen member: non-EU visitors give fingerprints and a face photo to the Entry/Exit System (EES) on first entry.
- ETIAS pre-travel authorisation isn't required yet and has no confirmed start date; check the EU site before you fly.
Emergency numbers
Police 112 · Ambulance 112 · Fire 112 · All emergencies 112
Plugs
Type C, F · 230 V, 50 Hz. Do I need an adapter?
SIM and eSIM
Comviq and Lycamobile prepaid SIMs sell at Pressbyrån, 7-Eleven and supermarkets; EU roaming rules apply to EU SIMs. eSIMs work for visitors.
More places in Sweden
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Sources
Prices are SoloSquare estimates; climate, air, safety and visa figures come from the sources listed. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.