Town in Norrbotten County, Sweden
Kiruna for solo travelers
Is Kiruna good for solo travel?
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.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 3/5 · Good, with some effort |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Safety | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Solo women | Very safe for solo women; the main concern is cold and isolation on aurora tours at night. Use registered operators. |
How to meet people in Kiruna
Group aurora, dog sledding and snowmobile tours are the main way to meet people, plus hostel kitchens and small cafés.
Good things to do alone
- Join a Northern Lights tour from Abisko or Kiruna
- Visit the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi
- Take a guided dog sledding or snowmobile trip
- Learn about Sami culture at a Sami reindeer experience
- Tour the iron mine area and relocated town
Where to stay in Kiruna
| 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 |
Solo travel across Sweden
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Stockholm | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Gothenburg | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Malmö | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Uppsala | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Visby | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Kiruna | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
Quick answers
Is Kiruna good for solo travelers?
Good, with some effort (3/5). Remote Arctic mining town and base for Northern Lights, dog sledding and the Icehotel in nearby Jukkasjärvi.
How do you meet people in Kiruna?
Group aurora, dog sledding and snowmobile tours are the main way to meet people, plus hostel kitchens and small cafés. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Kiruna?
Spoken almost everywhere.
Is Kiruna safe for solo female travelers?
Very safe for solo women; the main concern is cold and isolation on aurora tours at night. Use registered operators.
More about Kiruna
Going to Kiruna solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Kiruna meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.