Kiruna is a city in northernmost part of Sweden, and it is a region where the discovery of raw materials often determined the location of settlements, Kiruna included. In 1642, magnetite was found in the town of Masugnsbyn, and at the end of the 17th century, finds were mentioned in Luossavaara and Kirunavaara in present-day Kiruna. However, the site was very inaccessible, so just small quantities of ore could be transported with reindeer sledges, and major mining could be started after the construction of a railway only.

In 1890, the state-owned company LKAB was founded to develop the area, and in the same year the first building was erected here. In 1900 the railway reached Kiruna, and growth and prosperity was eminent. In 1900, Kiruna’s first town plan was designed, and mining grew so fast throughout the 20th century that it has been necessary to move Kiruna a few kilometers away from the iron mines in Kirunavaara to expand mining in former residential areas.

Today, Kiruna is an interesting destination where many arrive to see and experience the midnight sun in summer and the northern lights in winter. There are almost 50 days a year of midnight sun with Kiruna’s northern location, so there is plenty of time to enjoy the extra bright time. You can, for example, follow the Midnattssolstigen hiking route, which starts at the end of the road Stugvägen. It’s a lovely route where, on a stretch of 4.3 kilometers, you get through forest and up onto the mountain of Luossavaara.

From here there is a 360-degree panoramic view of the city and the area, and it is a good place to enjoy the midnight sun, but of course the tour can also be enjoyed at other times. The Northern Lights come similarly in the dark time, when northern Sweden is a good place to see the almost magical phenomenon.

In Kiruna you can also take a walk in the center, which is a modern center due to young town, and to the fact that the center has moved from its original location. Kiruna Kyrko is perhaps the most famous building in the city. It was built in wood in the years 1909-1912 from the design of architect Gustaf Wickman. He designed the stave church-inspired building with an interesting interior. Here you can e.g. see the famous altarpiece created by the painter Prince Eugen of Sweden.

The free-standing bell tower at the church is worth seeing as well, it was built in 1906-1907. In the city, you can also visit the Art Museum in Norr, where there are changing art exhibitions, and the Sámi open-air museum Márkanbáiki in Jukkasjärvi, where you can learn more about Sámi culture.

You can also visit the LKAB visitor center. LKAB stands for Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag, and it is a state-owned Swedish mining stock company founded in 1890. LKAB has developed the mining town of Kiruna, and the company operates the largest underground iron mine in the world, located in Kiruna. Today, the ore is mined with remote-controlled machines and driverless trains, which of course was not the case in the first several years.

In LKAB’s visitor center there is information about the company, and from here you also take a bus down into the iron mine itself. You get to a level 540 meters underground in the mine, where mining today goes further down than 1,300 meters in depth. There are exhibitions, films and machines about and from mining, and at the mining museum there are historical environments and other interesting things that show the development of the mine and thereby Kiruna.