Where to Stay in Kiruna, Sweden (Options for All Budgets!)
Kiruna has become one of the most desirable winter destinations in Arctic Europe and more and more people are planning winter trips to Sweden’s northernmost city. While Abisko National Park and the nearby Ice Hotel are two of the main reasons people visit, there are still plenty of things to do beyond that.
Previously, not a lot of accommodation was available in town, leaving people looking for where to stay in Kiruna with few options. However, that is slowly changing!
Quick Kiruna Travel Guide
If you’re traveling to Kiruna last minute, be sure you have hotels and tours booked ahead of time. Below are some of my top picks:
🇸🇪 Best tours and activities in Kiruna:
- Northern lights tour from Kiruna (includes Stejk Street Food for dinner!)
- Tour of the Icehotel and Jukkasjärvi (leaves from Kiruna)
- Dog sledding in Kiruna (I love the morning tour, but they have other options)
🛌 Top hotels and lodging in Kiruna:
- Elite Hotel Frost (my new fave spot in town; affordable luxury)
- Camp Ripan (super comfortable and has a spa; Kiruna city)
- Reindeer Lodge (loved this unique stay)
- ICEHOTEL (another bucket-list accommodation in Jukkasjärvi)
🍲 Popular places to eat in Kiruna: Alex Fine Dining, Stejk Street Food (4.9 on Google out of 2k reviews!), Camp Ripan Kitchen
🚗 Planning to travel around Sweden independently? Find and compare the cheapest rental car rates here!
In this guide, I cover the best places to stay in Kiruna, with my favorite Kiruna hotels, guesthouses, and unique accommodations. Some of the places in this guide are in the city center of Kiruna and a couple are in nearby Jukkasjärvi. I will not be listing Airbnbs in this guide.
At the end of the guide, you will also find a few options in Abisko (but I encourage you to check out my Abisko hotel guide if you want additional details). Please let me know if you have any questions!
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the following:
Where to Stay in Kiruna (Overview)
Before you plan your accommodation in Kiruna, you need to realize that there are a few options of areas to stay in.
The first is the ‘old’ town. This area is where you’ll find Stejk Street Food (my favorite place to eat) and Camp Ripan. There is a small walkable neighborhood, but not much is happening.
The second area is the newer area. This is where they have relocated the church to. You will find a modern shopping area, a few new hotels, and some places to eat. If you have a car, it doesn’t really matter which part of the city you stay in, to be honest.
And the last area I highlight is Jukkasjärvi. This is a small Sámi village about 19 kilometers (12 miles) outside of Kiruna. You will find the world-famous Ice Hotel and the Sámi-owned Reindeer Lodge here. I have been to the Ice Hotel twice and the Reindeer Lodge three times, two of which were overnight stays.
Since there is a limited number of hotels in Kiruna, you will need to book them immediately upon planning your trip. I have stayed in several hotels in the city throughout my trips because I didn’t book early and was left having to hotel-hop. This mostly pertains to those visiting Kiruna in winter.
Areas of Abisko and Kiruna (On a Map!)
How To Use This Map
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Where to Stay in Kiruna (With Details)
Camp Ripan
Camp Ripan was my favorite stay in the Kiruna city center. This hotel and min-resort has small row-house accommodation and a large lodge where you can hang out, grab a bite to eat, or buy local goods. While the accommodation is a little no-frills (but good!), the lodge, sauna, and nature trails are what made the experience epic for me!
Camp Ripan’s on-site restaurant is also really good and one I recommend eating at regardless of whether or not you’re staying at their property! In the evenings, they have a tasting menu that highlights local cultures and Arctic lifestyle… and all done in a sustainable way (they have won sustainability awards).
Despite having already stayed at Camp Ripan, I will stay there again and again (and eat there every time I am in Kiruna).
Scandic Kiruna
Scandic Kiruna is located in the newer city area and is a short walk from the newly relocated Kiruna Church. A Scandic is a Scandic (I mean that in a positive way!). You get a fantastic breakfast, modern rooms, and all the amenities for a cozy stay. There are 231 rooms and a sky bar, which gives you a view over the stunning landscapes surrounding Kiruna.
Another perk of the Scandic Kiruna is that it’s located in a pedestrian area with plenty of shops, cafes, bars, and restaurants.
Elite Hotel Frost Kiruna
Opened in May 2025, Elite Hotel Frost is a new addition to the Kiruna accommodation scene. And… it is my new favorite place to stay in town. Part of the Elite Hotels Group in Sweden, this is easily the most luxurious option available currently in Kiruna and one I highly recommend to those visiting.
It is located in the new Kiruna city center (close to shops, bars, and restaurants) and the rooms are cozy while maintaining an upscale vibe. They have an in-house restaurant (Restaurant Fe) that I haven’t eaten at yet, as well as a spa and skybar (where I saw the aurora faintly one night).
Their breakfast is one of the best breakfasts I have eaten anywhere in Scandinavia. Just trust me on this one. They have 154 rooms that are designed to reflect the city’s history and nature. And the staff was so inviting.
I love to test new places so that I can put them in this guide, but it is going to be hard not to want to book a stay at Elite Hotel every time I find myself in Kiruna.
Husky Lodge
Husky Lodge was the first place I stayed in Kiruna back in the day! I only spent one night there, but it was a blast and getting to meet all the dogs in the morning was something I loved! This property does not appear to be promoting itself anymore across various platforms so I am not sure if accommodation is limited or what is going on, but it does say they are offering glamping opportunities.
I stayed at their lodge in a small room, but I would definitely be up for one of their glamping tents in the future. You can learn more on their website or inquire about what they have available directly with them.
Where to Stay in Jukkasjärvi (With Details)
ICEHOTEL
The ICEHOTEL is what made Jukkasjärvi so famous with foreign tourists. This is the first ice hotel and a MUST if you’re in the Kiruna area (at any time of the year). And one thing that makes the ICEHOTEL unique is that it offers different styles of accommodation.
You will have ice rooms… both basic ones and art suites. There are rooms available year-round, but more during the winter months. Thankfully, they also have some warmer rooms available! You’ll find a variety of warm hotel rooms and cabins on-site.
The ICEHOTEL is a pricier stay and not for those on a budget (during the wintertime). But fortunately, you can still visit and enjoy the experience without an overnight stay!
Reindeer Lodge
I first visited the Reindeer Lodge during the winter and then I finally stayed there in summer. And I loved it so much I stayed there again in autumn! You can read my full review of the Reindeer Lodge here.
At the Reindeer Lodge, you have three different accommodation options available: a Lávvu (tent), Goahti (half-tent, half-cabin), and a Stohpu (a wilderness cabin). I have stayed in a Goahti and a Stohpu. I preferred the Stohpu. And yes, as the name suggests, there are a lot of reindeer on-site during the winter months!
While I loved my stay at the Reindeer Lodge, please know that the price increases astronomically during the winter months. This is a Sámi-owned accommodation, so I wouldn’t mind paying for it, but you will find cheaper places in the Kiruna area if you’re on a budget.
Aurora River Camp
Okay, so the Aurora River Camp is technically not in Jukkasjärvi but across the river in
Poikkijärvi, but it is still outside the city slightly.
If it is your dream to stay in a glass igloo, this is your opportunity! They offer two glass igloos, an apartment, and two other cabins. The glass igloos include breakfast, sauna sessions, and even a transfer out to the property.
I haven’t had a chance to stay here (and probably won’t, only because I have stayed in so many glass igloos in Finland), but staying in one of these unique accommodations is truly a bucket list experience and this one in Poikkijärvi is removed from light pollution, giving you a pretty solid chance of seeing the northern lights!
Reindeer Riverfront Aurora Lodge
I haven’t had a chance to stay at the Reindeer Riverfront Aurora Lodge, but I am hoping to do it next time I am out in the area. This is a spacious aurora villa that has two bedrooms and a bathroom. It sits slightly outside of Kiruna on the way to Jukkasjärvi (hence why I listed it here). There are huge windows, an outdoor fireplace, and on-site parking. You will also have a fully-equipped kitchen so you can do some cooking while there.
The reason I am so drawn to the villa is that it is wooden and has a modern rustic vibe to it. It is also not astronomically priced. I will update this once I finally get a chance to stay there!
Where to Stay in Abisko (& Björkliden)
I have a separate guide highlighting all of the places below, but here is a quick list of my favorite places to stay in Abisko and Björkliden:
- Abisko Mountain Lodge (one of the top places to stay in Abisko; has an amazing on-site restaurant!)
- STF Abisko Turiststation (located right in the park and has a variety of accommodation, including dorms)
- Abisko Guesthouse & Activities (located in Abisko village and also offers activities)\
- Hotell Fjället (a ski-in, ski-out hotel in Björkliden)
Do you have any questions about where to stay in Kiruna? Let me know in the comments, or you can send me a message to chat further. Thanks!
