The mine is the reason Kiruna exists, and visiting it is the best way to grasp the scale of the town's story. The guided tour starts at the tourist centre in town, where a bus takes you to the LKAB Visitor Centre and into the mining area. The guide explains how iron ore has been extracted from this mountain for more than a century, how the operation grew from open pit to deep underground workings and how the mine shaped the community's economy and landscape. The tour includes a coffee break, which in Sweden is a social ritual as much as a refreshment. It is a chance to ask questions about mining, the town's relocation and the technology involved. Tours run throughout the year, with times and languages varying by season, and they are popular, so booking ahead is sensible. Many visitors are surprised by the size of the machinery and the sheer depth of the workings, and by how interesting an industrial site can be when it is explained well.
How it works
You check in at the Kiruna Tourist Center on Malmvägen about fifteen minutes before departure and board the bus with your guide. The tour visits the mining area and the visitor centre, with commentary on the way. The whole visit lasts about three hours, including a coffee break.
What to know
Tour times, languages and days differ by season, so check the schedule before you plan your day. Wear sturdy shoes and warm clothing, since parts of the visit may be outdoors or in cool buildings. The tourist centre does not have toilets, so use the facilities nearby before the tour starts. Safety rules apply on the mine site, and you will follow the guide's instructions closely.
The mine
LKAB, the state-owned mining company, extracts magnetite iron ore from the Kiirunavaara mountain. The ore body is huge, and the mine continues to deepen, which is the cause of the ground movement beneath the town. The company has funded much of the relocation, and the story of the move is part of the tour.
Why choose it
The mine visit complements the city tour, the church and the Sámi museum, and it gives you a view of the working side of northern Sweden. It is also a good indoor-leaning activity for days when the weather is poor.
Pairing
Schedule the mine in the morning and a minivan city tour or a church visit in the afternoon. In the evening, an aurora tour restores the sense of wilderness.
Extra context
Kiruna's ore body runs for kilometres under the mountain, and the mining company works at depths of well over a thousand metres below the original surface. Ore is crushed, transported by rail to Narvik in Norway or to Luleå in Sweden, and shipped to steelworks around the world. For the town, mining has meant jobs, housing and public services, but also noise, dust and subsidence.
The guide can explain how these trade-offs are weighed, and how the company and the municipality plan for the future. Allow time for questions, and take the opportunity to see photographs and displays at the visitor centre that illustrate the work underground. Allow a little time before or after the tour for the shops and cafes near the tourist centre.
What to expect
The experience
A guided bus tour to the LKAB Visitor Centre and mine area with a coffee break, starting at the Kiruna Tourist Center.
Best time
Any season, with schedules varying by time of year.
How long
About three hours.
Tips
Check in fifteen minutes early, wear sturdy shoes and use the toilet before departure.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Curious visitors who want to see how Kiruna works.
- Families
- Suitable for older children interested in machines and history.
- Couples
- A thought-provoking half-day.
- Pair with
- The city tour or the church.
- Time needed
- Half a day.
Good questions
Where does the tour start?+
At the Kiruna Tourist Center on Malmvägen, with check-in about fifteen minutes before departure.
How long is it?+
About three hours.
Is it available all year?+
Yes, tours run throughout the year, with times and languages varying by season.
Is a coffee break included?+
Yes.
Is there a toilet at the tourist centre?+
No, the nearest is in a nearby shopping gallery, so plan ahead.