Kiruna City Tour: Guided minivan through mining city

How a city moved three kilometers to survive the mine beneath it

A guided minivan tour of Kiruna, Sweden, exploring the city's transformation as it relocates away from underground mining subsidence. The tour visits the LKAB Visitor Centre on Luossavaara mountain, the new modernist City Hall (Kristallen), a mining museum, and either the relocated Kiruna Church or the 400-year-old Jukkasjärvi Church depending on opening status. An English-speaking guide leads the 2.5-hour route in an air-conditioned vehicle. Children from age 13 are welcome. Younger children require a private tour arrangement.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Kiruna's history and landmarks

• Visit Luossavaara mountain
• Tour Kiruna City Hall buildings
• Learn about Kiruna city relocation
• Explore mining founders museum
• Visit Kiruna Church or Jukkasjärvi Church

The experience

Kiruna is not a typical city tour. The entire urban center has been moving three kilometers east since 2018 to escape ground deformations caused by the LKAB iron ore mine operating underneath. This minivan tour follows that story: you visit Luossavaara, the 724-meter mountain that was once an open-pit mine and now hosts the LKAB Visitor Centre, where the mining history and the decision to relocate are explained. From there, the guide takes you through the new city center to see Kristallen, the striking City Hall designed by Danish architect Henning Larsen and opened by King Carl XVI Gustaf in 2018, which replaced the original modernist building from 1963 that had to close due to mining subsidence.

The tour includes a stop at the mining founders museum to explore Kiruna's foundation as a planned industrial city built in 1900. Then you visit a church: either the Kiruna Church, which was relocated to the new city and is undergoing restoration, or the Jukkasjärvi Church, a wooden block-pillar church built in 1607–1608 in Swedish Lapland, depending on which is open on your tour date. Jukkasjärvi's red exterior and interior Sámi and Torneedalian artwork date back centuries, with a major rebuild in 1726 and a bell tower added in the 1740s. The entire route is covered in an air-conditioned minivan with a live English-speaking guide.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned minivan transport.
• live English-speaking guide.
• entry to the LKAB Visitor Centre on Luossavaara.
• visits to the new City Hall (Kristallen), the mining founders museum, and either Kiruna Church or Jukkasjärvi Church depending on opening status.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDepartures at 09:00, 09:30 and 13:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Under 13: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Kiruna private guides

Is this one for you?Book this shared minivan if you want a set itinerary with other travelers. Choose a private tour instead if you need to control your own pace or pick your travel dates.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years). Children under 13 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the LKAB Visitor Centre and what will I see there?

The LKAB Visitor Centre sits on Luossavaara mountain, a 724-meter peak that was an open-pit iron ore mine until the late 20th century. The centre explains Kiruna's mining heritage and the reasons behind the city's relocation away from the underground mines causing ground subsidence.

Why did Kiruna move, and when did the new city center open?

Kiruna relocated three kilometers east starting in 2004 because underground mining caused cracking and sinking in the old city center. The new city center, marked by the opening of Kristallen (the new City Hall) on September 1, 2022, preserves the city's heritage by relocating over 30 historic buildings rather than demolishing them.

Will I see the Kiruna Church on this tour?

The Kiruna Church, a 1,200-ton structure relocated to the new city, is included if it is open during your tour date. If the church is closed for restoration, the tour visits the Jukkasjärvi Church instead, a 400-year-old wooden church in nearby Jukkasjärvi Village that inspired the architectural style of Kiruna's older buildings.

What is Jukkasjärvi Church like if we visit it instead?

Jukkasjärvi Church is the oldest preserved wooden church in Swedish Lapland, built in 1607–1608 with a striking red exterior. Inside, it features Sámi and Torneedalian artwork and a teak triptych altarpiece. A major rebuild in 1726 and bell tower added in the 1740s shaped its current form.

How long is the tour and what is included?

The tour runs 2.5 hours and includes air-conditioned minivan transport and a live guide speaking English. The guide leads you through all stops and provides historical context about the city, mining, and relocated buildings.

Are there age restrictions for this tour?

Children from age 13 are welcome on the standard tour. Younger children require a private tour arrangement. Contact the operator to discuss options.