Kiruna

The Jukkasjärvi Icehotel is a breathtaking feat of ephemeral architecture, rebuilt every winter from the frozen waters of the Torne River. Located 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, it is the world’s first and most famous ice hotel, drawing intrepid travelers into a sub-zero wonderland of crystalline artistry. Each year, international artists are invited to sculpt unique ‘Art Suites’ from river ice, transforming the hotel into a transient gallery of frozen light and shadow. Beyond the stunning visual spectacle, the experience is deeply sensory: guests sleep on beds of ice and reindeer hides, warmed by high-tech sleeping bags, while the surrounding landscape offers world-class Northern Lights viewing and husky sledding. It is a bucket-list destination that captures the raw, magical essence of the Swedish Lapland winter.

In the far north of Swedish Lapland, where winter nights stretch for months and the Northern Lights dance across the sky, Kiruna Church stands as a beacon of warmth and community. Built in 1912, this wooden masterpiece is often called “Sweden’s most beautiful church,” and it’s easy to see why: its red-painted clapboard exterior, with a steeply pitched roof and slender spire, evokes both a traditional stave church and a Sami lavvu (tent). Inside, the nave is a symphony of pine and light, with carved altarpieces, delicate chandeliers, and a ceiling painted in soft blues and golds that seem to echo the aurora borealis. The church was designed by Gustaf Wickman, who also planned the town of Kiruna, and its construction was funded by the local mining company, LKAB—a testament to the community’s resilience in this harsh, beautiful landscape. The surrounding cemetery, with its simple wooden crosses, is a poignant reminder of the lives shaped by the iron ore mines that have defined Kiruna for over a century. Today, the church is not just a place of worship; it’s a cultural landmark, hosting concerts and events that draw visitors from around the world. And as Kiruna itself slowly relocates due to mining subsidence, the church’s future is uncertain—making a visit now all the more urgent.