5 Best Winter Activities to do in Swedish Lapland

Last updated on November 22nd, 2022 at 01:15 pm

Winter is an incredible time to visit the Polar North. I think the first thing that comes immediately to the minds of many people is the excitement and wonder of witnessing the northern lights for oneself. I won’t lie, this has been a major bucket list item for both my husband and me. But, there are many other unique activities that are available exclusively during the winter months. So, if meeting the reindeer, or going for a dog sled ride, or seeing one of the most extraordinary hotels in the world sounds interesting to you, then keep reading! In this post, I cover some of the best activities to do in Swedish Lapland during your winter visit.

Disclaimer: Be sure to check COVID related entry requirements for Sweden as well as any activities you wish to participated in before booking any part of your journey!

What is Swedish Lapland?

Lapland (know as Sápmi to the Sami people) is a region of Europe which stretches from Norway, across Sweden and Finland, and all the way to the Kola Peninsula of Russia. It a northern region which mostly falls within the Arctic Circle. Swedish Lapland is specifically the portion of this region which falls within the Swedish boarders. Here, you will discover an extraordinary winter wonderland full of activities.

5 Reasons Why I Recommend Staying in Kiruna, Sweden

• Kiruna is a mining town which is the northernmost town in Sweden. Since it’s a town, there are a few shops, restaurants, and other comforts that many people look for when traveling.

• There is an airport here, which makes it a lot easier to get to compared to other northern options.

• Kiruna is known for its clear skies in winter, which makes it easier to see the northern lights.

• The people are incredibly friendly and helpful.

• There are so many winter activities, you will never be at a loss for something to do. Even after 2.5 days jam packed with adventures, I would have loved to stay even longer!

Where to Stay in Kiruna?

To find out more about my recommendations for Kiruna, including where to stay, check out my post: Visit Kiruna, Sweden, the Most Enchanting Winter Destination in Europe

#1 Winter Activity in Swedish Lapland: Encounter the Reindeer

My absolute favorite of the winter activities we did in Lapland was the RÁIDU Reindeer Encounter. We booked our experience through Nutti Sami Siida which is a company that focuses on sharing the Sámi way of life. A big take away from our experience was just how integral the reindeer still are to the indigenous people today. They have such deep love and connection to these beautiful animals. For many Sámi people, their lives still revolve around the reindeer. As reindeer herders, they feel a special responsibility to care for and protect these beautiful animals. I personally feel honored to have had a chance to experience this for myself.

What to Expect

Our own personal encounter with the reindeer began with a snowmobile ride through magical, snow-laden forests. Then, we arrived at the reindeer lodge where we got to meet, feed, and pet the reindeer. After the initial introductions and stories of how the reindeer got their names, our guides hitched the reindeer to sleds similar to the ones which were used for transporting goods and people.

It was a wild ride getting to race around the prepared track (although at times the reindeer liked to take their own sweet time :P). Our experience ended with a chance to warm up in a Lavvu (traditional Sámi tent) and eat a delicious traditional meal of reindeer meat wrapped in a flat bread called suovas. It was also a meaningful opportunity to speak with our guides about their way of life and relationship with the reindeer. It is an experience I will never forget!

Booking Your Reindeer Encounter

If you are interested in booking a reindeer encounter, I highly recommend choosing Nutti Sámi Siida. You can do this on their website as well as explore their other winter activities in Lapland. These other excursions include: spending the night at their Reindeer Lodge cabins, an Open-Air Sámi cultural museum (which I discuss below), and their Sámi Cafe!

#2 Winter Activity in Swedish Lapland: Dog Sledding

My first experience with dog sledding was actually in Alaska quite a few years ago now. My whole family agrees that it was one of our favorite experiences; not just on that trip but including the other trips we took as I was growing up. So of course, I knew that dog sled tour would be a fantastic winter activity for my husband and I during our stay in Lapland.

What to Expect

There are many dog sled tours available within this region and they offer tours at all times of the day and night. I personally chose our tour because it was an evening tour and the forecast showed we were supposed to have clear skies. I had really hoped that we would get to see the northern lights as we glided across the snow. Unfortunately, when the time came, the sky turned out to be overcast for us.

Nevertheless, the adventure was not disappointing at all! Shortly after arrival, we got to help the guide harness the huskies and hook them up to the sled! This was quite an exciting experience as it was obvious that the dogs were excited to go. There was lots of barking and a sense of anticipation for the excursion. Once everyone was in place, we got on the sled and took off. It was a ride I will never forget.

The path took us out into the wilderness where frozen trees and plants, coated with frost, glittered in the light of our guide’s headlamp. It was quiet and peaceful aside from the sled creaking across the snow and the dogs ahead of us. The huskies seemed so excited to be at work in the cold and I enjoyed watching their joy as they pulled us along. We made one stop along the way in a tent where we were served coffee, tea, and a sweet cake. After that, a quick ride back to the husky lodge marked the end of our journey. This mix of the cold, peaceful nature, the dogs, and the warm Sámi tent, made this one of the most magical winter activities we did in Swedish Lapland.

Booking Your Dog Sled Experience

There are a number of options for booking a sled dog experience in Kiruna. We personally went with Kiruna Sled Dogs, and we were happy with our trip. The only thing I wished was that our guides had told us more about the dogs, their personalities, and more about the process of training them to work as a team. You can also check out other dog sledding options from this list.

#3 Activity in Swedish Lapland: Nature Photography Tour

Kiruna, Sweden is the most northern town in Sweden. As such, it is quite small and it does not take long to leave the evidences of mankind behind and encounter the unique and unusual wildlife that lives here. Of course, you can rent a car and drive around to look for animals, but we found so much value in having a guide take us around.

To be honest, our Sámi guide was what made this such a memorable winter activities in Swedish Lapland. Her knowledge as a photographer as well as her willingness to share openly about her cultural made it seem extra special.

What to Expect

As a part of the photography tour, Canon DSLR cameras were provided for us. I chose to bring my Nikon with me as well. I had just bought a new wide angle lens and I was really excited to try it out. Not only did our guide help us learn the Canon cameras, she also showed me some cool things that I could do with my own camera and new lens. I will add that my husband and I happened to be the only two people on the tour. I don’t imagine this is always a possibility. But, it certainly made our experience more personalized.

She also shared with us about the struggles of the Sámi people. In past years, racism caused the people to begin to detach from their traditional ways of being and even their language. Now, there is a push to regain the cultural identity, values, and language. There is also a struggle to gain land rights to the area they have inhabited for centuries. Recently the Girjas Sámi district had a huge political win and they now have exclusive rights to the hunting and fishing in their district. Time will tell whether or not other districts will also gain these rights.

Finally, she also share about the struggles that are occurring as a result of global warming. Since the weather in the polar north is not staying as cold during the winter, the snow melts and then refreezes as an icy layer. The reindeer and moose are unable to break through this layer with their hooves and it makes it difficult for them to get to the lichen under the snow. This is their main source of food during the winter and the herds have had a lot of issues. Of course, this also impacts the livelihood of the Sámi reindeer herders.

Booking Your Nature Photography Tour Experience

We booked our tour through Scandinavian Photo Adventures and I cannot recommend them enough. On their website, you can book this tour or explore the other winter activities that they offer in Lapland. Personally, I really wanted to go on the Sámi survival tour that they offer, but it was all booked out. I guess I will just have to go back someday!! 😀

#4 Activity in Swedish Lapland: Visit the famous ICEHOTEL

One of the coolest (pun 100% intended) places we got to visit in Swedish Lapland was the IceHotel in Jukkasjärvi. Rebuilt each year from ice which is carved out of the Tome River, it is a work of art. Sadly, it melts each year, but this offers a chance for dozens of new artists to come in and create something new and inspiring. With its first opening in 1989, IceHotel became a one of a kind attraction for people to experience. This year, 2021, marks IceHotel’s 32nd year of operation.

While we were not able spend the night here, that is fortunately not a requirement for experiencing this masterpiece. The exquisite attention to detail was unbelievable. Although I have tried to edit these photos to bring it out, I still feel like they pale in comparison to the actual place.

My personal favorite room was, of course, the Raindrop Prelude room. Having learned this enchanting Chopin prelude in 2020, I felt a certain sentimentality when seeing the notes I know so well etched into the ice. Another particularly beautiful room was the Midsummer’s Nights Dream room which features wild flowers frozen into the ice.

Experiencing IceHotel

As I mentioned, there is no obligation to stay at IceHotel in order to visit it. If you are not planning to spend the night at IceHotel, you can learn more about ticket prices and hours of operation from their official website.

As of the writing of this post, exhibitions are open daily from 10am-6pm between the months of December-April. There is also a portion of the hotel which is preserved during the warmer months. It is known as the Experience room and it can be viewed year round. To learn more about it, click here.

How to Get From Kiruna in IceHotel

I you are combining your visit with IceHotel and Nutti Sami Siida, then it is about a 15 minute walk from Nutti Sami Siida to the hotel.

If you are coming directly from Kiruna, you will want to take the Bus 501 to Jukkasjärvi IceHotel. You can find the most up to date schedule on this website. Please note that there are multiple stops in Kiruna, so you will need to determine which one is the most convenient to your hotel.

This specific schedule is valid from 2021-08-23 to 2022-06-19.

5. Explore the Sámi Culture at Nutti Sámi Siida

This small, but informative Open Air Museum, you can learn all about the Sámi culture. There are multiple displays depicting tools, clothing, examples of sleds and examples of the nomadic shelters which were used. Information boards expand on all kinds of topics. These include the 8 seasons the Sámi people have, their religious and cultural beliefs, the unique style of song called Jojk, and more. There are also reindeer and for an extra fee you can buy some lichen to feed the reindeer. Even if you don’t buy any lichen, you can still enter the enclosure and take photos. After exploring the museum, you can enjoy a treat in their cafe and check out the locally made handmade crafts in their shop.

How to Get to Nutti Sámi Siida from Kiruna

You will want to take Bus number 501 from Kiruna to Jukkasjärvi Kyrkan. You can find the most up to date schedule on this website. Please note that there are multiple stops in Kiruna, so you will need to determine which one is the most convenient to your hotel.

Pro Tip: If you are planning to visit both Nutti Sámi Siida and IceHotel on the same day, I recommend stopping in at Nutti Sámi Siida first. From there, it is a 15 minute walk to the IceHotel and you can take the bus back to Kiruna from the Jukkasjärvi IceHotel bus stop.

In Conclusion

I hope that this post has inspired you to explore all the different winter activities in Swedish Lapland! It is a beautiful place and there are so many ways to interact with and appreciate the beauty and history there.

Happy Travels,
<3 Christine

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