Kiruna

Perhaps summer and swimming isn't what first springs to mind when you think of Swedish Lapland. But, in fact, there are plenty of cool beaches and places to go for a swim – thanks to the inland ice.

• Nature,

Two friends with a shared love for the Arctic lifestyle, both creative souls and designers, decided to share their love and designs with others. They collected their personal favourites from designers around Swedish Lapland in a small shop, which became a web shop, and now it wants to be even more.

• People,

Verandan – the Veranda – is the new fine-dining restaurant at Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi. The food here takes you on a 12-course, exciting and flavourful trip, all overseen by the charismatic chef Alexander Meier.

• Food,
• Places,

Spring-winter has finally arrived to Swedish Lapland! All mountain cabins along the distance Abisko to Nikkaluokta, on the King's Trail is now open.

• Adventure,

People who have visited Riksgränsen during these last 20 years or so are familiar with "Strumpan" and "Jossi". One of them used to run the piste machine and is now a mountain guide. The other one used to run moguls and has become Sweden's most famous sommelier. These days they run a hotel together.

• Places,

Weddings. They can be lavish, intimate, fun, boring, and all of the above. No wedding is alike, as no people are alike. Some like barefoot weddings on beaches, some prefer getting married in a church made of ice and snow - 200 km above the Arctic Circle in Swedish Lapland.

• Bucket list,
• Places,

The world-famous ICEHOTEL outside Kiruna was initially just a crazy idea for the winter. These days it's just as crazy – but all year round.

• Bucket list,
• Places,

Many think autumn is the most beautiful time of year in Swedish Lapland. It's as if Earth itself grants a generous firework display of colour before the winter sleep settles over the Arctic landscape. And it's easy to capture the show with a camera on standby. These are five simple tips for capturing autumn in a photo.

• Nature,

Are you en route to Swedish Lapland, wondering what souvenirs to shop for? We've listed some helpful tips for you.

• Lifestyle,

Autumn… It can be really boring… and dreary… and just… just wonderful! Autumn is so immediate; it makes its first appearance after a chilly night and then moves on at full speed. Its colours and clear air must be experienced in the same immediate way: right now!

• Adventure,

There are a lot of great climbing routes in the Kebnekaise massif. Pick a route based on knowledge and experience, or on what you feel like doing. One of the most well-known routes is the 'Silhouette' on Duolbagorni. A 1,000-metre wall. We'll choose a different route for today.

• Adventure,

Trail runners, here are the most challenging trail running races taking place in Swedish Lapland this summer!

• Bucket list,

The Midnight Sun. The feeling of never having to face tomorrow, just keep having fun and enjoy the never-ending day, is absolutely wonderful. But. Those who depend on their beauty sleep will face certain challenges.

• Lifestyle,
• Nature,

It is really true that anyone can walk around the forests and beaches of Swedish Lapland? Pick berries and pitch a tent anywhere? Yep, that's exactly what it's like in the democratic forest.

• Lifestyle,
• Nature,

That Swedes have their fika (coffee and a snack), and that they drink lots of coffee, are well-known facts. But what's the thing about having it outdoors? What's the deal with boiled coffee?

• Food,
• Lifestyle,

National parks are areas featuring a certain type of landscape, protected to preserve their natural condition. It's about creating opportunities to experience nature. Swedish Lapland has the most, the oldest and the largest national parks in Sweden.

• Nature,

Photographer Mattias Fredriksson started out as a cleaner at Hotel Riksgränsen. Then he picked up a camera. Today he's the most published skiing photographer in the world, still with a soft spot for the old mountain hotel in his heart.

• Lifestyle,

It’s mid-March and people are gathering on the frozen Torne River in Jukkasjärvi. Behind us, the world-famed ICEHOTEL. But our eyes are fixated on the tractors hoisting up giant blocks of ice from the river. We’re looking at the next year’s hotel, yet to be carved out from the crystal clear ice. It’s harvest time.

• Places,

The author and fly fisherman Gunnar Westrin feels most at home in the most barren of landscapes. This is how Sandåslandet north of Kiruna became one of his retreats in life.

• Lifestyle,

Last year, in February, three of the world's greatest freeskiers, Reine Barkered, Aurelien Ducroz and Jackie Paaso, went to Björkliden to see the northern lights and do some skiing. I called up Reine to ask how their trip went. And some other stuff too.

• Adventure,

Our home, Swedish Lapland, has been formed by the Ice Age, the seasons and the reindeer. And we, too, have lived our lives in the shadow of the forces of nature.

• Culture,
• Lifestyle,
• Nature,

Shimmery and magical. The dance of the Northern Lights are a spectacular sight that we frequently enjoy in Swedish Lapland. Viewing the Aurora Borealis is both a jaw-dropping and mystical experience. But what time of year is the best time to see them?

• Bucket list,
• Nature,

I'm travelling to Swedish Lapland this winter, how should I dress for the cold climate? Check out this guide for dressing for winter in Swedish Lapland.

• Lifestyle,

Sámi design comes in many shapes. From traditional leather hats to a blue dress at the Nobel Banquet. Some of Sweden's coolest designers have taken the Sámi expression further – to put some excitement into everyday life.

• Culture,

The town transformation in Kiruna has received attention in Sweden as well as internationally – never before has such a large community been transformed. The reason is that mining has caused subsidence which affects the town, and parts of Kiruna have to be rebuilt elsewhere, on new ground.

• Lifestyle,
• Places,

Are you a fan of cooking shows on TV? So is Maria, a food enthusiast from Swedish Lapland, who finally got a chance to participate behind the scenes. That's what Chef's Table at Icehotel is all about – inviting the guest into the kitchen.

Johanna hasn't ridden a horse for 13 years; Carl-Johan has never sat on a horse in his life. Follow them on a horseback tour through the Kiruna mountains with the guide Kerstin from Ofelaš Icelandic Horses, a Sami company certified by Nature's Best.

• Adventure,
• Nature,

Galileo Galilei gave the northern lights their Latin name Aurora Borealis. A fitting description, to say the least.

• Nature,

The season with the midnight light is around 100 days long. You play golf in the middle of the night, you take a swim when you feel like it and those who have never experienced the midnight light before wonder how they'll ever manage to sleep. But then you make your mind up not to worry about sleep and decide it's time for further adventures. Even more summer.

• Lifestyle,

The most common way to experience King’s Trail (Kungsleden) is walking or skiing in a comfortable pace. But there are other ways – come along on an up-tempo journey through the scenic mountains of Swedish Lapland when Krissy, Luke and Fredrik takes on the challenge of spending a week running along this famous trail.

• Adventure,

In Sámi it's called Geargevággi, which translates to Stone Valley in English. But in real life, it might as well be a fairytale.

• Adventure,

When Agata Mieczko from Italy first heard about the King's Trail, she knew she had to walk it. It turned out be a life-changing experience.

• Adventure,

A group of (kind of) ordinary people embarked on a 300 km journey over the Arctic tundra on dog sleds and we set out to meet them by the finish line. Just to find out - How was it?

• Adventure,

The Arctic climate calls for certain innovations to master the art of ice fishing. To close a door on the cold, be comfortable and catch a fish you sometimes need a whole house. But inside the house things are as they should: the smell of coffee on the stove, newly-baked cinnamon buns and today's latest gossip.

• Lifestyle,

Snow is something more than frozen water to the Sami people. It's a way of expressing the foundation of their existence – the migration of the reindeer. To a skier snow is also more than snow. It's the way you experience life.

• Nature,

When the rest of Sweden prepare for spring, Björkliden and Riksgränsen open for the winter season. Håkan Stenlund goes north, to the playground of the fanatics.

• Adventure,

The train from Kiruna, via Abisko, Björkliden, Låktatjåkko, to Riksgränsen isn't just a beautiful journey. If it's done right it can also be a culinary hit.

• Food,

Patrik Strömsten, perhaps the best sommelier in Sweden, lives highest up and furthest away in Sweden. He loves skiing and life. Maybe that’s why he’s got such a keen nose for wine.

• Food,

One thousand, two hundred and twenty-eight metres above sea level is where you find Sweden’s highest mountain station: Låktatjåkko. It takes you a couple of hours to walk there from Björkliden and half-way is probably where you’ll start craving the waffles.

• Places,

Most of you probably heard about ICEHOTEL – right? And the next question that might pop into your mind is: What happens to it during summer? Since it’s made of ice, it naturally melts away and once again becomes a part of the Torne River. But there’s more to the story.

• Culture,

The sun literally doesn’t set, you simply get more hours of fun into your day. And if you’re into photography the light during hundred days without night will pose both new challenges and help you evolve.

• Nature,

Are you curious of what kind of plants that grow in the harsh mountain climate? Ever wondered what that cute, white flower is called that you passed several times on your hike? Göran Wallin gives you a quick guide to the flora of the Swedish Lapland mountains.

• Nature,

Abisko National Park in Swedish Lapland offers perhaps some of the best conditions in the world for Northern Lights. The surrounding mountains keep the skies almost clear and the light pollution is next to nothing. No wonder Lonely Planet dubbed Abisko the world’s most illuminating experience of 2015.

• Bucket list,
• Places,

So you’ve skied them all, you know your thrills and you think what else? Don’t take my word for it; heliskiing in Swedish Lapland need to be on your bucket list. Cold powder far into the season and even the option of trying it under the midnight sun. Here’s a taste of what you might expect.

• Adventure,

There is a wind of change blowing through Sápmi, culminating in the first ever Sápmi Pride festival in Kiruna this weekend. Gathering hundreds of people in a colourful parade along the city streets, manifesting the right to be Sámi and queer. But getting to this day has been a four year long walk.

• Culture,
• Lifestyle,
• People,

Being outdoors is a natural part of the arctic lifestyle, and during winter – skiing is the way to go. Pro or beginner, Swedish Lapland offers it all. You just need to find your flavour among our resorts. Here is our top five for downhill skiing like a champ!

• Adventure,
• Places,

How to make the most of the autumn in Swedish Lapland as a biking nerd. Follow Olov and his friends on a epic downhill biking adventure in Björkliden and Abisko, where the scenery leaves them astounded.

• Adventure,
• Lifestyle,

Many towns, mountains, rivers in Swedish Lapland bear the names given to them by the Sámi people, usually describing their characteristics. When reading a map of Swedish Lapland, knowing the meaning of some Sámi words adds another, fascinating dimension to the landscape.

• Culture,
• Nature,

King's Trail or Kungsleden, is Sweden's longest and most famous trail, and mostly frequented during summer, but it's an equally exiting adventure by skis during winter. Göran Wallin, keen outdoor enthusiasts, gives us the insides to this great trail through the mountains of Swedish Lapland

• Adventure,
• Bucket list,
• Nature,

Olov, a true biking enthusiast packed his bike and went up the mountains, took a dip in the Atlantic ocean and rode along the sandy beaches on the islands of Swedish Lapland. And he brought a friend – Kevin. Let's play 'Have you met Kevin?'

• Adventure,
• People,

Hiking is multidimensional. It offers something for your mind, and your body. If you hike along the King’s Trail in northernmost Swedish Lapland, you’ll see some of the most beautiful things Sweden has to offer. But good people, remember to be safe. You are, after all, in the Arctic.

• Adventure,

My relationship with Kebnekaise was established long before I saw her in real life. I'm a bit uncertain as to whether it's right to assign a gender to a mountain or not. But the Kebnekaise I first got to know was a woman, that’s for sure.

• Adventure,
• Bucket list,

A little over five years ago, photographer Chad Blakley and his wife moved to Abisko National Park to take on seasonal summer jobs, but quickly fell in love with the breath-taking landscape and warm people of Swedish Lapland.

• Lifestyle,
• People,
• Places,

It takes no little amount of courage to commit to spending a night on ice. Some have already planned a spot on the mantelpiece for the diploma that says you survived a night in minus five before boarding the plane to Kiruna. Others are more hesitant about the idea to sleep in a hotel made of ice and snow.

• Bucket list,
• Places,

ICEHOTEL has been reincarnated in a new rendition every winter for the last 27 seasons and there's more to come. First, let's take a walk down memory lane to find out how this frozen art project came about.

• Bucket list,
• Places,

The resort Riksgränsen is situated on the border of Sweden and Norway — just as the name in Swedish suggests. This is the last outpost and when the blizzards reign, also where the road ends. Nevertheless, the train stop is less than one hundred metres from the hotel and the base station of the ski lifts.

• Adventure,
• Nature,
• Places,

It is virtually impossible to correctly describe the sensation of the Northern Lights, the Aurora Borealis. The magnificence of the oscillating lights in varying shapes and forms dancing across the sky is best experienced first-hand.

• Nature,

In the springtime, the water level in the forestland rivers of Swedish Lapland is perfect for white water rafting. The mountain area rivers follow a few weeks later. Experience a wet and adrenaline-filled adventure that will make you laugh and scream.

• Adventure,