We're open today till 5:30 PM 020 8568 4499 020 8568 4499

Get in touch

Sun, sea, savings! Book your summer escape today (including £100 child reductions).

Is Kiruna in Sweden really the world’s largest city?

Dog sledding in Kiruna

Ask people to name the world’s largest city and you may get many different answers. Tokyo, Shanghai, Mexico City and Manila may come up frequently in the list of global mega-cities but I suspect few people will think of Kiruna, an unremarkable Swedish town 90 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

Things to do in Kiruna when you’re cold

Kiruna is a popular place for visitors to come and enjoy the delights of an Arctic winter. Wrapped up under warm blankets you can take a dog sled tour and learn traditional survival and hunting techniques. During your ride through the snow you can even stop at a trapper’s cabin to enjoy hot drinks and snacks while listening to a guide tell stories about the huskies and the Arctic way of life.

There’s even a horse sled tour, where you head out in the winter evenings, wrapped up warm against the cold, and look out for a lucky break in the clouds to see the aurora borealis shining overhead. Talking of auroras, if you really want to see the Northern Lights in style you should treat yourself to a visit to the Abisko Sky Station, where you can enjoy a meal before sitting out under the unpolluted sky and waiting for that illusive glimpse of nature’s great spectacle.

But perhaps the best known hotel in this corner of northern Sweden is also the most popular place to visit, for residents and non-residents alike. The Icehotel idea has been copied elsewhere but this is the original version. It can’t claim to be the oldest ice hotel course, as every spring that year’s hotel disappears into the ground, while visitors in December and early January will see the finishing touches being put to the next new building. Stay in the Ice Hotel for a night if your budget allows, but even if you choose a more conventional place to sleep a visit here is a must if you are in Kiruna.

ICEHOTEL

The World’s Largest City

So back to the world’s largest city – how could Kiruna be ranked ahead of London, Los Angeles or even Sweden’s own capital Stockholm? Well, it’s population of 20,000 would need three more zeros on the end to come close to its rivals. But what it lacks in people it makes up for in size – or at least it once did. At nearly 5,000 sq km Kiruna was larger than its rivals for several decades until boundary reforms shrunk it down to a more normal size (and even stripped Kiruna of its status as a city). It does still boast the world’s largest underground iron ore mine, so perhaps the town can still maintain its claim to be a world-beating destination.

By The Sunvil Family

16^th October 2012

The Sunvil Family

Sunvil's holidays are designed by passionate travellers just like you. Our reservations experts and product teams, many of whom have been with us for many years, are passionate about our destinations and, through their personal, first-hand knowledge can answer any questions that you may have. They are well qualified to advise and recommend, based on your own holiday criteria. We can point you to those special, little-known places, some not found even in guidebooks.

Call one of our experts to discuss your next holiday with Sunvil on

020 8568 4499

We're open today till 5:30 PM

Get in touch

Enquiry
Contact us

Please use this form to request further information about a Sunvil holiday or destination.

We promise that a member of our specialist reservation teams will reply personally to your holiday enquiry before 5.30pm if received before 12.00pm (Monday to Friday). Enquiries received after 12.00pm will be replied to within 24-hours (excluding Sundays).

If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.

Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.

Greece: 020 8758 4758
Cyprus: 020 8758 4759
Portugal, the Azores, Spain, Italy, Sicily and Scandinavia: 020 8758 4722
Latin America: 020 8758 4774
Marketing: 020 8758 4731

Required Information

^* Mandatory Information

Title ^*

First name ^*

Surname ^*

Telephone number ^*

Alternative telephone number

Email address ^*

Confirm email address

Preferred method of communication ^*

Other comments:

Email newsletters

Register here to receive regular email newsletters from the Sunvil Family, and be the first to hear about our latest news, holiday inspiration, special offers, events and competitions.

You can opt-out at any time by using the unsubscribe button on our emails, by contacting us on 020 8568 4499 or by emailing data@sunvil.co.uk, and control the volume and content of the emails that you receive in our preference centre.

For full details on how we collect and process your personal data can be viewed in our privacy policy.

If your enquiry is of an urgent nature, please telephone our dedicated reservation teams on the numbers listed below.

Our lines are open from 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday-Friday and from 9.30am to 4.30pm Saturday.

Greece: 020 8758 4758
Cyprus: 020 8758 4759
Portugal, the Azores, Spain, Italy, Sicily and Scandinavia: 020 8758 4722
Latin America: 020 8758 4774
Marketing: 020 8758 4731

Required Information

^* Mandatory Information

Title ^*

First name ^*

Surname ^*

Telephone number ^*

Alternative telephone number

Email address ^*

Confirm email address

Preferred method of communication ^*

Do you have a holiday confirmed with Sunvil?

Is your question answered below?

Alternatively, please enter your query in the box below:

Email newsletters

Register here to receive regular email newsletters from the Sunvil Family, and be the first to hear about our latest news, holiday inspiration, special offers, events and competitions.

For full details on how we collect and process your personal data can be viewed in our privacy policy.

My Suitcase

We understand that so much choice can be overwhelming which is why we have developed 'My Suitcase'. This facility allows you to save and compare your favourite holidays, and even allows you to return to your selection at a later stage.

Why not use 'My Suitcase' to compile a wish list of your future Sunvil holidays?

New to Sunvil?

Chat with usLiveChat

Is Kiruna in Sweden really the world’s largest city?

Share

By The Sunvil Family

Other related posts

View all posts from

The Sunvil Family

Make an Enquiry

Please use this form to request further information about a Sunvil holiday or destination.

Required Information

Title *

First name *

Surname *

Telephone number *

Alternative telephone number

Email address *

Confirm email address

Preferred method of communication *

If you would like to be called during a specific period, please specify

Details

Preferred departure date *

Duration *

Preferred UK departure airport *

Party size *

Back

Budget range

Other comments:

Email newsletters

Required Information

Title *

First name *

Surname *

Telephone number *

Alternative telephone number

Email address *

Confirm email address

Preferred method of communication *

If you would like to be called during a specific period, please specify

Booking reference number *

Is your question answered below?

Alternatively, please enter your query in the box below:

Email newsletters

Thank you for your enquiry

Your details have been saved

My Suitcase

Sign in

New to Sunvil?

Create Account

Already have an account?

Password reset

Close

Close

Title ^*

First name ^*

Surname ^*

Telephone number ^*

Email address ^*

Preferred method of communication ^*

Preferred departure date ^*

Duration ^*

Preferred UK departure airport ^*

Party size ^*

Title ^*

First name ^*

Surname ^*

Telephone number ^*

Email address ^*

Preferred method of communication ^*

Booking reference number ^*