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Gällivare

There are 16,000 km2 of glorious Gällivare, which is well worth exploring even if it is the 20th time you’ve been to see us. Gällivare municipality is home to the magnificent Laponia World Heritage Area, where Samis and their reindeer live in harmony with nature. Here you will find mountains,
marshes, primeval forests, glaciers and the largest fenland area in Western Europe. Laponia incorporates four national parks and several nature reserves, and has a multitude of animals and plants that are unique to the area.

Multicultural with a rich history
For several centuries three different cultures have melted together in Gällivare. Even today you will hear
Swedish, Sami and Finnish spoken throughout the municipality. The easiest way to get information about Gällivare culture is to visit Gällivare museum, which is in the centre of town. The large building, known locally as Centralskolan, also houses the Mosquito Museum, a souvenir shop and a café. If you want to find out more about Gällivare we recommend hiring a guide for an inspirational tour of the town. You will find the tourist information office on the ground floor of Centralskolan.

Nature
Wherever you are in Gällivare you cannot miss the 823m high mountain Dundret. From the summit you have a wonderful view of Laponia and Gällivare. The summit of Dundret is the perfect place to enjoy the midnight sun, which can be enjoyed until around 12 July. You can hike to the top or take a guided midnight sun tour by bus. There is a café at the summit where you can have a cup of coffee and enjoy a waffle. Gällivare’s crystal clear waters provide lots of opportunities for fishing and swimming. Buy a fishing permit, hire some fishing equipment, start casting and hope to catch a pike or a char. Many of the shores where you can fish also provide barbecue areas where you can prepare your catch.

The mines and the castle
Fjällnäs castle is situated up on a hill overlooking Vassara river. Fjällnäs was built at the end of the 19th century for an owner of the mine. Following complete refurbishment in the 21st century, it is now a very exclusive hotel. Why not book a table at the castle restaurant for an unforgettable meal. The mines have always been the beating heart of Gällivare and everyone over the age of 12 is welcome to visit the mines. There are guided tours both to Aitik, which is the largest open-cast mine in Europe, and to LKAB, which is 1,000 metres underground. At Aitik you can see the largest truck in the world.

Not to be missed! From the top of the Dundret mountain to the ore-mining underground. You can have a great view of the Midnight Sun (2/6–11/7 this year) from the top of the Dunder mountain. Experience the amazing view of 1/11 of Sweden’s area. Then go down into the kingdom of rocks with a guided tour deep into LKAB’s underground mines where treasure is found at depths of 1,000 metres.