Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Jukkasjärvi
0980 / Pop 548
The Icehotel has firmly put this one-street village on the world map.
Jukkasjärvi is also home to
Jukkasjärvi kyrka
(Marknadsvägen; 9am-6pm)
, the oldest
church in Lappland (1608). The brightly painted altarpiece by Uppsala artist Bror Hjorth,
cut out in teak, depicts scenes with the revivalist preacher Lars Levi Laestadius. In the
centre of the birch organ above the entrance hangs a shaman's drum. The organ itself has
three sounds: birdsong, drum and reindeer hooves.
adult/child Skr150/75; 10am-5pm mid-Jun-mid-Aug, tours 10.30am & 4pm)
, a reindeer yard
that you can tour with a Sami guide to learn about reindeer farming and Sami culture. Here
you can book tours, pick up excellent Sami
duodji
(certified handicrafts) and arrange a
two-person cabins in the woods, 3km away from Jukkasjärvi, with a wood-heated sauna
and a fully equipped kitchen cabin. In winter, the isolated location is good for viewing the
northern lights and a small timber dining room serves elk, reindeer and Arctic char.
Your only eating option outside the winter season,
Old Homestead
(Marknadsvägen;
lunch mains Skr75-135, dinner mains from Skr175; 8am-10pm)
by the river is nonetheless a
good one, with Norbotten cheese-and-honey sandwiches and meatballs at lunchtime and a
game-heavy dinner menu.
Marknadsvägen; mains Skr175-355, set menus Skr595-1395; 11.30am-2.30pm & 6-10pm Dec-Apr;
)
is reserved for winter travellers only. Besides the novelty of dishes served on plates
made from Torne river ice, chef Daniel Palmqvist excels when it comes to fusion dishes,
such as reindeer steak with shiitake mushrooms and decadent, moreish chocolate souffles
with cloudberry puree. You can also sip vodka-based cocktails and champagne served in
Marknadsvägen; 1pm-1am Dec-Apr)
nearby.
Bus 501 runs between Kiruna and Jukkasjärvi (Skr40, 30 minutes, up to six daily).
