Gällivare lies at the northern end of the Inlandsbanan railway line, about 100 kilometres beyond the Arctic Circle in the Swedish province of Lapland. The main industries are mining and tourism, with the beautiful National Parks of Stora Sjöfallet, Sarek, Padjelanta and Muddus forming the UNESCO World Heritage site of Laponia.
Hire a car at Gällivare Airport and you can visit the famous ski resort of Dundret. Several World Cup skiing events have been held here, and from October to May you can choose from 11 slopes, a snow park and five kilometres of illuminated cross country track.
Nearby you can experience a traditional dog sledding tour at Sakajärvi, take a snowmobile safari at Linafallet, or go freshwater fishing at Nikkaluokta. Alternatively, you could find out about the local industry with a guided tour of Aitik, one of Europe's biggest mines, where they dig for copper, silver and gold.
One of the most spectacular sights in Laponia is the Northern Lights. Rent a car at Gällivare Airport and you can drive out to a secluded spot to enjoy the night sky. Or head north to visit the original Ice Hotel at Jukkasjärvi, carved from the ice of the Torne River.
