🧊 Another planet: 12 Arctic locations above the Arctic Circle in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Greenland

✈️ The Arctic, "another planet" close to Europe

Over the past couple of years, the "I want to go north" trend has ceased to be marginal. While southern Europe breaks temperature records and battles fires every summer, northern regions advertise themselves as coolcations — holidays "in the cool, not the heat".

Against this backdrop, Arctic Scandinavia and neighbouring Greenland are becoming something of a "legal space":

● polar day and polar night;

● the northern lights, which do not need to be enhanced with a filter;

● fjords, ice shields, icebergs and tundra;

● towns and villages where life goes on as usual, even if it's -25 outside and there's not a tree in sight.

Official tourism portals of the northern countries explicitly offer to "explore the Arctic without a complicated expedition": Northern Norway with Tromsø, Lofoten and North Cape, Swedish Lapland with Kiruna, Abisko and Sami markets, Finnish Lapland with Rovaniemi, Inari and Kilpisjärvi, plus Arctic Greenland with Ilulissat and Kangerlussuaq.

To avoid drowning in hundreds of names, I have compiled a list of 12 key places above the Arctic Circle — three for each country. This is not a "complete catalogue," but a summary of what keeps people coming back to the north.

🇳🇴 Norway: fjords, northern lights and the edge of the Earth

1. Tromsø — the "capital of the Arctic" and hunting for the aurora

Tromsø is often called the "capital of the Arctic" and the "Paris of the North." Visit Norway ranks it among the country's top regions for the Northern Lights, whale safaris, the polar night and the midnight sun.

In winter, it is:

● a convenient air hub above the Arctic Circle;

● a base for tours to see the aurora, whales, huskies and snowmobiles;

● a city with real life: a university, bars, cafes, architecture (the Arctic Cathedral, bridges, houses on the slopes).

If you want "the maximum Arctic experience with minimum logistical complications," Tromsø is almost the perfect gateway to the north.

2. Lofoten and Vesterålen: mountains rising from the sea and the "Instagram-worthy" north

Official guidebooks describe Lofoten and neighbouring Vesterålen as "a world of pointed peaks, narrow fjords, fishing villages and beaches that look like they've been photoshopped".

Yes, part of the archipelago is formally just below the Arctic Circle, but the Arctic vibe is fully felt:

● mountains literally rise from the sea;

● in winter, you can catch both the polar night and the aurora borealis;

● whales, wetsuit surfing, fishing, narrow roads along the water.

This is a place where you understand why many people associate "Norway in winter" with the feeling of being on another planet.

3. North Cape and Alta: "the edge of Europe" and the calmer north

North Cape has long been a symbol of "the northernmost point of Europe that can be reached by road". Formally, it is not the northernmost point of the mainland, but this platform above the Barents Sea is one of the most famous "ends of the world" on the continent, especially in winter, when you look down at the black water and snow under your feet.

Nearby, in the more "homely" Alta, Visit Norway promotes the format of a quiet northern town: the climate there is slightly drier than in Tromsø, there is a good chance of seeing the northern lights, there is an ice hotel, Sami culture and a pleasant balance between city and nature.

The Tromsø + Alta/Nordkapp combo is a classic route for those who want to see both the urban Arctic and the "end of the earth".

🇸🇪 Sweden: Northern Lights, ice and Sami fairs

4. Abisko — "hole in the clouds" and the aurora

Swedish Lapland is described in official guides as "a world where vast spaces, Sami culture and the northern lights create their own universe". Abisko and the national park of the same name are highlighted separately: the mountains here create a "rain shadow", so the valley is often clear when everything around it is covered in clouds.

Aviska is:

● one of the world's best combinations of "northern lights + clear skies";

● accessibility: night train from Stockholm, followed by a short transfer;

● a base for winter hiking, photo tours and exploring northern Sweden.

If you want to see the northern lights in Sweden without the crowds, Abisko is almost always in the top 3 recommendations.

5. Kiruna and Jukkasjärvi — the "ice hotel" and the industrial north

Kiruna is Sweden's northernmost city and one of Lapland's key hubs. Here you will find:

● an airport with flights from Stockholm;

● a mining town that is being partially relocated due to soil subsidence;

● winter activities: huskies, snowmobiles, the Northern Lights, skiing.

Nearby is Jukkasjärvi with the legendary Icehotel: the hotel that is rebuilt every winter from ice and snow. Staying in these rooms is not only worth it for Instagram, but also for the feeling of "I really slept in an ice cave."

The combination of Kiruna and the Icehotel is a strong contender for those who want a "modern north" with a touch of industry and architecture.

6. Jokkmokk and the winter Sami market

Jokkmokk is a small town above the Arctic Circle that once a year becomes the epicentre of Sami life: for more than 400 years, it has hosted a winter market that attracts Sami people, artisans and visitors from all over the north.

In winter, it features

● shopping arcades with products made of reindeer skin, silver and wood;

● meetings and performances, concerts, historical reenactments;

● an opportunity to see the northern people not in a "photo for tourists" format, but in their own, inner rhythm.

If you are interested not only in nature but also in Arctic culture, Jokkmokk adds an important, very human layer to the itinerary.

🇫🇮 Finland: forest, reindeer and silence

7. Rovaniemi and its surroundings — the "official" Arctic Circle

Rovaniemi is the "official hometown of Santa Claus," through which hundreds of thousands of visitors pass, dreaming of greeting the bearded old man and taking a photo on the Arctic Circle line.

Nearby is Santa Claus Village, the airport, and well-developed infrastructure. It is a convenient gateway to Finnish Lapland: you arrive, spend a day or two enjoying the attractions, and then head deeper into the quieter areas.

Around Rovaniemi, it is easy to find:

● short winter trails through the forest;

● night trips to see the Northern Lights;

● winter activities — from reindeer sleigh rides to simple sledding.

Rovaniemi is the logical gateway to the Arctic, even if your heart ends up elsewhere.

8. Inari and Saariselkä — lakes, tundra and the Sámi north

The further north you go from Rovaniemi, the more lakes and tundra come into play.

The official VisitFinland website describes the Inari and Saariselkä region as a combination of lakes, Arctic hills, Sámi culture and virtually uninhabited spaces.

Inari is:

● a lake with hundreds of islands;

● the Sámi cultural centre and museum Siida;

● a comfortable balance between nature and infrastructure.

Saariselkä is a mountainous area with ski and snowmobile trails, cottages, and routes to Urho Kekkonen National Park. Here, you feel like you are "far north," but at the same time, not completely in the wilderness.

9. Kilpisjärvi and Utsjoki — the edge of Finland and tranquillity

If you look at the map, Kilpisjärvi and Utsjoki are the last Finnish points before Norway. Here:

● the Finland–Norway–Sweden triangle border;

● mountains and bare peaks above the tree line;

● tiny settlements where life flows very quietly in winter.

Kilpisjärvi is known for its views and conditions for aurora borealis viewing (low light pollution, altitude, dry air). Utsjoki is one of the northernmost municipalities in the country, where the Sámi component is particularly strong.

The combo "Rovaniemi → Inari → Kilpisjärvi" is a ready-made route through the three "layers" of the Finnish Arctic: from the tourist centre to the real north.

🇬🇱 Greenland: icebergs, ice shield and Arctic cities

Yes, Greenland is not formally part of Scandinavia in the strict sense, but it is usually considered part of the "Arctic north" first and foremost. This is a case wh , a flight from Copenhagen or Reykjavik really feels like a flight to another planet.

10. Ilulissat and Disko Bay — icebergs and the Sermakeq Glacier

Ilulissat is a town on the west coast of Greenland, which travel guides refer to as the "iceberg capital". It is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ilulissat Icefjord, where the Sermakeq Glacier deposits huge masses of ice into the sea.

In winter and between seasons, you can see

● icebergs the size of a city block drifting along the coast;

● the northern lights over the bay;

● dog sledding, skiing, and winter hikes along coastal trails.

If you want to see real Arctic ice, not just snow, Ilulissat is the best place to go.

11. Kangerlussuaq — the gateway to the ice sheet

Kangerlussuaq is a small town deep in the western coast, described by VisitGreenland as "the gateway to the ice sheet": it is the easiest place to reach the edge of the glacier and step out onto "the largest white surface in the north".

In addition:

● according to reviews, the weather here is often more stable and drier than on the coast;

● it is surrounded by tundra, herds of reindeer and musk oxen;

● in winter, there is a good chance of seeing the aurora borealis, with less cloud cover than in coastal towns.

Kangerlussuaq is ideal if you want the "Arctic mainland" — glaciers, tundra and distant views.

12. Nuuk — the Arctic capital with city life

Nuuk is the capital of Greenland, a city where the Scandinavian and Inuit worlds are intertwined in everyday life: multicoloured houses on the slopes, the modern Katuaq cultural centre, museums, restaurants, the port and the surrounding mountains.

In winter, it is

● a combination of Arctic climate and city life;

● a base for sea tours, hikes and winter activities;

● an opportunity to see what the "Nordic model" might look like in a different cultural context.

If you want not only nature but also a city in the Arctic, Nuuk is a great balance.

🧭 How to choose your Arctic region

When you look at all these names — Tromsø, Abisko, Inari, Ilulissat — it's easy to get lost. In fact, the question usually boils down to a simple one: what exactly do you want to experience on this trip?

Some people go for the "cinematic" fjords, some for the silence and forests, some for the icebergs and ice sheets, some for the Sami culture, and some for the simplest logistics with the fewest transfers.

Below is a short "matching" list so you can check your requirements.

In short:

● if you want a "movie" experience, start with Norway;

● if you want stable weather in Lapland, look to Finland and Sweden;

● if you want ice and icebergs, head to Greenland;

● if you want not only nature but also cities, combine Tromsø, Rovaniemi, Kiruna, and Nuuk.

Ideally, your first Arctic trip should not turn into a list of twelve destinations. Most often, the most exciting and lively route is one that includes two or three Arctic destinations plus one capital city on the way there or back.