Treehotel

Luleå, at the mouth of the Luleälv into the Gulf of Bothnia, is the gateway to North Sweden's wilderness. It combines university life with a vast archipelago of 1,312 islands, the world's largest brackish water archipelago. Just outside lies the UNESCO World Heritage site Gammelstads Kyrkstad, Northern Scandinavia's best-preserved church town.

Jokkmokk, just north of the Arctic Circle in Swedish Lapland, is a centre of Sámi culture. At Ájtte, the Swedish Fjäll and Sámi Museum, you can learn about the Sámi way of life and the nature of the mountain region. The town is known for the Jokkmokk Winter Market, which has been held for over 400 years, always starting on the first Thursday in February and lasting three days; in 2027, the 422nd market will take place from February 4th to 6th. In winter, dog sledding tours and the Northern Lights are a draw; in summer, the Midnight Sun and hiking. For the market period, you should book your accommodation early.

Swedish Lapland is the Arctic part of Sweden: vast forests, fells and lakes, plus the Sámi culture. In winter, Northern Lights chances are good from September to March; in summer, the sun doesn't set from late May to mid-July. Highlights include the ICEHOTEL, the Treehotel, the Kungsleden and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Laponia.

Gällivare, located north of the Arctic Circle in Swedish Lapland, has been a mining town since the construction of the ore railway in the late 19th century. Here you'll experience the nature of the fells, Sámi culture, and a community undergoing change: The neighbouring town of Malmberget is largely being abandoned due to ore mining. From Dundret, its local mountain, you can see the midnight sun in summer, and in winter, the chances for the Northern Lights are good.

Kiruna is located far north of the Arctic Circle and is inextricably linked to iron ore: The mine of the state-owned LKAB corporation in Mount Kiirunavaara is considered the world's largest and most modern underground iron ore mine. As mining operations advance beneath the city, a new center is emerging approximately three kilometers east of the old downtown, to which historical buildings will also be relocated. In summer, you can experience the Midnight Sun here; in winter, chances of seeing the Northern Lights are good, and the ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi is just a short drive away.