ICONIC PLACES

There are some things in life that you just have to do – and some places you just have to visit. Like the world's best place for northern lights or spending the night at the original ICEHOTEL.

That something else
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    Design

    Treehotel — a design favourite

    What started with a film featuring a small wooden hut in the forest has become a cool hotel. These days Treehotel in Harads is considered one of the world's foremost travel destinations. But Treehotel is more than just a design favourite among the treetops. It’s the childhood fantasy we’ve all dreamed of – just in a more luxurious package.

    Håkan Stenlund
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    Design

    A frozen icon

    In the village of Jukkasjärvi, outside Kiruna, lies the original ICEHOTEL. Every year, since 1989, it has been reincarnated in a new rendition and there’s always more to come. From the beginning this was kind of a crazy idea in the winter, nowadays it’s as crazy all year round.

    Emma Forsberg
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    Places

    A hideaway for all seasons

    We were kindly allowed to read the guestbook from Logger's Lodge, filled with ecstatic reviews from world celebrities, ordinary people and people in love who have visited to forget about all the must-dos for a while and get utterly spoilt. We felt we had to go there ourselves to experience it.

    Håkan Stenlund

Making an art suite

Icehotel is an art exhibition during the day, and an a hotel at night. Follow Tjåsa Gusfors and Ulrika Tallving as the create art at Icehotel

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ARCTIC BATH

A cold bath on the river Luleälven. Designed like a log jam, the conceptual architecture of a monument of bygones, Arctic Bath in Harads never ceases to inspire guests to have a dip in the cold.

ARCHITECTURAL DREAMS

Seven sensational stays – a travel between excellent accommodation options in Swedish Lapland.

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In the mountains
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    Design

    Living in a dream

    There are numerous reasons to why you should experience Niehku Mountain Villa in Riksgränsen, a place which name translates to "dream" in Northern Sámi. Here we give you four of those reasons.

    Håkan Stenlund
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    Places

    The mindset of Geunja

    Even with people there, the calmness of the place stands out. Geunja Sámi Eco Lodge stands there, carefully tucked in between the shores of a crystal clear lake and the foot of a high mountain.

    Maria Broberg
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    Places

    Sweden’s highest mountain station

    One thousand, two hundred and twenty-eight metres above sea level is where you find Sweden’s highest mountain station: Låktatjåkko. It takes you a couple of hours to walk there from Björkliden and halfway is probably where you’ll start craving the waffles.

    Håkan Stenlund

The dream of Niehku

An arctic environment, a design hotel and mountain vista stand out for travelers searching heli-skiing, good food, hikes and a great time.

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AN UNBEATABLE ECO-EXPERIENCE

”It isn’t easy to pinpoint the magic itself. Of course, it had to do with the surroundings: the blue mountains clad in tiny mountain birches, the crystal-clear water and the sea of flowers: alpine sow-thistle, angelica and the straight-backed monkshood. It was also related to the gentleness and quality that permeated everything, from buildings to the guided tours; and it was about the warm, lovely hosts and all the things we learnt along the way.” Read more

A HYMN TO HOME

Lennart Pittja runs the award-winning eco-lodge Sápmi Nature Camp in the Laponia world heritage in Swedish Lapland, on the grounds his Sámi reindeer herding community Unna Tjerusj has inhabited for generations.

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WORLD'S BEST PLACE FOR NORTHERN LIGHTS

Abisko National Park, in Swedish Lapland, offers some of the best conditions in the world for northern lights watching. The area's unique climate keeps the skies almost clear, and the light pollution is next to nothing.

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THE WORLD'S SMALLEST RESTAURANT

Maybe it's the world's smallest restaurant? On some nine square meters, you'll find two tables, four chairs and one chef in the kitchen making great food out of local staples. And outside the Arctic Gourmet Cabin in Kaalasjärvi, the northern lights often calls for a pause in the dining.

Vuoggatjålme

In Vuoggatjålme, spot on the Arctic circle and known for being the coldest place in Sweden, a heart-warming family , have greeted visitors for 100 years.

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THE WORLD'S FIRST ARCTIC GLAMP SITE

In the beginning, it was all about the northern lights at Aurora Safari Camp. These days it's more about regular back to nature experiences. To get away, get out, and enjoy everyday life up north.

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More great places to stay
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    Places

    At the outmost rim

    To get to the atoll-like island Malören, fifteen nautical miles across the open sea from Kalix, it takes a boat trip of about an hour. Once you are there, the serenity that these nautical miles provide extends itself. The sea becomes a buffer zone of time and space. Because nothing can disturb you or reach you. You are at home, by the sea.

    Håkan Stenlund
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    Places

    Between two worlds

    Two villages with the same name on either side of the mighty Torne River. Kukkolaforsen is something very special and in many ways, it proves that the Torne Valley is a world of its own, filled with tastes and experiences.

    Håkan Stenlund
  • At Pinetree Lodge

    Five kilometres beyond the end of the public road you’ll find the village Särkimukka in the Torne Valley. In the middle of the woods, on a frozen lake, this is home to four people and around two hundred dogs. People from all over the world come here to experience winter and an Arctic adventure. Most of them go home a friendship richer: a four-legged friendship.

    Håkan Stenlund

A STAY IN HISTORY

Once upon a time, Haparanda was where the East met West, a hangout for spies, robbers and war profiteers. A lot of heart and soul has gotten into this historic hotel, and Haparanda Stadshotell is nothing short of a remarkable accommodation in the Arctic.

ARTHOTEL TORNEDALEN

With art and a genuine countryside-feel as stepping stones, Gundhild Stensmyr has created a unique, yet holistic experience that holds both good food and great activities.

This is Gunhild
Also read
  • Catch a Baltic

    How to catch a Baltic salmon in Swedish Lapland? That’s the 100-dollar question for many salmon fly fishers. But there’s some good news. It’s getting easier. A lot easier. During the last years, salmon runs in the wild Swedish Baltic rivers have been heading in the right direction.

    Ted Logart
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    People

    The aurora whisperer

    Experiencing the northern lights is on many people's bucket list. Travellers from around the world head north to experience the celestial phenomenon, hoping to snap a picture of it. Been there, done that. But then some live with the northern lights as a lifestyle. Meet photographer Mia Stålnacke, the one who stops the northern lights.

    Håkan Stenlund
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    Culture

    Arctic fika

    In Sweden, we love our coffee, and so-called boiled coffee (coarse ground and brought to the boil in a pan) is in many ways the national drink of Swedish Lapland. Preferably served with all the trimmings: coffee cheese, coffee meat, dried reindeer meat and reindeer tongue.

    Håkan Stenlund