Journey to the Top of the Earth
There’s more to the Arctic Circle than ice.
Explorers once raced across the Arctic Circle in search of the North Pole.
WHEN TO GO: To enjoy the midnight sun, most expedition cruises embark from June to August, when the sea ice has melted enough to navigate remote fjords. To view the northern lights, aim for September to March.
CURRENCY: Norway: Norwegian krone; cards are accepted everywhere. Finland: the only Arctic country using the euro. Greenland: Danish krone; cards are common in towns, but bring cash for small villages.
LANGUAGE: While enjoying standard tourism activities, English is common. But while exploring, expect to hear Norwegian, Finnish, Kalaallisut (the official language of Greenland), Inuit dialects, and Sámi languages.
COMPANIES TO CONSIDER: Atlas Ocean Voyages, HX Expeditions, Seabourn, Tauck, PONANT
Many tried to accomplish the feat and cement their names in history, and many lied about their success, until Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and crew reached the pole via airship in 1926. (Overachiever Amundsen also led the first transit of the Northwest Passage and the first team to visit the South Pole.)
Modern explorers are still visiting the Arctic Circle. They travel here for an atypical holiday, without palm-fringed shores and umbrella drinks, to become immersed in an elemental and otherworldly landscape. They come here to see the northern lights at their brightest and a midnight sun that never sets. They come to watch polar bears lope across the snow and icebergs as big as city blocks drift by in dark blue waters. And they come to learn about the Inuit and Sámi, indigenous peoples who have found a way to thrive in these harsh conditions.
Today’s travelers have an easier time than their hardy predecessors of past centuries. You can explore via luxurious expedition ships, spotting glaciers by day before returning to a five-star suite and a glass of wine by night. If that’s too posh for your taste, a more utilitarian vessel will whisk you through fjords as it delivers mail and supplies to local villages. Or maybe you’d prefer to connect more closely with nature, staying in a glass igloo or high-end log cabin, a snowmobile parked close by to race across the tundra.
However you touch base at any of the eight countries that have territory within the Arctic Circle, the encounter will be unique. It will be cold but exhilarating, vivid, and unforgettably wild. Here are a few standout destinations to lure you northward.
Norway
For an introduction to Norway’s Arctic region, Tromsø is a desirable starting point. Known as the “Paris of the North” due to its surprising sophistication in the 1800s, the once popular trading port is ideal for those who wish to pair their northern light show with a comforting urban experience. The lights are particularly riveting from atop Mount Storsteinen, 1,381 feet above sea level, accessible easily via the Fjellheisen cable car or not easily by the 1,203 steps called the Sherpa Stairs. The city also boasts The Polar Museum, a great place to learn more about Amundsen, as well as the Arctic Cathedral, an iconic landmark with a striking triangular design inspired by ice floes and the surrounding mountains.
An hour’s flight from Tromsø takes you to Lofoten, an archipelago packed with jagged peaks and picturesque fishing villages. Of the latter, Reine is often voted the most beautiful village in Norway, which makes you wonder why only 300 people live here. Cruising narrow, steep-walled Trollfjord is a must to watch massive sea eagles dive for fish just feet from your boat. Surfing is popular at Unstad Beach, where the Arctic swells are particularly alluring to those crazy enough to brave the cold. To truly experience Lofoten, it’s best to stay in a rorbu, a converted cabin where fishermen once lived perched directly over the tide.
But that’s just the regular Arctic Circle. For those who like their vacations extra permafrosty, the High Arctic awaits in Svalbard. On this archipelago located midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, you’ll embark on truly unique experiences. Between watching polar bears in their natural habitats and cruising past glaciers, you can journey to the Soviet ghost town of Pyramiden, a coal-mining settlement abandoned in 1998. In the hauntingly beautiful remains, inhabited by more polar bears than people, you can order Russian vodka at an operating, Soviet-style hotel and stroll past the world’s northernmost Lenin statue. Other unique experiences include cracking open a cold one at Svalbard Bryggeri—the world’s northernmost brewery—or sinking your teeth into polar bear-shaped chocolates at the Fruene chocolate shop.
Finnish Lapland
Is your favorite part of Christmas the winter wonderland? Then we have a destination for you. The Lapland region of northern Finland is a snow-coated wilderness of rolling fells, frozen lakes, and deep pine forests that is home to more reindeer than people.
Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland and the region’s most accessible destination, is the official home of Santa Claus Village, an amusement park where you can walk across the Arctic Circle line and meet the big man himself year-round. For a more realistic cultural experience, nearby Inari is the center of Sámi culture, the only officially recognized indigenous people in the European Union, which you can learn all about at the Siida museum.
The area offers numerous options to view the northern lights. The top choice is to stay in a glass igloo, which allows you to lie in a warm bed that is motorized to provide proper alignment for watching the lights dance directly above you through a heated dome. Another option is to book an Aurora Safari, which guides you by moonlight through the forests on snowmobiles and snowcats, hunting for the best spot to view the light show.
Greenland
Greenland is defined by the sheer scale of the Greenland Ice Sheet, which covers roughly 80% of the world’s largest island. This is no winter wonderland. Intrepid travelers trek here for the raw, ancient wilderness and to truly get away from it all. The level of remoteness here is off the charts; with no roads connecting its towns, you’ll need a plane, helicopter, or boat to get around.
Still, the country welcomed 149,000 visitors in 2024, many venturing to Ilulissat on Disko Bay. That’s where you’ll find Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site where the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, one of the fastest and most active in the world (moving 130 feet every 24 hours), flows into the sea, filling the bay with colossal icebergs—one of which is suspected of dooming the Titanic. A short, iceberg-avoiding trip across the bay takes you to Disko Island, a massive island forged by volcanoes, creating a geologic wonderland of basalt mountains, hot springs, and black-sand beaches.
You can find mountains, hot springs, beaches, and wildlife in its element across the globe, Yet, when experienced here—far north, far from the crowds, far from the ordinary—everything seems bigger, more imposing, more immediate, and more real. These experiences will stick with you forever.
The far expanses of the Arctic Circle can be reached by ship, often purpose-built expedition vessels that provide Zodiac adventures by day and luxurious accommodations by night. Here are some intriguing ports.
Bear Island, Norway > Located midway between mainland Norway and Svalbard, this remote island is a vital sanctuary for birdlife and serves as a dramatic stop for ships crossing the Barents Sea thanks to its sheer sea cliffs.
Hammerfest, Norway > In this industrial town, you’ll find the Meridian Column, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized as the place where the Earth’s size and shape were first calculated. You can also become a member of the Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society, a museum dedicated to the town’s history.
Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik), Nunavut, Canada > The gateway to Sirmilik National Park, this port serves as a major cultural hub for Northwest Passage expeditions. The local Inuit community often hosts cultural performances featuring traditional drum dancing, throat singing, and demonstrations of Arctic games.
Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland > This remote town on the edge of the Scoresby Sund, the world’s largest fjord system, has more sled dogs than people, so it’s a great place to learn about Greenlandic huskies and how they remain essential for transport and hunting.
In a landscape where agriculture is nearly impossible, cuisine is based on ingredients that are traditionally harvested from the icy seas, tundra, or boreal forests. As a result, the food is protein-heavy and deeply seasonal, often preserved by smoking, salting, and fermenting. Yet, it’s surprisingly varied and often delicious. Here are a few essential items.
Stockfish (Norway) > Cod from Lofoten archipelago that is dried on wooden racks by the cold sea wind. It’s often served rehydrated in stews or grilled.
Brown Cheese (Norway) > In the Arctic, this unique, caramelized whey cheese is paired with local sourdough or waffles as a hearty snack.
Sautéed Reindeer (Finland) > Thinly sliced reindeer braised in butter and black pepper and served atop a mountain of mashed potatoes with tart lingonberries.
Salmon Soup (Finland) > A decadent, creamy soup featuring large chunks of fresh salmon, potatoes, and plenty of fresh dill.
Suaasat (Greenland) > The national dish is a thick, hearty soup traditionally made from seal meat, flavored simply with onions, salt, and pepper, and often thickened with rice or barley.
Greenlandic Halibut > Considered among the finest in the world, this deep-sea fish is exceptionally buttery and often served smoked or as a tartare.
