Northern Lights, I know where you live!

Not everyone likes the bitter cold, deep snow, short days, and long nights. However, if you want to see the Northern Lights* (also known as the aurora borealis) live and in color once in your life, you can go ahead and take the plunge. The extremely cozy rooms and lodges with their crackling fireplaces and friendly people make up for the cold.

For nature lovers and winter sports enthusiasts, every trip to see the Northern Lights is a celebration. Many even claim to have been hooked since their first time.

To see the Northern Lights, you need to travel to the far north. The Arctic Circle at 66° 33′ north latitude offers the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights.

They are the epitome of romantic moments. Anyone who has seen them once will talk about them again and again with shining eyes.

The green dancing lights appear when charged particles from the sun collide with atoms in the Earth's atmosphere. Up here in the clear, unpolluted air of the polar sky, this natural phenomenon can be observed during the Arctic winter between September/October and April. The fact that sightings of the Northern Lights cannot be predicted makes the moment when they appear all the more special.

To help you fully enjoy this natural wonder, we’ve selected 13 of the best places in Europe to view the Northern Lights: From Sweden, Finland, and Norway, through Iceland, all the way to Greenland, our selection features exceptional accommodations for your romantic Northern Lights experience.

From minimalist glass igloo houseboats to artistically decorated ice hotels, hotels with views of icebergs, wilderness lodges in extremely exposed locations, spa bungalows, chalets with panoramic glass roofs and fireplaces, to traditional Icelandic turf houses and unique luxury lodges, there is something for every taste and budget.

In stark contrast to the inhospitable Arctic environment, our extraordinary lodges, hotels, and chalets show off their warmest and most stylish side. Wooden buildings, panoramic windows, and glass and metal roofs offering views of the dancing northern lights, and warm open fires keep the cold outside.

During the day, you can choose from a wide variety of activities: dog sledding, snowmobile tours, snowshoeing, ice fishing, helicopter tours, cross-country skiing, visits to Santa Claus, reindeer parks with feeding, northern lights hunting, and many more will bring you closer to nature. Afterwards, relax in hot tubs, whirlpools, or get to know Finnish sauna culture. The restaurants in our hotels all offer typical regional specialties made with organic ingredients in a cozy atmosphere. End the evening at the bar or in your room or chalet—some of which have fireplaces. Maybe the sky above you is already turning green and red?

You can now relax and see out a year that was like no other. Let's welcome 2021 with open arms.

Welcome to your once-in-a-lifetime experience at the end of the world!

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NOTE:

Our accommodations currently still have availability for Christmas and New Year's Eve. However, January through March are also still bookable and often a little cheaper.

You can book with us easily and securely:

• On request, we can create a secure package tour for you, including flights and transfers (or rental car). In the event of a travel warning or entry ban to the destination country, you will receive a refund for the price you paid for the trip. This package also includes a return travel guarantee.
• In addition, we offer travel insurance that covers your travel costs in the event of infection with COVID-19 or personal quarantine at home (including on site).

* Northern lights sightings cannot be guaranteed.

1. Floating glass igloos | Finland

Our popular glass igloo boats are a perfect destination in every season. The compact houseboats with glass walls are located on the shore of Lake Ranua near the Arctic Circle in Lapland. The glass igloos are solar-powered in summer, and in winter, quad bikes are attached to them to glide over the frozen and snow-covered water. Breakfast is served in the restaurant of the guesthouse, while dinner is caught by the guests themselves through a hole in the floor next to the bed and grilled on the terrace. 

From €290 per night, including breakfast

2. Arctic Bath | Swedish Lapland

No sooner had this new gem of Scandinavian spa culture opened in January 2020 than it had to close again in March 2020. Now it’s back in business. Brand-new, it shines in Northern Europe’s last wilderness, in Swedish Lapland (see our Lapland tours). In the summer, it floats on the Lule River, and in the winter, it freezes solid there. The inspiration for its unique architecture came from a “verklausung”—the natural blockage of flowing waterways caused by drifting debris. The centerpiece of the resort is the striking round spa, where you can be pampered to your heart’s content with a wide variety of spa treatments administered by true wellness experts. The twelve apartments, rooms, and cabins at Arctic Bath are minimalist yet comfortably furnished and incorporate the surrounding nature through floor-to-ceiling windows and floating terraces offering breathtaking views of the Swedish sky. This gives you the opportunity to marvel at the Northern Lights in all their splendor during the dark winter months. From here, you can explore the wild and contrasting snowy landscape of Swedish Lapland on hikes and Northern Lights photography workshops.

From €497 per double bungalow, including breakfast

Insider tip: Take a dog sled tour through the forests of Swedish Lapland.

3. Luxury Wilderness Lodge | Finland

Far away, north of the Arctic Circle, in the seclusion of the Finnish wilderness, you will find what is probably the most exclusive private lodge in Lapland. It is a perfect blend of log cabin and luxury hotel, offering royalty and celebrities an ideal hideaway for an undisturbed stay. The two wings, with four and six bedrooms respectively, are only sold exclusively. The centerpiece is a large lounge furnished with natural materials and decorated in warm colors. Reindeer sleigh rides, skiing, husky races, tobogganing – there are a variety of great winter sports activities in the deep forests surrounding the lodge. After active days, the sophisticated kitchen team looks forward to pampering your palate with excellent Nordic dishes made from local ingredients.

The entire wing with the 4 bedrooms costs from approximately €12,500.00 per night.

Insider tip: The lodge is usually booked up for two years in advance. Make sure to inquire early.

4. L7 Luxury Lodge | Finland

It is a real dream lodge, which the owner family opened in 2018! Apart from ourNorth Pole Ice Camp, it is probablythe northernmost accommodation in inventia's portfolio. The lodge is located about 300 km north of the Arctic Circle at the end of a country road and next to Finland's third largest national park, the Pallas-Ylläs National Park. The national park and the 28 hectares of private forest surrounding the lodge offer endless opportunities for snow activities in winter and nature activities in summer. The unpolluted air also provides ideal conditions for viewing the Northern Lights. The lodge's seven apartments are built entirely of wood and are extremely stylish and comfortably furnished. The heart of the lodge is the large lounge with its soft seating in warm colors and large fireplace. During the day, a chef and your own activities team will take care of you. The included full board is fit for royalty. Relax in the evening in the lodge's spacious sauna and round off the day at the well-stocked bar.

You can also rent the entire lodge for your exclusive use.

Standard rooms start at €717.00 per room per night, including full board, and the master bedroom starts at €896.00 per night.

5. Torfhus Retreat | Iceland

Just 100 km west of Reykjavik, this traditional Icelandic power spot is located close to the Golden Circle route and the Selfoss waterfalls. Come here to sit back and soak up Iceland's surreal nature. A "Torfhús" is a traditional country house with a grass roof, and here you will experience it as a cross between a Viking village and a hotel. Enjoy your geothermal bath in your private basalt pool late into the night, ride Icelandic horses, go hiking, ice climbing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and so much more.

From €654.00 per night in a 2-person Torfhus or €1,091.00 per night in a 4-person Torfhus, including breakfast 

6. Arctic Hideaway | Norway

"A place for people who don't like other people." That's how I read it in some travel journal about this hideaway. And indeed, it is a private island with four apartments, which you can also have all to yourself. Then you can be sure that you will remain among yourselves. There are families who spend their time here together, or groups of good friends.   Some artists come alone. It all starts off appropriately adventurous with the journey there in a Zodiac boat (or by ferry). One thing is certain: you will really unwind here. The minimalist self-catering resort (food is delivered to order) is located on a small island north of the Arctic Circle with no roads, cars, shops, or other human life. Wake up in the morning to the sound of the waves and breathe in the fresh sea breeze. You can often see eagles, beavers, or otters. Five additional cabins serve as common areas for cooking, eating, relaxing, and letting go. Enjoy the peace and quiet, nature, the sea, and, of course, the northern lights, which seem to dance in the sky just for you. 

Price: from €299.00 per person/night, including food (excluding alcohol)

Insider tip: Pack up your family and best friends and rent the entire island. It can accommodate up to 10 people. Your own chef can cater for you on request.

7. Arctic Glass Igloo Village | Finland

Aurora Village is located about a 20-minute drive from Ivalo Airport. Chalets and suites are spaced out among the pine trees, and above the bed is a laser-heated glass roof that keeps snow and ice out of view. You’ll stay four to seven nights under the panoramic roof, with full board, thermal clothing, and airport transfers included. Depending on the package, activities include a husky safari, reindeer sleigh ride, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, and a Northern Lights tour.

Insider tip: The resort operates an automated sky camera. When it detects Northern Lights activity, the Aurora Alert is triggered.

8. Hotel Rangà | Iceland

The southern Icelandic coast is the perfect starting point for exploring many of Iceland's attractions in day trips. This is especially true in winter, when the sun is low and the days are short. We will have your private chauffeur pick you up at Reykjavik Airport and then welcome you to Iceland's only 5-star hotel. As a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, it has won several awards, including "Best International Resort Hotel." The highlight is the seven log cabins, each representing a continent (including Antarctica ;-). But you can also enjoy the sweeping views of the Icelandic landscape and the starry night sky from the 52 luxurious rooms. The gourmet restaurant with views of Iceland's unique natural landscape will spoil your palate after a day full of activities in the same. Lots of wood and glass create a really cozy atmosphere and wide views of the starry sky and the barren, moon-like surroundings. During the day, go hiking in an ice cave, take super jeep or buggy tours, go glacier hiking, explore lava caves, or go whale watching. Of course, the Northern Lights are the main attraction at Hotel Rangá in winter—one of the best places in Iceland, if not the world, to observe this fascinating natural spectacle. An additional attraction is the hotel's own observatory for viewing the starry sky above Iceland, as there is virtually no light pollution due to its rural location.

From approx. €134 per person/night including breakfast in a double room

Insider tip: Enjoy the northern lights and the starry sky at night from one of the three hot tubs.

9. Hotel Arctic | Greenland

Every day, a new backdrop unfolds before your eyes when you look out of your room window: the icebergs drifting through the world-famous Ilulissat Icefjord (UNESCO World Heritage Site) in front of the world's northernmost 4-star hotel change their formation almost hourly. The glacier in this fjord is one of the largest and most active in the world and promises a unique, ever-changing view. In winter, the days are short and there are few tourists in Greenland. Many facilities are closed. Now, with its small colorful houses and industrial harbor, the place is perfect for nature lovers who enjoy the peace and quiet and the rugged surroundings. Bring books and read them by the fireplace. Take a hike to the ice fjord, a boat tour through Disko Bay, or a sled dog tour. 

Insider tip: You should not visit Greenland on your own. The weather conditions in winter are challenging for us Central Europeans, so it is advisable to plan your trip well outside of the season. We know Greenland well in winter. Please contact us.

10. Ice Hotel | Sweden

This art project, which is recreated every year, is located 200 km north of the Arctic Circle. At the end of October, construction work begins on the hotel, which is built from blocks of ice taken from the frozen waters of the nearby Tule River. Ice artists create impressive works of art in the ice. In addition to approximately 60 rooms for 140 people, there is a lobby, an ice bar, and a chapel. All rooms are artistically decorated and of great artistic value. The interior rooms have a temperature of approximately -5°C, while the outside temperature is around -30°C. However, you will not freeze. This is ensured by warm overalls and soft reindeer skins, which you will receive for your overnight stay. Most guests stay here for one night and then travel on or move to the apartments of the ice hotel for further activities.

11. Star Arctic Hotel | Finland

Our Arctic gem is located 270 km north of the Arctic Circle, perched on a mountain with sweeping views over the forests of Lapland. The rooms are cozy log cabins with all mod cons, large panoramic windows, and some even have glass roofs for the perfect view of the Northern Lights*. Each chalet can accommodate up to 4 people. The restaurant with its sweeping views serves Scandinavian dishes made from the finest natural ingredients. You can round off the evening at the cozy bar. The list of activities is long: husky sled tours, snowmobile rides, snowshoeing, Northern Lights hunting, aurora photo workshops, gold panning, ice fishing, visits to Santa, dinners in the wilderness, and much, much more.

Price: Chalets start at €160.00 per room, including breakfast. Half board is available at an additional cost.

12. Björnfjell Mountain Lodge | Norway

Here we are 379 km north of the Arctic Circle, surrounded by the untouched nature of Finnmark. The minimalist design blends harmoniously with the rugged mountain location. You can choose between one of the rooms or one of the five chalets. The restaurant serves classic Norwegian cuisine. If you wish, you can also cater for yourself in the chalets. The resort is equally popular with skiers, hikers, and aurora borealis enthusiasts.

Price: A family room costs from €260.00 and a chalet from €450.00 per night. 

13. Villa Telegrafbukta | Norway

For families and best friends, this villa near Tromsø, the capital of the Northern Lights, is the ideal base for spending time together enjoying a wide range of activities. From the terrace and the master bedroom, you can enjoy a direct view of the Northern Lights*. The villa is located right by the sea with a view of the snow-covered mountains. Your private chef will serve you the best Norwegian specialties, but you can also let him know your preferences. After numerous activities in and around Tromsø, relax in the in-house sauna or work out in the well-equipped fitness room. 

Price upon request.

Insider tip: Visit the Arctic Cathedral in Tromsø.

*Northern lights sightings cannot be guaranteed. This natural phenomenon only occurs at irregular intervals.

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