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7 Alternatives to Tromsø for the Northern Lights (Without the Crowds or the Price Tag)
We've spent winters all over the Arctic: Alta, Senja, Tromsø & Lofoten in Norway, Swedish & Finnish Lapland, Iceland and Greenland. So when people write to ask where else to go because Tromsø is booked out, we've usually just come back from one of those alternatives ourselves.
We've even recommended Tromsø before, as a calmer, less commercial answer to Rovaniemi in our Magical Alternatives to Rovaniemi guide. The trouble is, the same thing that made Rovaniemi worth escaping has started catching up with Tromsø: sold-out hotel, tour buses queued at the same handful of viewpoints, and prices that climb every winter the city gets more popular. Here are the alternatives to Tromsø we’d recommend for the northern lights, and what you'd be trading to go there.
Tromsø vs. Rovaniemi vs. Kiruna: Which Arctic Hub Should You Visit?
We've spent different seasons all over the Arctic: Kiruna, Abisko, Luleå, Alta, Tromsø, Lofoten, Svalbard, and Finnish Lapland outside Rovaniemi too. So, when people ask us to pick between Tromsø, Rovaniemi, and Kiruna, we're quite qualified to answer.
These are the three biggest, easiest-to-reach Arctic hubs in Europe, one in each country, and they're different trips wearing the same "see the northern lights" marketing and Sámi culture. I actually covered this lack of differentiation in my Master thesis on polar tourism! Here's how Tromsø, Rovaniemi and Kiruna compare, and how to get between them if you’d like to combine.
Car Rental in Kiruna, Sweden: Everything You Need to Know
Kiruna, Swedish Lapland, is definitely small enough to walk across, but the moment you want the ICEHOTEL, Abisko, or a run at the aurora somewhere darker than town, you'll want your own wheels. Here's your guide to rent a car in Kiruna. We’ve been there 7 times!
Kiruna to Abisko: How to Get There by Train, Bus, or Car
Abisko sits about 94 kilometers northwest of Kiruna, Swedish Lapland, on the same rail and road corridor that continues on to Riksgränsen and across the border into Narvik, Norway. Most people making this trip are headed for Abisko National Park, the Aurora Sky Station, or a stretch of the Kungsleden, and there are three ways to get from Kiruna to Abisko: train, bus, or car. We did the three, and here's how each one works.
Northern Lights in Sweden: Where to Go and When to See Them
Sweden doesn't have one northern lights destination, it has three, and they don't behave the same way. Kiruna, Abisko, and Luleå, all in Lapland, each give you a real shot at the aurora, but for different reasons, and the right base depends on the kind of trip you're planning. This page is the fast version: where to go, when to go, what your odds really are, and whether you need a tour at all, based on two decades of experience chasing the aurora in the far north.
Northern Lights Tours in Sweden: How to Choose
Sweden has three real bases for a northern lights tour: Kiruna, Abisko, and Luleå, all in Lapland. Each has its own tour scene, and we've covered each in depth elsewhere. This page is the fast version: how to pick a destination, what a good tour includes, and whether you need one at all.
ICEHOTEL, Sweden: What It's Really Like (Prices, Facts & Tips)
We've visited the ICEHOTEL, Swedish Lapland, seven times, and it's a different icy museum every time! The whole thing melts back into the Torne River each spring and gets rebuilt from scratch the next winter by artists from all over the world. We’ve visited other ice hotels in other countries, but this one is admittedly our favorite.
Sure, it’s pricey (and definitely worth it). But if you’re on a budget, you don't have to sleep on ice to visit. Here's the quick version, then the details. Ice ice baby!
Northern Lights Tours in Kiruna: How to Choose
We've booked some aurora tours across Lapland over dozens of trips (including seven trips to Kiruna), sometimes to save ourselves the driving, sometimes because a friend visiting for the first time didn't want to gamble their one night on figuring it out alone. This is the breakdown we wish we'd had the first time: what each tour type gets you, what "guaranteed" tends to mean in Kiruna specifically, and how to choose between a minibus, a snowmobile, and a dog sled when you've only got one or two nights.
For the full picture on when to go, where to watch without a tour, and how Kiruna compares to Abisko, see our Northern Lights in Kiruna guide. This one is about the tours.
Northern Lights in Kiruna: Best Time, Where to Watch & How to Check the Forecast
Kiruna, Swedish Lapland, is where my Arctic obsession actually began. I first came here as a student at Dalarna University back in 2007, fell for the place immediately, and ended up writing my master's thesis on polar destinations. I’ve been back seven times since, and Kiruna was also the first Arctic destination I ever brought Jake to. So when we talk about this sky, it's not theoretical!
Kiruna sits at 67.85°N, about 145 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, which puts it well inside the auroral oval, the band of sky around the North Pole where the aurora shows up most often.
This guide covers when to go, where to watch (with or without a tour), how to check the forecast, and how Kiruna compares to nearby Abisko, since that's the question we get asked the most, and one we can answer from having tried both ourselves, more than once.
Northern Lights in Lapland: A Complete Guide to Finland, Sweden & the Arctic Sky
Lapland has a claim to the northern lights that few places can match: most of it sits inside the auroral oval, the band circling the North Pole where the aurora shows up most often and most reliably. We've chased it across the region, and the biggest decision was never really when to go. It was where.
This guide covers the two Lapland regions travelers usually book: Finnish Lapland (Rovaniemi, Levi, Saariselkä) and Swedish Lapland (Kiruna, Abisko, Luleå). Both sit well within aurora range. They just offer a different experience. If you’d rather chase the lights in Norway, we have a dedicated Arctic Norway page.
Best Off-the-Beaten-Path Spring Destinations in Europe (2027)
Spring is Europe’s most underrated travel season. Landscapes come back to life, prices stay reasonable, and places still belong to the people who live there. If you time it right, spring lets you experience destinations as they actually are — not as they perform in summer.
These off-the-beaten-path destinations aren’t obscure for the sake of it. They simply make more sense in spring. Keep reading to find out why!
How People are Actually Traveling in 2027 (and Why Quieter Destinations are Winning)
Travel in 2027 isn’t about ticking off famous places anymore. It’s about how you travel, when you go, and what kind of experience you want once you’re there.
After years of over-tourism, rising prices, and destinations that feel more like theme parks than places, travelers are making calmer, more intentional choices. And the data backs it up, as per Booking.com stats: quieter destinations, off-season travel, and colder regions are driving real bookings — not just inspiration clicks.
That makes us very happy at Penguin Trampoline, as we always encourage responsible travelling, and we are constantly looking for the perfect balance between travellers' and locals’ interests.
Here’s what’s actually shaping travel in 2027, and how to use these shifts to choose better destinations.
Best Time to Visit Lapland (Finland, Sweden & Norway)
Lapland is not one place.
It stretches across Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia, and each side behaves differently. Different snow patterns. Different temperatures. Different landscapes.
If you’re asking:
Will there be snow in Lapland in December?
Is Lapland warmer in Norway than Finland?
When is snow guaranteed?
Is November too early?
Is April too late?
You’re asking the right questions and will find an answer in this guide!
One Lapland Trip, Three Countries: How to Combine Sweden, Finland & Norway
We’re unapologetically in favor of slow travel. Fewer places, more time. Staying somewhere long enough to notice how the light shifts, how silence settles in, how weather quietly dictates the pace. In the Arctic, less is often more: winding down in a sauna after a day outside, waiting for the northern lights, watching the snow fall, enjoying a “fika” by the fire.
But we also know reality.
Time off is limited. Flights and hotels aren’t cheap. And winter travel in Lapland adds friction whether you like it or not. So this guide is about experiencing Lapland well in one week — without rushing, without backtracking, and without pretending the Arctic is smaller or easier than it is.
If you’ve got more time, perfect. Stay longer.
If you’ve got seven days, this is how to make them count.
Northern Lights Trips by Travel Style: Where to Go Based on How You Travel
The 2025-2026 northern lights season has been exceptional so far, and one thing is clear: people aren’t just asking where to see the aurora anymore. They’re asking which kind of trip actually fits them.
Short stay or long trip?
Car or no car?
Tour or no tour?
Quiet or social?
First time or return visit?
This guide helps you choose the right northern lights destination based on your travel style, so your trip works in real life — not just on paper.
Northern lights Without a Car: How to See the Aurora the Easy Way
Seeing the northern lights is one of those travel dreams that feels almost mythic — until you start planning it and suddenly everything involves icy roads, late-night driving, weather stress, and rental car disclaimers written in very small print.
Here’s the reassuring truth: you absolutely can see the northern lights without a car. In many cases, it’s not just easier — it’s smarter. We’ve done it plenty of times — Luleå, Alta, Kiruna, Rovaniemi, etc. — as we usually don’t rent a car in winter.
This guide is for travelers who want the aurora without white-knuckle winter driving, missed turnoffs in the dark, or constant road-condition checks. We’ll show you how it works, where it works best, and how to choose accommodation and tours that do the heavy lifting for you.
10 Underrated European Destinations for 2027
We’ve scouted Europe’s most overlooked corners again — these are the places we’ll be talking about in 2027.
Let’s be honest — over-tourism is real, and sometimes, you just want to escape the crowds and find a place that still feels undiscovered. At least, we do, and this is why we always prefer going off the beaten path. The kind of spot where you don’t have to queue for an overpriced coffee or jostle with selfie sticks just to catch a glimpse of a landmark. It’s also a more sustainable approach to traveling!
And while we do visit famous destinations, we’re all about the hidden gems, the places that still have that raw, unfiltered magic. Here’s our hand-picked list of underrated destinations for 2026 — places we’ve actually been, places we love, and places you should definitely add to your travel plans.
Best Hotels in Abisko (+ Cabins and Björkliden) - We Stayed There
There aren’t many hotels in Abisko — and that’s exactly why we love it!
You’re staying in the middle of a national park under one of the clearest aurora skies on Earth. No city glow, no chaos, just snow, mountains and open sky.
Keep reading to find your perfect Abisko hotel — we promise you an unforgettable Swedish Lapland experience!
And if you’re here for the aurora, you’ll find our best proven tips, the science, season-by-season breakdowns, and photography settings in our full Northern Lights Hub.
Abisko Northern Lights Tours — The Blue Hole & Sweden’s Clearest Aurora Skies
We’ve chased the aurora across every corner of the Arctic — Norway, Sweden, Finland, Greenland, Alaska — and Abisko is the one place where we show up relaxed. Clear skies are simply more common here. Locals from Kiruna drive to Abisko when it's cloudy. Photographers love it. And if you’re tired of stressing about forecasts, this is where you go to calm down and actually enjoy the night.
10 Magical Alternatives to Rovaniemi (Without the Crowds)
Rovaniemi is lovely. It’s iconic. It’s Santa’s “official” hometown. It’s also… completely flooded from November to early January.
Families, buses, long lines, sold-out activities, €450 reindeer rides, and prices that make reindeer reconsider their life choices.
If you're dreaming of Christmas magic without the stampede, Scandinavia is full of places that feel just as magical — sometimes more.
We’ve spent winters all over the Arctic — Kiruna, Abisko, Luleå, Alta, Tromsø, Svalbard, and Finnish Lapland (outside Rovaniemi) — and there are SO many places where the Christmas vibes are strong, the Northern Lights are bright, and the prices are (slightly) less terrifying.
And if your kids are begging for Santa, we’ve included a bonus a bit further away… but definitely off the beaten path!
Here are the best Rovaniemi alternatives, and what makes each special.