Alta doesn’t roar like Tromsø. It hums, with that northern calm that gets under your skin (or, at least, under ours).

After years chasing the aurora across the Arctic, Alta was the place that made us stop rushing. And we’re planning to go back soon!

We enjoyed every minute, hiking, talking to locals and watching magical green lights stretch over the sky. So, if you’re heading here — to see the northern lights, visit Sorrisniva, or just slow down — here’s where to stay in this underrated corner of Finnmark.

If you're planning a winter trip to Lapland, you're probably torn between magical Rovaniemi, the "official" hometown of Santa Claus in Finland, and Kiruna, Sweden's Arctic gem. But wait — there’s more! Other Lapland destinations like Tromsø, Norway, and other less known towns, might also be calling your name. So, which icy wonderland should you choose? Let’s break it down.

When we got to Alta, locals kept asking us: “Why Alta”?

Indeed, many visitors skip Alta on their way to the North Cape, or just stop in Tromsø. And you know what? They’re missing out. Big time.

Alta might not be plastered all over Instagram, but that’s the beauty of it. And, as you know, our kind of destinations at Penguin Trampoline!

Interestingly for us, Arctic addicts, Alta is considered the northernmost city in the world with a population surpassing 10,000.

So, keep reading to find out why visit Alta, Norway!

Bodø doesn’t shout the way Tromsø or Lofoten do — it whispers. The Arctic city sits between mountains and sea, where the light changes by the minute and ferries glide toward the islands like floating postcards.

It’s easy to think of Bodø as a stopover, but spend a night or two and it becomes something more: a place where the Northern Lights dance over modern hotels, and where fjord air seeps into every plan.

Here’s where to stay, rest, and recharge before heading deeper into the Arctic. And we absolutely love the vibe.

Tucked into the fjords just north of the Arctic Circle, Bodø sits in Norway’s Nordland county as a quiet city surrounded by wild nature.

Bodø combines modern comfort with remote landscapes — so you can explore powerful nature, floating saunas, sea eagles, and Northern Lights without the crowds. In our humble opinion, it’s one of the most underrated places in Norway, and it probably won’t last.

If you’ve seen the Lofoten hype and want something a little quieter (especially in summer) — Bodø might just be your perfect stop.

In Luleå, winter doesn’t whisper — it glows. Between November and March, nights stretch long enough for the Northern Lights to take over the sky, turning this quiet city on Sweden’s frozen coast into one of the Arctic’s most underrated aurora destinations.

We stayed there a week in February, and saw the aurora 3 nights in a row!

Most travelers rush north to Kiruna or Abisko — and miss Luleå’s secret: you can see the Northern Lights here without leaving civilization.

Somewhere between Stockholm’s bustle and the Arctic wilderness, Luleå glows quietly on Sweden’s northern coast. In winter, the sea freezes into an ice road, locals skate to work, and the Northern Lights shimmer above the bay. It’s peaceful, real, and a just the right amount of wild — but with great coffee and cozy beds.

Whether you’re here for the aurora, the architecture, or just a slower pace, here are the best Luleå hotels and nearby Arctic stays.

Svalbard sits halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole — a scatter of icy islands where glaciers meet sea, foxes pad across snowfields, and polar bears outnumber people.

We first arrived by the small prop plane from Tromsø, stepping into that eerie polar stillness that feels less like travel and more like landing on another planet.

This isn’t just a place you visit. It’s a place you feel, and it will redefine your idea of Arctic wilderness.

Here’s how to plan your own Svalbard expedition or tour, season by season — with honest notes from our own time on the islands.

Rovaniemi, Finland, isn’t just Santa’s hometown — it’s the gateway to the Arctic, a cozy, snow-dusted city where Northern Lights dance above the rooftops and reindeer wander along frozen rivers.

We’ve stayed here several times in different seasons, and the truth is: there’s no “wrong” place to stay — only how close you want to be to nature, and how much you want to watch the aurora from bed.

That being said, it’s always better to be a bit further from city lights. And, personally, we love to have our own cabin with sauna for a true Nordic experience (you also save on food).

So here’s our handpicked list of the best hotels in Rovaniemi — from luxury spas to dreamy cabins — all with that essential Arctic magic.

If you’re chasing the Northern Lights in Norway, Tromsø is usually the first name you hear — and for good reason.
The city sits right under the auroral oval, surrounded by mountains, fjords, and more cozy hotels than anywhere else above the Arctic Circle.

You don’t have to trek into the wild to see the aurora — sometimes it dances right above your balcony. That being said, if the aurora is on the weaker side, your best shot is far from the city lights. And you’ll find awesome options in the surroundings!

Here are the best Tromsø hotels for Northern Lights lovers, whether you want views, comfort, or a cabin-in-the-snow vibe.

Alta, Norway may not get the same attention as Tromsø, but locals quietly call it the City of the Northern Lights — and for good reason.

Every winter, Alta becomes one of the most reliable places on Earth to join a Northern Lights tour and actually see the aurora dance.

We’ve actually seen some of our best auroras there, and it’s the mix of quiet roads, wide skies, and cozy Arctic charm that makes it special… with less tourists, as we love it!

When we travel, be it the arctic fjords of Norway or the hidden beaches of Portugal, one thing stays constant: our insurance. We’ve used Heymondo for every trip and in this Heymondo review you’ll see why we keep going back to it — especially because of its value for cancellation coverage and outdoor-activity protection.

There’s cold, and then there’s Lapland cold—the kind that makes the air taste clean and turns silence into music. Well, actually, there’s Svalbard cold, which takes it to another level, but that’s another story. You probably came to Swedish Lapland for the Northern Lights, but you’ll stay for the cabins that smell like pine, the saunas with a view of forever, and the hosts who still cut firewood by hand to prepare a delicious suova (Arctic Food here).

We’ve crossed Swedish Lapland roughly a dozen times, from Luleå’s frozen archipelago to Abisko’s star-soaked skies to find the best stays—those that feel remote yet reachable, wild yet warm.

Summer crowds have gone home (and we, penguins, rejoice). Temperatures are down (again, we rejoice). Winter hasn’t yet wrapped everything in snow. And in between, fall (or autumn, depending on where you’re reading this from) quietly transforms Europe’s wildest corners into glowing forests, aurora skies, and solitude you didn’t know you needed.

If you’ve ever wanted to trade pumpkin spice lattes for misty valleys, or swap city noise for the crunch of leaves under your boots, this is your season. Here are five wilderness escapes we’ve loved (or are about to explore) where fall feels like nature’s secret handshake.

Take a deep breathe in… and fall for nature with us!

If you’re yearning for the perfect fall escape, Finnish Lapland is your dream come true. Vast toundra and taiga landscapes stretching as far as the eye can see, vivid fall colors, cozy log cabins with crackling fireplaces, warm saunas, cold lakes, and the northern lights dancing overhead.

Whether you’re an intrepid adventurer or someone who just wants to snuggle up with a good book and hot cocoa, Finnish Lapland offers the perfect blend of wild and warm.

Bucharest surprised us.

We came expecting chaos, and sure — there’s traffic, honking, confusing intersections — but under the surface? A strange charm, layers of history, a little grit, and a lot of curiosity. It’s a place where street art creeps up on old villas, bookstores outnumber grocery stores, and you can eat something called a Joffre cake in a building that looks like a Wes Anderson hotel (we weren’t fans of the cake, but the vibe? Spot on).

Admittedly, we didn’t fall head over heels for Bucharest the way we have in other places, but we’re very glad we went — and we’d absolutely recommend it to anyone curious enough to explore Romania’s complex, creative, caffeinated capital.

And after you book your trip, make sure to get a good travel guide!

Romania surprised us — not with flashy resorts or five-star hotels, but with mountain cabins where the fog rolls in like a blanket, family-run guesthouses with woodsmoke and wildflower gardens, and city stays that still feel human.

We didn’t come here for luxury. We came for views, silence, stories. And these are the places we’d actually stay again — the kind that make you want to slow down, grab a coffee or a hot ciorba (soup), and watch the clouds drift past your window for hours.

So whether you’re headed for Dracula’s castle, bear country, or the cobblestone charm of Sibiu, we’ve got a stay to match.

You’ve seen the photos: glass igloos glowing under green skies, cozy cabins deep in Lapland, snow hotels made entirely of ice. It all looks unreal — and it is, until you find yourself standing outside at midnight, in –25°C, watching the aurora swirl above your room.

We haven’t stayed in every one of these hotels (we’re working on it, promise), but we’ve researched them, seen many in person, and talked to travelers who’ve frozen in all the right places. Here’s our handpicked list of the best hotels in Europe to see the Northern Lights in 2025, from Norway to Finland to Sweden — plus a few bonus picks in Iceland worth every chill.

There’s a stretch of Portugal’s coast where everything slows down — except the waves. Between Nazaré’s cliff-top drama and Ericeira’s surfer charm, the Central Coast is one of those places that still feels wild, real, and deeply local.

We based ourselves in Nazaré, followed the salty wind south, and came back with a list of stays we’d happily move into. Dive (or surf) into our selection of accommodation in this little — but mighty — corner of Portugal!

So why Nuuk, Greenland? Because it’s not trying to impress you. Nuuk doesn’t show off. It just is. It’s a capital without the stress, and without the tourist groups of Ilulissat. A city that feels like a village — if that village had sushi, mummies, arctic fjords, and some of the most grounded, generous people you’ll ever meet.

We had seen Nuuk in Conan O’Brien Must Go, we knew about the new airport, and we landed here with a few vague expectations about “Arctic vibes.” What we got was something else entirely: a crash course in Greenlandic calm, a boatload of icebergs, and an accidental royal sighting (more on that later). And honestly, we were very surprised on many levels.

Nuuk is not just a place. It’s a reset button. And we can’t shut up about it.