1️⃣ How to choose a destination?
You need to know what these cities have to offer
Norway
✅ Tromsø: Arctic Cathedral, Fjellheisen cable car, whale watching, dog sledding, reindeer sledding
✅ Lofoten: Lonely Planet cover, fjords
✅ Senja Island
✅ Kirkenes: King crab, snow hotel
✅ Cruise: Hurtigruten, Havila
Finland
✅ Rovaniemi: Santa Claus Village, Arctic Circle, dog sledding, reindeer sledding, glass igloos
✅ Saariselkä: Glass igloos, dog sledding, reindeer sledding, snowmobiling
✅ Levi: Skiing, glass igloos, dog sledding, reindeer sledding, snow go-karting, snowmobiling
✅ Inari: Glass igloos, snow activities
✅ Kemi: Icebreaker cruise
✅ Helsinki: Tallink and Viking Line cruises to/from Tallinn (2 hours)
Sweden
✅ Kiruna: Ice hotel, dog sledding
✅ Stockholm: Tallink and Viking Line cruises to/from Tallinn and Helsinki (overnight)
❓️ How to choose between Norway and Finland?
The two countries have completely different styles. Norway's specialty is its fjords, so Northern Lights photos there feature mountains and water. In Finland, the background for the Northern Lights is mostly forests. I couldn't bear to give up Finland's Santa Claus Village and glass igloos, nor could I give up Norway's fjords and cruises, so I went to both.
💡 Lofoten is hard to get to, is it worth going?
If you have at least 2–3 days, it is highly recommended. If you have less time than that, don't go.
2️⃣ Where to go first?
Choose one from Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, or Helsinki. If you are only visiting one country, go to its capital. If you are visiting multiple countries, choose based on which city's style you prefer. Personally, I prefer Stockholm and Copenhagen, and since Stockholm is closer, connecting flights are cheaper.
3️⃣ How to plan the route?
Helsinki ↔️ Kemi ↔️ Rovaniemi: VR overnight train
Rovaniemi ↔️ Levi: Bus
Rovaniemi ↔️ Saariselkä ↔️ Inari: Bus
Inari ↔️ Kirkenes: Bus
Rovaniemi ↔️ Levi ↔️ Tromsø: Bus (winter only)
Kirkenes ↔️ Tromsø: Direct flight (not daily), cruise
Tromsø ↔️ Senja Island: Self-drive, private tour, or self-drive + ferry (Brensholmen pier to Botnhamn pier)
Tromsø ↔️ Lofoten: Cruise, direct flight (there are four airports in Lofoten; Svolvær is the best location, but there is only one flight per week, and other airports require connecting buses or self-driving), bus + public transport, fast ferry + public transport, etc. This leg is very complicated. The cruise is the most convenient, but if there is extreme weather, it might not be able to dock. Direct flights are infrequent, and other methods are too much of a hassle, so booking a private car or a small tour group is highly recommended.
Lofoten ↔️ Kiruna: Bus or self-drive to Narvik, then take the train to Kiruna
There are direct flights from the four capitals to many of the cities mentioned above.
Some of the transportation methods mentioned above are seasonal or not available daily, so be sure to check the schedule for your travel date to ensure it is feasible.