No region on Earth is more spectacular than the epic wilderness above the Arctic Circle, and it’s no surprise there are countless places to visit in the Arctic. The Arctic region spans eight countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, the United States, and Russia. It covers over 4% of the Earth’s surface, approximately 20,000,000 km2.
With our team’s extensive experience exploring the polar regions, we have curated a list of our 50 top recommendations for places to visit in the Arctic Circle.
From the exhilaration of spotting polar bears on the sea ice to witnessing Greenland’s majestic icebergs and glaciers, feeling the chill of the Arctic air, and being awed by their sheer size. These are the experiences that await you in the Arctic.
I hope these recommendations inspire you to visit the Arctic and assist you in choosing your destination.
Travel Tip: Many places to visit in the Arctic Circle are exceptionally remote, but don’t let that deter you. The best way to explore them is on an expedition cruise, which I highly recommend. Arctic cruises offer an excellent way to explore remote places in the Arctic, including destinations Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard, Alaska, and Canada.
Remember, if you want assistance planning an expedition cruise to the Arctic, our Travel Experience Team is always here to help.
Located on the top of the Earth, the frozen Arctic Ocean is one of the many arctic destinations permanently covered by thick sea ice throughout the year. Unlike Antarctica, the Arctic doesn’t have a landmass under it. This frozen wilderness is home to awe-inspiring wildlife, including polar bears that hunt on the thick sea ice. Read more in our North Pole Guide
The most northerly point on Earth, the North Pole, is nestled in the frozen Arctic Ocean. With fewer than 1,000 visitors per year, it’s one of the most exclusive and least explored places to visit in the Arctic. Enveloped in thick sea ice year-round, it’s only accessible during summer by an icebreaker, adding to its allure. The North Pole symbolises exploration and adventure, and visiting here is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that only a select few have ever witnessed.
Are you interested in visiting the North Pole? Please see our North Pole Cruises.
Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago of 9 main islands and countless smaller islets and skerries located around 650 miles south of the North Pole. Spitsbergen is the largest island and where Longyearbyen, the main town, is located.
Svalbard features some of our favourite places to visit in the Arctic boasting over 1,500 glaciers, towering mountain peaks, and a rich diversity of wildlife.
Its compact landmass makes it a haven for polar bears, walruses, whales, belugas, and arctic foxes. The arctic fox, with its unique adaptations like winter camouflage, is native to this region and adds to the charm of Svalbard’s biodiversity. It’s the only place on Earth where you can spot the Svalbard Reindeer, making it a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts.
Here are our favourite places to visit in Svalbard:
One of Svalbard’s largest and most impressive glaciers, The Monaco Glacier (also known as the Monacobreen Glacier), is a tidewater glacier in the Liefdefjorden in Northwest Spitsbergen. At a staggering 7km wide and 60 meters in height, it is truly a sight to behold. It’s the perfect place to go on a Zodiac cruise and appreciate this beautiful natural wonder close-up.
One of Svalbard’s most picturesque fjords, Magdalena Fjord, is known for its azure waters framed by mountains and glaciers. It is located in Northwest Spitsbergen and is among the most famous fjords for expedition cruises. First discovered in 1596 by Robert Barents, it remains one of our favourite places in Svalbard.
Famous for being the most northerly town on Earth, Longyearbyen is the gateway to Svalbard. It has an airport and a cruise port, and when you visit, you will likely pass through one of these. 2,368 people call Longyearbyen home.
Longyearbyen has several exciting museums about polar exploration, including the North Pole Expedition Museum, dedicated to the early exploration of the North Pole. Longyearbyen has a variety of modern hotels, guest houses, restaurants, and bars, as well as a church and university.
Don’t forget to check out the Most Northerly Brewery on Earth to taste the local beer brewed with glacial water.
One of Svalbard’s most famous historical sites, Smeerenberg was a whaling settlement founded by the Dutch in 1619 and operated until 1657. It is located in the Northwest Spitsbergen National Park. Today, the remains of the vast blubber ovens can be seen emerging from the sand. Please keep your eyes peeled for walruses, which we have frequently sighted and often hauled out on the beaches close to Smeerenberg.
Located in southwest Spitsbergen, Hornsund is known for its jagged horn-shaped peak, which stands at 1,431 metres above sea level and marks the entrance to this 19-mile-long fjord. The fjord is a haven for wildlife, including seals, walruses, and polar bears. Located within the fjord is a Polish research station dating back to 1957.
If Longyearbyen is the most northerly place on Earth, then Ny Alesund is the most northerly settlement with a year round population. This small settlement is privately owned and run as a scientific research centre with stations from 11 countries.
Ny Alesund is one of my favourite places to visit in the Arctic, as its remoteness is something you rarely experience. Although it is impossible to enter any research station, there is an excellent museum with the history of the settlement, which was initially founded as a mining community, and the story of the North Pole exploration by airship. Close by is the airship mast Roald Amundsen took off from to reach the North Pole in 1926, accompanied by a statue of him in the settlement.
If you want to see a real-life soviet ghost town, Pyramiden is the answer. A former Soviet mining town, it was abandoned in 1996 during the collapse of the USSR. Today, it is inhabited by just six people and has a hotel where it can stay. Enjoy a guided tour and enter some former buildings, such as the cinema and swimming pool, for a ghostly experience.
Nordaustlandet, which means North East Land, is a less explored island home to dramatic scenery east of the Svalbard archipelago. The 2nd most significant island in the Svalbard Archipelago is partly covered by Europe’s third largest ice cap, Austfonna, which covers 7,800 km2 of the island, around 58% of its landmass. Nordaustlandet is accessible on longer-length expedition cruises that reach the far East of Svalbard.
One of my favourite places in Svalbard is where the Austfonna ice cap meets the ocean. This mammoth ice wall extends for approximately 180 km and is up to 25 meters tall. At Bråsvellbreen, meltwater on the ice cap during the summer months causes dramatic freshwater waterfalls to pour over the edge of the ice wall and into the sea below. It’s a fantastic place to appreciate the spellbinding magic of the Arctic from a Zodiac at a safe distance.
A must-see place in Svalbard for any birdwatcher or wildlife lover, the Alkefjellet Bird Cliffs are home to 60,000 pairs of breeding Brünnich’s guillemots that nest on the sheer cliffs during the summer months. It is possible to approach the cliffs by Zodiac and take in the sights and sounds of this awe-inspiring natural spectacle. The last time I visited, I even caught the rare glimpse of a polar bear nestled on the rocks beneath the cliff, scavenging for food.
While Svalbard is not short of glaciers, the Lilliehook glacier (Lilliehöökbreen) in West Spitsbergen is one of my favourites. Its calving glacier face is 22km long, making it one of Svalbard’s most dramatic glaciers framed by mountainous scenery. During the summer months, huge pieces of ice calve off the glacier face and drift along the fjord, which makes quite a sight if you observe from a safe distance on a Zodiac.
The second largest settlement on Svalbard, Barentsberg, is home to 455 inhabitants, mainly from Russia and employed in coal mining. Some buildings have murals, including a school, the Russian consulate, a museum, a swimming pool, and an old Russian church. Walking through the empty streets is a surreal experience. To fully appreciate this remote Arctic relic, staying overnight at the hotel is possible.
An interesting site for history buffs, Ny London is an abandoned marble mining settlement dating back to 1911. At Camp Mansfield, two original wooden houses remain, preserved by the cold Arctic conditions. Mining equipment was also left abandoned when the mine never became fully operational. Unfortunately, the marble was of poor quality and rendered useless, and the mine was ultimately abandoned in 1920.
If you are interested in experiencing these places to visit in Svalbard please check out our Svalbard Cruises.
Greenland is the largest island on Earth. Its natural environment is characterized by the world’s second-largest ice cap, which occupies 80% of the island, with approximately 660,000 square kilometers of ice-covered land. The coast of Greenland consists of mountainous fjords carved out by the retreating ice sheet and some of our favourite places to visit in the Arctic.
Located North of the Arctic Circle on Greenland’s rugged and remote east coast, Scoresby Sund is Earth’s most extended fjord system. It ranks as one of my favourite places to explore, with jaw-dropping scenery, endless wilderness and cathedral-sized icebergs floating along narrow fjords that rise to the mountains above. Musk ox graze along the coastline, and whilst it is rare, polar bears can be seen swimming in the fjord. For landscape photographers and nature lovers, Scoresby Sund is a must.
Located close to the entrance of Scoresby Sund, Ittoqqortoormiit is the most remote settlement in East Greenland. Home to 400 people, the nearest civilization to Ittoqqortoormiit is Iceland, over 350 miles away. Its colourful houses characterize Ittoqqortoormiit, and its name translates to ‘Big House Dwellers’ in Greenlandic. Cut off by thick sea ice for most of the year; this is one of the most isolated communities on Earth.
I had an incredible experience walking around the village and meeting the people there. Check out the small museum that delves into the village’s history.
One of the least visited places to visit in the Arctic, The Northeast National Park in East Greenland is a vast wilderness of endless fjords, mountainous scenery, majestic icebergs and isolated wildlife. Located in the high Arctic, it is entirely uninhabited and one of the most incredible places on Earth to connect with nature. Perfect for wilderness lovers and photographers.
The largest settlement on Greenland’s East Coast, Tasiilaq, has a population of 1,985 inhabitants. Whilst Tasiilaq isn’t in the Arctic (66 miles south of the Arctic Circle), it has a polar climate due to its proximity to the Greenland ice sheet. Temperatures during winter can be much lower than in Svalbard, which is significantly further North. Like Ittoqqortoormiit, 525 miles to the North, Tasilaq is blocked by heavy sea ice during the winter and spring. Framed by mountains, Tasiilaq is one of the most stunning villages on Earth. You can now visit Tasiilaq early in the season on an Icebreaker cruise
Located on the Far Northwest Coast of Greenland, Kullorsuaq is a remote settlement with a total population of 453. During the winter, temperatures plummet to -20 degrees. Due to its isolation, the village is one of Greenland’s best-preserved traditional villages, with inhabitants still hunting and fishing for food.
An exciting new icebreaker cruise offers the unique opportunity to visit Kullorsuaq at a time of year when it is still surrounded by sea ice.
One of my top places to visit in the Arctic nestled on the edge of Disko Bay is Ilulissat which translates as ‘Icebergs’, and there is a good reason for that. The town is close to the colossal Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, which produces around 10% of Greenland’s icebergs. Ilulissat is one of the best places in Greenland to witness these enormous giants as they sail past the town and out into Disko Bay. The UNESCO Ilulissat ice fjord is a short walk from the city and promises some of the most stunning views in Greenland.
Often referred to locally as Disko Lake because of the calm conditions the Arctic high pressure produces, Disko Bay is the largest Bay in Greenland and is full of gigantic icebergs. Due to these stunning ice formations, some up to 1km in height, it is one of my must-see places in the Arctic. An expedition cruise is an ideal way to appreciate the raw nature and beauty of Disko Bay.
Located 80km north of Ilulissat, the Eqi Glacier is an actively calving glacier connected to the Greenland ice cap. At 5km wide, it is much smaller than Sermeq Kujalleq but still an impressive site. Unlike Sermeq Kujalleq, the Eqi Glacier is accessible by boat, so getting close and observing impressive ice calves during summer is possible.
In the far North of Greenland, Qaanaaq is the most northerly town, home to 646. During the summer, the midnight sun is visible for five months, only to be replaced by total darkness for three months during the winter. Many traditions are alive here, from hunting and fishing to kayaking, and subsistence hunting is part of life.
For your chance to explore Greenland please check out our Greenland Cruises
The Arctic covers 40% of Canada’s territory. This remote region, bordered by the North Atlantic Ocean, is home to approximately 200,000 people, half of which are of Inuit descent, with the Canadian Arctic archipelago alone covering 1.4 million square kilometers.
This vast space is composed of epic scenery, from the sheer cliff walls of Baffin Island to the icy channel of the Northwest Passage. There are countless places to explore in the Canadian Arctic, and here are just a few:
The fifth-largest island in the world, Baffin Island, is sparsely populated, with an estimated population of just 11,000 people. Located in northern Canada, it is home to captivating scenery, sheer cliffs, and mountains that rise to 2000 meters from the sea. It’s an excellent area for wildlife watching, with abundant wildlife, including polar bears, Arctic wolves, seals, and walruses.
Clyde River is a small Inuit town on Baffin Island, home to 1,181 people. It is set to a backdrop of epic fjords that stretch inland to the Barnes Ice Cap. The area is known for its captivating mountains, icebergs, and glaciers. Like many places in the Arctic, during the winter months, the temperatures in Clyde River plummet to as low as -30 degrees.
Situated on the North of Baffin Island, Pond Inlet, also known as ‘Mittimatalik’ in Inuktitut, is a small town that marks the entrance to the Northwest Passage and is a frequent place visited by passing expedition cruises. Whilst the temperatures in the summer are mild, with averages between 5 and 15 degrees, during the winter, the mercury can plummet to as low as -40 degrees. The surrounding area is one of the best places in Arctic Canada to witness large pods of narwhals which frequent the waters.
The 10th largest island in the world and the 3rd largest in Canada, Ellesmere Island is the northernmost region in Arctic Canada. If you want to feel like you are standing on the ends of the Earth, Ellesmere Island is the perfect place to escape. Enjoy hikes across the Tundra, witness glaciers, and climb jagged mountains. Due to its remote location, the easiest way to visit Ellesmere Island is on an expedition cruise.
This small island in the Northwest Passage, which connects the Northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, is one of the area’s most famous historical sites and a must-see for history buffs. In the winter of 1845, Franklin set up his first winter camp on his ill-fated expedition to be the first to navigate the entire length of the Northwest Passage. Today, it is possible to see four graves of men who died on the Franklin expedition with their wooden plaques marking their gravesides on the desolate shoreline, offering a remarkable insight into the harsh reality of early polar exploration.
An abandoned settlement on Devon Island dating back to 1924. Initially used as a government outpost to police whaling, it was later leased by the Hudson’s Bay Company. It was finally abandoned in 1951 due to issues with the heavy sea ice surrounding the area in the winter months. Today, it is possible to view the remains of the buildings and a small cemetery that stands beneath the desolate and barren cliffs, offering an insight into what life must have been like in the remote Arctic.
This settlement acts as a gateway to the Canadian Arctic. It has one of the northernmost airports in Canada with scheduled passenger flights. It’s considered to be one of the coldest inhabited places on Earth. With a population of just 183, the winters here are long, and the settlement is plunged into total darkness over the winter months. Resolute acts as an embarkation point for shorter expedition cruises into the Northwest Territories.
The capital city of the Canadian territory of Nunavut, Iqaluit, is located south of Baffin Island. Its population is 7,429, making it Canada’s smallest capital city. Settled in 1942, it is also Canada’s most recent capital city and the furthest North. The city has much to see, including a visitor’s center that offers a great introduction to the area, a museum, a church, and a brewing company.
Located on Broughton Island in the southern region off the coast of Baffin Island. Qikiqtarjuaq is one of Arctic Canada’s closest communities to Greenland and home to 593 inhabitants. Known for its wildlife, Qaqulluit National Wildlife Area with regular sightings of polar bears, narwhals, seals and whale species.
Churchill is synonymous with polar bear viewing and is located on the Hudson Bay shores. It is known for its spectacular scenery and wildlife, earning the title of the ‘polar bear capital of the world.’ Along with Svalbard, it is one of the best places to see polar bears in the wild. Unlike Svalbard, polar bears are viewed on the Tundra during the autumn months from large ATVs. It isn’t the same as encountering polar bears on the sea ice in Svalbard, but the chances of seeing them are high. Beluga whales are frequently seen in the Churchill River Estuary during the summer.
Located on Victoria Island in the Northwest Passage, Cambridge Bay is a town of historical significance. The Dorset people first settled it 4000 years ago. Today’s population stands at 1760, and its location makes it a stopping-off point for cruise ships navigating the entire length of the Northwest Passage.
A sizeable uninhabited island is known for the large concentrations of Beluga whales that gather here during summer. The island played an essential role in the early history of discovering the Northwest Passage. It was first sighted by William Peary in 1819. HMS Fury attempted to overwinter in 1825 but became damaged by ice and was abandoned at Fury Beach. Roald Amundsen sailed past the island on the Gjoa on his first successful attempt to be the first man to navigate the Northwest Passage by ship.
If you are interested in exploring the Canadian Arctic please see our Northwest Passage Cruises.
The Russian Arctic covers a vast territory with over 15,000 miles of coastline and hundreds of inhabited islands, including the archipelagos of Frans Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya, and Wrangel Island to the East. Due to its remote, undisturbed nature, it is one of the least explored parts of the planet and a wildlife lover’s dream.
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An archipelago of 192 wild and remote, uninhabited islands in the Russian Arctic. 85% of the islands are glaciated, making them some of the Arctic’s most remote and least explored islands. Known for their vast concentrations of walruses and polar bears, their remote location makes them a haven for Arctic wildlife, and the islands have been part of the Russian Arctic National Park since 2012. Franz Josef Land is a stopping point on cruises to the North Pole that depart on the Russian Icebreaker 50 Years of Victory.
Wrangel Island is Earth’s most considerable polar bear breeding ground in the East Russian Arctic. The 93-mile-long island is a protected nature reserve, making it a haven for Arctic wildlife. During the long winter, the sea around Wrangel Island freezes solid, making it an ideal hunting ground for polar bears. In addition to polar bears, Musk Ox, Reindeer, and Arctic Foxes thrive in this undisturbed and uninhabited wilderness.
Situated in the Arctic Ocean north of the Russian Mainland, Novaya Zemlya consists of two main islands and is home to a subspecies of polar bears genetically distinct from other polar bear populations. The island’s human population is under 4,000 people, and with a land area of 32,000 square miles, it is one of the least populated areas in Russia.
The Arctic Circle crosses through mainland Norway. Norway’s has some of the most accessible places to visit in the Arctic. From picturesque fishing villages to remote villages and epic scenery and wildlife, Arctic Norway is full of picture perfect places we recommend visiting.
The first time I visited Reine, I sailed towards the villages to be greeted with one of Norway’s most iconic sites. Framed by mountains surrounding it, this picture-perfect fishing village with its colourful houses is one of my top places to visit in the Arctic. Located on the Lofoten Islands, Reine is connected by roads to mainland Norway, making it the ideal stopping-off point on a road trip through Arctic Norway.
Surrounded by mountains, Nusfjord is a traditional fishing village in the heart of the Lofoten Islands. During the winter, its colourful buildings are covered in snow. The area is excellent for activities such as hiking, kayaking, and rib rides, and it is possible to stay overnight. Enjoy a walk through one of Norway’s best-preserved towns and tour the Cod Liver factory to glimpse a well-preserved past of Arctic Norway’s fishing heritage.
Tromso is the third largest city above the Arctic Circle, following the Russian cities of Murmansk and Norilsk. Tromso is a city surrounded by majestic nature with steep mountains and fjords as far as the eye can see. It is possible to take a cable car up Mount Storsteinen opposite the city for sweeping views. If you are feeling adventurous, hiking during summer is possible, which I did for a spectacular view under the midnight sun. During winter, Tromso is a prime spot to witness the magic of the northern lights.
One of the best places in the Arctic to see whales, fin whales and orcas congregate yearly in Norway’s Arctic fjords during winter to feed on vast amounts of Herring. During the summer, the Skjervøy region is also home to some of the best hiking in the Arctic.
Due to its northern location, Kirkenes is one of the best places in the Arctic to witness the northern lights. It is a small town in Northwestern Norway, 250 miles North of the Arctic Circle and just 11km from the border with Russia.
The world’s northernmost city with over 10,000 inhabitants, Hammerfest is another great place in Norway to witness the Aurora Borealis due to the long dark hours in the winter. During the summer, visitors can enjoy the glorious midnight sun.
Iceland is often considered an Arctic destination due to its cold climate and remote and barren landscape. However, the mainland is south of the Arctic Circle, which passes to the North. But one place in Iceland is officially in the Arctic Circle.
Located 40km off the North Coast of Iceland, the tiny island of Grimsey is a bird watchers’ paradise during the summer months. Over 100,000 Atlantic Puffins nest on the sea cliffs between April and August, making this one of the best places in the Arctic to see puffins. Other species, including Arctic Terns and Razorbills, flock to the island. It’s no wonder BirdLife International lists it as an Important Bird Area.
While Sweden has a smaller land area than neighboring Norway or Finland, around 15% of it, including numerous small towns, lies above the Arctic Circle. The area is an outstanding wilderness and a perfect place to visit on your Arctic tour.
Swedish Lapland is the northernmost territory in Sweden and is affectionately known as Europe’s last wilderness. The Sami, Europe’s only Indigenous people, live in this region. During the summer months, Swedish Lapland is a hiker’s paradise, and it is home to the King’s Trail, a 400-km trek through the Arctic. During the winter months, it is the perfect chance to see the Northern lights, stay in an ice hotel, and try dog sledging in this pristine winter wonderland.
The Abisko National Park is a breathtaking alpine region located within Swedish Lapland. It is home to Scandinavia’s largest alpine lake and some outstanding Arctic hiking during the summer. During the winter months, the dark skies provide some of the best northern light spectacles on the planet.
Like its Scandinavian neighbours, the Arctic Circle runs through Finland, with approximately one-third of Finland above it. The region is famed for its outstanding wilderness, from the endless summer sun to dark winters.
Finnish Lapland is a region in Finland’s far north, further north than its neighbour Sweden. During the winter, take a reindeer ride through its snow-covered forests or meet Santa at his Lapland home. The region is perfect for hiking, camping, and reconnecting with nature in summer.
Did you know there are places to visit in the Arctic within the USA? The Arctic Circle extends through the stop of the state of Alaska. While Canada has significantly more territory in the Arctic than the USA, expedition cruises passing through the Northwest Passage still often visit some communities in the USA’s Arctic.
Three hundred thirty miles north of the Arctic Circle on the coast of Alaska is Utqiagvik, a remote community home to 4,927 people, mostly of Inuit descent. Formerly known as Barrow, the name was changed to the Inuit name Utqiaġvik, which derives from a term meaning ‘SNoy Owl’ following a referendum in 2016. Roughly 1300 miles from the North Pole, many residents still rely on subsistence hunting as part of their lifestyle.
One of the most isolated towns in Alaska, Prudhoe Bay is home to 1310 people, with the oilfield being a significant employer. The climate is Tundra, with lows of -25 degrees Celsius and complete darkness at the height of the winter months. The Dalton Highway connects Prudhoe Bay to Fairbanks in Alaska, which features in Ice Road Truckers season 3.
I hope this article has inspired you to see some the many places to visit in the Arctic for yourself. Remember, the Arctic is a vast area; this is just a short list of places you can see. There are many more just waiting to be explored.
If you need assistance choosing a trip, please contact our Travel Experience Team, who have extensive first-hand experience.
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