A late July afternoon, you drive into Arjeplog. The pink church Sofia Magdalena is a landmark, reflected in Sweden’s deepest lake: Hornavan. You decide to stay for a bit. You have 24 hours to do something exciting. So: what to do in Arjeplog, now that you’re here?
Afternoon: You take a turn into town at the Silver Museum and drive to Hornavan Hotell, just by the water. There are fishing boats in the marina at Skeppsholmen, the location of one of the tables in The Edible Country, and it’s available for bookings. But tonight, you settle for the view lake Hornavan has to offer, and a tasty piece of meat.
Sometimes things don’t have to be more complicated than that.
Before heading to bed, you go for a walk on Skeppsholmen. The sun sets into Hornavan, which is still as a mirror. Sweden’s deepest lake was a mecca for trolling fishing for a long time, among fishermen looking for trout and arctic char. These days it’s also famous because of ACWA Fishing.
It's not difficult to find a pleasant hike along the water when in Arjeplog. Here's mountain archipelagos, water and islands enough for everyone.
Morning: After an early night you wake up in the early morning and have time for a walk before your hotel breakfast. It’s not difficult to find a pleasant hike along the water. Arjeplog is sometimes referred to as having a mountain archipelago, water and islands enough for everyone. You take Hamnvägen past Heli AB‘s helicopter hangar, perhaps you should take a sightseeing trip or a fishing trip?
At Bertil’s Park you turn off towards OK/Q8 and then along Strömvägen, out on Kyrkholmen, before you turn back again along the Silver Road. You could have chosen to hike Vaukaleden, which is partly adapted for people with reduced mobility. That tour would take you 10 km and up to the view on Öberget and Hotel Silverhatten, another accommodation option in town, together with Kraja Camping. But mostly what you see is how pretty it is. Few places can offer this kind of setting, where the mountains end up more or less in your back garden.
Over breakfast you try to come up with a plan for the day.
About Arjeplog
The Silver Museum, with its Sámi silver collection, is an excellent start to a journey through the history spanning from hunter-gatherer traditions via Sámi culture to the high-tech car industry proving grounds of modern Arjeplog. The mountainous archipelago is spacious enough to fit outdoor activities of all kinds, without ever compromising the silence of the Arctic.
Have a chat with the local tourist information for more insights. arjeploglapland.se
In Arjeplog you will find Sweden's deepest lake: Hornavan.
Morning: A visit to the Silver Museum is a given. This museum is in every way possible a keeper of Arctic history, based on 100 years of passion and a personal story. You spend almost the entire morning there and then walk across the square to Arjeplog Vilt och Kafé to try another classic: Kaffetåren.
Few cafés in the north offer something as quintessential to the north as kaffetåren: coffee served with coffee cheese, dried reindeer meat, coffee meat and reindeer tongue.
You add all this to the coffee in your cup, then enjoy. This way of eating probably came about when it was winter, and to save time you’d boil the coffee and then heat up the meat and cheese by putting it into the cup. These days many in the north enjoy this, even when it’s not cold.
In Arjeplog there are several places where archaeological remains tell stories about human activity here 7,000 years ago.
Afternoon: You walk across the square to Coop, buy some snacks and then envisage an afternoon of sightseeing. You have your car. Gáldesbuovdda/Galtispuoda, the ski mountain clearly visible from the town, is a start if you want to see the mountain world and get a view of the mountain archipelago. At 800 metres above sea level, you can see the Norwegian mountains in one direction and Padjelanta in the other if the weather allows. The trails here also appeal to trail runners and hikers.
On your way back you stop at Rapatjärn and the area known as Åsarna (the Ridges). They consist of nice paths out towards Hornavan, paths that pass by several places where archaeological remains tell stories about human activity here 7,000 years ago. There are nice bathing places and rest stops here for afternoon coffee and cake.
A beautiful view, tasty food, and comfortable accommodation – why complicate your holiday?
Packing up: You were planning on leaving but end up staying another night. A beautiful view, tasty food, and comfortable accommodation – why complicate your holiday? Tomorrow you can continue your journey along the Silver Road, perhaps turn off towards Laisdalen valley, or stop in Jäckvik and walk along Kungsleden, the King’s Trail, for a bit within the Pieljekaise national park. If you continue further west past accommodation at Polcirkeln, in Sandviken or Vuoggatjålme, you’ll reach Merkenes – a road that goes all the way up to the bare mountain, above the tree line.
If you choose to drive east, a stop at the Sami centre Båtsuoj, near Slagnäs, could be interesting. In Båtsuoj they have traditional forest Sami buildings, reindeers in an enclosure, and also an amazing sauna, if the weather is chilly. But of course it won’t be – you’re on holiday.
In Slagnäs, at Slagnäsforsen rapids, there’s really good fishing as well, just like in all of Arjeplog.
Laponia is unique in so many ways. A place of universal worth both in terms of its culture and of its nature. Looking back at its history, this Sámi World Heritage holds a story for all eight seasons of the future.
Fried Arctic char and boiled potatoes, in all their simplicity. It has been a long time since I ate so well and such uncomplicated food. Yet, the delicious taste is also associated with a very simple truth: Hunger is the best spice.
The freedom to roam is an essential part of life in the Nordic countries. In the Arctic region, it is a large part of our culture and our well-being. To be able to access and live off the land is a privilege for campers and foragers, but it also comes with responsibility. This is the edible as well as the drinkable country.
Some of the best and most scenic fly fishing in Sweden is found at Miekak fishing camp in the Arjeplog mountains. To some of its guests, it is something of a craving.
Sauna, or bastu in Swedish, is something as natural to people in the north as the midnight sun and the northern lights. It used to be something of a prerequisite for life in the Arctic, and now it is a rich part of the culture itself. Sauna is the essence of life up here.
Shimmery and magical. The dance of the northern lights is a spectacular sight that we frequently enjoy in Swedish Lapland. Viewing the Aurora Borealis is both a jaw-dropping and mystical experience. But when is the best time to see the northern lights in Swedish Lapland?
You might think that in the Arctic, we have darkness or daylight. In the winter, the sun never rises above the horizon, and in the summer, the sun never sets. But in fact, we have light all year round. Just different kinds of light. Some darker, some brighter, and some very colourful.
So, you are in Swedish Lapland, Sweden's Arctic destination, to experience the magical northern lights. Here are seven tips on how to get some good pictures of the beautiful light phenomenon to take back home.
Many think autumn is the most beautiful time of year in Swedish Lapland. It's as if Earth itself grants a generous firework display of colour before the winter sleep settles over the Arctic landscape. And it's easy to capture the show with a camera on standby. These are five simple tips for capturing autumn in a photo.
When the sun never sets, and the kids are on summer holiday. When holidays are waiting around the corner and meadows explode with wood cranesbill. That's when long lines of cars queue up to get out of the cities. It's time to go find tranquillity with friends and family in summer houses and holidays homes, away from the hustle and bustle. It's time to celebrate the most important holiday of the summer. It's midsummer.
Many towns, mountains, rivers in Swedish Lapland bear the names given to them by the Sámi people, usually describing their characteristics. When reading a map of Swedish Lapland, knowing the meaning of some Sámi words adds another, fascinating dimension to the landscape.
The midnight sun. The feeling of never having to face tomorrow, just keep having fun and enjoy the never-ending day, is absolutely wonderful. But. Those who depend on their beauty sleep will face certain challenges.
Scouting out the 'Big Five' on the African savannah is the big dream of many. They include leopard, lion, elephant, rhino and African buffalo and is a group of large, majestic and fairly dangerous animals. Here in the Arctic part of Sweden, we don't have animals the size of an elephant or with the speed of a leopard, but we have a fair few animals that are pretty cool in their own way. Below we have listed five animals that are both unique and fascinating, definitely worth putting on a list of must-see animals.
If it's your first time visiting Swedish Lapland during the summer, you'll notice that it never gets dark. You have entered the world of the midnight sun, and if you're not used to it, it's an extraordinary experience. But beware, it might affect your sleep quality.
Is it really true that anyone can walk around the forests and beaches of Swedish Lapland? Pick berries and pitch a tent anywhere? Yup, that's exactly what it's like in the democratic forest.
That Swedes have their fika (coffee and a snack), and that they drink lots of coffee, are well-known facts. But what's the thing about having it outdoors? What's the deal with coffee boiled over an open fire?
Running is in human nature. Long before urbanisation, jogging and rubber-soled shoes made tarmac commonplace, we kept to the trails. These days, trail running is enjoying a renaissance. Running for the experience and running for those who prefer personal challenges to personal bests.
Perhaps summer and swimming aren't what first springs to mind when you think of Swedish Lapland. But, in fact, there are plenty of cool beaches and places to go for a swim – thanks to the inland ice.
A road trip is simply a way of discovering things you've never seen before. If you give yourself the chance, you might also come across flavours you've never experienced before.
Mathias Dahlgren won the world chef championship, Bocuse d'Or, already back in 1997, and today, he's one of Sweden’s most famous chefs. His previous restaurant Matsalen, at Grand Hôtel in Stockholm, was named one of the 25 best restaurants in the world. These days Mathias and his chefs also do catering. And sometimes they come to Swedish Lapland.
When you visit Swedish Lapland, you will notice that our food culture is closely intertwined with our lifestyle. There is a strong tradition that testifies to how we have lived from what nature has generously provided us with for many millennia. Join us on a guided tour of our natural resources, taking the shortest possible route to the plate.
The King's Trail runs through Sweden's most beautiful mountain scenery and provides more than 400 kilometres' worth of hiking adventure for the first-time hiker as well as the truly experienced mountain veteran. It is one of the world's most famous hiking trails, and the stage between Abisko and Nikkaluokta is the most-travelled trail in all of Sweden.
When in Swedish Lapland, exploring the nature of the Arctic, chasing the northern lights or just soaking up the sun 24/7, make sure you don’t miss out on the food. Some of the food we eat might sound a bit strange, but we highly recommend you try and get a taste of Swedish Lapland.
On lake Uddjaur in Arjeplog, is where you'll find one of the coolest driving schools in the world: Lapland Ice Driving. How it came to be is a cold and actually quite a long story.
In Sweden, we love our coffee, and so-called boiled coffee (coarse ground and brought to the boil in a pan) is in many ways the national drink of Swedish Lapland. Preferably served with all the trimmings: coffee cheese, coffee meat, dried reindeer meat and reindeer tongue.
Hiking can be an amazing experience, but it can also turn into a real challenge. Spending time in the mountains means you have to be able to rely on yourself, your knowledge and your choices. We've put together some good advice below to make sure you have an amazing – and safe – mountain experience.
Snow is something more than frozen water to the Sámi people. It's a way of expressing the foundation of their existence – the migration of the reindeer. To a skier, snow is also more than snow. It's the way you experience life.
The helicopter takes us to the starting point, 18 kilometres out in the roadless land. The mountain terrain is magical. I cannot find a better word to describe it. Then there are sweat, pain, and doubts. Followed by laughter, pleasure, and euphoria. When it’s all over, all I can think about is: Why don’t all races take place in the mountains of Swedish Lapland?
In Swedish Lapland, nature plays an intrinsic role in our life and work, and the people here are highly sensitive to the small details of the changing seasons. Therefore, it seems only natural that the Sámi people describe eight seasons instead of four.
It is December and the landscape is covered in a white blanket; trees are heavy with snow and the roads are white. The dense mid-winter darkness creates a blue light during a few hours, and windows are lit up by advent stars and candlesticks. Christmas is here.
Swedish Lapland is Sweden’s Arctic destination, spanning from Skellefteå in the south to Kiruna in the north. The free-flowing rivers have been a connector for all the towns and villages within the de...
All our museums have their own character. From our main museum for Sámi culture via 13 different saunas to one of Sweden's largest art galleries. All of them an exciting journey...
The importance of ice in Swedish Lapland extends far beyond the hype of Icehotel. At the beginning of time, after the inland ice retracted, the ice on lakes and running water was already an important ...
Did you know that just the archipelago outside Luleå is made up of 1,312 islands? We've listed 10 islands to visit in Swedish Lapland in the summer. Many of them can be reached by scheduled boat tours...
Swedish Lapland is Sweden’s Arctic destination. It’s also more than a quarter of Sweden. This gives us a fair few unique geographical spots, so of course, we can also offer some of the most interestin...
Take a little piece of Swedish Lapland home with you. Are you en route to Swedish Lapland, wondering what souvenirs to shop for? We've listed some helpful tips for you...
There are many mountains and hills to climb in Swedish Lapland. You can get to the top of Dundret by car, while Kebnekaise takes days of hard effort. What these peaks have in common is an amazing view...
People up north, both young and old, has a thing for long, sandy beaches, sunshine and compact living. At least for some weeks every summer. Wanna camp like a northerner? Here are eight, great campsit...
There are plenty of scenic routes, or simply beautiful roads, in Swedish Lapland. We have listed five of them that will make a journey from a to b something more than just transport. Perhaps the road ...
The season with midnight light in Swedish Lapland is around 100 days long. You play golf in the middle of the night, you take a swim when you feel like it and those who have never experienced the midn...
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