Sweden Lapland is one of our all-time favourite destinations; a true winter wonderland offering arctic adventures across snow-dusted forests in search of the Northern Lights. Whilst this area is mostly known as the home to the sensational Icehotel in the village of Jukkasjarvi, if you venture a bit further to the east coast, you’ll find the little city of Lulea. Not only home to a UNESCO-listed Old Town and award-winning cuisine, here you’ll find wilderness retreats huddled around the bays and inlets of the Gulf of Bothnia perfect for snowmobile safaris across frozen rivers.
Read on for our top reasons why Lulea makes for the perfect Lapland winter city break.
1. Direct Flights
New direct flights to Lulea with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) from December 2021 mean easier access than ever before to the heart of Swedish Lapland. The flights will operate twice-weekly between London’s Stansted airport and Lulea on Mondays and Fridays.
Not only will this new route enable travellers to have more time on the ground to enjoy and experience all Lulea has to offer but according to Visit Lapland, the direct flights are predicted to make the journey 18% – 20% more carbon-efficient, helping to reduce the impact of travel to the region.
2. Northern Lights
Just 68km from the Arctic Circle, Lulea’s lack of light pollution, long winters and dark nights offer truly beautiful spectacles. While the auroras can be viewed in the city, one of the best ways to experience the thrill of watching out for the elusive aurora is spending a night in a yurt on our Aurora Hideaway overnight trip – a guided experience taking you to a remote spot on the frozen ice for a unique glamping stay in a yurt. Your guide drives you by snowmobile-pulled sled, then cooks a delicious 3-course meal over a fire before a private sauna cabin awaits.
Experience it for yourself on our Winters Dream in Brandon Lodge itinerary.
3. Snow-dusted landscapes
Home to over 1,000 islands of rocky shores, lakes and woodlands, the surrounding archipelago is the the perfect base for arctic adventures. Full of frozen rivers, snow-dusted forests and silent, blanketed valleys – you can explore between the islands by snowmobile and learn about life in the northern wilderness.
Experience it for yourself with a snowmobile safari.
4. Board a hovercraft
Lulea is surrounded by ocean and is one of the few places in the region where the sea ice actually freezes over up to a metre thick. This means, from December, Lulea is extended into a frozen wonderland of snow and ice trails, where you can snowshoe, skate, walk and sled across the bay directly from the city centre. Between February and March, depending on the thickness, you can even drive your car across the ocean – with some roads even stretching all the way to the surrounding archipelago’s islands.
Stepping on board of a hovercraft is a unique and magical way of exploring Lulea’s frozen archipelago. Nowhere else in Swedish Lapland is this experience available during the winter season! On this excursion, an experienced guide will drive you across the ice-covered Bothnian Bay with the goal to see the pack ice fields of the outer archipelago where you can be on the lookout for seal and sea eagles.
Experience if for yourself on a hovercraft tour.
Feeling Inspired?
Lulea is ideal for those who want to combine a city break with the winter charms of Swedish Lapland and the Arctic. Speak to one of our travel experts to tailor the perfect winter break for you.
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