If you love winter, the magical atmosphere of snowy landscapes and uncontaminated nature, your destination is the North.
If you prefer adventures in real snow, natural snow, extreme ice sports and the Northern Lights, then you have to travel even further north, to the polar lands that truly offer dream winter postcards.
With Booking.com we discover 7 locations for an unforgettable holiday, where the sun does not rise above the horizon and the perpetual twilight gives the landscapes a unique, mysterious atmosphere.
Located halfway between Norway and the North Pole, the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard has an extreme climate, spectacular glaciers and vast ice shelves.
Its main town, Longyearbyen, is the gateway to one of the world's last great pristine areas, where polar bears outnumber people.
Between mid-November and the end of January it is the perfect place to go hunting for the Northern Lights, go on snowmobile safaris and fjord cruises or, perhaps after a visit to the local museum, choose an excursion into the lunar landscape of Mount Plateau.
To relax, you can book an evening at Camp Barentz, a welcoming chalet at the foot of Mount Breinosa, where you can enjoy an arctic dinner around the fireplace;
for your stay, the Svalbard Hotell Polfareren in Longyearbyen is comfortable and equipped with refined Nordic cuisine.
The northernmost city in Sweden, where you can discover the local Sami culture, a space center and the largest iron mine in the world, is Kiruna, which in winter transforms into an enchanted world of snow-covered landscapes and suggestive auroras boreal.
Those who love adventure can try their hand at reindeer sleigh rides and snowshoe excursions through forests, large lakes and mountains.
Near Kiruna, the Máttaráhkká Northern Light Lodge, a small lodge with décor inspired by Sami art, offers one of the best Northern Lights viewing experiences in Lapland.
Greenland, the largest island on the planet, is a country characterized by frozen, vast and inhospitable landscapes, but it is inhabited by a friendly population who lives in harmony with their environment.
The Inuit, indigenous people of the Arctic, welcome travelers into their homes to offer them Greenlandic coffees (whisky, coffee and orange liqueur, served with whipped cream).
The ice sheet in the center of the island and the icebergs scattered around it make this destination truly unique.
The coastal town of Ilulissat, reached by boat or flight from Iceland, is known for its World Heritage-listed ice fjord and icebergs.
North of the Arctic Circle, Hotel Icefiord offers rooms with breathtaking views of Disko Bay;
whales can be spotted from the windows and, in the rooms with skylights,
The town of Iqaluit, in the Nunavut region of Canada, is famous for its glaciated mountains and rich Inuit culture.
The colorful city is home to the igloo-shaped St. Jude Cathedral, several quality restaurants and excellent accommodation facilities.
Thanks to its location on Frobisher Bay it is the ideal place to spot whales, caribou and arctic foxes, and go on husky sled excursions.
There is also the opportunity to witness the Northern Lights, best seen between the months of October and April.
To learn about Inuit culture, visit the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit museum in Iqaluit, which houses artifacts and works of art.
Aqsarniit Hotel and Conference Centre, near the natural wonders of Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park, offers sleigh or snowmobile excursions.
The island of Hokkaido is the northernmost prefecture of Japan: in this period, cold winds coming from Siberia sweep the Sea of Japan, generating abundant quantities of snow.
Noted for its wilderness and hot springs, Hokkaido is not a polar region, but the climate, scenery and lifestyle are similar to those of the Arctic.
Alpine and cross-country skiing enthusiasts can head to the mountain resort of Niseko, which is also famous for its aprés-ski and geothermal hot springs.
The exclusive Setsu Niseko hotel offers an excellent restaurant, thermal pools and the possibility to rent ski equipment and go on horseback rides and guided cross-country hikes.
In the far north of Finland, Nuorgam is a remote place, surrounded by majestic nature, perfect for an authentic Arctic experience.
In this region, a stone's throw from the Arctic Ocean, it is possible to go on excursions with reindeer, night walks with snowshoes, trips with huskies and ice fishing.
To the south, along the river, are the heights of the Kaldoaivi region, a paradise for skiers and hikers full of hidden lakes and ancient paths, where you can admire the Northern Lights and spot reindeer, Norwegian lemmings, mountain hares, moose and foxes.
Holiday Village Nuorgamin Lomakeskus is an excellent base for exploring Arctic nature: the chalets have wood-burning stoves, terraces, private saunas and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river.
Just south of the Arctic Circle, the Alaskan city of Fairbanks is a launching point for legendary dog sledding or snowmobile adventures, ideal for spotting the Northern Lights at Murphy Dome, a site that was once an 880-degree air base. meters above sea level.
Also worth a tour is Chena Hot Springs, where there are rock pools with hot mineral water, perhaps after a stop at the Fairbanks Ice Museum, to enjoy cocktails served in martini glasses carved from ice, and at the A Taste of Alaska Lodge, far away from the city.
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