Scandinavia and the wider Nordic region is home to an array of islands and archipelagos steeped in spellbinding natural beauty, from the harsh, frozen Arctic landscapes of Greenland and Svalbard to the considerably more mellow Åland Islands and Gotland in the Baltic Sea. Whether you’re enticed by epic winter adventures or laid-back summer escapes, our guide below offers a taste of what to expect in the region’s wildly contrasting islands and archipelagos, each of which holds its own totally unique appeal.
Greenland, Kingdom of Denmark
Ilulissat, Greenland (Photo: Lisa M. Burns, Visit Greenland)
Greenland is the world’s largest non-continental island, of which nearly 80% is covered by an ice cap. As such, most of it is pristine polar wilderness. Beyond its immense ice sheet, Greenland’s landscapes range from soaring mountains and deep fjords to flat, barren tundra and surprisingly lush valleys in the south. The vast majority of its 56,000 people live along the west coast, though there are no roads between settlements. Although part of the Kingdom of Denmark, around 88% of Greenland’s population are indigenous Inuit (predominantly Kalaallit), descending from the Thule people who arrived in Greenland from Alaska, via Canada, in the 13th century. Nuuk, the capital, has now replaced Kangerlussuaq as the main international gateway to Greenland with regular direct flights from Copenhagen, while Ilulissat, around 600 kilometres to the north, is the primary tourism hub, where a steady stream of icebergs float past all year round. In winter, it’s a wonderful place to go husky sledding, snowmobiling and see the Northern Lights; in summer, snowy activities are replaced by hiking, sailing and kayaking beneath the Midnight Sun.
Iceland
Northern Lights at Kirkjufell, Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Few countries boast such a spectacular concentration of awe-inspiring natural wonders as Iceland: in a single day you can venture between glistening glaciers, beguiling fjords, thundering waterfalls, black sand beaches and lunar-like lava fields. A road trip via the Ring Road is the best way to explore the island in-depth with plenty of opportunities for detours along the way – particularly in summer when conditions are generally favourable. Alternatively, for a winter escape, you may prefer to base yourself in Reykjavik or Akureyri (both of which are served by direct flights from the UK) and plan excursions while also enjoying the city sights. Visiting at least one geothermal lagoon is also a must, and as Iceland lies just south of the Arctic Circle, it’s an ideal place to see the Northern Lights between mid-September and early April.
Svalbard, Norway
Polar bear roaming in the wild, Svalbard
Rising out of the Barents Sea, roughly halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole is Svalbard, an archipelago characterised by gigantic glaciers, rugged mountains, dramatic fjords and barren tundra, where polar bears, reindeer and Arctic foxes roam in the wild. While part of the Kingdom of Norway, Svalbard feels very much like a world of its own. Human civilization here centres around Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost town with a population greater than 1,000, nestled in a steep-sided valley that slopes down to a fjord. This is the starting point for adventures into the polar wilderness by snowmobile or husky sled when the landscapes are blanketed in snow and ice (typically from December through to May). It’s a place of extreme seasonal contrasts, with a Polar Night lasting over 100 days as the sun doesn’t rise between late October and mid-February, and a period of endless daylight as the sun doesn’t set at all between 20 April – 23 August. For somewhere so incredibly remote, Svalbard is actually remarkably easy to get to, with regular flight connections from Tromso and Oslo throughout the year.
A winter travel guide to Svalbard
Lofoten Islands, Norway
Reine, Lofoten Islands
Protruding from the choppy waters of the Norwegian Sea like a chain of gnarled granite teeth, dotted with colourful timber fishing villages, the Lofoten Islands are among the most impressive sights in Arctic Norway. Many Norwegian coastal cruises pass through the archipelago en route to Tromso and the North Cape (or vice versa), but you can quite easily spend an entire trip exploring the Lofoten Islands without running out of things to see and do. Popular activities include hiking, sea kayaking, RIB safaris and, depending on the time of year, hunting the Northern Lights. While hiring a car is an excellent option, it’s also entirely possible to base yourself in Svolvaer (the main town on the archipelago) and arrange excursions from there, or take the Arctic Summer Route – a hop-on, hop-off bus service that links the must-see sights in the Lofoten Islands. The Lofoten Islands are served by two main airports – Leknes and Svolvaer – as well as regular ferry connections between Bodø and Moskenes. Another option is to fly to Harstad/Narvik Airport and drive around two-and-a-half hours to Lofoten.
Browse Lofoten Islands holidays
Åland Islands, Finland
Summer in the Åland Islands
Sprinkled across the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic Sea, the Åland Islands are an autonomous part of Finnish territory, but with strong cultural connections to Sweden and Swedish designated as the official language. The archipelago also has its own flag, parliament and anthem, therefore functioning in many ways as their own tiny island nation. Of the roughly 6,700 islands and skerries in Åland, only around 60 are inhabited, meaning most of it is beautifully wild and untouched. Summer is undoubtedly the best time to go, as the Åland Islands enjoy some of the longest sunshine hours and pleasantly warm temperatures anywhere in Northern Europe. You’ll find seemingly endless coves and beaches for swimming, kayaking and fishing, while the forests and meadows that cover much of the interior are criss-crossed by an extensive network of hiking and cycling trails. Taking a ferry from either Stockholm, Helsinki or Tallinn is the most common way to reach the Åland Islands, while it’s also possible to fly from Stockholm, Helsinki or Turku to Mariehamn.
Baltic Voyage: Stockholm, Åland Islands & Helsinki
Gotland, Sweden
Medieval town of Visby, Gotland
In a country with 267,570 islands (more than any other country in the world), Gotland is Sweden’s largest, situated 90 kilometres off the southeast coast of the mainland – a 30-minute flight or a three-hour ferry journey from Stockholm. It’s a fascinating destination that captivates visitors with its abundance of nature reserves, picturesque fishing villages, rich Viking heritage and iconic sea stacks sculpted by the waves and the wind. In the summer, there’s an almost Mediterranean feel to the place. The island’s main town, Visby, is a beautifully preserved treasure trove of medieval architecture with UNESCO World Heritage status, its cobbled streets filled with Hanseatic stone warehouses, flower-wreathed cottages and churches built in Romanesque and Gothic styles. Gotland also harbours a flourishing culinary scene with a strong emphasis on small-scale, locally sourced produce including freshly caught seafood, lamb, truffles, wild garlic and saffron, which thrives in the island’s relatively mild climate.
Faroe Islands, Kingdom of Denmark
Hiking in the mountains of the Faroe Islands
At the maritime crossroads between Scotland, Iceland and Norway, are the Faroe Islands – an archipelago of 18 basalt outcrops in the North Atlantic that are part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but with an identity entirely of their own. Indeed, there’s an almost otherworldly aura about these mystical isles, such is their astonishingly dramatic scenery at practically every turn. The landscapes here are almost entirely treeless, continually sculpted by frothing ocean waves and howling winds, and often shrouded in a thick blanket of fog or mist. Think towering cliffs, jagged rock formations, pyramid-shaped mountains, deep fjords and grassy moorlands where colourful villages cling to the hillsides and sheep outnumber humans. Thanks to an extensive network of sub-sea and mountain tunnels, as well as regular ferries, the islands are superbly connected, with many of the top attractions easily reachable within an hour’s drive from the tiny capital, Tórshavn. Getting there is also much simpler than you might expect; from 31 May – 30 August 2025, you can fly directly to the Faroe Islands from London Gatwick with Atlantic Airways (a journey of around two hours). At other times of the year, an additional connection is typically required via Edinburgh or Copenhagen.
Classic Faroe Islands self-drive
Turku Archipelago, Finland
Summer in the Turku Archipelago (Photo: Jaakko Kivela)
Scattered off the southwestern coast of Finland in the Baltic Sea is the Turku Archipelago, comprising 40,000 islands and islets, of which just 230 are inhabited all year round. A combination of wild, unspoilt nature, picturesque villages, rich cultural heritage and delicious, locally-sourced cuisine makes the archipelago (saaristo, in Finnish) one of Finland’s most alluring and relatively under-explored destinations – particularly in the summer months, when the weather is at its mildest and the sun barely dips below the horizon. The islands are easily explored by car or by public bus, with excellent ferry connections throughout the archipelago; another slower, but perhaps even more rewarding option, is to rent bikes and loop your way around the archipelago on two wheels. Accommodation options are plentiful, too, ranging from cosy cottages and traditional hotels to glamping retreats and fisherman’s homesteads. What’s more, you can combine a trip to the archipelago with a night or two in Turku itself – one of Finland’s prettiest and most vibrant cities.
Turku Archipelago: Island-hopping self-drive
Stockholm Archipelago, Sweden
Remote islands in the Stockholm Archipelago
With over 30,000 islands extending east from Stockholm, the Stockholm Archipelago is Sweden’s largest archipelago and the second-largest archipelago in the Baltic Sea. It begins at Fjäderholmarna, just 20 minutes from downtown Stockholm, and is both an excellent choice for a day trip from the Swedish capital or as a destination in its own right. Whether you fancy outdoor activities such as swimming, kayaking, hiking and cycling, tasting the local culinary delights (expect plenty of fresh fish and seafood), or exploring the archipelago’s array of idyllic villages where life unfolds at a delightfully leisurely place, the archipelago’s appeal is wonderfully diverse. Much like the Turku Archipelago, across the Gulf of Bothnia, the Stockholm Archipelago is easily accessible by regular public ferries, and is best visited in summer. Some parts of the inner archipelago, meanwhile, such as Vaxholm, are also reachable by bus.
Belles of the Baltic: Stockholm, Helsinki & Tallinn
Gothenburg Archipelago, Sweden
Gothenburg Archipelago (Photo: Mikael Svensson/Johnér/Image Bank Sweden)
Over on the west coast, Sweden’s second-largest city, Gothenburg, also has its own archipelago – albeit, considerably smaller than Stockholm’s. It’s divided into northern and southern sections, with the islands of the south archipelago being entirely car-free and closest to the city centre. Getting there really is a breeze; just hop on a tram from downtown Gothenburg and you’ll be at the Saltholmen ferry port in just over half an hour. The same ticket can be used to access the ferries, which take you out to the islands of Asperö, Brännö, Styrsö and Vrångö. These islands are small but full of charm; exploring them almost feels like taking a step back in time to another era. To reach the islands of the north archipelago, the ferry departs from Lilla Varholmen. The main northern islands, Hönö and Öckerö, are larger, more built-up and more populated, but tend to be quieter in summer, owing to the fact that they’re not quite as accessible from the city centre as the southern islands.
