• Arctic Light Hotel - Lapland, Finland

A chic hotel in a great location — with easy access to transportation, activities, and shopping — the Arctic Light is a great, budget-friendly option to experience Lapland.

• Visit a snow village or ice hotel - Lapland, Finland

Sculpting out of snow and ice is always especially breathtaking, and Lapland boasts a few snow villages you can explore. One is even themed around Game of Thrones, for all the superfans out there. Grab a coffee (or a cocktail) and wander. Plus, if you’re feeling really adventurous, you can always book a room for the night.

• Go dog-sledding - Lapland, Finland

Cute puppies and a magical ride through the snow?! What more do you need to know.

• Hot tub with a view - Lapland, Finland

What’s better than a regular ol’ hot tub? Hot tubbing with a sparkling, snow-covered view spread out around you. Warm up and get a little cozy without missing anything.

• Go for a hike in the snow - Lapland, Finland

The natural beauty of Lapland is seriously breathtaking, you’ll feel like you’re in the North Pole. Grab some heavy duty snow boots and your coziest, fluffiest coat and wander through your very own winter wonderland.

• Nili (Rovaniemi) - Lapland, Finland

A unique and cozy dinner spot serving classic Finnish food. Try the arctic char or anything featuring lingonberries.

• Ravintola Rouhe - Lapland, Finland

Local, seasonal dishes (seasonal eating is a huge trend in Finland) with a great wine selection to compliment. The cozy atmosphere will have you ordering a second (and third, let’s be real) glass.

• Cafe & Bar 21 - Lapland, Finland

If you’re looking for cocktails, this is your place. With outdoor seating and a cozy, hipster-ish vibe, it’s a great place to grab lunch or sit, sip, and people-watch. Plus, it’s very ‘gram-worthy, if you’re into that sort of thing (aren’t we all).

• Maaemo (Oslo, Norway) *new entry*
• Trillby and Chadwick - Helsinki

This Prohibition-Style bar in Helsinki is styled after a 1920s London detective agency. You won’t find any sign on the door, but once you spot the blacked-out windows, head inside and you’ll see an antique telephone you use to state you’ve arrived. From there, you’ll be taken into the dimly lit space where drinks come with unexpected ingredients like popcorn, red pepper, chickpea foam, and avocados.

• Hiking in Norway

One of the most immersive ways to get a glimpse of the natural landscapes Norway is famous for. With 44 natural parks and hiking trails that range from easy, self-guided hikes to steep, near-vertical climbs, Norway has something for nearly every type of trekker. Beginner hikers will want to stick to day treks such as Preikestolen (“Pulpit Rock”), which takes around four hours; more advanced adventure-seekers might tackle glacier hikes and/or the 12-hour trek to Trolltunga (“Troll’s Tongue”), a challenging ascent that’s only accessible during Norway’s short summer season.

• Himkok - Oslo
• Linje Tio - Stockholm
• Eliassen Rorbuer - Norway

If you’re more into authenticity than luxury, consider spending a few days in a Norwegian rorbu resort. Eliassen Rorbuer (around $175 per night) is located in the remote Lofoten Islands, and it offers guests the opportunity to stay in renovated cabins once inhabited by Norwegian fishermen. The upscale, restored cabins in the tiny village of Hamnøy attract specialist photographers wanting to capture the northern lights over the water and mountains. You can even take a tour focusing on northern lights photography, or check out one of the outdoor activities on offer!

• The Arctic Treehouse - Finland

Seeing the northern lights requires a lot of dedication and time spent outside in freezing cold temperatures, unless you happen to get a room at this hotel. At the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel (around $285 per night) in Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland, each tree house suite has a panoramic window offering views of the skies so you can enjoy the frequent displays of the aurora borealis from your own room. They even have underfloor heating and specifically positioned beds so you can stay cozy while you wait to see the lights. It sure beats standing outside in the snow.

• Lyngen Experience Lodge - Norway

Situated in the heart of the Lyngen Alps, Lyngen Experience Lodge (around $185 per night) is all about immersion in the Norwegian Arctic wilderness, with dog sledding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and boat safaris along a fjord all on the menu. Set in a secluded grove high above the Lyngen Fjord, its outdoor hot tub has views of the mountains and the aurora borealis. There’s even an in-house photographer to help you capture the celestial spectacle.

• Star Arctic Hotel - Finland

Saariselkä in northern Finland is an awesome place to go hunting for the northern lights. Spend your days downhill skiing on the fells and snowshoeing or snowmobiling in the Urho Kekkonen National Park before waiting for the lights to appear that night.The modern four-star Star Arctic Hotel (around $1,550 for seven nights) has Lappish-style suites and Aurora Glass Cabins, where you can admire the northern lights from your bed. The hotel sits atop Kaunispaä fell, and it's far from any light pollution, so you can maximize your chance at seeing the lights by staying here.

• Bjornfjell Mountain Lodge - Norway

On the northern coast of Norway about 230 miles north of the Arctic Circle is the northern lights-hunting paradise of Bjørnfjell Mountain Lodge (around $285 per night). Nestled in the mountainous Alta, this rustic resort from Original Travel has five secluded luxury cabins each with a fully-equipped kitchen, fireplace, and–most critically of all while stargazing outside in this high Arctic environment–a hot tub for staying warm in the freezing nighttime temperatures. Daytime activities include skiing, tobogganing, and ice fishing.

• Mardalsfossen - Norway

While the name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, Mardalsfossen boasts one of Europe’s tallest waterfalls, not to mention the tallest single drop in Norway. The dramatically tiered falls plummet down 2,154 feet of sheer granite, with the first plunge measuring 1,174 feet.