As the nights grow longer and the auroras return, the Nordic countries are preparing for what is shaping up to be one of their busiest and most sustainability-focused winter seasons yet. From Lapland to Greenland, the message is clear: the North is open for business — but on greener terms.
🇫🇮 Finland: Lapland Leads the Comeback
Finland’s winter tourism is set for another record season.
International flight capacity for Dec–Feb 2025/26 is up roughly 6% year-on-year, according to Visit Finland, with Rovaniemi, Kittilä, Ivalo and Kuusamo all reporting strong bookings. The American market continues to grow, offsetting slower Asian recovery. The government-supported Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) certification remains the backbone of the country’s tourism policy, while a “Sustainable Finland Pledge” encourages visitors to act responsibly. Expect crowded igloos and busy Santa villages, but also an unprecedented commitment to eco-management.
🇸🇪 Sweden: Steady Recovery and Climate Consciousness
Sweden’s winter bookings are climbing, though not yet at pre-pandemic levels. Lapland’s flagship attractions — ICEHOTEL, Treehotel and the Aurora Sky Station — are seeing solid occupancy, and domestic tourism remains strong. Sweden’s model rests on sustainability: from Nature’s Best, the eco-label for nature-based operators, to the Climate Policy Framework targeting net-zero by 2045. No tourist tax yet, but local destinations are testing voluntary visitor contributions to fund conservation.
🇳🇴 Norway: High Demand Meets Policy Change
A favourable exchange rate and peak solar-cycle aurora activity make Norway’s north — Tromsø, Alta, Lofoten — irresistible this winter. Airlines and cruise operators anticipate full capacity. Norway’s Parliament has already paved the way for a national tourist contribution (up to 3%), to be rolled out in 2026, with several municipalities testing their own schemes. Lofoten, in particular, plans to channel the funds into infrastructure and trail management.
🇮🇸 Iceland: Record Numbers and a New Tourist Tax
Tourism in Iceland is running hot even in the cold: 2025 brought visitor figures near record levels, and the winter ahead promises more. From hot-spring bathing to stargazing, the island’s winter tourism product is broadening. With environmental pressures mounting, the government has reintroduced and expanded its tourist tax, covering accommodation and cruise passengers. Revenues will fund nature protection and sustainable infrastructure.
🇩🇰 Denmark: City Lights and Green Labels
Denmark’s winter visitors come for hygge and design — Copenhagen’s markets, Aarhus’ museums, and the quiet luxury of seaside spa hotels. The country remains a global leader in the Green Key programme, with over 20% of hotels certified. Denmark’s strategy centres on making sustainability “the easy choice” for travellers, integrating carbon-cutting across its hospitality sector.
🇫🇴 Faroe Islands: Stormcations and Preservolution
The Faroe Islands are deliberately stretching the season. “Stormcations” — short winter breaks built around dramatic weather, hiking, and photography — are trending. Some popular routes now charge modest access fees, funding maintenance and local safety. In October 2025, a new tourist tax is scheduled to launch, supporting the Nature Preservation Fund. The broader Preservolution Strategy and annual “Closed for Maintenance, Open for Volunteers” weekends continue to attract global praise as models for regenerative tourism.
🇬🇱 Greenland: Open Skies, Careful Growth
The Arctic giant is poised for a transformative winter. The new international airport in Nuuk opened in late 2024, marking the start of direct global access. Tourism boards expect gradual growth in aurora, icefjord, and dogsled tourism through the season. Greenland maintains a strict small-scale approach — community-based tours, limited cruise calls, and high safety standards — ensuring the expansion remains sustainable and locally beneficial.
A Sustainable North
Across the region, the aurora “super-cycle” and post-pandemic travel appetite are converging with a stronger focus on carbon accounting, visitor taxes, and certification systems. The Nordic winter has never been more popular — or more determined to protect the fragile beauty that draws travellers north in the first place.
By the All Things Nordic Editorial Team
