We all hope you had a good Easter break celebrating with your loved ones, searching for hidden eggs in gardens all around the world! This Tuesday we want to kick off with some inspiring city breaks to plan your next escape to. Throughout the Arctic Circle there are numerous quick city breaks you can jet off to last minute, from Oslo in Norway, Helsinki in Finland and Reykjavik in Iceland – we are going to guide you with some excellent city stays, for your next adventure.

Starting with the capital of Norway, Oslo. The capital city is located on Norway’s South Coast at the head of the Oslofjord (often a must see stop when visiting Norway). It is famous for its beautiful green spaces, eco-friendly credentials, and fascinating museums. Being the third largest Scandinavian city, it has grown dramatically over the years through its shipping and oil trade. Rich in maritime history, you can imagine that most of the museums are steeped in going into huge and fascinating detail about everything water worthy. One of our top places to stay is The Thief Oslo. Thief Islet used to be a haven for smugglers, but is now home to Oslo’s most luxurious hotel, The Thief. This chic, modern hotel is based in a sought-after location, in the middle of downtown Oslo. With a top location and highly bespoke spa, cosmopolitan bars and stunning artwork, The Thief oozes sophistication from every pore. The Thief offers a welcome retreat from the daily grind of day-to-day life, making this a must stay place for any city escape to the Arctic Circle.

Helsinki, the capital of Finland sits within the southern part of the country, positioned on the South tip and renowned for being a clean city, with vibrant green parks alongside stunningly designed architecture throughout. Think of passing your days visiting some of the world’s most stunning architecture, including the Houses of Parliament, the National Museum, the Helsinki Opera House, and the Kiasma Modern Art Museum. In true Finnish style, the city also offers a public sauna and restaurant in the Hernesaari district. Including the likes of some unique treatments such as the traditional smoke sauna, two other heated wood saunas, then following this, you can enjoy some healthy delicacies in the terrace and restaurant, open year-round. Some of our top places to stay within Helsinki include Lilla Roberts, a dog friendly hotel embodying an elegant feel throughout and located within one of the most desired residential parts of Helsinki. The rooms are luxurious yet clean and simple. Stay in one of their suites to really make your city escape a memorable experience. The building of Lilla Roberts is also steeped in a fascinating history making you feel like you are really staying in the heart of Helsinki. Klaus K Hotel is another one of our top stays and expresses true modern, Finnish city glamour. Every room has its own special chic touches, with quirky art deco design throughout. Being in the heart of the city, it is the perfect location to explore all Helsinki has to offer as everything is practically on the doorstep. The renowned Toscanini restaurant and Klaus K Bar and Lounge also mean that at the end of your busy day of exploring this rich city, you can relax in style going over all that you have seen.

Next week, we will go into more detail about some of the top stays in further afield cities within the arctic circle, such as Sweden, Alaska and Iceland!