Pajala

Forget what you know about Sweden. Tiny Pajala, known as the 'Swedish Lapland', sits just 100km above the Arctic Circle, and locals speak Torne Valley Finnish, one of the country's five minority languages.

In Winter the town is full of families visiting Santa's Winter Village, but don't write off Pajala as just a day trip destination. Pajala is a paradise for fishermen and nature lovers, as well as having an impressive theatre and music scene.