Reservations are required for guided tours of the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory, but you can stop by the visitors center any day to explore its educational exhibits, including some chronicling research projects conducted at the Arizona observatory. The FLWO is run under the auspices of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

Nestled in its Arctic setting, the islands of Luleå form the world's unique brackish water archipelago, blending sweet and saltwater in an unparalleled environment. With over 1000 islands awaiting exploration, the Luleå archipelago beckons adventurers. The extended summer nights infuse life into the archipelago — accessible by boat or canoe. As winter blankets the landscape in ice, an endless winter wonderland emerges, perfect for exploration on foot, by snowmobile, car, or cross-country skis.

Luleå has a wide range of hiking trails, each with its unique character and showcasing distinctive parts of Luleå’s natural environment. Several of them are within walking distance of the city centre, others are easily reached by bus or bicycle. If you have access to a car, then the possibilities are endless. Hiking in Luleå is almost like strolling through the history of this unique city. For instance, you can begin by hiking across the large shingle fields on Bälingeberget — the first spot to rise from the sea, following land uplift after the recession of the inland ice sheet. At the time, Bälingeberget was just an islet in the middle of the sea and the waves shaped the rocks that now make hiking on the mountain a fascinating experience. Continue through the history of Luleå by visiting the place we now call Gammelstad Church Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and once the centre of Luleå, before the city was moved in the 17th century. Today, it is a popular tourist destination and there are also many rare birds in the area. Here, you can hike on what was once the seabed, now a beautiful forest with pleasant walking paths. When you have made your way to the modern city of Luleå, on the peninsula by the coast, you’ll find many other amazing areas to explore on foot. When people moved here in the 1600s, they also began exploring the surroundings. This helped create several excellent hiking trails near the city centre, such as one of the locals’ favourites, the trail around Hertsöträsk. You can pick up a copy of Luleå’s hiking guide at the Luleå tourist centre in Kulturens Hus.