This Arctic Circle town hosts Sweden's largest Sámi winter market, with four national parks nearby. Watch craftspeople make traditional knives or see the midnight sun in summer.
In Jokkmokk, a small town north of the Arctic Circle in Swedish Lapland, you can watch craftspeople make traditional Sámi knives at the Sami Duodji workshop, learn about Arctic life at the Ájtte museum, or join thousands of visitors at the February Winter Market for reindeer races and local food. The surrounding wilderness includes four national parks where you can hike through ancient pine forests and camp beside mountain lakes.
The February Winter Market
Every February since 1605, this four-day celebration brings 30,000 visitors to Jokkmokk. Local residents set up teepee structures along the streets and wear traditional tunics and fur boots. You can buy smoked reindeer meat from market stalls, listen to traditional Sámi yoik singing, and watch reindeer parades through the town center. Temperatures often drop to -40°C during the market days.
Sámi Culture and Museums
At the Ájtte museum, exhibits explain how Sámi people track reindeer migrations and survive Arctic winters. You can examine traditional tools, clothing, and artwork. The museum maintains a botanical garden with Arctic plants like mountain avens and cloudberries. Next door at the Sami Duodji workshop, you can watch artisans create knives, bags, and jewelry using reindeer antlers, leather, and birch wood.
Four National Parks
Sarek, Muddus, Padjelanta, and Stora Sjöfallet national parks surround Jokkmokk. In Muddus National Park, you can see Sweden's oldest pine tree and walk through forests untouched by logging. Green lights dance across the sky from November to March during aurora displays. From June to July, the sun never sets. The 8-kilometer Kvarnbacksleden trail takes you from Skabram camping area to Notudden, passing through pine forests and along the shore of Lake Talvatis.
Weather and Seasons
North of the Arctic Circle, Jokkmokk experiences complete darkness from November to January and 24-hour daylight in summer. At 250 meters above sea level near the Scandinavian Mountains, winter temperatures in Jokkmokk drop lower than in any other Swedish municipal center. Snow stays on the ground until June, and lakes freeze for six months each year.
Getting Around
You can take the Inlandsbanan train to Jokkmokk from Östersund or Gällivare between June and August. The town has limited bus service, but you can walk to most places within 20 minutes. If you drive, watch for reindeer on the roads, especially during mosquito season when they move closer to populated areas.
