Storforshei, Norway

Arctic Circle Centre

This roadside attraction looks like a flying saucer parked atop the tundra.

Marking the Arctic Circle at 66’ 33” North, this odd UFO-shaped structure welcomes passersby to the polar region.

Offering an ecclectic variety of visitor experiences ranging from witnessing the majesty of the aurora borealis to a selfie opportunity with an enormous wooden troll, the Arctic Circle Centre has marked the gateway to the land of the midnight Sun since 1990.

This largely educational enterprise is strategically situated on the edge of the stunning Saltfjellet-Svartisen National Park at the most southerly latitude where, on a summer day, the sun does not set. The Arctic Circle is clearly marked as it runs right through the saucer-shaped visitor’s center.

In addition to informative displays and movies designed to educate visitors about the unique landscape and ecosystem of the polar region, the surprisingly accessible center houses a restaurant serving Norwegian food, a polar post office, a small cinema, and a gift shop. Here, visitors may purchase a polar circle certificate to prove to any doubters their prowess as a polar explorer, even if they arrived on one of the many coach trips stopping on their way toward the Nordkapp, mainland Europe’s most northerly outpost.

Know Before You Go

The Arctic Circle Centre is along the E6 Highway, which runs from Malmo in Sweden through to the Norwegian-Russian Border. The center is 50 miles north of the small city of Mo i Rana.