The Hidden North
North European travel guide
Population 2,786 / 66.3 degrees north
Jokkmokk, Sweden
Located just above the Arctic Circle, Jokkmokk is Swedish Lapland’s capital of Sami culture. The location has been an important Sami meeting point for centuries, and today the famous Sami Winter Market takes place – running every year for over 400 years.
About Jokkmokk
Latitude: 66.3 degrees north
Population: 2,786
Jokkmokk Municipality
In this Travel Guide...
Map of Jokkmokk
Uniquely Jokkmokk
Here are some things that you must do and try in Jokkmokk
Market
Winter Market
Every February Jokkmokk hosts the Winter Market – the largest of its kind and one of the most important markets for the Sami people. It’s not just a market, you can also watch the famous reindeer racing. This is an opportunity for the Sami people to see their friends and family and catch up. The event has been going strong since 1605, when King Karl IX decreed that markets should be set up in Lapland to increase taxes, spread Christianity, and have greater control over the Sami, who were nomadic at the time.
Things to See & Do
Here’s an overview of some of the best things to see and do in Jokkmokk
Museum
Atjje Museum
The Ajtte Museum is Sweden’s most thorough museum for the Sami people. “Ajtte” means “storage shed”, and that’s what the museum regards itself as. The museum is laid out with different sections on different Sami themes, including traditional costumes, folklore creature, the handicrafts, the shaman drums, and the use of reindeer.
Garden
Jokkmokk Botanic Garden
Jokkmokk Botanical Garden is located behind the Ajtte Museum and gives a good overview of the arctic plants and flowers in Swedish Lapland.
Hikes, Day Trips & Experiences
Looking to go for a hike or take part in a unique experience? Here are our recommendations!
Experiences
Jokkmokk Guiderna
Jokkmokk Guiderna offers dog-sledding tours. They also have canoes for rent, plus Sami experiences.
National PArks
Gateway to Lapponia
Jokkmokk is surrounded by spectacular nature and is regarded as the gateway to four national parks that are part of the Lapponia World Heritage Area, the largest unmodified natural area in the world that is still used by the Sami people for reindeer herding.
Hiking
Kvarnbacksleden
Kvarnbacksleden is a long hike that runs 8km along the Kvarnbacken River from Skabram camping through to Notudden. There are 20 information signs along the way explaining the region.
Viewpoint
Getbergstigen
Getbergstigen Viewpoint is a scenic overlook to Jokkmokk and the forests and lakes surrounding it. There are a number of different trails up to the viewpoint and a roundtrip could be between 8km and 15km.
Road-Trips
Follow our road-trip guides for scenic trips around Jokkmokk.
Self-Guided Walks
Jokkmokk on YouTube
Watch our YouTube videos featuring Jokkmokk
History of Jokkmokk
Jokkmokk has been a Sami meeting place for centuries, and in the 17th century it was established as a town with a church and annual market that attracted thousands of people. The market was a chance for the Sami to trade, negotiate and share the latest gossip. During the market, there would also be games, folk tales, and reindeer races. During World War II, Jokkmokk was a transit centre for Sami refugees from Norway during World War II.
Jokkmokk Today
Today Jokkmokk is the only place in Sweden that has a college teaching reindeer husbandry and craft making using the Sami language.
Travel Information
Getting Here
Fly: No airport
Drive: Jokkmokk is located on the E45 highway running through Sweden. Bus 45 connects Jokkmokk with Ostersund. Bus 44 runs to Luleå.
Train: Jokkmokk has a train station.
Ferry: No ferry access.
Getting Around
Jokkmokk is compact and walkable.
Shops
There are so many places to buy good quality Sami handicrafts – I’ve outlined them on the map above. Sameslojdstiftelsen Sami Duodji specialises in authentic Sami handicrafts of the highest quality. Stoorstalka sells Sami-designed clothes and accessories, while ELD sells handmade ceramics, glass, and homewares.
Places to Eat
Cafes & Bakeries
Tollboden Bakeri is famous for their woodfire oven pizzas.
Kaffebørsen is a nice café located in the harbour area.
Quick Bites
Restaurang Ajjte is a lunch-only museum restaurant with a weekday buffet.
Reasonable Restaurants
Krog Local is a popular place in Jokkmokk – recommended here is the “tapas a la Jokkmokk”.
High End & Unique Eats
Sapmi Ren och Vilt stocks dried reindeer meat and sausage, plus grozen game and Arctic berries. You can meet the families reindeer herd by the building and there’s also a restaurant here where you can try their products.
Places to Stay
Camping
STF Jokkmokk Vandrarhem is the hostel option in town. It’s located in a wooden houses with bunk rooms, private rooms, guest kitchen and sauna.
Cabins & B&Bs
Chains & Mid-Range
Hotel Jokkmokk has contemporary rooms overlooking Lake Talvatis plus a lakeside sauna for icy winter dips and a restaurant specialising in game dishes.
Hotel Akerlund is a 1920s hotel building with a lounge, sauna, basement restaurant serving moose, reindeer, and other local dishes. They have a nice log cabin vibe and Sami design inspiration.
High End & Unique Properties
Out of town is the Peace & Quiet Hotel, which has suites in individual glass domes, the design inspired by Sami tents. There are activities here including snowmobile, Sami experiences, ice fishing, husky sledding, skiing and northern lights tours. They have a restaurant here with Sami-inspired food.
Sunrise/Sunset & Weather Averages
January
Sunrise: 9:45am
Sunset: 1:54pm
Average Temperature: -14.2C (6.4F)
February
Sunrise: 7:51am
Sunset: 3:59pm
Average Temperature: -12.5C (9.5F)
March
Sunrise: 5:59am
Sunset: 5:41pm
Average Temperature: -6.6C (20.1F)
April
Sunrise: 4:56am
Sunset: 8:27pm
Average Temperature: 0.4C (32.7F)
May
Sunrise: 2:51am
Sunset: 10:25pm
Average Temperature: 6.4C (43.5F)
June
Midnight sun
Average Temperature: 12C (53.6F)
July
Sunrise: 2am
Sunset: 11:28pm
Average Temperature: 15.1C (59.2F)
August
Sunrise: 4:14am
Sunset: 9:12pm
Average Temperature: 12.6C (54.7F)
September
Sunrise: 6am
Sunset: 7:08pm
Average Temperature: 7.5C (45.5F)
October
Sunrise: 7:40am
Sunset: 5:10pm
Average Temperature: -0.1C (32F)
November
Sunrise: 8:36am
Sunset: 2:13pm
Average Temperature: -7.4C (18.7F)
December
Sunrise: 10:27am
Sunset: 12:44pm
Average Temperature: -10.8C (12.6F)