Reykjavik
PHOTO:TRAVELPIX LTD/GETTY IMAGES
After a year of decreased tourism (and one very exciting volcanic eruption), Iceland is welcoming travelers back with new must-visit experiences. If luxury living is on your itinerary, make a beeline for the Reykjavik EDITION, a new hotel coming to the Old Harbor port in August 2021. You'll find it near the iconic Harpa Concert Hall — the locationcan't be beat for those who want to experience the old-city charm of the harbor, the bustling shops of Laugavegur Street, and the restaurants sprinkled throughout the Miðborg neighborhood. Bad views don't exist at this hotel, as its locale offers up vistas of the harbor, the nearby Mt. Esja, and Snæfellsjökull glacier. If you're looking to immerse yourself in a bouncing crowd of live music fans, the Iceland Airwaves festival will return to the capitol November 3-6. This year's showcase will span jazz and synth pop to blues and indie rock, featuring Eurovision favorite Daði Freyr, the all-female rap group Daughters of Reykjavik, and more. To add to this year's Airwaves excitement, Björk is also hosting a series of orchestral performances featuring some of her early-career collaborators this September. While tickets to the live performances are sold out, fans around the world can pop in via livestream (tickets are available on the Iceland Airwaves website).The land of hot springs also added a new geothermal spa to its roster for those looking to add another stop after the Blue Lagoon. The newly opened Sky Lagoon is a quick drive from downtown Reykjavik in Skerjafjörður featuring an infinity lagoon with expansive views across the Atlantic Ocean. —Erika Owen
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Swedish Lapland
PHOTO:MICHAEL JÖNSSON/SCANDINAV BILDBYRÅ/IMAGEBANK.SWEDEN.SE
This remote portion of northern Sweden has long appealed to anyone hoping to spot the Northern Lights. Accommodations there tend to be as singular as the setting, and the long-awaited Arctic Bath hotel is no exception. With its main structure floating in the Lule River, the 12-room property consists of six overwater rooms and six cabins set on the adjacent land. Wellness is a central tenet, so spa programs focus on nutrition, exercise, and the mind, in addition to body pampering with Kerstin Florian treatments. Sustainability is another throughline: The Scandi aesthetic was created using natural wood, stone, and textiles, and the menu at the onsite restaurant emphasizes local produce and ingredients, including wild meats and fish. Activities help guests explore the surrounding wilderness through fishing, moose safaris, and other pursuits. —Sarah Bruning