Struve Geodetic Arc: route guide

The arc is a chain of survey triangulation points, not a marked trail. It runs roughly north–south from Hammerfest in northern Norway, through Sweden and Finland, down through the Baltic states, then into Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine to the Black Sea.

There is no single route to follow on the ground. You pick the points you want to see and connect them by road, rail or ferry. The map reference point for the arc is around 52.2894, 25.6494 (approximate, in Belarus).

The most practical section for a short trip is the Baltic–Finland cluster: Tartu, the Latvian points around Jēkabpils, and the Lithuanian points near Vilnius. These are close together and reachable by public transport.

The arc is usually described in three broad sections. The northern section runs from Hammerfest through Kautokeino, Tornio and into Finland. The central section covers Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, with Tartu as the hub. The southern section runs through Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine to the Black Sea.

For a first trip, the central section gives the best return: the Tartu Observatory is the only major built structure on the arc, and the Latvian and Lithuanian points are within a few hours of each other by bus or train.

The northern section is worth it if you are already in Lapland. The points are remote, often on hilltops, and reaching them needs a car and some walking. The southern section is not advisable while the war in Ukraine continues.

The northern points are best from June to August, when roads are clear and daylight is long. Winter travel there needs proper cold-weather gear and some points are hard to reach in snow.

The central section (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) works from May to September. Spring and autumn are quieter, but some rural points are on unpaved roads that get muddy.

The southern section would normally be a spring or autumn trip, but the war makes it unsafe. Check your government's travel advice before considering any of it.

Tartu is the natural base for the central section. It has hotels, hostels and guesthouses at all price points, and the observatory is on Toome Hill in the city.

For the Latvian points, Jēkabpils and the surrounding towns have small guesthouses. For the Lithuanian points, Vilnius is the easiest base, with the points a short drive or bus ride away.

In the north, Hammerfest and Kautokeino have hotels and cabins. Book ahead in summer, when rooms fill with other travellers. In Finland, Tornio and the surrounding area have motels and campsites.

Many points are small posts, drilled holes or cairns in fields and forests. They are not always signposted, so download offline maps and coordinates before you go. A car makes the remote points much easier; for the central section, buses and trains are enough.

Check the UNESCO listing and local heritage sites for the exact locations of the 34 inscribed points. Some are on private land, so respect access rules and leave gates as you find them.

For the northern section, pack layers, rain gear and insect repellent. For the central section, comfortable walking shoes are enough. Always check current travel advice for Belarus, Russia and Ukraine before planning any route through them.