lapland travel guide

Are you ready to explore Finnish Lapland?

Welcome to the official travel website for Finnish Lapland, the home of Santa Claus , the last wilderness in Europe, and part of the Sámi homeland. Lapland is a destination above ordinary, full of contrasts and unique natural phenomena: Midnight Sun , Polar Nights, autumn colors, Northern Lights , and Arctic cites nestled among Ice Age fells.

Virtual Lapland is your gateway to an Arctic experience unlike any other. Explore Finnish Lapland anywhere, anytime, watch a dazzling Northern Lights show, explore how the seasons and wilderness intertwine and meet the wildlife of the North!

If you’re looking for the frosty bite of a reindeer sleigh ride or the soft heat of a traditional sauna, you might be ready. If you want to explore the wilderness during a white summer night and meet Santa any time of year, you might be ready.

If you’re done with the ordinary, you might just be ready for Finnish Lapland.

Find out more below, or follow the stories on our  Facebook and Instagram .

Simply magnificent

If you're ready to discover a broad spectrum of life above ordinary, you're ready for Finnish Lapland.

About Lapland

Mythical and magical – pristine nature and breath-taking phenomena make Lapland something else.

Things to do

How to make the most of your time in Lapland – meet locals and find out what northern life is all about.

Plan Your Stay

How to get to Lapland, where to go once here and more useful travel information.

Travel Responsibly

Find out below how we have become one of the most sustainable tourism destinations, and how you can have a positive impact on the environment, economy and culture of Lapland and the whole world.

Sound of Lapland

There are no blaring car alarms, buzzing metro lines or wheezing air vents here.

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Lapland travel blog — the ultimate lapland travel guide: how to travel & what to do in lapland finland.

Located in the north of Finland, Lapland is very close to the North Pole, so there are 200 days of cold winter a year. Any visitor, whether a child or an adult, wishes to have a trip to this place to meet Santa Claus , along with the reindeers. Moreover, this place is also an extremely attractive destination with a lot of interesting experiences. Lapland Finland (Finnish Lapland) is world famous as “the Official Hometown of Santa Claus”. In addition to the above nickname, is there anything else that attracts tourists from all over the world? Let’s experience Finnish Lapland through the sharing below. So, what country is Lapland in, what to do in Lapland, how to travel to Lapland Finland and how to plan a perfect budget trip to Lapland for the first-time? Let’s check out our Lapland travel blog (Lapland blog) with the fullest Lapland travel guide (Lapland guide) from how to get to Lapland Finland, best time to come, where to stay, what to see in Lapland Finland, things to do in Lapland Finland as well as what to do in Rovaniemi to find out the answer!

• Lapland Finland hotels review — 10 best place to stay in Lapland Finland
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• Trip review to the fairy tale Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi, Lapland – Finland

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Lapland travel blog: Where is Lapland Finland and what country is Lapland in?

Finnish Lapland is a very large region with an area of ​​about 100,367 square kilometers of which 92,667 square kilometers is land, 6,316 square kilometers is freshwater and 1,383 square kilometers is sea. Lapland stretching through 4 countries: Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia’s Kola Peninsula with an area equivalent to 3 countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland combined.

In which the Lapland region in Finland (Finnish Lapland, Lapland Finland) occupies one third of the country’s area and the capital of the entire Lapland – the city of Rovaniemi is also located here. This is the official hometown of Santa Claus, so it is often said that Finnish Lapland (or Rovaniemi Finland) is the hometown of Santa Claus .

Some interesting things about Finnish Lapland:

• Although this entire Lapland region spans 4 countries, the official name is widely known in 2 countries Sweden and Finland. Therefore, when it comes to the place of Lapland, you should often add the country name, so that people can clearly distinguish which region you are talking about.
• The population of Finnish Lapland is over 180,000 people, mainly concentrated in 4 big cities (Rovaniemi, Tornio, Kemi and Kemijärvi), the population density is about 1.98 people/km2 – the lowest in Europe and less than number of reindeer here (200,000).
• Reindeer here are popularly raised as a meat producing animal in other countries. Near the village of Santa Claus, there is an Artic Circle – marking the arctic circle of the earth. Therefore, there is a phenomenon of 2 months in the summer when the sun never sets (lighting all day and night).
• Lapland Finland is also a very large region rather than a specific city or place. So when someone talks about Finnish Lapland tourism, you should understand that they mention to traveling to Rovaniemi city – the capital of the whole Lapland Finland region, where the village of Santa Claus and some remote surrounding areas is upper it, where you can hunting aurora (the Northern Lights) and other winter activities.
• Rovaniemi was almost destroyed 90% in World War II, but then the great Finnish architect Alvar Aalto redesigned the whole city as it have the appearance as we see today. There is currently a top 2 Finnish university named after his name, Aalto University – the top 7th school in the world in art and design section.

Lapland travel blog: When should you visit Lapland Finland?

Tourists often come to Finnish Lapland with the desire to experience aurora borealis hunting and take part in some winter activities. That’s why I think the most suitable time and best time to travel to Finnish Lapland is in the period from November to March. Because this is the time when you have the highest opportunity to seeing the Northern Lights along with this place is completely covered with white snow creating a magical scene comes along with a special and vibrant Christmas atmosphere.

Personally, I would recommend going from the beginning of November to mid-December because at this time there will be also a Christmas atmosphere here and it is not as crowded as December. Meanwhile, January and February are the peak winter months, the temperature is usually in the range of -20 to -40 degrees Celsius. Therefore, for those who are not used to extreme cold temperatures, coming here in this season is no different from being tortured :). In addition, the aurora often appears when it is cold and clear. If there is too much snow, the opportunity of seeing it is also lower than other times. There are times from September to November when it is very cold but without snow, it is easy to see the aurora borealis.

Lapland travel guide: How to get and how to travel to Lapland Finland (How to get to Rovaniemi)?

How to travel to lapland finland from other finland’s cities.

To get to Rovaniemi Lapland, you usually need to get to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. Then from here, you can take the train, onnibus or plane to getting here. The distance from Helsinki to Rovaniemi is about 700-800km.

• Onnibus: Usually you will need to transfer in Oulu city. Total travel time is about 12 hours (8 hours to Oulu and 3 hours to 4 hours from Oulu to Rovaniemi). Ticket price is around €18-35.
• VR train (the Finland’s national railway company) often runs 2 trips a day from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. Travel time: 8 to 12 hours. Ticket price: €40-90/way. The fare of €40 usually only appears in the summer, when the travel demand to Lapland is less than other seasons.
• Airplane: Finnair (the Finland’s flag carrier and largest airline) often has quite a few direct flights from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. Ticket price is about €70-100/way.

If you depart from some countries with lot of demands for travel to Finnish Lapland such as the UK, the Netherlands, there are also direct flights from these countries to Rovaniemi. As far as I know, there are currently 7 airlines flying directly to Rovaniemi from 5 European countries which are the UK, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Turkey, Ukraine in which the UK is the country with the largest number of tourists to Lapland Finland.

Lapland guide: Getting around Finnish Lapland

If you simply visit Rovaniemi, I think the most suitable means of transport is the public bus. Ticket price is €3.2/way and you can catch a bus from Rovaniemi center to Santa Claus village in 15 minutes.

However, if you want to participate in more winter activities, perhaps renting a self-drive car will be more appropriate. Because Lapland is a very large and extremely sparsely populated region, it will be quite difficult for you to participate in winter activities such as aurora hunting in the north, ice lake fishing, etc. without active means of transport.

Lapland travel blog: Where to stay in Lapland Finland?

Because Lapland is very large and the attractions are not gather in a single cluster like in other cities, finding a room here is not simple at all. Not only that, Lapland is also famous for various types of accommodation that are rarely found anywhere in the world. So, I will write a detailed article to guide you how to choose a hotel in Lapland later.

In general, in my travel experience, you should find a room and book it as soon as possible. Quality rooms in Lapland often sell out very quickly because here are few people, the hotel is not too abundant, but the number visitors flocking here from China, Japan, Germany, and Britain is quite a lot… Last time my friend searched for a room 4 months in advance but she still couldn’t find a good place to stay.

However, if you want to stay in upscale hotels, close to Santa Village, you can book hotels right in Santa Claus Village ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ).

You can also refer to the two other luxury hotels: Arctic TreeHouse Hotel ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ) built in a high hill, offer panoramic windows with beautiful nothern lights view.

Or Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ). This is a hotel that is extremely suitable for visitors to see and admire the Northern Lights.

At first glance, the Kaklauttanen looks like it just step out of a sci-fi movie. The hotel consists of many rooms like turtles located next to each other. “Tortoise shell” is made of glass, does not absorb water vapor no matter how cold it is, guaranteed, guests can see the Northern Lights anytime it appears. Each room has a comfortable bed and a comfortable bathroom.

Below we recommend more best budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

• Santa Claus Holiday Village ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Arctic Light Hotel ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Scandic Rovaniemi City ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Lapland Hotels Ounasvaara Chalets ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Arctic City Hotel ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna Rovaniemi ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )

Check out more top and best hotels in Rovaniemi on Agoda.com or Booking.com .

Lapland travel guide: Things to do in Lapland Finland, what to see and what to do in Lapland Finland

What to do in rovaniemi.

Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland which is considered the official hometown of Santa Claus . This place is famous for its Santa’s village and many other interesting winter activities such as reindeer riding, husky sledding, skiing, visiting museums…

Some indispensable places, things to do in Rovaniemi Lapland:

Santa Claus Village

Located about 8 km from the center of Rovaniemi city, Santa Claus Village is open all year round regardless of winter or summer. Here you will have the opportunity to meet Santa Claus, visit the post office where Santa works, send letters to people all over the world…

There are 3 most attractive places in this village are Santa Claus Office, Santa Claus Main Post Office and Arctic Circle. Ticket price: free. However, there are some other activities that still cost money. There is also a service to stamp your passport to certify that you have gone through the Arctic Circle for €1, and a service to take pictures with Santa Claus for €20-40. So, fun and interesting!

Arktikum Museum

The museum displays artifacts, provides information about people, animals and plants that have lived in the Arctic Circle of the earth during typical historical periods, such as during the World War II and the period that Finland was invaded and took part of the territory by Russia (1939-1940).

Address: Pohjoisranta 4, 96200 Rovaniemi, Finland Hours: 10AM–5PM/Monday: Closed Ticket price: €9

SantaPark – the Home Cavern of Santa Claus

As an amusement park built in an underground cave with many recreational activities, especially suitable for families with young children.

Address: Tarvantie 1, 96930 Rovaniemi, Finland Ticket price: €34.

Visit Raitola Reindeer & Husky Farm, experience reindeer riding and husky sledding

Near Santa’s village there is Raitola Reindeer & Husky Farm (Address: Välttikankaantie 11, 96900 Rovaniemi, Finland) that offers tours of reindeer sleigh riding sleds or husky safari sledding with various tour packages. Ride a reindeer-drawn sleigh like a horse-drawn carriage, while exprience a husky sledding like a thrilling game.

Driving in Lapland Finland needs to be careful because the reindeer often roam on the roads. Sometimes if you’re driving and see a couple of them suddenly crossing the road, don’t be surprised. Because the number of reindeers much more than residents living here.

Ounasvaaran Hiihtokeskus Ski Resort

You can come here to ski or hire a guide if you still don’t know how to ski. Ticket price €20 for 1 hour or day ticket of €40. Hire a guide costs about €30-50.

In addition, if you have children, you can go to the Science Centre Pilke museum (Address: Ounasjoentie 6, 96200 Rovaniemi, Finland) and the Angry Birds Playground (Address: Valtakatu 4, 96100 Rovaniemi, Finland).

Some other activities when traveling to Finnish Lapland

Explore the beautiful lakes and ice fishing.

Lapland is a place full of beautiful lakes. In which, the most beautiful and famous lake is Inari. This is also the largest lake in Lapland with an area of over 1,000 square kilometers. If you come to Lapland on cold winter days, you will see that the surface of Lake Inari is completely frozen to form a giant mirror. You can experience ice fishing.

In winter when the lake freezes, locals often have a hobby of walking on the ice, skating on the lake or punching holes in the ice for fishing. This is probably an experience that requires extremely high patience for tourists.

Hunting Aurora (Northern Lights)

According to an old legend, an arctic fox whipped its tail and sent twinkling lights into the sky, creating the aurora borealis. Lapland is located in the Arctic region, so you will have a higher chance of seeing this natural phenomenon than anywhere else. However, Rovaniemi is a city with a dense population and is “polluted” by lights, so it’s best to go to the very remote hills, the darker and less inhabited the better.

In fact, hunting the aurora is a very bad luck. You will have a hard time guessing exactly whether that time will have the aurora or not. Usually the forecast is only accurate within 1 week. If you wait until that date to book tickets for travel and accommodation, I guarantee that the possibility of staying in a “thousand-star hotel” is very high or else the cost will be sky-high.

In fact, hotel rooms in resorts and convenient locations in Lapland usually need to be booked at least 6 months in advance. So, when traveling to Lapland Finland, if you see the aurora borealis, you are lucky, if not, just unlucky :).

The more you traveling to the north, the clearer the visibility and the higher the chance, so many visitors flocking here because of that. However, there are also many days when the aurora is very visible, so you can see it right in the city of Rovaniemi or even in the southern provinces of Finland. Well, if you are lucky enough to have the opportunity to see the Northern Lights right in Rovaniemi, you should go to the Artikum Science Museum. This is the best spot to see the aurora borealis in the city. You download the “Aurora” app to monitor the possibility of aurora in specific locations.

Personally, I would not recommend you booking aurora hunting tour, the aurora appears or not depends mainly on the weather, not on people. If you book a tour but there is no aurora on that day, that’s okay. Instead, always monitor the weather and go up as close to the north as possible, especially in forests with less light pollution, the chances of seeing it will be high. Remember to prepare warm clothes, sleeping bags, food and water. It takes a lot of effort to hunt this “super picky girl”.

Camping in the forest

This activity is quite popular with nature lovers like Finnish. You should camp in national parks where firewood is available, free kitchens for grilling food, and tents near the lake. Camping in the winter is also quite interesting, but it is necessary to carefully prepare warm clothes, fully equipment as well as find out the places where camping and fire are allowed first.

As I mentioned in previous posts, sauna is a Finnish initiative and sauna bathing has become an indispensable part of their lives. Winter is probably the best time to try this experience. If possible, you should rent a hotel room with a sauna room, so that after every day of going out to explore the experience, when you return, you will be able to enjoy a body sauna for comfort and relief.

In fact, when bathing in a sauna, Finns often go nude and after each interval they will jump into the icy lakes outside or take a cold shower. You should try this feeling :D. An indispensable experience when traveling to Finland.

Besides activities such as skiing, husky sledding, reindeer riding… You can try the feeling of snowmobile in the forest or surrounding areas. Usually, tourists will go on a tour, but if you have experience driving this and are not afraid of getting lost, you can rent it. The price is around €150/basic package and €25 extra per hour you rent. You can refer at this progearmoto website . Regarding tours you can refer to Arctic Circle Snowmobile for €55 per person for 30 minutes — 1 hour with a driver. This is one of the experiences that many thrill-seeking travelers enjoy when traveling to Finnish Lapland on their own.

If you are interested in learning about Sámi culture, you should drive 4 hours from Rovaniemi to Inari. The winter nature here is also very impressive with many interesting sites such as The Sámi Cultural Center Sajos (Address: Menesjärventie 2A, 99870 Inari, Finland), Karhu souvenir shop. The Sámi is an ethnic minority of Finland and residents live in Lapland mainly are Sámi people.

Lapland travel tips

If you go with a few people but still want to experience all kinds of winter activities without spending too much, join the tour group of ESN (Erasmus Student Network) organized by the Finnish schools. Most of the people going are exchange students coming to study in Finland, so you will have the opportunity to meet many people, participate in many recreational activities at a very affordable price. The tour package usually includes accommodation with sauna, transportation, activities such as husky ride, snowmobile… are all included. You can choose to go with ESN with any school in Helsinki . In Helsinki, there are a number of schools such as Laurea, Haaga-Helia, Aalto, University of Helsinki, Arcada, Metropolia… Tour prices are around €340 for 7 days. The referal link at Timetravels .

What to do in Lapland: Shopping

Coming to Lapland, visitors will be fascinated to see very high quality products that are famous throughout the Nordic region and throughout Europe. All brands are manufactured according to Nordic standards for safety, accuracy, durability over the years, high applicability and smart and traditional designs such as Finnish Knives (Puukkos), Wooden handmade Kuksa Cups, Taigakoru jewelry, Marimekko fashion, Arabia porcelain,…

How to travel to Lapland Finland: Suggested Lapland itinerary 5 days 4 nights

• Day 1: Go to Rovaniemi and walk around the city
• Day 2: Visit Santa’s village, visit husky dog ​​farm, experience reindeer riding, husky safari…
• Day 3: Visit Santa park, Arkitum museum, aurora hunting
• Day 4: Snowmobile, ski resort
• Day 5: Bonfire camping, ice fishing, aurora hunting

Lapland travel blog: What to eat?

• Reindeer meat: The most popular livestock in Lapland. People in Lapland will often raise a lot of reindeer for fur and meat. Therefore, reindeer meat is a specialty that you must try!
• Smoked salmon
• Muikku fish

These are famous local dishes in Lapland. In addition, you should combine going to the supermarket in Rovaniemi if you want to have a cheap self-sufficient trip.

Lapland blog: Traveling cost

The cost of a self-sufficient travel, I think it largely depends on each individual. There are many factors that affect the trip costs such as where to stay, whether you rent a car, whether you participate in activities such as husky sledding, reindeer riding… I give a few basic costs below:

• Meals: €12/meal. If you buy food from the supermarket to cook, you can comfortably spend about €20 a day.
• Hotel: The lowest price is about €30 per person. The highest is about €300-400.
• Traveling: €12/day. If you rent a car, it will increase to €40-50/person/day. Participate in other activities: Each activity costs about €30-40.

I think for comfort, the traveling cost is about €150 a day, all inclusive. Of course, this cost is higher than in the capital Helsinki or other European countries but still lower than Norway, Switzerland…

Lapland travel guide: Some tips before you go

• The most commonly spoken languages ​​in Finnish Lapland are Swedish and Finnish. However, most people living in the city will speak English fluently. So, you can rest assured!
• You should exchange money at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. It is best to exchange at legitimate counters for the best and safe exchange rates.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Lapland you can refer to

• Lapland 2 Day Tour from Rovaniemi
• Highlights of Rovaniemi Day Tour
• The Frozen Waterfalls of Korouoma Day Tour from Rovaniemi
• [DISCONTINUED] Lapland Wellness and Relaxation Tour
• Aurora Borealis Small Group Tour with Free Photos from Rovaniemi
• Rovaniemi: Lapland Northern Lights Tour with BBQ
• Rovaniemi: Santa Claus Village and Arctic Circle
• Rovaniemi: Snowman World Entrance Ticket
• Lapland: Husky Carriage Ride Under the Northern Lights
• Rovaniemi: Apukka Husky Adventure

Read more Trip review to the fairy tale Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi, Lapland – Finland , Where to stay in Lapland Findland and Finland travel guide here .

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How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Finnish Lapland

From the northern lights to the legendary sauna culture, this arctic destination has it all. Here's what you won't want to miss.

Milamai / Getty Images

Lapland, the northernmost region of Finland, is the place to go to check more than a few once-in-a-lifetime experiences off your list — like seeing the northern lights and experiencing the midnight sun. The arctic destination has stunning nighttime skies, wide-open landscapes, and air so fresh it can make you happier. Here’s how to plan a trip to Finnish Lapland that you’ll never forget. 

When to Go to Finnish Lapland

Here’s the good news about Lapland: It’s always beautiful out — well, depending on how you define “beautiful.” The region's peak travel season falls between December and February thanks to a natural phenomenon we’ll get to in a moment. During this period, the region’s average temperature ranges from 3 to 37 degrees Fahrenheit, though it can get down to as low as minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit with added wind chill. 

By contrast, temperatures in the summer can be much milder, usually ranging from 50 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit, making it a prime time to visit the area for hiking, kayaking, and other outdoor adventures.

How to See the Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland

Many visitors travel to Finnish Lapland to take in a few breathtaking natural occurrences — including the aurora borealis, or northern lights. You can see this phenomenon any time between August and April, though it occurs more frequently around the equinoxes in late September and late March. Visit then and look to the sky on clear nights for a chance to witness this incredible celestial light show.

Those looking for a more curated experience can ask their hotel for recommendations, or they can book a guided trip like a  three-hour aurora borealis picnic  in Rovaniemi, which includes a short hike to an outpost with warm drinks and food. You can also take  a snowmobile tour or, the most adventurous of all, an aurora ice floating experience in Rovaniemi . It's just as it sounds — guests don dry suits and set out on a frozen lake to lie back and blissfully gaze up into the night sky.

How to See the Midnight Sun in Finnish Lapland 

Giles Clarke / Getty Images

If you’re not much of a night owl, that’s okay because Finnish Lapland offers another spectacular show: the midnight sun. From late May until early August, the tilt of the Earth means the sky never gets dark. Make the most of the near-constant daylight by taking a hike, going fishing, or even playing a round of golf when you'd normally be asleep. 

What Else to Do in Finnish Lapland

Andrey-Kobylko / Getty Images

Go for a hike.

Finnish Lapland is chock full of  stellar hiking trails  fit for all levels. The Arctic Circle and Inari hiking areas offer everything from one-hour hikes to all-day wilderness adventures, as well as restrooms and visitor centers. 

Hit the sauna.

Sauna culture has long been an integral part of Finnish life , and there’s no better spot to experience it than in  Tampere , the sauna capital of the world. Come for the public spas, but stay for the arts, culture, and attractions like the Tampere Market Hall, the largest indoor market in Scandinavia. 

Paddle your way through the region.

Explore Finnish Lapland from a different perspective by taking to its rivers for a canoeing adventure. During the warmer months, you can take in the amazing views as you meander along calming waterways. Try this six-hour canoe trip  down the River Kapsajoki, which includes a campfire lunch and opportunities for fishing. 

Visit Santa Claus.

Fun fact: Santa lives in Finland. And you can visit him any time of year at the  Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. Kris Kringle and his elves open their famous home and workshop all 365 days of the year. Meet the man himself, cross the Arctic Circle (which passes through the theme park), embark on a snowmobile safari adventure in the Lapland wilderness, and dine in a restaurant made of snow while you're there.

Where to Stay in Finnish Lapland 

Lingxiao Xie / Getty Images

Arctic TreeHouse Hotel

At the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel in Rovaniemi, guests can enjoy a host of creature comforts in a nature-centric setting. Every room comes with fur throws and floor-to-ceiling windows, while some even have soaking tubs, fireplaces, and decks from which to take in the surrounding forest. Book the chic two-bedroom Arctic GlassHouse  to enjoy all the bells and whistles.

Seaside Glass Villas

Need more of a view? Spend a few nights at  Seaside Glass Villas , a collection of box-shaped bungalows in the waterfront town of Kemi. Each one has a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the Bothnian Bay, as well as a glass roof through which you can enjoy incredible views of the northern lights while lying in bed.

Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort

You might recognize Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort's gorgeous glass-domed igloos from your Instagram feed, but even the best photos can't capture the magic of actually staying in one. Book the kelo-glass igloo to combine the privacy of a log chalet with the wow factor of the northern lights dancing over your bed.

Those seeking to stay in the lap of luxury need look no further than  Octola , an exclusive five-star hideaway with just 12 rooms and two chalets. Guests can book a single room or buy out the entire space if they want to bring along family and friends. 

What to Pack 

Packing for a summer trip to Finnish Lapland is relatively easy. Just bring whatever you normally would for any other summer getaway — shorts, T-shirts, a bathing suit, pants, and a light jacket for cooler nights. 

If you plan to visit in winter, you'll need to bust out the big checked bag and pack it with cozy thermal underwear, insulated snow boots with a grip, an insulated jacket, waterproof or snowproof pants , a few wool sweaters, warm gloves and socks, a hat, a scarf, and some instant heat packs to throw in your gloves and boots. Don’t forget your camera, and make sure to pack extra batteries — they will drain quickly in the cold weather. 

How to Get There 

Despite being located in Finland's far north, getting to Lapland isn’t nearly as difficult as you may think. First, fly into Helsinki, then, depending on your final destination, continue to either Kemi or Rovaniemi by regional flight. Finnair and Norwegian Air each offer a 90-minute nonstop to Rovaniemi, or you can board a one-stop Finnair flight to Kemi via Kokkola-Jakobstad Airport in Kronoby.

If you've got the time, a scenic seven-hour train ride will get you from Helsinki to Kemi (the ride to Rovaniemi takes 8.5 hours). You can also travel between Rovaniemi and Kemi by train for a 90-minute intra-Lapland adventure.

Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

Lapland casts a powerful spell: there's something lonely and intangible here that fills it with Arctic magic. The midnight sun, the Sámi peoples, the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) and roaming reindeer are all components of this – as is Santa Claus himself, who ‘officially’ resides here – along with the awesome latitudes: at Nuorgam, the northernmost point, you have passed Iceland and nearly all of Canada and Alaska.

Leave the planning to a local expert

Experience the real Lapland. Let a local expert handle the planning for you.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Few things conjure fairy-tale romance like a snow castle. First built in 1996 as a Unicef project, this is a Lapland winter highlight and a favoured…

One of Finland's most absorbing museums, state-of-the-art Siida offers a comprehensive overview of the Sámi and their environment. The main exhibition…

With its beautifully designed glass tunnel stretching out to the Ounasjoki, this is one of Finland’s finest museums. One half deals with Lapland, with…

Pilke Tiedekeskus

Downstairs in the Metsähallitus (Finnish Forest and Park Service) building next to the Arktikum, this is a highly entertaining exhibition on Finnish…

The spectacular wood-and-glass Sámi cultural centre stands proud in the middle of town. It holds the Sámi parliament as well as a library and music…

Kevo Strict Nature Reserve

Northern Lapland

Some of Finland's most breathtaking scenery is within the 712-sq-km Kevo Strict Nature Reserve along the splendid 40km gorge of the Kevojoki (off-limits…

Auttiköngäs

The highlight of this protected old-growth forest, 80km southeast of Rovaniemi off Rd 81, is the 16m-high Auttiköngäs waterfall. It's reached by a 3.5km…

Bears' Nest

At the edge of Myössäjärvi, 16km south of Inari, look out for the Karhunpesäkivi rest stop. From here, a 300m timber boardwalk (mainly comprising steps)…

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The ultimate Lapland travel guide: How to travel & what to do in Lapland Finland

Located in the north of Finland, Lapland is very close to the North Pole, so there are 200 days of cold winter a year. Any visitor, whether a child or an adult, wishes to have a trip to this place to meet Santa Claus, along with the reindeers. Moreover, this place is also an extremely attractive destination with a lot of interesting experiences. Lapland Finland (Finnish Lapland) is world famous as “the Official Hometown of Santa Claus”. In addition to the above nickname, is there anything else that attracts tourists from all over the world? Let’s experience Finnish Lapland through the sharing below. So, what country is Lapland in, what to do in Lapland, how to travel to Lapland Finland and how to plan a perfect budget trip to Lapland for the first-time? Let’s check out our Lapland travel blog (Lapland blog) with the fullest Lapland travel guide (Lapland guide) from how to get to Lapland Finland, best time to come, where to stay, what to see in Lapland Finland, things to do in Lapland Finland as well as what to do in Rovaniemi to find out the answer!

Lapland travel blog: Where is Lapland Finland and what country is Lapland in?

Finnish Lapland is a very large region with an area of ​​about 100,367 square kilometers of which 92,667 square kilometers is land, 6,316 square kilometers is freshwater and 1,383 square kilometers is sea. Lapland stretching through 4 countries: Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia’s Kola Peninsula with an area equivalent to 3 countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland combined.

In which the Lapland region in Finland (Finnish Lapland, Lapland Finland) occupies one third of the country’s area and the capital of the entire Lapland – the city of Rovaniemi is also located here. This is the official hometown of Santa Claus, so it is often said that Finnish Lapland (or Rovaniemi Finland) is the hometown of  Santa Claus .

Some interesting things about Finnish Lapland:

• Although this entire Lapland region spans 4 countries, the official name is widely known in 2 countries Sweden and Finland. Therefore, when it comes to the place of Lapland, you should often add the country name, so that people can clearly distinguish which region you are talking about.
• The population of Finnish Lapland is over 180,000 people, mainly concentrated in 4 big cities (Rovaniemi, Tornio, Kemi and Kemijärvi), the population density is about 1.98 people/km2 – the lowest in Europe and less than number of reindeer here (200,000).
• Reindeer here are popularly raised as a meat producing animal in other countries. Near the village of Santa Claus, there is an Artic Circle – marking the arctic circle of the earth. Therefore, there is a phenomenon of 2 months in the summer when the sun never sets (lighting all day and night).
• Lapland Finland is also a very large region rather than a specific city or place. So when someone talks about Finnish Lapland tourism, you should understand that they mention to traveling to Rovaniemi city – the capital of the whole Lapland Finland region, where the village of Santa Claus and some remote surrounding areas is upper it, where you can hunting aurora (the Northern Lights) and other winter activities.
• Rovaniemi was almost destroyed 90% in World War II, but then the great Finnish architect Alvar Aalto redesigned the whole city as it have the appearance as we see today. There is currently a top 2 Finnish university named after his name, Aalto University – the top 7th school in the world in art and design section.

Lapland travel blog: When should you visit Lapland Finland?

Tourists often come to Finnish Lapland with the desire to experience aurora borealis hunting and take part in some winter activities. That’s why I think the most suitable time and best time to travel to Finnish Lapland is in the period from November to March. Because this is the time when you have the highest opportunity to seeing the Northern Lights along with this place is completely covered with white snow creating a magical scene comes along with a special and vibrant Christmas atmosphere.

Personally, I would recommend going from the beginning of November to mid-December because at this time there will be also a Christmas atmosphere here and it is not as crowded as December. Meanwhile, January and February are the peak winter months, the temperature is usually in the range of -20 to -40 degrees Celsius. Therefore, for those who are not used to extreme cold temperatures, coming here in this season is no different from being tortured :). In addition, the aurora often appears when it is cold and clear. If there is too much snow, the opportunity of seeing it is also lower than other times. There are times from September to November when it is very cold but without snow, it is easy to see the aurora borealis.

Lapland travel guide: How to get and how to travel to Lapland Finland (How to get to Rovaniemi)?

How to travel to lapland finland from other finland’s cities.

To get to Rovaniemi Lapland, you usually need to get to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. Then from here, you can take the train, onnibus or plane to getting here. The distance from Helsinki to Rovaniemi is about 700-800km.

• Onnibus:  Usually you will need to transfer in Oulu city. Total travel time is about 12 hours (8 hours to Oulu and 3 hours to 4 hours from Oulu to Rovaniemi). Ticket price is around €18-35.
• VR train  (the Finland’s national railway company) often runs 2 trips a day from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. Travel time: 8 to 12 hours. Ticket price: €40-90/way. The fare of €40 usually only appears in the summer, when the travel demand to Lapland is less than other seasons.
• Airplane:  Finnair (the Finland’s flag carrier and largest airline) often has quite a few direct flights from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. Ticket price is about €70-100/way.

If you depart from some countries with lot of demands for travel to Finnish Lapland such as the UK, the Netherlands, there are also direct flights from these countries to Rovaniemi. As far as I know, there are currently 7 airlines flying directly to Rovaniemi from 5 European countries which are the UK, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Turkey, Ukraine in which the UK is the country with the largest number of tourists to Lapland Finland.

Lapland guide: Getting around Finnish Lapland

If you simply visit Rovaniemi, I think the most suitable means of transport is the public bus. Ticket price is €3.2/way and you can catch a bus from Rovaniemi center to Santa Claus village in 15 minutes.

However, if you want to participate in more winter activities, perhaps renting a self-drive car will be more appropriate. Because Lapland is a very large and extremely sparsely populated region, it will be quite difficult for you to participate in winter activities such as aurora hunting in the north, ice lake fishing, etc. without active means of transport.

Lapland travel blog: Where to stay in Lapland Finland?

Because Lapland is very large and the attractions are not gather in a single cluster like in other cities, finding a room here is not simple at all. Not only that, Lapland is also famous for various types of accommodation that are rarely found anywhere in the world. So, I will write a detailed article to guide you how to choose a hotel in Lapland later.

In general, in my travel experience, you should find a room and book it as soon as possible. Quality rooms in Lapland often sell out very quickly because here are few people, the hotel is not too abundant, but the number visitors flocking here from China, Japan, Germany, and Britain is quite a lot… Last time my friend searched for a room 4 months in advance but she still couldn’t find a good place to stay.

However, if you want to stay in upscale hotels, close to Santa Village, you can book hotels right in Santa Claus Village ( Agoda.com  or  Booking.com ).

You can also refer to the two other luxury hotels:  Arctic TreeHouse Hotel  ( Agoda.com  or  Booking.com ) built in a high hill, offer panoramic windows with beautiful nothern lights view.

Or  Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort  ( Agoda.com  or  Booking.com ). This is a hotel that is extremely suitable for visitors to see and admire the Northern Lights.

At first glance, the Kaklauttanen looks like it just step out of a sci-fi movie. The hotel consists of many rooms like turtles located next to each other. “Tortoise shell” is made of glass, does not absorb water vapor no matter how cold it is, guaranteed, guests can see the Northern Lights anytime it appears. Each room has a comfortable bed and a comfortable bathroom.

Below we recommend more best budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

• Santa Claus Holiday Village ( Agoda.com  or  Booking.com )
• Arctic Light Hotel ( Agoda.com  or  Booking.com )
• Scandic Rovaniemi City ( Agoda.com  or  Booking.com )
• Lapland Hotels Ounasvaara Chalets ( Agoda.com  or  Booking.com )
• Arctic City Hotel ( Agoda.com  or  Booking.com )
• Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna Rovaniemi ( Agoda.com  or  Booking.com )

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January 24, 2018

The complete lapland, finland travel guide.

Left to right from top:  Views from the Icebreaker Sampo cruise , floating in the arctic sea during the Icebreaker Sampo cruise ; trees in Oulanka National Park ; dog-sledding in Kemi ; the Icebreaker Sampo ship; a bridge in Oulanka National Park ; frozen sea on the Icebreaker Cruise ; visiting reindeer outside of Kemi; Kemi Pink Church ; a local reindeer farm .

3 DESTINATIONS you should visit — 7 DAYS to see it all Kemi •  3 days small town vibes with the best local activities. Rovaniemi, Kittilä or Saariselkä •  2 days three towns, each with their own remote accommodation to see the northern lights. Kuusamo •  2 days laid-back town with Finnish national park and ski resort within driving distance.

We flew into the Kemi airport and rented a car for this trip, which was essential to get around with. It’s a bit different driving in a lot of snow, but totally doable (rental cars will have snow tires) and makes traveling around Lapland much easier.

Where to Stay

• Hotel Merihovi – this historic hotel is centrally located in Kemi. It’s a short walk from local restaurants, the Kemi Church and the SnowCastle. Select rooms have built-in saunas, and the hotel also has one for guests.
• Kemi Seaside Glass Villas – if you’re all about having a glass ceiling to see the northern lights, this is your best option in Kemi. These villas are modern and equipped with a kitchen so you will feel right at home. Lots of activities are available to book through this hotel, but keep in mind it’s a splurge. Bonus: from mid-January, this property is home to the Kemi SnowCastle , an ice hotel (and yes, you can stay overnight there too!).

Our cozy bedroom at the Seaside Glass Villas in Kemi.

View Additional Hotels in Kemi — Did you know: when you click through & book your stay from any of our blog posts, it helps keep our blog running at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting us!

Where to Eat

• Pizzeria San Milano – we loved the vibes at this quaint, family-friendly pizza restaurant with build-your-own pizzas.
• Restaurant Wok Thai – locals and visitors alike rave about this small Thai restaurant with a daily lunch buffet.
• Hotel Merihovi Restaurant – we opted for an afternoon lunch here and it did not disappoint. I’m not a sweet tooth, but the white chocolate dessert we ordered was my absolute favorite!
• The Sampo Icebreaker tour – this was one of our favorite activities in Kemi. The tour begins with lunch in the dining room, and then you’re free to wander around the ship and experience incredible views of the frozen sea. The best part was the floating experience in the water, a must-do!

Floating in the Arctic Sea was unlike anything I’ve experienced before.

• Check out Kemi Church – I’m a sucker for any pink buildings, and this gorgeous church is no exception.
• Chase the northern lights – if the skies are clear, this excursion is a must. You’ll be taken into the forest at night to see the Aurora Borealis, between visiting a Finnish hut to sip fresh berry juice and fry sausages by the fire.
• Go dog-sledding – this husky farm is family-run and completely amazing. You’ll fall in love with the dogs as soon as you arrive (they get so excited to see people), and there’s nothing like driving your own husky sleigh through the frozen Finnish landscape.

Our husky team loved all the praise before and after our sled ride.

• Experience the SnowCastle – whether you stay overnight, dine at the restaurant, or just go to walk around, this is a must-see if you’re visiting Kemi from January to April. Just be sure to check the SnowCastle opening schedule before you go.
• Visit Santa’s Seaside Office – experience the Christmas spirit and some traditional Finnish pastries and glögi (mulled wine) in this coffee shop.

The outside of Santa’s Seaside Office.

Rovaniemi, Kittilä or Saariselkä

If there was one thing missing from our trip to Finland, it was spending one night in a famous igloo hotel or design hotel in Lapland. Here are a few hotels I would recommend considering – 1 night is enough if you just want the experience, but keep in mind most are located in remote regions of Lapland.

• Kakslautten Arctic Resort – chances are you’ve seen photos of this famous igloo hotel, which is situated in the north of Finland. If experiencing the northern lights is at the top of your list, the accommodations don’t get better than this.
• Levin Iglut – another igloo option is Levin Iglut. The benefit of this hotel is its close proximity to the city of Levi (only 10 km away), though you still get the benefit of a quiet, secluded retreat.
• Arctic Treehouse Hotel – a new take on the glass-ceiling experience of many accommodations in Finland, this luxury hotel combines modern design with local Lappish traditions.

At Kemi Seaside Glass Villas . There’s nothing better than a cozy hideout with views of the snow.

View Additional Hotels in Rovaniemi   |   Kittilä   |   Saariselkä

Kuusamo is a must, purely for the nearby national parks and Ruka ski resort, all within driving distance. It’s a great way to round off your trip with the beautiful natural landscapes of Finland!

• Ruka Ski Chalets – in terms of location and convenience, this is a top pick. These chalets are located at the base of Ruka’s ski slopes and nearby plenty of restaurants.
• Original Sokos Hotel Kuusamo – this hotel offers all the basic amenities you need (including in-room saunas, a bar and restaurant). Bonus: they also have reindeer!

A reindeer at Sokos Hotel coming over to say hello.

Snow-covered mailboxes outside of our hotel.

View Additional Hotels in Kuusamo

• Classic Pizza Ruka – we stumbled on this cozy pizza joint after a long day of hiking, and it hit the spot.
• Hanki Baari – this lively bar has a short menu that changes daily, featuring everything from fresh soups to local fish and meats. Don’t forget to try one of their cocktails!
• Studio Restaurant Tundra – if you’re looking to splurge, head over to this Chef Jarmo Pitkänen’s private restaurant. He calls each fixed course menu a ‘gastronomic journey’, inspired by his own travels and local specialties.
• Visit the National Parks – choose from Oulanka National Park , Riisitunturi , Paanayarvi – or all three. You’ll explore hanging bridges, cabins, frozen rivers, and so much more. Get inspired by photos from our hike in Oulanka,  and use this map to hit some of the most photogenic spots.

One of the picturesque cabins located inside Oulanka National Park.

• Go Skiing – the lights at Ruka allow for skiing all day, despite the minimal daylight in winter. The   après-ski vibes here are especially fun, and you’ll love the variety of restaurants located at the bottom of the slopes.
• See Reindeer – I personally loved feeding the reindeer more than anything, but reindeer rides are also an option at this local farm.

Feeding moss to baby reindeer (their favorite!).

What to Remember

• Pack appropriately. You’ll need multiple layers daily – I recommend wool sweaters, scarves, hats, snow boots, and of course: long underwear!
• Lapland is big, so renting a car will allow you the freedom to explore this region. All cars come with snow tires but it’s also worth taking a couple minutes to refresh on the proper protocol for driving in the snow .
• Don’t forget to take daylight hours into account. When we visited Lapland in December the sun rose at 10:30am and set around 2:00pm!
• Seeing the northern lights is not guaranteed. Warmer temperatures usually mean clouds, which makes it nearly impossible to spot the Aurora Borealis. Don’t let that bring you down – we had cloudy weather, but that also meant it snowed a lot, which made for some beautiful days.

Left to right: sunset during our Icebreaker Sampo cruise ; snowy views from Kemi Seaside Glass Villas ; a husky at Ulla’s husky farm ; trees near Oulanka National Park ; our Lapland, Finland video (all video locations listed here ).

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If you enjoyed this guide, don’t miss our 1 minute video from our time in Lapland or photos from our day exploring one of Finland’s beautiful national parks .

What winter destinations would you most like to see us cover? Comment below. 

Traveling and living abroad: our 1.5 year update.

I'M SELENA TAYLOR

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32 Comments

Hi Selena & Jacob ! I love your content, and I’m exited about traveling with my husband and my baby to finland. Thanks!

Sowmia Says

Just discovered your blog while researching Lapland and can’t wait to check out the rest of it! Great photography! Any camera advice on Lapland? I plan on bringing my DSLR but was also hoping to take photos on my phone, though I’ve read the cold temperatures are a problem for cameras. Did you do anything special for your cameras? Thanks!

Selena Says

Amazing, great to meet you! Definitely bring extra charged camera batteries with you on day trips – because of the extreme cold, your battery will drain very quickly when shooting. We brought at least two spares with us at all times. Amazon tends to have most camera batteries, so they’re the easiest to order from.

Enjoy Lapland! xx

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Hey there Selena & Jacob! Love your travel guides! what would you recommend as a budget for the trip?

Thanks Rox! It really all depends on how many activities you want to do and where you want to stay. I’d recommend doing at least two activities (they are what make the experience!) and staying at least one night in one of the unique hotels I mentioned above. You’re looking at about $150-$400 for the activities. The nicer hotels tend to be in the mid to high range ($300 & up). You can certainly save by planning ahead, and splitting your time between a hotel that will make the experience, and one that just gets you in the area you want to be. I hope that helps!

Kelvin Says

Amazing trip and must go once when still Alive..

Definitely a bucket list destination!

Sheryl Says

Hi Selena.. Your photos looks so wonderful! I’m planning a vacation for my family and really want to chase the northern lights. Your hotel is so beautiful and i bet it’s pretty costly as well. Any recommendation of an affordable hotel where we can still sight the NL? Is there any public transport that can take us there or do we need to rent a car?

Hey Sheryl! It’s hard to plan to see the northern lights, since it’s never a guarantee you’ll see them. We actually didn’t on this trip because most of the days we were in Finland it was overcast. I’d recommend spending 1-2 nights in a boutique hotel like the one we stayed in (or in one of the other three hotels I recommend above!). As for public transport, it depends where you’re going! We found a car to be pretty necessary since we visited a few towns in Lapland. You could always ask your hotel too on if there is public transport.

Hope that helps! 🙂

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Trisha Says

This post made me crazy.. You put the blog in a perfect fashion. I am planning in December . But i suppose by that time Ice breaker cruises doesnt operate.

kelvin Says

Amazing trip and Must do that once when still Alive

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Gabriela Says

Thank you so much for your beautiful post and sharing your experiences. I am planning a trip to Lapland in December and was beginning to feel totally overwhelmed and consumed in guided tour options. Your post has returned my passion to travel independently and has given me some much needed inspiration!! Thank you so much ?

So glad to hear it! Enjoy Finland in December, and shoot us a DM on Instagram so we can check out photos from your trip! 🙂

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hi Selena how r u ?

the finland travel guide was awesome and the pics wow couldn’t be better..

I fell in love with glass villas 🙂 what a great idea to make visitors happy

and floating in the sea!? wasn’t it so cold there!?0_0

any way you did a great job and tnq for this post I’m really looking forward to hear more from you

take care 🙂

Hi Ehsan! I’m so glad you enjoyed the guide. Can’t believe I’m saying this- but floating in the sea was the warmest I felt on that ship! They give you immersion suits that are air-tight, and it’s a great experience.

Lots more to come! Thanks for the love 🙂 xx

Mafalda Silva Says

I want to visit Lapland sooooo bad!!!! I am trying to save some money to go!? loved your travel guide and will definitely use it when it comes to it ? it’s just disappointing about the sun hours ? but I guess we have to work around it!:p do you know if in February the sun stays out longer? Xxx

Hi Mafalda! The sunrise is much earlier in February than we went (sunrise: 9:16am, sunset: 3:56pm on average in Kemi). The days will continue to get longer as Spring starts. The upside about the short days is that when you do have light — it’s generally always beautiful for photos since the sun never gets directly overhead. 😉 Rooting for you to make the trip to Lapland soon!

I love Finland Says

Days are much longer during march in Finland. Weather is also much warmer, cause the sun starts to warm the weather

Michael @ Mile in My Glasses Says

Such a gorgeous post, guys! With this and your beautiful video I have such wanderlust to explore Finland! It looks and sounds absolutely enchanting!

I hope you’re having a lovely Thursday, Michael https://www.mileinmyglasses.com

Thanks Michael! Hope you make it over there. 🙂 x

Natalia Says

This looks incredible. You’re photos are beautifully edited.

Thank you Natalia! xx

hi… excellent guide. i will be visiting lapland during 8 days in march and im planning to hire a car too. my question is…how did you drive up north to kittila from kemi? it looks very far apart, long hours driving…

Hi Paulo- thank you! We didn’t make the trip up to Kittila, though I would have liked to. We did drive from Kemi to Kuusamo (also a 3.5 hour drive) without any issues. In our experience, the roads were always clear, even just after a fresh snow. If you’re worried about having a long drive in one day, another option is adding an overnight stay in Rovaniemi to break up the trip.

Hope that helps. 🙂

hi again. ok no worries… rovaniemi is interesting enough ? (apart from seeing santa claus )

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Home » Blog » The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Lapland, Finland in Winter

The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Lapland, Finland in Winter

Lapland, Finland is the ultimate winter travel destination! This dreamy part of the world has it all… think reindeer sleigh rides, dog sledding, northern lights, amazing hotels, authentic saunas, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and much, much more!

In this blog post, I’m sharing all the insider tips on everything you need to know for planning your own trip to Lapland, Finland. Including how to get there, which regions to visit, the best things to do, and recommended places to stay.

This trip was in collaboration with Visit Finland. As always, all opinions and reviews are completely my own and truthful. We had such a great time in Finland and I’m excited to share what we got up to!

Lapland Travel Basics

Best time to go: Dec to March Visit time: 5 to 7 days Getting around: rental car Currency: euro

Getting to Lapland

It’s fairly easy to get to Lapland, Finland. The first step is to fly into Helsinki , which has daily flights to/from many major cities in North America, Europe, and Asia.

My husband and I flew with Finnair from Seattle to Helsinki, with a stopover in NYC. We opted to stay one night in Helsinki so we could explore a little of the city and get a feel of southern Finnish culture. In just one afternoon we managed to walk a few miles around the city, seeing places like Market Square, the Helsinki Cathedral, Uspenski Cathedral, and some of the picturesque residential streets.

We spent the night at Hotel St. George Helsinki , which was conveniently located alongside City Park and a short walk from the train station. Their rooms and customer service were impeccable – would highly recommend it! During your stay in Helsinki, I would also suggest eating at Pizzeria Via Tribunali . A reader recommended it to us and we had the most delicious and authentic pizza… which was not necessarily our expectation for a Nordic trip!

To get from Helsinki to Lapland you can either drive or catch a domestic flight from Helsinki Airport. The flights are fairly affordable with Finnair, so I would recommend that option over driving long hours on potentially icy winter roads.

During winter there are regular flights to destinations such as Kittila, Ivalo, Kuusamo, Kemi, and Rovaniemi. We opted to fly into Ivalo to begin our journey (more information below on how to choose the best Lapland destinations!)

Which region to visit

The Lapland region of Finland is made up of numerous municipalities and towns. Each destination offers different sights, activities, and hotels. Listed below are some of the main winter destinations and what they are best known for. Note that there are more locations than these, but I tried to keep things reasonably condensed!

• Levi: skiing, northern lights, beautiful hotels, reindeer excursions, husky safaris, snowshoeing
• Inari / Ivalo:  northern lights, reindeer excursions, husky safaris, snowmobiling, Sámi museums and cultural experiences
• Saariselkä: skiing, northern lights, snowshoeing, reindeer excursions, husky safaris
• Ruka / Kuusamo: skiing, snowshoeing, reindeer excursions, husky safaris
• Ylläs: skiing, snowshoeing, northern lights
• Kemi: sea icebreaker tours, arctic swimming in the Baltic Sea
• Kilpisjärvi: northern lights, snowshoeing, solitude
• Rovaniemi: Santa Claus and all things Christmas!

We opted to split our week-long trip into the following destinations and I think it was the perfect mix! I also felt like a week was a good amount of time to explore Lapland, though a couple more days would have been happily welcomed!

• 1 night in Helsinki
• 2 nights in Inari
• 1 night in Saariselkä
• 3 nights in Levi

This gave us some nice variation and a chance to explore multiple areas. You could also certainly stay one week in a single destination – either option would work and it depends on how you like to travel! The Visit Finland website has some great information about each destination if you want to delve further into the specifics. I will also be posting destination-specific blog posts within the coming weeks – so watch this space!

Where to stay

We’ve all seen those incredible photos featuring the aurora cabins and tree-houses of Lapland, right?! My husband and I were lucky enough to stay in a few bucket-list-worthy hotels during our trip BUT do keep in mind that they aren’t the only options available. There are a variety of lodging options to choose from in Lapland – ranging from more affordable to more pricey.

Traveling as a family or in a group ? You are probably best to rent a large cabin that has multiple rooms, a kitchen, communal areas, etc. This will help keep costs down and allow for more flexibility around meals and travel. In Levi, we stayed 2 nights in one of Polar Star Travel’s beautiful log cabins, which was even fitted with a private sauna!

You can still experience Lapland, Finland on a budget ! In saying that, I am not going to pretend it’s a super affordable place to travel during the winter months. Some more budget-friendly lodging options can be found on Airbnb , ranging from shared accommodation, private rooms, and even entire cabins/homes. You could also look into options such as couch-surfing and house-sitting/swaps.

Best things to do

Lapland, Finland is one of the world’s best destinations for unique winter adventures and activities. I mean, how many places can you take a sunrise husky sledding tour, a midday sauna experience, a sunset snowshoe, and finish the day with a northern lights snowmobiling tour?!

There are countless options of tours and self-guided adventures to take during the winter months in Lapland. I have listed some of the most common below and will go into more depth in my upcoming blog posts!

• Visit a reindeer farm and take a sleigh ride/safari
• Take a husky dog sledding adventure
• Try out skiing or snowboarding down a Finnish “fell” (mountain)
• Go on a snowshoe hiking adventure
• Enjoy an arctic hammock relaxation tour in the forest
• Have an authentic sauna and hot tub experience
• Watch the northern lights on a dedicated tour or from an aurora cabin
• Take a snowmobiling adventure on a frozen lake
• Walk through a man-made ice and snow gallery
• Toboggan down a fell under the northern lights
• Learn about and immerse yourself in the local Sámi culture
• Take a photography tour on capturing Lapland’s unique beauty
• Sample Lappish food and learn about local culinary culture
• Try out ice fishing on a frozen lake
• Take an arctic swim in the Baltic Sea
• Experience an icebreaker sea excursion
• Visit the home of Santa Claus

I would say my favorite activities of the trip were experiencing the northern lights, snowshoeing up a fell to watch the sunset, taking a reindeer sleigh ride, and being treated to an authentic Finnish sauna… but I LOVED everything we did!

One thing to keep in mind is that it can be quite cold when doing these activities.

For example, we had a cold snap during our visit and it was -35C the morning we took a reindeer sleigh ride and also in the evenings when we were viewing the northern lights. Having adequate winter clothing and gear is imperative – find out what to pack for a trip to the Arctic in this blog post !

I hope this blog post was a nice starting place for your Lapland, Finland trip planning. As previously mentioned, I will be publishing more blog posts on this topic (destination specific guides, how to best experience the northern lights and more) – watch this space! Let me know in the comments if there is something specific you would like me to share.

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16 comments

Great article about Finnish Lapland, thank you! If you are planning to revisit the Ruka area or if Finland is on your bucket list, welcome to our modern and spacious villa at Ruka 🙂

Wow 😲, really a great resources for visiting Lapland.

Hej renee, after reading your article,I have commented that Lapland is in my bucket list, finally I made Dog-sledding trip in Lapland. HUHU

Thank you! I am just beginning to look at planning a winter trip to Lapland for next year. Can you discuss how you traveled between the Lapland cities you visited? Is it possible to do this without a rental car or is it best to rent a car once you arrive in Lapland?

Hi Renee, thanks for an amazing post, actually I was thinking about to travel to Scandinavia, And this article is really helpful for me to find something special from there.

Amazing post Renee and comprehensive description. Lapland is in my bucket list too but I want to combine with Swedish and Finnish at once.

We’re planning. What a wonderful synopsis. We’re also going to be leaving out of Seattle.

Makes me wanna go there asap! 😍 I can’t wait for your more detailed lapland travel guide. 😍😍😍

This is my absolute dream!!!!

Greetings from Kuusamo! Nice blogpost! Next time visit Ruka, Kuusamo??

Thank you 🙂 We would love to next time!

I’m planning a trip to Finland for Winter next year and found this blog post very informative! Thanks Renee 🙂

Did you drive from Saariselka to Levi? How were the road conditions? Your photos from this trip are gorgeous!

I love Lapland!

This looks like an incredible trip! Finland is definitely on my bucket list, and the more I think about it the more I want to visit in winter.

Another wonderful blogpost Renee. I’m certainly putting Finland on my bucket list now I’ve seen all your stunning photos. Looking forward to your more detailed posts.

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The Mindful Traveller

Eco Travel Blog & Photography

Travel Guide to Lapland, Finland in Winter

29 April 2022 · In: Finland , Lapland , Travel

Are you planning a trip to Lapland in winter? This complete travel guide gives you everything you need to prepare for your dream vacation in magical Finland.

From reindeer to dog sledding and snowshoe hiking, Lapland has so much to offer and will not disappoint you! I stayed there for one week, and I loved it.

This article is also perfect for first-timers and covers all the best things to do for an unforgettable winter gateway. In addition, I share my 7-day experience for more travel tips and insights. Enjoy!

Disclosure : Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning that at no additional cost to you, we will receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase. For more information, read our full affiliate disclosure  here .

Day 7 – Another Day of Cross-Country Skiing

Where is lapland.

Lapland is not a country but a region of northern Europe lying within the Arctic Circle and stretching across northern Norway, Sweden, and Finland and into the Kola Peninsula of Russia.

Although Lapland is well-known in Finland, it occupies a good part of Sweden and Norway.

The reason why the Lapland region is underpopulated is mainly due to the rough climate. But, it does not mean that the area is empty. The native Sami people who have lived there since ancient times have managed to preserve their traditions, reindeer herding way of life and unique language.

In this article, we will be focusing exclusively on Finnish Lapland.

How to get to Lapland

Lapland is accessible and well-connected to the rest of the world by air, road and rail. 

• By air:  The easiest way to reach Lapland is by plane. The main airports with daily scheduled flights are Rovaniemi, Kittilä, Kuusamo and Ivalo. If you can not find direct routes from where you live, you can stop in Helsinki first and make a connection. 
• By rail:  A reliable rail network runs through Lapland, linking it to different parts of Finland, such as Helsinki. For example, you can take a night train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. Kemijarvi, Kemi and Kolari are also areas with well-served railway stations.
• By road:  You can reach Lapland by public transport and buses from almost any part of Finland. You can also rent a car and drive to Lapland. If you come from Helsinki , you will pass through Lahti, Jyvaskyla and Oulu. Finnish roads are in good condition, and it will take 10 to 15 hours to drive, depending on how far north you go. However, driving this route in winter is not recommended due to bad weather and lack of visibility. Read more below for winter driving tips.

Where to go and stay in Lapland

Lapland offers many sights and activities. Whilst the best place to go depends on the season, most travellers will come to Lapland in winter to experience a magical snowy and festive paradise. 

But, how to decide which area is best for you and fits your trip? Here are some of the best-known winter wonderlands: 

1- Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi is the official capital of Lapland and one of the top places for a Christmas visit. It is well-located and close to many best sites. Additionally, it is an ideal base for tours and experiences that will allow you to discover Lapland in greater depth.

Where can I meet Santa? At Santa Park, an indoor Christmas theme park.

Kittilä is another popular holiday resort further north and a bit more remote, offering plenty of outdoor activities such as skiing, dog sledding, and snowshoe hiking. You can also meet reindeer and explore a snow village. It is where we decided to stay for a week, and we did not regret it. The area was great for relaxing and discovering the unique side of Lapland. 

Where can I meet Santa? At the Snow Village or Santa’s Secret Cabin.

Ivalo is a village on the Ivalo River known as a gateway to Saariselkä, an arctic resort area to the south. It is the perfect place to reconnect with nature and get away from it all. To its southeast, you can find Urho Kekkonen National Park, home to pine forests and reindeer. It has many trails and offers ideal viewpoints of the Northern Lights. 

Where can I meet Santa? At Santa’s Creek, a quaint log cabin in the woods.

Kuusamo is a town located southeast of Rovaniemi. It offers direct access to Ruka, a beautiful ski resort. It is also the area where you can discover Santa’s secret cottage and go on husky sledge rides.

Where can I meet Santa? At Santa’s secret cottage.

How to get around Lapland & road conditions

Lapland is an area well served by bus and train and is easy to explore using public transport , especially if you are staying in the same place. However, I would recommend renting a car if you are comfortable driving on snowy roads, as it will allow you to travel further and discover remote areas. 

Luckily, my brother lived in Helsinki and had his own, which was big enough for us, so it was easy to get around. You can rent yours at the airport when you arrive. Your car will be equipped for snowy roads. However, I recommend being careful: some areas, like the huskies, were challenging to access. 

DRIVING IN WINTER IN LAPLAND

Driving in winter in Lapland is possible but can be an adventure! The roads will be covered with snow and sometimes ice, but your car will have snow tires – although they are not magic. You will still need to drive slowly and take your time. 

Here are more tips for driving in Lapland in winter: 

• Always have your lights on, no matter what time of day.
• Go slowly! No need to rush. 
• Use the engine heater for a while before going, if possible.
• If your battery stop working, do not panic and call your rental company.
• Be warned: Lapland is a reindeer country, and they can sometimes appear in the middle of the road. 
•  If you come across an elk, stop immediately and wait for the elk to go.

Special note about electric cars : Electric car batteries will work in Lapland, but you might expect a reduced battery range due to cold weather. Keep that in mind when planning your trip.

Best time to visit Lapland

Lapland is a year-round destination offering many activities and possibilities whatever the season. From Northern Lights to Midnight Sun, here is an overview of the two main seasons in Lapland: 

• Summer (June-August) : Summer has many wonders to offer: from beautiful sceneries to the Midnight Sun, a natural phenomenon when the sun does not leave the sky for almost 24 hours every day. I experienced it in Helsinki in June, and it was impressive! In addition, the temperatures during this period will be mild but perfect for outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking or cycling.
• Winter (December-March) : Lapland is undoubtedly a perfect winter gateway. During this season, the landscapes are magical and covered in snow, the ice villages and hotels are open, and you can enjoy many unforgettable activities such as dog sledding or meeting reindeer. Of course, you can also observe the Northern Lights dance in the sky. But on the other hand, it will be peak tourist season, and the weather can be unpredictable and rough. 

READ MORE: 10 Best Northern Lights Holiday Tours in Norway

Best things to do in Lapland in winter

There are so many incredible things to do in Lapland in winter. This place is truly a winter wonderland. Whatever the length of your stay, you will have a memorable time!

Here is a short list of the top 10 things to do in Lapland in winter : 

• Chase the Northern Lights
• Take a husky safari
• Meet Santa Claus
• Encounter reindeer
• Go skiing on magical slopes
• Explore remote areas by snowshoe hiking
• Visit or/and sleep in an ice hotel
• Enjoy a Finnish sauna and ice bath
• Discover unique landscapes by cross-country skiing
• Learn more about the Sami culture 

READ MORE: 15 Best Things to Do in Levi, Finnish Lapland

Unforgettable experiences I recommend

What to pack for lapland in winter.

The best way to visit Lapland in winter and enjoy the cold weather is to arrive prepared. Being mindful of how you pack your suitcase is essential. Here are some clothing items and gear you need to be comfortable on your winter trip: 

• Boots : You will need good boots that keep your feet warm and dry during outdoor activities. I had some  Sorel boots , and they were perfect. Super comfortable, and my feet were never wet or cold – I strongly recommend them.
• Winter thermal socks : Wearing quality socks is essential to keeping your feet warm. Mine were  thick thermal socks   that I used for hiking or skiing,   and I loved them.
• Coat : One of the most necessary elements for a winter gateway! Choosing a coat that is right for you and can adapt to the types of activities you want to do is essential. I wore a  Fjällräven Nuuk parka , and once again, it was perfect. Buying a quality cold-weather jacket is expensive, but you will not regret it. This coat has kept me warm for my winter trips and adapted to all activities.
• Base layers and second layers : These layers are crucial if you want to stay warm. The base layers are usually long-sleeved thermal t-shirts, and the second layers can be thin thermal sweaters or thick jumpers, depending on the temperature and how many layers you want to wear. They do not need to be fancy, but I recommend having several to switch over the week.
• Gloves and hats : Once again, enjoying the cold weather of Lapland without gloves or a hat sounds impossible! You can not forget to protect your head and hands when visiting a Nordic country. I also recommend you wear waterproof gloves for extra protection and a padded hat.
• Scarf : The scarf will depend on your preferences, as many people do not enjoy feeling something around their neck, especially when hiking or skiing. But because the wind can be strong, I had a  Buff . It was one of my favourite items! The one I chose was lightweight and thermal and incredibly useful. Buff products are much easier to wear than long scarves and can adapt to different situations.
• Pants : The type of pants you wear will most likely depend on your activity. Most of the time, I wore my jeans with tights for this trip. However, for some places or activities like skiing, having windproof/waterproof pants was a must.

Lapland, Finland – Map

Click on the top left of the map to display the list of stops and locations.

Lapland travel guide: my 7-day winter experience

In the winter of 2020, my mum and I went to Lapland in Finland to meet my brother. During this trip, I journaled our adventures each day as a method to collect memories and reflect on what I learned.

I usually prefer to keep the journals for myself, but for this article, I decided to share a part of it and my thoughts in a raw format, hoping to inspire your next trip to Lapland and encourage you to slow travel. Take more time to discover the destination you visit and set aside a moment to write each day. You will be surprised by the incredible benefits travel journaling provide.

Day 1 – Discovering Levi

My mum and I left Manchester early in the morning to catch our flight to Lapland. I already visited Finland a few years ago, Helsinki and Turku, to be precise, and I liked it. I enjoyed the calm and peacefulness these places were bringing out. But this time, we were going north to Lapland, and I could not wait to discover this incredible region.

We spent the day on planes before arriving in  Kittila  at 6pm (the closest airport to where we were staying). It was already nighttime, and we could not see anything, but the surroundings looked beautiful.

My brother picked us up and drove to our cabin in  Levi . There was a lot of snow everywhere, although the temperature was not too bad, around minus three.

We arrived at the cabin where we met Annika, my brother’s girlfriend, and her dog Alma. They showed us around the chalet and our rooms. It was a traditional and lovely Finnish cottage, with a large living room to warm up by the fire and relax after a long day of skiing and a terrace with a beautiful and peaceful view.

We did not do much that night as we were all tired from the journey. We went to bed early, excited for the next day.

Day 2 – Skiing in Levi

We all woke up quite late that morning, at 10am ( sunrise = 11am / sunset = 2pm ). We had breakfast, got ready and went  skiing  for the day. I was a bit anxious as I had not skied for five years, but I remembered everything quickly and had so much fun!

We stopped skiing for lunch and headed back to the cabin to eat. It was nice to do a break, and the temperature was not too bad again, but the weather was quite cloudy.

We went back to ski after lunch. The sun was already setting, and the colours were beautiful, as was the view on top. We stopped for a drink in a small bar in the middle of a slope and gave back the skis around 6pm.

We spent the evening relaxing and playing some games. I also tried to look for the northern lights but did not see any.

Notes: life is expensive! 

Some Finnish words: yes = joo no = ti  thank you = kiitos  please = ole kilti hello = moi goodbye = hyvästi / moi moi (my favourite word)

Day 3 – Snowshoe Hiking to Kätkä

We woke up at 10am, and the sun was slowly rising. We had breakfast and got ready for a  snowshoe hike . The weather was sunny and beautiful. The temperature was colder than the other days, minus fifteen.

We put on snowshoes that we had rented nearby and started the hike to  Kätkä  (3,6km). The climb was tough, but the view at the end made it worth it. The colours were gorgeous. We enjoyed this moment for a bit and went back down before the sun was completely gone to give our snowshoes back.

After spending the evening shopping in the town centre of Levi, we went home to play new board games.

Day 4 – Cross-Country Skiing in Levi

As my brother was still sleeping, Annika, my mum and I decided to go  cross-country skiing , which was my first time. We left the house around 11am with our skis and walked to the starting point. The weather was very cloudy but still not too cold. I was warm most of the time as this type of ski is very physical. You have to push a lot on your legs and arms. I fell a few times but tried again. These skis were so much lighter and slicker than the ones I am used to usually, but I learnt a lot and enjoyed it.

We did a total of 3,5km, and I took a few pictures along the way. Alma, the dog, was with us, so Annika kept falling at first as Alma was running too fast! After that, we went back to the cabin around 1pm and had lunch.

We spent the afternoon relaxing inside. I took the time to write my Vietnam article, and Annika made a chocolate cake. Afterwards, we went to a local restaurant in Levi for the evening, serving only reindeer, which, unfortunately, was not my type of food – I had a bowl of fries.

We went back home and played some games before going to sleep. Our favourite game was Munchkin – I recommend you give it a try!

Notes: sunrise = 11am / sunset 2pm. Temperature = -10, but I am surprisingly never cold (we always do quite physical activities). / Finnish are very nice. / Landscapes and colours are incredible.

Day 5 – Reindeer at Lapinkylä Farm

After a good night sleep, I woke up at 9am and had breakfast. We left the house at 11am to  see reindeer at   Lapinkylä Farm , near our cabin. I was excited as I had never seen one before. The reindeer were all around the farm. We could still approach them with respect and not too close. The colours on that day were also beautiful – all blue and pink, the sky was clear, and the farm was in the middle of nowhere. It felt great.

We skied for the afternoon. The weather was still clear, so I went on my own to the top to take pictures. I took more time taking pictures than skiing, as the view and colours were absolutely gorgeous.

I then met up with Annika and my brother, and we went back down together, as the weather started to be suddenly cloudy and the sun was setting.

Day 6 – Snow Village & Dog Sledging

Snow village.

I woke up early that morning. I took the time to book the accommodation for my following trip to Iceland. Then, we got ready and left at 11am to visit a  snow village near Kittilä  (a 35-min drive). The entrance was 18€. It was nice, but nothing special in my opinion. It is also a hotel, so you can choose to sleep in ice rooms, which seems impossible to me as it is freezing. We ate there and continued our journey to the huskies (a 40-min drive).

Dog Sledging

We had an appointment for the huskies at 2pm, and I could not wait. When we arrived, we could already hear them. The place was called  Rami’s Husky , and it was beautiful, lost in the middle of nowhere. We said hi to the dogs, and the owner explained how to control the sledge. We were two people per sledge – one driver and one passenger. I did it with Annika. She started driving so I could take pictures, and we changed halfway (5km). It was going less fast than I expected, and we could use the breaks in case we needed them. It was incredible! My favourite experience of this trip.

The dogs were listening very well – we had 6, and the surroundings were stunning. It was not sunny, but it did not matter, as it was such a unique experience. After getting back to the camp, we cuddled with the dogs and went inside a cabin to eat sausages cooked on a fire, and we also had some tea. It was the perfect way to end the day.

Notes: you can have up to 12 dogs for the sledge. Minimum age = 1 year old / max = 12 years old. The owner had 120 dogs. They were Alaskan Huskies (faster) and Siberians (stronger). They love the cool temperature (fav = -20). During summer, they chill. They were all super cute and loved cuddles. The experience was just fantastic! I loved it and would love to work as a volunteer there. 

Evening Sauna

Then, we headed home, and the sun was already gone. The roads were all covered with snow, but the car had specific wheels for this kind of weather. Once home, we enjoyed the sauna all together. It felt incredible after this long day outside. (side note – every building, apartment, house and cabin has a sauna in Finland).

We ended the night playing more games.

Sunrise = 10:45am / sunset 2:15pm. Temperature = -10.

We woke up late and had breakfast. After that, I went  cross-country skiing  on a frozen lake with my mum. Cross-country skiing was so physical, and I did not enjoy it as much as slope skiing, but it was still great to try something new.

The sky was a bit cloudy, but the colours were still beautiful. I loved the peacefulness of this place.

Notes: in Finland, you say ski for cross-country skiing, as it is one of the principal sports in the country. 

We went through the lake and back for an hour. Then, we met my brother and Annika to eat. After that, Annika and my brother went cross-country skiing whilst my mum and I went shopping in the little town, where I found a lot of cute local crafts for my partner Matt and his family.

Finally, we went home and cooked our last meal together, enjoying the moment. I was sad to leave. I called Matt one more time whilst the others were playing a game and went to bed, ready to come home in the morning.

Sustainable travel in Lapland

Sustainable travel  means exploring the world whilst being aware of your surroundings and having a positive social, environmental and economic impact on the places you visit.

Finland is one of the greenest countries and is on a mission to fight climate change. So, what can you do to reduce your impact whilst exploring Lapland?

• Book direct flights and offset your carbon footprint . But, do not use carbon offsetting as a complete solution. Combine it with other sustainable practices, like avoiding single-use plastic on the plane and mindfully packing your suitcase to be ready for your green adventure. 
• Prioritise staying longer and not only one day . Lapland is the home of Santa Claus, and it is understandable why parents want to give their children the opportunity to meet the man himself, but it is essential to think about the impact these 24-hour visits have. They are not beneficial socially, environmentally, or economically. That is why you are better off spending at least four or five days in Lapland and immersing yourself in the unique Finnish culture.
• Take part in tourist activities benefiting the local community and economy or hire a local guide . Look for authentic experiences but avoid tours more rooted in money than traditional culture! And, of course, never participate in activities harmful to wildlife. – Check out this article for more ecotourism activity inspiration: Top Ecotourism Activities Around the World .
• Try to avoid snowmobiling . Instead, go cross-country skiing or snowshoe hiking to slow travel in remote places or ice skate on a frozen lake and experience nature cleanly!
• Buy and eat local and seasonal . Finland presents incredible produce ranging from fresh fish to tangy berries and reindeer. It has a lot to offer, so support local. It also applies to souvenirs. Shop local crafts and ask questions about the product and its origins.
• Always respect the local heritage . Treat people and their surroundings with respect. Sustainable travel is not only about the environment but also about the local communities. So, ask before taking a photo, always be respectful and try to learn a few Finnish words!

Want to know more?

• The Complete Guide to Sustainable Travel
• 10 Best Ethical Coats for Iceland in Winter

10 Best Travel Apps for Exploring Sustainably

• 8 Best Filtered Water Bottles for Travel & Hiking

Download your free sustainable travel checklist ↓

Lapland travel planning guide

Yes, buying insurance is always valuable when travelling abroad. Enjoy your winter trip to Lapland stress-free with one of my favourite providers,  Nomad Insurance .

Yes, tap water is safe to drink all over Lapland. However, I also recommend travelling with the  UltraPress Purifier Bottle , a lightweight filtered water bottle perfect for reducing plastic and staying hydrated.

Yes, renting a car in Lapland is easy and is a great way to explore the Finnish region freely. I recommend booking yours with  Rentalcars.com  – they offer a variety of operators for all budgets.

The best way to book your accommodation in Lapland is with  Booking.com  – my favourite platform to compare and reserve places to stay each night, from affordable guesthouses to luxury hotels.

I recommend booking your plane with  Skyscanner . It has been my favourite platform for years, as it allows me to book the cheapest flights whilst lowering my carbon emissions.

Winter in Lapland FAQ

4 to 5 days is an ideal amount of time to discover Finnish Lapland and experience the best of the region. However, staying as long as possible is always great as Lapland offers so many things to do: skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoe hiking, ice skating, fishing, dog sledging, visiting snow villages, and more.

Winter is the best season to visit Lapland and enjoy a unique snowy gateway. Between November and March, the landscapes are breathtaking, activities are endless, children can meet Santa, and you will have the chance to see the Northern Lights.

The best time to see the Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland is from mid-August until early April. However, contrary to what one might think, the best chances of spotting them are at the beginning and end of the season when the weather is less cloudy.

Rovaniemi, Kittilä, Ivalo and Kuusamo are some of the best regions to experience the best of Finnish Lapland. Each of these areas offers something unique depending on what you want to do and will provide you with unforgettable memories.

And you, have you ever visited Lapland or would you like to go one day?  Let me know in the comments below!

With love ♡ Lucie

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The Ultimate Itinerary for Lapland and Arctic Circle, Finland

This article is  Part 1 of our 4 part series on planning the ultimate trip to Lapland, Finland 

Read Part 2 The Ultimate Guide to Packing for Finnish Lapland   (opens in a new tab)

Read Part 3 The Ultimate Guide to Lapland Safaris (opens in a new tab)

Read Part 4  Staring at the Northern Lights in Saariselka   (opens in a new tab)

Most people (us included!) wouldn’t blink an eyelid before planning a trip halfway around the world just for a single once-in-a-lifetime experience. Be it jumping off a bridge in South Africa , watching the sun rise at Angkor Wat (Cambodia) , participating in the Tomatina Festival in Bunol (Spain ), or staying in a villa suspended over water in Bora Bora – we’re all guilty of booking an air ticket just to tick one item off our bucket list.

But what if a trip promises not one or two but over a dozen once-in-a-lifetime experiences at one go? You’d jump right into it, wouldn’t you? Well that’s what we did.  We slept in an igloo, rode on reindeer sleighs, played with husky dogs, tobogganed down ice slides, walked on a frozen ocean, marvelled at the elusive Northern Lights, and even floated in water with icebergs for company. Phew!!

Finnish Lapland is a truly phenomenal corner of the world. We’ve been to over 45 countries and have experienced some crazy things but very rarely have we seen beauty that left us dumbstruck. Literally! I’ll let you into a secret – I carry a travel journal with me wherever I go. I’m perpetually scribbling notes in it. It’s somewhat of a ritual. But for one whole week in Finnish Lapland, I penned nothing in my journal. Yep, nothing, nada, zilch!!

That’s how long it took me to accustom myself to the surreal beauty of Finnish Lapland. This corner of the world, located at the Northernmost tip of Continental Europe is so special that I don’t know where to start. The air is clear (no pollution here!), water is sugary sweet, the sky sparkles with thousands of stars, and the snow-laden landscape seduces people into thinking this is paradise. It could well be!

If you want to explore this area for yourself, look no further. Here’s the ultimate itinerary for exploring Finnish Lapland.

Now for the fun stuff. Get ready, ladies and gentlemen, for the virtual ride of a lifetime. Don’t blame us if you’re tempted to book a flight to Lapland as soon as you finish looking at these photos. Here’s a summary of our experiences and our suggestions for planning an itinerary for Lapland 🙂

Day 1 – Fly into Oulu

Oulu is just over an hour away from Helsinki. The two cities are well connected through multiple flights a day. You will find a white landscape, laden with snow, when you land in Oulu. Once you’re in Oulu, you could stay there for the night or take the train to Kemi, a small Finnish city close to a deep harbour.

• Take bus no. 9 from Oulu Airport to the city centre/train station.
• You can book your train tickets to Kemi in advance on this website :  www.vr.fi/cs/vr/en/

Days 2 and 3- Float with Icebergs in Kemi

This is when the fun begins in real ernest. On this day, you will witness a castle made entirely out of ice and hop aboard an ice-breaker cruise ship. Ice-breaker sampos are used to transport goods from one port to the other in this part of the world but Kemi’s ice-breaker sampo is one of the very few that allow tourists on board.

A free shuttle bus ferries passengers from Kemi’s train station to the Ice Breaker Sampo. A short drive later, you will see a ship looming large in the distance. Chunky boulders of ice surround it. This is the Gulf of Bothnia, Europe’s largest mass of frozen ice. You might have been on many a cruise but nothing like this one. A loud horn heralds the start of an unforgettable journey – the ship leaves the harbour, cutting through the frozen Baltic Sea.

It might be cold outside but it’s hard to tear yourself away from the surreal sight of a frozen sea stretching out in front of your eyes. Our favourite part? A short pit-stop in the middle of the journey where passengers are given the opportunity to don bright floatation suits and plunge in ice-cold waters with a few other fellow crazies for company. My heart was in my mouth for the first ten seconds of the plunge but I really really enjoyed the rest of it 🙂

The free shuttle bus is waiting for passengers when the cruise ship gets back. It drops tourists at the snow castle of Kemi, which is straight out of the fairytales. You could wander around and walk back to the train station (a pleasant 20 minute walk) or spend the night at one of their unique ice-rooms. Did you ever think you would be sleeping on a bed of ice? Now is the chance to make that dream come true

• This should be one of the first things you book because cruise tickets get sold out months in advance. The cruise can be booked here :-  www.visitkemi.fi . You could also send an email to  [email protected]
• The Sampo Icebreaker Cruise costs €270 per person. This cost includes food, polar plunge experience, and the return journey on the cruise ship
• There is a free shuttle bus that ferries tourists from Kemi train station to the Ice Breaker Sampo and the Snow Castle
• Entry to the Snow Castle costs €15. If you want to spend a night in the ice hotel, prices start at €155. More information on their website  www.visitkemi.fi/en/snowcastle

Day 4  – Settle into Rovaniemi

A short train ride will get you to Rovaniemi, the bustling capital of Lapland situated on the Arctic Circle. Rovaniemi is also famous for being the home of Santa Claus. Did we not say Lapland is straight out of our childhood fantasies? 🙂

Rovaniemi is the perfect base for exploring Lapland and all it has to offer. No wonder it features heavily on most itineraries of Lapland. We stayed at Santa’s Hotel Santa Claus and loved it. The hotel’s location is perfect – it’s less than a five minute walk away from most of Rovaniemi’s supermarkets, restaurants, and excursion providers.

Our spacious suite was on the sixth floor, overlooking the river. The room was modern, kitted out with a private Finnish sauna (where Vid spent most of his time 😉 ). Breakfast was plentiful with a wide variety of vegetables, salmon, eggs, meat, fruits, cookies, and cheese on offer.

• Stay in a centrally-located hotel in Rovaniemi. We stayed at Santa’s hotel Santa Claus and will happily recommend it. You can find the best rates here
• Make sure you spend time in the Finnish sauna – it’s unique and rejuvenating

Days 5 and 6 – Experience the best of Lapland’s safaris

Once you’ve settled into Rovaniemi, it’s time for the adventures to begin. There are photo opportunities galore. You can spend your days snowmobiling on frozen rivers, driving through stunning Arctic forests, visiting husky dog farms and playing with furry creatures, or hunting for the mysterious Northern Lights. Northern Lights’ excursions in Rovaniemi involve driving out of town, spending hours listening to Sami folk tales and BBQing sausages in a tent in the Arctic Wilderness – SO good 🙂

• Lapland Safaris offer husky-dog safaris, snowmobiling, visits to reindeer farms, and Northern Lights excursions. Safaris start at €100/person.
• We recommend pre-booking all your safaris with Lapland Safaris. That way you can keep their Arctic overalls, ski gloves, even snow boots for the length of your stay in Rovaniemi for free. You’ll keep warm and you won’t need to pay a penny. You can thank us later 😉 More information on their website  www.laplandsafaris.com/en/

Day 7 – Meet Santa Claus on a day trip

Did you know that Finnish folklore has it that the ‘real’ Santa Claus resides in Rovaniemi’s Santa Claus Village with Mrs. Claus and an army of elves. No wonder it’s Christmas 365 days an year in Lapland 🙂

Santa Claus Village is a short bus ride away from the centre of Rovaniemi. You will hear Christmas carols and festive music as soon as you enter the hallowed gates of this dreamy village. Of course, there’s no better way to arrive at Mr. Claus’ house than on a reindeer sleigh. Now let me tell you something. This might not be your first skirmish with Arctic Safaris but one thing is for sure – it’ll be your favourite one. It belongs in a fairytale, nowhere else.

Once you’ve exhausted yourself by playing in the snow, giggled at the little elves in the village, and hugged snow-men, head to Kotahovi Restaurant  in Santa Claus Village for a warm meal. The restaurant is housed in a traditional Lappish wooden hut. The roaring fire at the centre of the restaurant is comforting and made us feel cosy almost immediately. We devoured the creamy salmon soup with rye bread (€14)  and the sautéed reindeer with mashed potatoes, lingonberries, and pickled cucumbers (€26) and spent hours looking at the snow falling outside the window.

• Bus number 8 takes you from the Rovaniemi city centre to Santa Claus Village. Bus tickets cost €2.20/per person.
• Entry to Santa Claus Village is free. You can meet the ‘real’ Santa Claus for free too.
• Don’t leave Santa Claus Village without hopping on a reindeer sleigh. It will take you through magical snow-laden trains and Arctic forests. It was one of our favourite experiences on our entire trip of Lapland. The owner at Santa Claus Reindeer, Janne, is a great photographer. Make sure you ask him for a frame-worthy photograph once you’re in the sleigh 🙂
• Reindeer Sleigh rides start at €22/per person. We opted for the 3 km ride and loved it. You can book it here :-  www.santaclausreindeer.fi
• More information about Kotahovi Restaurant here :- www.santaclausreindeer.fi

Day 8 – Devour a traditional Lappish meal and say bye to Rovaniemi

Sampling local food is the easiest way to acquaint oneself with a new culture. If you’re a regular reader of Bruised Passports, you’d know we never leave a new place without trying out all the local delicacies we can get our paws on. We had a fair few Finnish meals in Lapland but Restaurant Nili came out triumphant by a mile (and a half).

The evening we spent at Restaurant Nili made us so happy that we just had to go to the kitchen to give the chef a hug. The unassuming exterior makes it seem like a small neighbourhood eatery but locals swear by Nili’s exquisitely-crafted Finnish food. We loved the fact that the food was modern without being excessively experimental.

We opted for the sensational set menu called The Rovaniemi Menu. The meal kicked off with a delectable Lappish blini, perfectly complimented by whipped sour cream and grainy fish roe. Main course was reindeer rack on a bed of fluffy parsnip purée, braised root vegetables, and a creamy sauce. We opted for a full-bodied Merlot with the reindeer meat and the two were a match made in heaven. A refreshing scoop of Nili’s black currant sorbet followed – the perfect palate cleaner to prepare our taste buds for the Cheese Plate. We wound up the feast with a glorious panna cotta (the creamiest I’ve ever had!) garnished with apples and wild raspberries. But we didn’t stop there – a couple of shots of Finnish Tar liqueur followed. We could fly back to Rovaniemi just to have a meal at Nili all over again 🙂

Take a bow Chef Marko, you did good 🙂

• Don’t leave Rovaniemi without trying delectable Finnish food at restaurant Nili.
• Reserve in advance because Restaurant Nili can get really busy in the evenings.
• We loved their sensational set menu called The Rovaniemi Menu (€58/per person) but you can go the à la carte route too. More information on their website  www.nili.fi

Day 9 – Sleep on a bed of ice at The Arctic Snow Hotel

After you’ve explored Rovaniemi to your heart’s content, it’s time to go to a snow haven 30 kms outside Rovaniemi. Arctic Snow Hotel is built from scratch in November every year. It’s nestled in Lappish wilderness and provides a fairytale experience.

The reception area, communal toilets, and breakfast rooms are heated. However the fun begins when you enter the main building made of ice. The corridors are full of ice-carvings and sculptures and bright LED lights lead visitors to the Ice Bar and Restaurant. Here drinks are served in glasses made of ice and food is served on intricately carved ice plates. Finnish specialities such as creamy soups and elk are on the menu. Stools and benches might be carved out of chunky blocks of ice but they’re covered with Finnish fur rugs that keep guests warm.

Each ice suite has a different theme – we loved the playful Angry Bird themed room. Stunning beds are carved out of ice. Artic-style sleeping bags are provided to guests so they keep warm as they doze off. But doze off you mustn’t. For there is a lot of fun to be had.

Don’t miss the outdoor jacuzzi for the world – there is nothing quite like sitting in a hot tub in the middle of an Arctic forest and feeling warm when it’s -20°C out. You can count stars and if you’re lucky, you can spot the mysterious Northern Lights. Bucket list or not, an open-air hot tub is one experience that NEEDS to feature on your itinerary of Lapland.

• Arctic Snow Hotel is open to visitors from November to April
• It is possible to visit only for a meal but we suggest sleeping in an ice room for 1 night for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Prices for overnight stays start at €125. You can compare and book here .

Days 10, 11, and 12 – Immerse yourself in Arctic Wilderness in Saariselka and spot the Northern Lights

It’s time to head north to delve deeper into the Arctic wilderness. Frozen slanting trees, ice-laden hills, and fields covered with untarnished snow – the scenery at the northern tip of Lapland is beyond your wildest imagination .

A 3 hour bus ride from Rovaniemi will get you to Saariselka. There is a variety of accommodation on offer in Saariselka – log cabins are a popular choice. But we are partial to the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, where you can sleep in a heated igloo under the Northern Lights. The bus will drop you at the gate of Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. To say we had the time of our lives here would be the understatement of the decade. We spotted the Northern Lights ever so often while we were there. We were so taken in by the surreal beauty of this hotel that we decided to extend our stay by 2 days.

We spent our days trying to absorb the immense beauty of Finnish Lapland. Reindeer safaris provide a glimpse into the life of Sami people (indigenous people living at the very northern tip of Europe) and will convince you that you’re in a fairytale. Just when you’re drifting into your dream world, the reindeer will stop in the tracks to pee or grace the ground with perfectly-shaped reindeer droppings 😉

• The bus journey from Rovaniemi to Saariselka is gorgeous. The bus has wifi and is extremely punctual. Bus tickets can be bought in person or booked online on this website :-  https://www.matkahuolto.info/lippu/en/
• Read our detailed review of Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort with photos, tips, and more before you flesh the itinerary for your trip to Lapland.
• We suggest staying in the glass igloos at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort for 1-2 nights and their rustic log cabins for 2-4 nights depending on how much time you have. You can compare prices and book here .

Day 12 Take the flight back from Ivalo

Ivalo airport is close to Saariselka and Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort offers regular transfers to the airport. Take the flight back to Helsinki – we promise you’ll spend the flight thinking about all the surreal panoramas you saw on your trip to Lapland and counting the crazy experiences you had. One thing is for sure – it’ll be hard to pick favourites. After all, how often does one get to pick between petting a reindeer and sleeping in an igloo 🙂

Planning your trip to Finland – The Essentials

If you’re there for winter sports and the Northern Lights, then visit Lapland between December and March. If you want to drive around, then summer is a good time since Finnish Lapland boasts of sunlight 24*7. Winter Wonderland transforms to the Land of the Midnight Sun during the months of June, July, and August.

Length of the trip

We suggest setting aside at least 10-12 days for a trip of your lifetime to Finnish Lapland. A rough breakdown is as follows (scroll down for the detailed itinerary 🙂 ) :-

• Fly into Rovaniemi/Oulu from Helsinki
• Kemi: 2 nights
• Rovaniemi and surrounding areas: 4-5 nights
• Saariselka: 3-4 nights
• Fly back from Ivalo to Helsinki

Finnish Lapland is not the place for backpackers. Scandinavia is infamous for being notoriously expensive and Finnish Lapland is no exception. Moreover it’s an extremely remote corner of the world. Consequently transport, hotels, food, and excursions can get pricey here. Try to set aside approximately €200 per person/day when budgeting for your trip. This includes the  hotel rooms, excursions, food, and transportation within Lapland but excludes flights from your hometown. [box]

Don’t come back without trying these typical Finnish things

• Finnish Sauna (Finnish people are obsessed with it and with good reason!). We love Visit Finland’s introduction to the Finnish Sauna
• Reindeer meat – a local delicacy, Finns sure know how to dish up the perfect reindeer steak. Ok you can skip this and opt for creamy salmon soup if you’re a bit squeamish about devouring Rudolph’s li’l red nose 🙂
• Spending a lazy evening in a Sami lavu/teepee making pancakes, BBQing sausages or just acquainting yourself with Sami Folklore.
• Sipping on dozens of glasses of warm lingonberry juice – this local speciality the perfect antidote for Lapland’s Arctic winter.
• Spending an evening in an outdoor hot tub while it’s -20°C outside. It’s a surreal experience to watch your drink freeze as you lounge comfortably in warm water and stare at Lappish sky, coloured green by the Northern Lights. Words can’t do justice to such an experience, can they?!

[/box] That’s it – our itinerary and favourite things to do in Finnish Lapland. You need to put this corner of the world on your travel bucket list – it will leave you spellbound and you will come back, wanting more.

Leave us a comment below if you enjoyed reading about our journey or if you have any questions about planning a trip to Lapland – we’ll make sure we get back to you as soon as possible 🙂

Want to include some more offbeat places in your winter trip to Lapland? Check out this article on 10 Must Dos In Lapland for pointers 

Previous Post

Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort – Truly ‘Once-in-a-lifetime’

Packing for Lapland, Finland : Staying warm in the Arctic

213 thoughts on “ the ultimate itinerary for lapland and arctic circle, finland ”.

That’s like the trip of dreams come true!!! So beautiful.. I have to find someone to go along with me . M saving up!!

Now you’ve found Madhuri 😉 Go, go, go. PS It really was the trip of our dreams

Sound amazing!! can I ask where you found the outdoor hot tub? or accommodation you would recommend with this.

OMG this is insanely awesome. I would love some dessert served on a carved piece of ice! The Northern Lights are definitely a bucketlist, along with a loooong list of thing! :-p

xox head2heels.co

I know right?! I want to have food on those plates everyday 😉 The Northern Lights were amazing, definitely the highlight of the trip

this is one of the most beautiful post !!! this seriously seems some magical stuff!!! i could not even imagine that something like this existed !!!! so so so beautiful !!!!

Thanks Kushagr – we couldn’t believe our eyes when we first saw the scenery at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort 🙂

hey could you guys please connect.Travelling this year with my girls.

We want a budget trip to Lapland & Estonia in January 24 – 1st or 2nd week for 10- 11 days.

Rashmi, can i tag along =p I LOVED this post. trip of dreams indeed. thanks for this post. this definitely goes on my bucket list.

hehehe!! Sure :P:P The more the merrier 😉

Love the sound of this 😉

Thanks Madhuri – this was a dream trip indeed! Rashmi and you better make it there quickly 😉

Hey can u plz suggest where is the best Sauna in rovenamemi …we leaving in 2 days for Finland for my birthday ?

Hi Harleen,

A belated happy birthday and hope you had a great time in Lapland 🙂

Wow, what an epic trip! Yes, I’d love to tick off all those things, except the reindeer meat (I’m a veggie)! I’m obsessed with Finland and I was there in December but not more northern than Tampere, I didn’t have the time or the money to head up to the

sorry! that cut out and posted unfinished!

I didn’t have time or enough budget to head to the arctic north and centred my trip in the south. I’m hopefully heading back in the summer to drive down from Norway to Helsinki and I can’t wait to experience the light nights and the far north!

I also can’t wait to get back to saunas! Oh how I miss them, absolutely the must do for Finland!

Such a great post guys!

Rachel I hear you – it’s so easy to fall completely in love with Finland 🙂 I hope you manage to make it to the North soon, Lapland is straight out of the fairytales

I decided to visit Finnish Lapland for my honeymoon as soon as I saw your first Facebook post on the Icebreaker Cruise in Kemi. Then when you posted about the Northern Lights, there was no looking back. I was looking forward to reading this post. It’s answered most of my questions and I will be following your itinerary. I have 1-2 questions about budgeting and flights- can I email you for that?

Sure Sher – drop us an email. Lapland is the perfect place for a honeymoon 🙂

What an awesome writeup – watching the northern lights has been on the bucket list for a while – had a couple of questions ?

– WHats the probability of seeing northern lights during the stay ? What are the best months for the same ? – I understand from the pictures that its cold – how cold does it actually feel ? At any ;point did u experience the feeling of unbearable cold ? – Availability of vegetarian food in the northern hinterlands ?

Hey Maulik – The chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Lapland, especially in a place like Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort are very high between November & March. Vegetarian food is never a problem. One never feels unbearably cold because of snug Arctic jumpsuits which can be rented from a number of shops 🙂

Finnish Lapland looks like quite the chilly place – but it looks like you enjoyed yourself. Hope to do it myself soon!

We really loved it there Elaine – you must plan a trip to Lapland soon 🙂

One of the places we really enjoyed was a Thai Cultural Theme Park – Phuket FantaSea. Every service area there was beautiful and neat. We enjoyed watching their beautiful, costumed parade culminating at an outdoor stage with a Bangok theme show. The place is really somewhat like Disneyland of Thailand! The highlight their main show held at a beautiful Palace of the Elephants Theater. I must say it was pretty amazing, I left overwhelmed by their beautiful culture. International buffet dinner was good, particularly the noodle soup. We remember it as one of our nicest outings in Phuket and do recommend it for a quality evening-into-the-night entertainment. Don’t miss it!

Loved reading about your Lapland adventures! It was very inspirational so we are planning a trip for March next year. I’m hoping this will be a good time to go. How far in advance do you recommend booking? Is it worth staying in Oulu?

Hey Michelle,

March should be a good time to go. We booked 3-4 months in advance. We flew into Oulu and spent the night there – didn’t really see much there. You should try and go to Kemi from there to try out the Sampo ice-breaker cruise. It’s an amazing experience.

Straight out of my dreams!! I hate you guys hahhaha…so jealous!!! But on a serious note, thank you for sharing all this info!! Its a wonderfully written blog, and I can totally feel your excitement 🙂 Great stuff

Thanks a lot Pallavi 🙂

Your travel plan look really nice!! Can you please share me what is the destination from Kakslauttanen Artic resort stop name and Rovaniemi bus station (toward Santa Claus village) to take?

If you take the bus from Kakslauttanen towards Rovaniemi, it will stop at the Santa Claus Village. Just inform the driver that you wish to get off at the Santa Claus village 🙂

Awesome blog !!! I am from Norway,live in California.Go home to Norway quite often,and this trip is definitely on top of my bucket list. Thank you for great information…..and I have to tell you…..I love reindyr kjøtt og tyttebær syltetøy. Have a great day…?

Thanks for that. You should take a trip to this part of Scandinavia – I’m sure you’ll love it!

Hi guys, well written travel experience. quite inspiring. We are planning a trip this year in dec 15, we live in dubai and have children age 2 and 5, a little concerned to see if our kids can adjust to such severe weather conditions while living in a hot place like dubai. On your trip, did you see kids of similar ages? do you foresee any challenges that we may face?… any suggestions?

Given that its Santa’s hometown, we saw LOTS of kids in Rovaniemi and around. Just make sure that you wrap your kids warm (thermals are a must). I’m pretty sure your kids will love these experiences.

What an amazing read. I have been surfing for weeks but found everything I needed right here. I am staying at the Hotel Santa Claus with my daughter and widened how far the bus stop is from the Hotel to visit Santas Holiday Village. Also, I am going to book the 3km reindeer ride. The excursion states almost 2 hrs plus but only 40 mins ride, did you experience this? They only have 9am or pm and I wondered which would be the best time to ensure the most magical … I thought possibly the afternoon. I had so hope to arrange a private meeting with Santa but this isn’t possible unless staying much further North…. But maybe next time. :-). Could you tell me how expensive the meals are at the Hotel for the evening, the breakfast looks amazing. I am hoping we may sleep well there, but expect noise due to the location. Your trip looks truly perfect and I am glad you had such a wonderful experience. 🙂

Dear Debbie,

The stop from where you get the bus to the Santa Claus village is a straight 5 minute walk from the hotel. As for the excursion, not sure where you have booked but we were told the exact time of the ride – perhaps they have added the transfer times from Rovaniemi to the excursion time? Yes, afternoon will be amazing 🙂

We didn’t have evening meals at the hotel in Rovaniemi. We used to step out to try restaurants around the hotel. If you get a chance, have a meal at Restaurant Nili (not far from the hotel) – the food was really nice. Say hello to them from us 🙂

this is actually want I’m planning to do from years…just 2 questions – Is it doable in 7-8 days ? If yes, what can be shortened ? Is Dec a right time ?

Hello Upender,

December is a great month for this 🙂

You can certainly do it in 7-8 days – we’d cut out a day or two in Rovaniemi and a day and a half in Kakslauttanen!

Hope that helps

Ok so my husband and i are headed to the northern lights for 10 days max end of march. help us plan an itinerary. we will be staying here Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort

Dear Lauren,

You’ll have a great time 🙂 Not sure what exactly you need help with but you could drop us an email with any specific questions that you have and we’ll get back to you asap. Pretty much everything we did is documented in this article itself 🙂

Am looking at web page for sampo cruise and lowest rate is €385.00 for March 2016! With entrance to ice castle. We are Four and frankly I think it’ s too much! Could it be that rates went up since your blog? As you mention €270 per person – which is ” reasonable” can you help me with info where I can find costs you mention? Thank you

Thanks Toni- you’re right, €385.00 is extortionate for a family of 4 but we were told by another reader that prices have increased in the past year. Perhaps you could choose just the ice-breaker cruise and transfer package, which is for €339.00? I will update prices on our website now

I don’t seem to be able to search info about getting to Ivalo airport from Kakslauttanen Resort. On bus travel website it stop at the junction not at the airport. Any advice? And at the city of Rovaniemi where do I board the bus to Kakslauttanen? Lots of thanks!

In Rovaniemi, just go to the Rovaniemi coach station to board the bus to Kakslauttanen. It’s a short taxi ride from the centre.

As for Ivalo, you might have to change the bus i.e. take a bus from Kakslauttanen to Ivalo and from Ivalo take the airport bus to Ivalo Airport.

Which bus company have you checked?

This is really dreamy! If I plan a trip say in May/June, will I still have an opportunity for the husky safari, reindeer ride etc?

You might get to experience those activities in early May but June will be difficult. However, it’s best to drop an email to the activity provider to confirm 🙂

You guys have done a fantastic job of summarizing your entire itinerary and including all necessary details with the series of posts on your Lapland trip. Super exhaustive resource for planning my honeymoon. Quick questions for you – where can I find the following experiences in Lapland (we are staying in Rovaniemi for 3 nights, Kakslauttanen for 3 nights and Muotkan Wilderness Lodge for 6 nights)?

1. Spending a lazy evening in a Sami lavu/teepee making pancakes, BBQing sausages or just acquainting yourself with Sami Folklore. 2. Spending an evening in an outdoor hot tub while it’s -20°C outside. It’s a surreal experience to watch your drink freeze as you lounge comfortably in warm water and stare at Lappish sky, coloured green by the Northern Lights. Words can’t do justice to such an experience, can they?!

These sounds like lovely experiences and it’ll be great to know exactly what we should be looking for and where. Thanks a ton!

Hey there – you’ll love Lapland. It’s the perfect honeymoon destination 🙂 Here are the answers to your questions: 1) The perfect places for this is in Kakslauttanen – opt for the reindeer sleigh excursion to Penti’s farm and you will get an opportunity to make pancakes, BBQ sausages, and learn more about Sami folklore. We covered this excursion in our video on Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. Just check it out on our Youtube channel 🙂 2) Most hotels and lodges in Lapland offer outdoor hot tubs, so this shouldn’t be tough to find. Arctic Snow Hotel, just outside Rovaniemi, has a magical outdoor hot tub. But just email the hotel you’re staying at in Rovaniemi and Muotkan Wilderness Lodge to confirm whether they have outdoor hot tubs too.

Awesome, thanks a lot! Can’t wait to experience the wilderness of Lapland. Hope you guys are enjoying Fiji.

Anytime 🙂 Do send us photos from Lapland

Dear Savi, It was lovely reading your post, as we were looking into finland and happend to step onto your blog.It just gave us a good itinerary of our trip. I have a couple of questions if you dont mind which can help us for our trip in march.

We will be visiting rovaniemi on march and we would like to do some excusrions but considering our 3 nights stay there iam a bit confused on this.

1. Firstly do we do the Reindeer and the snowbike in Rovaniemi or at the resort of Kakslautten ? as we are spending three nights there as well ? ( in terms of northern lights and experince )

2.I know you have suggested lapland safaris but what do you think of the tour company laplandwelcome ( the reason i ask is cz the snowmobile excursion in lapland safaris ends by 11, whereas the laplandwelcome starts at 11 and ends at 1 am.

3.can you explain the route for the bus as we are going to have suitcases with us ? is that okay to travel from rovaniemi to kakslautten ?

Great to know you found our posts helpful. You’ll have an amazing time in Lapland. Here are the answers to your questions: 1) You should go on the reindeer safari at Kakslauttan – you’ll be deeper in the countryside and the scenery is a lot prettier there 🙂 2) I can’t comment on Lapland Welcome because we don’t have personal experience with them – however you can read other reviews on Tripadvisor or another dependable forum and make a decision 🙂 Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful but I find it hard to recommend something unless we haven’t tried it out for ourselves 3)You can take the bus from Rovaniemi to Ivalo and get off at Kakslauttanen – just let the driver know you’re headed to the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort as well 🙂

Thank you so so much for such a detailed info.. I am planning a trip for my fam n having difficulty figuring out until I stumbled upon your blog, so much helpful info. Will be following your itinerary and am pretty sure we gonna have as much fun as you both. Keep posting! Am definitely going to be your obsessive follower from now. 🙂

Thank you so much Vic 🙂 So happy to hear that. Have a great time in Lapland – it’s one of the most magical places we have been to.

Great article, thanks so much! We are planning to travel there in late Jan 2017 – just made the award ticket booking – and as our route is pretty much like yours i was wondering if you could answer 1-2 questions.

we only have short time 6 might 7 days invluding overnight trip back to our country, but due to award booking condition due to availability of award ticket, seems like we’ll only have 1 night each, 1 at helsinki, 1 at kakslauttanen, 1 rovaniemi, 1 kemi, and 1 at Oulu. If we cough up extra 450 euro or so for plane ticket for 2 of us, we can probably add 1 night in kakslauttanen instead of Helsiinki.

My question is:1) how high is out chance of catching aurora with our current achedule? Should we pay more to spend 1 more night in kakslauttanen? 2) what about ouliu? Is there any chance for catching aurora there? I’ve been trying to find info but there isn’t much…

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hey Karen –

It’s hard to predict whether or not you’ll spot the Aurora, so it’s probably not worth paying so much jut for 1 extra night. Oulu isn’t particularly noteworthy for spotting the Northern Lights. Hope you have fun in Lapland 😀

Thank you very much for your wonderful post. It makes me more excited 😉 I would like to ask did you booked all the activities one by one or all from one tour operator? Coz i found one tour package it is for EUR 1600 and its for 5 days only. it includes ice breaker in kemi, santa clause village, 1 night stay at the ice hotel, safaris, accommodations and bus transfer you think the price is reasonable enough? or it will be better to booked it separately. This price doesn’t include the igloo arctic resort.

Thank you so much

Hey Vanessa – we booked all our activities with Lapland Safaris but booked the hotels and the Icebreaker Cruise individually. Hope this helps 🙂

Hi Savi, This is Manish from Mumbai, Read your experiences ,very refreshing.we r planning to go to Finland in the month of June ,is this the right time to go ,thnx.

Hey Manisha – June is summer season, so it isn’t the best time if you want to experience winter activities and the Northern Lights

Hi Savi, how long in advance should i book the train tickets from oulu to Kemi and from Kemi to Rovaniemi? I am planning to go next year march but when I try to search for the tickets it showed no result 🙁

Hey Daphne – the tickets usually go on sale 3 months before the travel period in question. You should check back around November/December 🙂

Hey Savi!!!

What a great article!!! It almost inspires one to book tickets immediately and travel to Finland! My husband and I are planning on travelling in January 2017 and i was looking at the Kakslauttanen Resort booking website and its already sold out!!!! However i managed to reserve two nights (only!) at the cottage. that is not the same as the igloo right? Any idea if the igloo will become available later maybe due to any cancellation? How can i book the same?

Thanks and cheers! 🙂

Thats a great post and a very detailed account of your travels! Thanks for inspiring us to book our tickets for Finland! 🙂 Had a quick question- I was looking at the Kakslauttanen Resort booking website and most of it is akready booked!!! However i managed to reserve two nights (only!) in January 2017 in a cottage.. that is not the same as the igloo right? Any chance the igloo might become available due to any cancellations? ca How can i ensure atleast one night stay in the igloo?

Hey Munira – the cottage isn’t the same as the igloo. It’s best to ask the hotel about availability of igloos in case of cancellation. Unfortunately advance booking is the only way of ensuring a night in the igloo. PS Do send us photos from Finland. We’d love to share them with our readers and tag you.

Hey! Sounds like an amazing place and trip. I just have one question – would you recommend this for a couple and their 10month old? Thanks in advance!

Hey Pieta – we did see a lot of people with young kids but I’d wait for your baby to be a bit older – it can be TOO cold for a 10 month old 🙂

Thanks for the very nice input. We’re a family of 5 – 4 adults and a 4 year old – and we do hope to spend Xmas in Lapland. We tried checking the Sta. Claus Village but it is not available anymore during our intended trip in December. What other hotel is best recommended that is very near the Village? Do we have to provide our snow shoes before embarking on the journey?

Hey Angie – unfortunately we don’t know of any other hotel nearby. Snow shoes are available for rent everywhere in Lapland, so you needn’t invest in them if you don’t already own some 🙂

I love your itinerary. I’ planning a family trip this December and would like to follow your itinerary. Do you know of any travel agents that can arrange this trip for us?

We planned this trip on our own so don’t really know any travel agents 🙁

Have a great time in Lapland 🙂

This is amazingly awesmmmm…I wish I cud find u guys earlier before visiting Finland…for more experiences…

Hey Ina – now you have a reason to go back to Finland, which is never a bad idea 😉

Hi Savi and Vid,

I have always wanted to go to this place and this is very helpful information. May I ask how much was the total cost of the trip including the glass resort stay and all activities(excluding flights since that would be different for me , I will fly from US) ? Also I believe, to see the northern lights winter is the time to go. so is christmas – new year time a good time? when did you guys go?

Hey Ananya – yep, the total cost depends on where you fly from and how many days you stay for. The glass igloos cost $450/night and good mid-range hotels in Finnish Lapland cost about $120/night 🙂 Winter is the only time to go for Northern Lights – December and January are perfect

Amazingly informative post. I am planning a trip for this December and would be obliged if you can help me with a few questions.

1. Can I copy paste this itinerary and avoid Tromso and Ice Hotel? 2. Any recommended agencies that dont overcharge and have experience of booking these? 3. Iceland or This trip? Which would be your recommendation.

Thanks, Govind

Hey Govind,

-Sure you can definitely avoid Tromso and Ice Hotel -Lapland Safaris are great to book day trips and other such in the area -If you’re keen on watching the Northern Lights, then Lapland is great. If you enjoy roadtrips, go for Iceland

Hi! I am planning a 10 day trip to Finland end of November. Given the temperatures and snow, did you guys use backpacks or a suitcase for your luggage? Any suggestions?

Thanks Shree – We took a suitcase but we’d strongly recommend taking a backpack because it’s so much easier to carry a backpack than drag a suitcase on snow laden roads and alleyways 🙂

Thanks for the amazing video and article! We are staying at Kakslauttanen in a few weeks and I wanted to ask what camera settings you used to capture the Northern Lights? I have a Samsung digital camera that I love but am debating also packing my DSLR so I have lens options. Any advice would be great! Could you see the Northern Lights with your GoPro? Your video was a great reminder to pack a tripod!

We are only staying 2 nights at the resort. With limited time, which safaris do you think are the best? Thank you so much!!

Apologies for the late reply. Definitely take your DSLR, your widest lens, and your tripod if you want to get great shots of the Northern Lights. I normally did a 10-15 sec exposure (depending on how intense the lights were) at f2.8 / f3.5 with the widest focal length possible. We could not see the lights with our GoPro but not sure if the newer GoPros have a better low-light performance.

As for the safaris, you should definitely go for the Reindeer safari at Penti’s farm (you can book through the resort) – he is quite a character and you’ll have a great time 🙂

Hey guys, big fans!!

Inspired by your blog, we have booked tickets for a 11 day trip in Feb’17 (arriving in Helsinki on the morning of day 1 and leaving from Helsinki the night of day 11). But now feels like a bit too long? Is there enough stuff to do for 11 days?

We are planning for 2 nights in Kemi, 3 in Rovaniemi, 1 in Arctic Snow hotel and 4 in Saariselka. Does it make sense? Considering the Sampo ice breaker is 4 hour cruise, what else can we do in Kemi on day 2/3? Also, whats a good place to stay in Kemi?

Much appreciate your inputs. Thanks a lot !!

Happy to hear that our blog has been helpful for you to plan your trip. Everything else looks great except for 2 nights in Kemi – you’d be better off making that 1 night and spending an extra night in Rovaniemi. Other than the ice-breaker cruise you can spend a few hours in the Kemi snow castle.

Have a great trip 🙂

Hi Your blog is amazing !! Thank you so much. I am planning a trip based on your itinerary . We live in Australia so would love a white Christmas. I was just wondering what your budget was for the entire 10 days. I’m looking at trying to do it for $10,000 Australian dollars. Thanks again for your tips!

Happy to hear about your upcoming trip to Finland and Lapland. If $10,000 includes flight to and back from Finland, then it might be short. However, if it’s just for the expenditure while you are in Lapland, it should suffice (on an average for 2 people).

Hii Guys, Thats an amazing trip. We are planning out Finnish getaway from 26th March to 31st March this year. Helsinki is just to get in and out and exploring the city. Not staying over. Then heading to Rovaniemi for 4-5 nights. Planning igloo for one nights and log cabins for remaining nights. Ice breaker cruise and arctic snow hotel from Rovaniemi. Husky, reindeer safari,snowmobiling as well as santa claus village and how can we forget one night is for Aurora hunting. All are morning activities except the Aurora hunting which is one night. Should we do more night tours for aurora hunting? So basically our base is only Rovaniemi. Also, we do not have snow shoes/boots – do we need to buy the same or renting is good enough. Then back to Helsinki. Do you suggest any changes? Also, we are based in Mumbai, need to buy good warm hats and scarves for me as well as my husband, can you suggest some places. Hope we have a good holiday, considering I feel very very cold gemerally – any tips for that?

Hey Priya – renting snow shoes works perfectly. You needn’t buy them 🙂 Also more than one aurora hunting trip shouldn’t be needed – if you’re lucky you’ll see Northern Lights at the Ice Hotel or Rovaniemi itself 🙂

Thats one beautiful trip. We are planning Finland from 25th March to 31st March. In and out from Helsinki. Helsinki to Rovaniemi and back in overnight train. We have 5 nights in Rovaniemi, which we have made our base. We are planning to do husky safari, reindeer sleigh ride, santa village, snow mobiling, arctic snow hotel, ice breaker cruise, northern lights hunting and a night in the igloo, all in Rovaniemi. Would you suggest anything on the same. Also, I am based in Mumbai and looking to buy some good warm caps and scarves, can you suggest where i can find one.

Hey Priya – that sounds like a great itinerary. We would suggest picking up woollens from a reputed brand like North Face or Jack Wolfskin online 🙂

Hi. your blog on finland trip is very nice. i wanted to ask you what month of the year did you go to finland. i am planning a trip in january and was thinking of tromso in norway and rovaniemi in finland. could you suggest me if january would be good and also how best to travel about from norway to finland in your opinion. thank you

We went in Feb. January is a great time to visit especially if you are interested in seeing the Northern Lights. The best way to get from Norway to Rovaniemi will be to fly – Norwegian has regular and reasonably priced flights 🙂

What are your thoughts on visiting Finland in December to see the northern lights? Do you suggest Feb to be a better time?

Yes Feb will be better because there’ll be more daylight as compared to December so that you can do other things too ☺️

Just back from our trip !!! What a amazing one n truly once in a lifetime trip. I was searching for an itinerary for Finnish Lapland when I came across your blog and I had to look no further. We visited Santa, did husky safari , slept in an ice hotel , saw the northern lights in d forest while on a reindeer sledge etc etc…everything was so surreal….!!! A big thank you for penning down such a detailed itinerary…was truly helpful.

Keep travelling…keep inspiring!!!

Love Vanessa

Hey Vanessa we’re well and truly grateful that you stopped by to leave a comment AFTER your trip – it means the world. Do send us some photos from your trip – would love to share them with our readers 🙂 So happy you enjoyed Lapland as much as we did

Hey! Thanks for sharing. Is like an amazing place and trip. Planning to bring my dad and mum to Lapland this December as they loved to see snow and northern light. My concern is it may be too cold for them. Would you recommend this for a couple and their parents at the age of beginning 60? Thanks in advance!

Dear Lilian,

Apologies for not replying sooner.

It does get really cold up there, but if you’re wearing the right clothes, we don’t see why it’ll be a problem for your parents. We met plenty of elder people and they all seemed to be having the time of their lives 😀

Hope you have a great trip.

Hi, can I know how much you spent on this trip throughout Finland excluding international flight?

We spent around 2000 GBP per person including the hotels, meals, activities (which end up being expensive), and internal transport.

Hope that helps 🙂

v r planning during late october for 1 week only. what do you suggest? primary interest is northern lights and snow. any suggestions for self drive in the lapland.

Self-drive is always an option, but we chose to use the public transport when we went. You could spend 4 days in Rovaniemi and 3 in Kakslauttanen/Saariselka

Have a great trip!

Hi Guys, great trip and pics/description. Thank you !!!

I am taking the family in Novemeber for 8 days to Rovaniemi and Saariselka. What activities do you recommend in Rovaniemi and what do you receommend in Saariselka? I dont want to do the husky ride, reindeer farm etc at both locations and I am trying to determine what activities in what area. Thank you!!

To be honest, you can pick either place for the tours and they’ll be equally gorgeous. We did the reindeer ride and husky ride near Rovaniemi and really enjoyed both. Perhaps you could do these 2 just like us and do a Northern Light chasing snowmobile tour in Saariselka?

Yes ! Thank you. Saw pictures of you guys in ALberta. We were in Switzerland this summer – it was amazing up in the Oberland/Jungfrau region. I think you will love it. Thanks again for the blog, I always wanted to travel to the area but had a hard time with an itinerary, no I have one. THANK YOU !!!

That’s great 🙂 We’re sure Jungfrau is amazing – can’t wait to go there 🙂

Happy to hear you enjoyed our article on Alberta!

This is gorgeous!! Thanks for all the great info. I’ve been sharing this post with so many friends and family. Definitely on my wish-list! 🙂

Thank you so much for all the love Shruti 🙂

Hey I needed some suggestions regarding this trip. I am going to Finland in November and we are staying at kakslauttanen but we don’t know how to go to roveneimi from kakslauttanen? Also, I would like to know a few brands where to shop from for the thermal inners, jackets, hats and gloves and all the other things that we would require. Waiting for a reply soon. Thanks.

Hey there – we took a bus from Rovaniemi to Kakslauttanen. Inform the driver and he will drop you at the door of the hotel. Please look at our guides for packing for Finland and Iceland. Brands don’t matter as much – just choose 100% merino wool thermals, skiing gloves, and good quality down jackets. If you live in a hot place and don’t want to invest in those things, you can get them for rent in Rovaniemi. https://www.bruisedpassports.com/wears/packing-for-lapland-finland-staying-warm-in-the-arctic https://www.bruisedpassports.com/wears/packing-for-iceland-road-trip

Hey Guys, great information. In which month you traveled there because we are planning to go there in Feb so wanted to know if it is good time to go.

Hey February is a great month to visit (we visited at the same time too!)- All the best for the Northern Lights 🙂

hey guys…. i have been planning to go to the kakslauttanen resort for almost an year.i just love the place !!! was looking at some videos and came across yours ,you guys are so cute .i loved the video and i cant wait to go there and explore it myself.any clue how late October or november will be??(any snow?? and northern lights?)

Hey there – thanks for the kind words. The place gets snowed under only by late November 🙂 Northern Lights are unpredictable of course but there’s a good change of you catching them in November

Hey savi and vid. Your itineraries are to die for. I mean how can anyone not get tempted to travel to such mind blowing locations. Reading your Finland itinerary my husband was more than convinced to travel to the Lapland. Now the confusion is here we wanna do iceland Finland and norway together with in 15 days. I am really confuse where should I start from. We plan to go in mid of november. We are keen for northern lights ofcourse. Can you please help me just to plan where should I start from and where should I end. Rest details your itinerary has already done it for me. Thanks. Much love from India. Keep travelling and keep making memories. You inspire world to travel. Best wishes.

Hey Khevna – just choose whichever destination offers better connectivity from your hometown as the first stop followed by the next one. You can do Tromso and Lapland for a combination of winter activities and Northern Lights

Hello, your blog post is awesome. We are planning a trip to Finland this December and your list looks like the absolute bucket list for it!

Can I ask what is the difference between Rovaneimi and Saariselka? Rovaneimi seems to be the more popular and major place to go – are there things to do in Saariselka that are not available in Rovaneimi? And would u recommend an equal length of stay in both places?

Hi Rovaniemi is a bit more crowded and touristy wherease Saarisielka is more peaceful. You can visit Reindeer farms etc in Saarisielka and experience the Finnish countryside in its full glory

Such an amazing post summing up your experiences. I already feel like I am in the Lapland. Few quick suggestions needed.

I have booked a 8 nights trip to and from Oslo for me and my wife in Jan, 2018. Main moto is to enjoy the northern lights and the chilly northern winters. Our itinerary is sumdn like 1 night in Oslo… 2 in Kakslauttanen.. 2 in tromso and 2 in bergen and last night in Oslo again. do u think we should tweak it a bit in terms of your experience and change Tromso or Bergen with any Finnish place? Also, how is d internal road transport from Finland to Norway as we could not see much direct flights from Kakslauttanen to Tromso. Do u suggest self drive in snow considering that we have never really driven in snow. Also, reading that you have been in both Artic snow hotel and Kakslauttanen, which is a better place to stay? Thanks

You could look at replacing one of those places with Rovaniemi if you like. Not so sure about road routes between Norway and Finland. If you have never driven in snow then it might be a better idea to take public transport.

My, my wife and my daughter are planning a trip to the paradise land of Finland between Jan 11-18. I have been reading reviews about Lapland and yours stand out as the best one written. A hearty congratulations!

Now the question: You are advising to set aside 12 days or so for this experience but unfortunately we don’t have that many days. Could we still enjoy the trip with say 6 – 7 days if we “cut corners”? (Sadly 🙁

Any tips you could offer will be greatly appreciated.

Hey Omer – thank you for the kind worlds. 6-7 days are great for Lapland. We’d suggest spending 3 days in Rovaniemi and 3 in Saarisielka/surroundings and you’ll be good 🙂

Hey Guys! thank you so much for sharing such an informative itinerary. Much helpful 🙂 Could you please advise how you traveled from one place to another? car or bus? We were planning to rent a car and travel from Rovaniemi to Akaslompolo and the to Saariselka.. But car is not being possible now coz of license issues. Could you advise if you are aware of any bus services that could assist us with such itinerary? Thank you so much. – Niharika

Hey Niharika – we flew to Rovaniemi and took a convenient bus (specified in the article) to Saariselka 🙂

Hey what months were these?? Dates ? I am planning Finland this year December and your itinerary is just perfecto !

February 🙂 Hope you had a great time in Finland

Guys please tell me what is the total cost for spending 4 nights in kakslatunnen artic resort approximately…

Hey Ranjani,

As prices keep changing, it’s best to check the Kakslauttanen website for latest prices and availability 🙂

Hi…. I really love all of your posts and I am a travel freak myself …. I just wanted to know if I can have vegetarian meals there?? Because I am die hard vegetarian and I have no idea if pure veg meals will be available there…

Hey Manika – most resorts do have a vegetarian meal option but there isn’t much variety. would suggest carrying some instant food along 🙂

I love Lapand. I’ll be there next week. I think I’m lucky to be there

Hi, thanks for the itinerary, it’s very helpful. I wanted to know if you have any accommodation recommendations for Saariselka, as Kakslauttanen is booked out for the dates I am planning around Christmas :/ Any other good resorts/hotels which you would recommend?

Thanks Sonali

Hey Sonali,

We haven’t stayed in Saariselka so won’t be able to recommend. You could consult our latest article on a winter road trip in Finland: https://www.bruisedpassports.com/wheres/lapland-finland-winter-road-trip-guide for some alternatives to Kakslauttanen 🙂

What time of the year did you guys visit? I plan to tea so with my daughter’s 5 &7. Too cold?

We visited in Feb. Yes it is quite cold but if you’re dressed properly and good woolens, not such a big issue 🙂

What an amazing and a fascinating place to visit. I really didn’t know much about this but after reading this post I will surely visit one day. Thanks for sharing such an amazing post.

I think you mentioned before that you went during February. Do you mind me asking what time of the month? We’re kind of wide open with dates and have been back and forth between a week in February or March. We would love to see the northern lights and take in all the winter activities, but we’re not exactly sure about timing. I read February is the coldest month, but you get more snowy days, with the snowy trees you see in pictures of husky safaris and reindeers. In March, it sounds like you still have the snow beneath your feet to do the winter activities, it starts to warm up a bit, you have more daylight, but you miss out on the snow covered trees. I also read that you have a greater chance of seeing the northern lights near the equinox which is March 20. Any suggestions on deciding between February and March as I continue to overthink the decision 🙂

Hey unfortunately natural phenomenons are hard to predict. You could do the best research and still end up with no northern lights. So it’s best not to overthink and go at a time that suits you best. The beginning of February is a better time as the scenery is prettier! 🙂

Hey! This looks magical. We are planning our honeymoon in Lapland from 1 Jan until 6 Jan. We have 6 days in Lapland. How do you suggest we plan our trip? Do you think 4 days in Rovaneimi and 2 days in Saariselka is ok? Or should we do 3 days each? We are planning to do a day tour to Kemi from Rovaneimi for the ice breaking cruise. Thank you!

Hey Ravina – the first option is great. 4 days in Rovaniemi and 2 in Saariselka 🙂

I wonna go like now. Oh my God. Your story telling is so great.

Hey we are planning a trip to Finland in early feb for our 19th anniversary. You have mentioned a visit to the Santa Claus village while in rovaniemi, which is very much in our plans.. would it be open for visit in Feb or is this only a pre Christmas destination?

Will deeply appreciate your input on this please.

Thanks Sohini

It should be open in Feb – in fact that is the month we visited too so you shouldn’t have any problems 🙂

Hi Savi , I stumbled across your wonderful itinerary, I’m staring to plan my trip for March 2019 , I only have 9 days , how would you suggest spend my time wisely ? Do you also know anything about skiing in Sally ? Thanks so much for your help !!! Chantay

No we don’t know much about skiing in Salla 🙂 We’d suggest spending a few days in Rovaniemi, a few in Saariselka/Kakslauttanen, and then perhaps Levi.

Hey guys, I wanted to search for a Lapland Itinerary post your pictures on Insat for the past few days. And guess what? Yours was the one i ended up reading eventually. And now I am day dreaming about it already. Gosh ! So beautiful. I have to start saving for it right now man. Its gorgeous. And beautiful. Also just so detailed and helpful Savi. Thankeeeee.

Love to you guys.

Enjoy your trip to Lapland Asmita and share photos with us 🙂

Hey savi, was great to read your post, we are 2 families 4 adults and 4 children planning to go in april 3rd week, we plan 1 day for kemi 3 days for rovaniemi and 2 for saariselka, please advice about transport, should we rent a vehicle or should we use bus or train services.

thanks vishal

If you’re travelling to Kemi, Rovaniemi, and Saariselka I’d suggest renting a car 🙂

Hi, would driving in December be possible and travelling in end December feasible? Since we read up that sunlight is rather sparse at this time of the year and was wondering whether it would be a limiting factor during our trip! Thank you!! Awesome itinerary

Yes, daylight is only for a few hours so that would restrict your sightseeing but will also give you more time to hunt for Northern Lights. That said, we always recommend Feb to visit Lapland as it offers the best balance in terms of daylight hours, chances of viewing Northern Lights, and the snow cover 🙂

Hi Savi,, thanks for writing this amazing trip details.. we are planning a trip in dec 2019 and this itinerary is just so amazing that i will be following it like a copy paste ?? Just one question there is a direct flight to kemi from helsinki – is there any particular reason that you have suggested to go to oulu and stay for night there.. kindly let me know.. m traveling with my family with 2 kids Thankssss

Hey not really – we were flying from London so got a good connection to Oulu that’s it 🙂 You can fly to Kemi if there is a flight from Helsinki

Hi , could you let me know when was it that you’ll visited? Sunlight time frame when you’ll visited

It would be great help 🙂

We visited in Feb 🙂

This piece is indeed helpful…I and my husband are planning for Finland next year and we were very curious to know if we will get activities like husky rides, reindeer rides and northern lights in probably a summer month in Finland, we were considering October to travel. Can you kindly give some details. We are quite skeptical to travel in their winter months, thereby planning for summer months. Thanks.

Doubt you’ll get those experiences in summer months. (definitely not the northern lights) We’d say go in October / November.

Thank you, it was really informative, your post ended my search for perfect itineary!!! Thanks

Happy to hear that Keshav 🙂

Hey, is it a good idea to do this is November?

Yes November is just the right time to visit Lapland 🙂

Absolutely – better towards the end of November as in the beginning there might not be enough snow 🙂

Planning to travel between 2nd december to 15th december. Will we able to see northern lights or is it better in Feb?

Hey December is a good time to see Northern Lights in Lapland 🙂 That said, in the end it all depends on the weather 🙂

Greetings Vid & Savi, Firstly, thank you so much for providing such a detailed itinerary of Finland. Looks like ya’ll had time of your lives. 🙂

I have been a fan of you both for the longest of times now 🙂 Loved your Finland itinerary and has inspired me and my fiance to plan our Honeymoon trip in the Month of March to Finland.It might be 11N 12D trip covering Helsinki (2N) Vuokatti (7N) (Since we have an option of RCI booking) and Saariselka (2N).

1) We are working on a tight budget hence we have restricted ourselves only to the Eastern and Central part of Finland apart from Helsinki.

2) How is the public transport service at Finland ? I mean, would you advise a Train or a Bus for inter-city travel (since internal flights are quite heavy on the pocket) ? Is RailEurope a good option to consider ?

3) Would you recommend a rent-a-car and do some of part of the inter-city travel by road ?

4) Open to all kinds of other suggestions as well.

Thanks once again in advance.

Thanks for all the love and support 🙂 Hope you have a great honeymoon in Finland 🙂

Public transport is decent in Finland – both train and bus. However, we’d suggest renting a car for inter-city travel! Otherwise buses are most convenient

You’ll find all our suggestions in our Finland guides and articles on this website!

Have a great trip to Finland

Dear Savi and Vid, absolutely love your work guys. I am planning a trip for 12 days after 15th December . I had a few questions if you can help me out.

1) choose Lapland or Iceland as both look magical (the purpose to visit is to gaze the mother lights and do winter activities) 2) I was very attracted to the Kakslauttanen artic resort , but have seen a lot of negative reviews about the service off lately hence in 2 minds. I cam across The Artic Fox Igloos through your post, is that a better place to stay ? in terms of price and view of northern lights. read about this another property ‘Golden Crown- Levin Iglut’ which have glass rooms. can you please suggest me.

Thank you! Here are our thoughts on your questions:

1) Either will be amazing. Iceland is better if you love rugged landscapes. Finland is better if you prefer doing lots of winter activities like reindeer sleigh, husky safaris etc. You can’t really go wrong choosing either 🙂

2) Yes Arctic Fox Igloos were nice and better priced than Kakslauttanen- the igloos are great to see the Northern Lights (if they appear) and we also loved the kitchenette in there. Not sure about the Golden Crown – Levin Iglut as we haven’t stayed there and so we can’t personally recommend them 🙂

We are planning between January 15 and january 26. Can you let us know if this time is good ? How will be the snowfall during this time ?

That’s a great time to go Abhishek. Most probably you’ll get snowfall in Lapland in January – however since it’s a natural phenomenon it can’t be predicted to the tee

Can you let us know which app can we download to track northern lights? We are 3 nights in Saariselka and 4 nights in Rovaniemi. 1) Can we hire a car from Ivalo airport and park / leave it in Saariselka itself before leaving for Rovaneimi from Saariselka ? 2) Do we need international license for hiring a car ?

Hi Abhishek,

Most of the towns have their own local apps/messaging services for notifications about Northern Light sightings. I also used an app called “Northern Lights” (and there are many similar ones that will tell you the KP number and probability of seeing the lights in your area. I’m not sure what you mean by “leave the car in Saariselka” – you can talk to to the hotel staff or find a parking garage for long term parking perhaps?

We did not need to show International license for hiring a car, only our Indian driving licenses.

This is a great blog. We have booked tickets based on the blog. You have mentioned – there is nothing quite like sitting in a hot tub in the middle of an Arctic forest and feeling warm when it’s -20°C out. Where can we find this hot tub? Do we need to book it? How does it work?

Hey Abhishek – no bookings required. Most hotels & apartments have open-air hot tubs in Finland 🙂

Hey guys, how did you travel from rovaniemi to Arctic snow hotel ? Is there a direct bus ?

We had rented a car. However I do believe that there is a shuttle arranged by Arctic Snow Hotel – best to drop them an email and confirm

This is incredibly helpful!! Thank you for sharing!!

Glad you liked it 🙂 Lapland is such an amazing place to plan a trip to!

A wonderful life in Finland! I hope that I can visit there with my family in the future.

Thanks for sharing. I’m glad you had a great time!

we are planning a 5 days trip to Rovaniemi from Germany. Would you suggest following: 1. Renting a car? 2. Is it (especially The safari’s which you mentioned) safe for kid of 1.8 years old?

Yes renting a car is a great idea. The safaris are safe for kids no problem 🙂

Loved your Lapland post! My husband and I traveled to Levi in Lapland via Helsinki and Kittilä and spent 5 nights at The Northern Lights House, which we absolutely recommend. We really enjoyed our dining experiences, a midnight pony ride through the forest, some skiing, and sightseeing. Lapland is magical!

That’s exactly what I was looking for, saving me a few hours of research, Thanks for sharing this for travelers.

Great post thanks buddy.

Hello Finland is straight out of fantasy world. I am planning a 8 day trip in jan first week. Can u help me with couple of things 1. Which month u traveled? 2. I have read many articles that march is best time to see northern lights. But many places its written nov to march is good time so I am bit confused here

Hi Savi I read that you have been to Finland in Feb, and recently I am also planning my trip for feb only.

1. However I am bit skeptical about jan or feb as many articles have mentioned that it snows a lot during these months and spotting Northern lights could be a problem. 2. Also I included Ivalo and Inari in my itinerary since these are away from the city crowd and spotting lights could be easier here. What you suggest Ivalo, Inari or Saariselka? 3. This is my itinerary as of now

1 day Helsinki tour[ Can skip this and directly head to Rovaniemi? ] 3-4 days Rovaniemi -[ Santa village, Reindeer safari, snowshoeing, Sami Farm visit, Northern light tour, snowshoeing arctic forest] 1-night Kakslauttanen igloo 1 day Kemi [ Ice breaker] 1 or 2 days Inari —- Should I replace this with Saariselka?

Hey your itinerary looks great. February is actually a great time to visit 🙂

Thats pretty insanely beautiful blog about Lapland, which has let our wanderlust craving for this Finnish adventure more than ever before!! Would be great it you could give us the details of northern light hunting…is there some dedicated package we can book !!

Great blog post.Helpful and informative tips. I like it thanks for sharing this information with us

your post is amazing and awsome. i really like your post. Thanks for all the great info. I’ve sharing this post with my friends family and relatives. thanks for sharing this awsome and amazing blog.

Hi can we plan the same Itinerary in this November 2022

Yes you can as Finland is open without any restrictions from 1 July 🙂

Do they ask and check for driving license for snowmobile riding during safari? I only have two wheeler license Indian license.

They often ask for licences, yes 🙂

Hey, How is Finland in first week of November? how much of daylight is there?

It’s great for seeing the Northern Lights. But day light hours are very limited 🙂

Hello Savi and Vid, looking forward to travel to this beautiful country during this Christmas. I would like to know, where you guys stayed at, during your trip in KEMI.

Looking forwards to hearing from you!

Cheers from a fellow traveller!

Hey there – we did a day trip to Kemi and didn’t end up staying overnight 🙂

This is a very awesome and cool trip. I would like to visit these places.. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful trip plan.

This is a wonderful Place to visit. I like it.

Hi! Can we do this in 7 days? Basically 5 coz the 1st and last are flight days.

Hi Savi/Vid,

Can you please advise if the below itinerary looks ok to visit Finland in feb ? Is ice breaking cruise experience available in any other countries ?

2 Night Helsinki 2 Night kemi 2 Night Salla 2 Night Roveniami 2 Night Saariselka 2 Night Inari

This looks lovely. We haven’t seen the ice breaker day trip in another country

We have been looking for information on how to organize a trip to Lapland, so thank you for the wonderful and informative article. It was a pleasure to peruse this article! For individuals like me who are attempting to learn more about it, it can be really beneficial. This site is excellent.

Hi Vid/Savi I would like to experience the northern lights and staying in an igloo – is august end a good time for these? Are igloo stays operative then?

Hey Pooja – for both those experiences the time b/w September end and March beginning is the best

Thanks for sharing informative article.

1.u had suggested to stay overnight in pulp or kemi -for icebreaker cruise So on reaching Helsinki-would u suggest to stay overnight which of these places for next day cruise -and wgich hotel The snowcastke hotel do not have ice hotel rooms -so do u suggest stay there or anywhere else in kemi or do u suggest to base in rovaniemi and do sampro cruise from there ??- 2. and in December how many hours daylight available?- 3. and do u suggest morning or afternoon icebreaker cruise — 4. secondly how many days u suggest igloo and log cabins each -is the igloo cramped ?there r diff varieties in igloo and which do u suggest – dr mythily

Hello – you can base yourself in Rovaniemi and explore from there! Afternoon Ice breaker cruise is great as there are only a few hours of daylight in December (5-6, sometimes even less depending on the time of the month)

Hello, we are planning to travel here in Feb. Is it safe to rent a car, given no experience in driving on snow roads? (have driven in other countries during summer though). Or using public transport a better bet? Planning to do Helsinki – Kemi – Rovaniemi – Saariselka. Thanks

Hey Pratik,

You should be fine. Roads are cleared of snow regularly so that’s not an issue. Just take it slow in the first few days – you’ll see that you’ll find it quite easy to drive in Finland even in snow. Not much traffic – be careful of reindeer appearing on the roads though 🙂

thank you for the information

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Lapland at a Glance

Why visit Lapland? This beautiful region is a festive wonderland, with surreal wintry landscapes that feature a vast snow-covered countryside. There are many ways to explore depending on your interests, from a Santa getaway to an active snowmobile and dog sledding adventure.

WHY VISIT LAPLAND?

Lapland is a region that encompasses the northernmost parts of Sweden and Finland. What you'll find here is a destination for all ages, with exciting excursions and adventures. 

Owing to its location above the Arctic Circle, Lapland is best known for its magical winter landscapes and  northern lights  viewing. If you can think of a winter outdoor activity, you can probably find it here, including reindeer and  dog sledding ,  snowmobiling , ice fishing and snowshoeing.

Lapland is home to some of Scandinavia’s most unique attractions, like the Santa Claus Village , the original  ICEHOTEL and the Sampo icebreaker ship. There are also plenty of opportunities to experience the culture and traditions of the Sami, the native people of Lapland.

 View all  Lapland holiday packages

Discover more useful planning and trip information in our Lapland Travel Guide

DESTINATIONS IN LAPLAND

There are countless small towns and villages in Lapland that are worth a visit, depending on what you want to see and do. These are the top destinations: Kiruna, Sweden Kiruna , the northernmost city in Sweden, is surrounded by striking landscapes, ranging from rivers and crystal-clear lakes to ancient boreal forests and snow-capped mountains. The most famous attractions here are the original  ICEHOTEL  and the Aurora Sky Station in nearby Abisko National Park .

Check out Lapland tours in Kiruna . Rovaniemi, Finland Situated next to the Arctic Circle line, Rovaniemi is considered the capital of Finnish Lapland. This town is best known as the hometown of Santa Claus, whom you could visit at any time of the year at the Santa Claus Village .

View all Lapland tours to Rovaniemi .

HOW TO GET TO LAPLAND

Depending on where you're flying from, you may notice that there aren't any direct flights to Lapland from your local airport. Instead, you should fly via the capital city of the country you intend to visit: Stockholm for Swedish Lapland or Helsinki for Finnish Lapland. Both Stockholm-Arlanda Airport in Sweden and Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in Finland are served by several international and regional airlines. Many of the local domestic carriers in Sweden and Finland have partnerships with international airlines, so it is possible to purchase your airfare to Lapland in just one booking. These airlines usually operate their routes from the capital cities to the tour destinations in Lapland.

• Flights to Swedish Lapland
• Flights to Finnish Lapland

GETTING AROUND

The land connections between destinations in Lapland are generally poor. That said, there are some well-linked towns that you could combine during your visit: Swedish Lapland Kiruna - Abisko: Connected by train ( www.sj.se ) Finnish Lapland Rovaniemi - Kemi: Connected by train ( www.vr.fi ) As far as language is concerned, if you speak English, you should not encounter any problems getting around in Lapland. Most people in Scandinavia, especially in popular destinations, can speak English. Even Santa Claus is multilingual!

 Browse all classic holiday packages in Lapland

Or discover Lapland ice and snow hotel tours 

WHEN TO VISIT & WEATHER

The winter season, December to March, is an ideal time for a  winter holiday in Lapland . At that time of year both snow conditions and  northern lights  displays are at their best. This is also during this season that you could visit and stay at one of the famous  ice and snow hotels  and try a snowmobile excursion or husky tour.

Christmas and New Year’s  are popular times to visit, with festive spirit filling the atmosphere. If you're looking for a quieter time, February and March may be better suited to you. 

The Lapland region has a subarctic to continental climate characterised by mild summers and cold, snowy winters.  During the peak travel season, December to February, the region experiences an average temperature range of about -16 °C (3 °F) to 3 °C (37 °F) depending on location. On occasion, it can get as low as - 30 °C (-22 °F) or colder with wind chill.

Thankfully, the dry, crisp air has a moderating effect on the temperatures.

The amount and duration of snowfall also varies by location, but the average number of days with snow cover is around 175 to 225 days per year between mid-October and mid-May.

Learn more about visiting Lapland in December ,  January ,  February  or  March

Or browse all  winter holiday packages in Lapland  and northern lights tours

See more information about climate, daylight and time zones in Lapland.

TOP THINGS TO SEE AND DO

There are countless things to do and see in Lapland, including these most popular highlights:

• Visit a reindeer farm  and learn about the daily lives and history of the Sami people
• Enjoy traditional slow food such as souvas made from reindeer meat and locally caught Arctic char
• Take a guided tour or spend the night at one of the fabulous ice or snow hotels
• See the northern lights , perhaps with a visit to the Aurora Sky Station in Abisko
• Go on a thrilling dogsled tour
• Drive a snowmobile through the snowy wilderness
• Learn how to drive a reindeer sleigh
• Visit Santa Claus Village and meet the "man in red"
• Explore the great outdoors by cross-country skiing or snowshoe walking
• Try your luck at ice fishing

Nordic Visitor itineraries are designed to be flexible, allowing you to add your choice of optional activities and day tours. To guarantee availability for the activities you want to do, we recommend you book in advance. Your dedicated travel consultant will be able to advise you.

View  active tours of Lapland

Discover tours of Lapland with snowmobiling or dog sledding

POPULAR ITINERARIES

An average stay in Lapland is usually 4 days. This is a short getaway that can also be easily extended with extra nights and optional activities. But don't let that restrict you, pick what interests you the most and Nordic Visitor can tailor your dream trip.

To help you make the most of your time in Lapland, see these helpful winter itinerary suggestions with themes to match. 

Swedish Lapland 3–4 days : Stay in Kiruna and enjoy daily excursions. This includes a  northern lights safari by snowmobile, a dog sledding tour, a visit to a reindeer farm and maybe even an overnight stay at the magical ICEHOTEL . Look up  Lapland 3-day itineraries or 4-day Lapland tours . Ice hotels / Romance / Northern lights  / Snowmobile / Active / Partially guided   5–7 days : Start in Kiruna before heading off to the  Aurora Sky Station  in Abisko National Park. You'll enjoy a snowmobile safari, a dog sledding tour, a visit to a reindeer farm and an overnight at the ICEHOTEL . Abisko is the ideal place for aurora hunting far from the city lights.  View Lapland 5-day itineraries or 6-day Lapland tours . Northern lights  /  Snowmobile  /  Active  /  Partially guided  /  Ice hotels  /  Romance   7+ days : Combine your stay in Lapland with some extra days in Stockholm and visit famous attractions like the Royal Palace, the Vasa Ship Museum and City Hall. Contact our Swedish travel consultant  to tailor a longer itinerary for you.

Finnish Lapland 3–4 days : Stay in Rovaniemi. Visit the famous Santa Claus Village , where you can meet the jolly elves in person. Then enjoy thrilling activities like a husky tour, a reindeer sleigh ride, and a snowmobile safari in search of the northern lights. View  Lapland 3-day itineraries  or  4-day Lapland tours Active  /  Christmas  /  Santa Claus Village  /  Dog sledding  /  Romance  /  Northern lights  /  Ice hotels  /  Snowmobile  /  Partially guided   5 + days : Combine your stay in Lapland with a few days in Helsinki. In the Finnish capital, you could visit popular attractions like Senate Square, Uspenski Cathedral, the Parliament building and the Olympic Stadium.

Contact our travel consultants  to tailor a longer itinerary for you.  

Need more help with your Lapland itinerary?  Get in touch  to start planning your  holiday.

Whether you have a single question or a special request, we're here for you.

£ 17.99   £ 16.19

Lapland Travel Guide – Expert travel advice and tips including the Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian regions, ice and treehouse hotels, northern lights tours, Sámi art and culture. Also covering itineraries, winter and summer activities such as dog-sledding and hiking, Laponia World Heritage area, Luleå, Tromsø, Narvik, Finnmark Plateau and Jokkmokk.

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About this book.

This thoroughly updated fourth edition of Bradt’s Lapland is the only standalone guidebook in English to this wintry wonderland, a region spanning the northernmost fringes of Norway, Sweden and Finland where there are as many reindeer as people, it never gets dark in summer and never gets light in mid-winter. In this new edition, expert author James Proctor covers all the latest developments, including the most up-to-date information on where to see the Northern Lights (Lapland is the best region in the world for Northern Lights viewing) and where to go husky sledding, reviews of the treehouse hotels which have sprung up across the region, the latest details of how to fly directly to one of the Europe’s most far-flung destinations from the UK and USA, plus information on a wide range of summer and winter adventures, from hiking and wild swimming to snowmobiling, wilderness stays and staying in the Icehotel. Everybody has heard of Lapland. Everybody knows it’s the home of Father Christmas. Yet remarkably few people can accurately pinpoint Lapland on a map. Bradt’s Lapland lifts the lid off this little-known, enigmatic region and shows that there’s much more to Lapland than the man with the long white beard and the red suit. This is a land of elemental beauty with plenty to offer anyone who’s looking to explore the great outdoors without the great crowds. Lapland is vast and empty, a place of indigenous villages, sweeping forests, mighty waterfalls – the raw side of nature here is the region’s defining and inescapable characteristic and no visit is complete without leaving the creature comforts of the nearest town well behind. Whether on an organized tour or travelling independently, Bradt’s Lapland is the essential travel companion.

About the Author

James Proctor first visited Lapland in 1983 on board the legendary train, the Lapland Arrow, from Stockholm. The thrill of crossing the Arctic Circle proved irresistible and James has been back and forth ever since. While working as the BBC’s Scandinavia correspondent, he produced reports on everything from the reindeer races at the Jokkmokk winter market to the effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster on the Sa´mi community. James now divides his time as a travel writer between the south of France and his forest retreat in Sweden. A self-appointed Nanook of the North, he has also written Bradt’s Faroe Islands and West Sweden guides as well as co-writing and contributing to guidebooks about the Nordic countries for other major travel publishers.

Additional Information

Contents Introduction The Bradt definition of Lapland – and its origins

PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION Chapter 1 Background Information Geography and climate, Natural history, History, Government and politics, Sámi economy, People, Language, Religion and mythology, Culture Chapter 2 Practical Information When to visit, Highlights – and distances, Suggested itineraries, Tour operators, Red tape, Getting there and away, Health, Safety, What to take, Money and budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays and festivals, Shopping, Arts and entertainment, Photography, Media and communications, Time 39, Cultural etiquette

PART TWO THE GUIDE Chapter 3 Swedish Lapland: Luleå to Riksgränsen Luleå, Boden, Harads and Treehotel, Storforsen Rapids, Arvidsjaur, Arjeplog, Northwest to Jäkkvik and Vuoggatjålme, Jokkmokk, Gällivare, Ritsem and the Stora Sjöfallet National Park, Kiruna, Icehotel and Jukkasjärvi, Abisko and around Chapter 4 Narvik and the Islands Narvik, The islands: Vesterålen and Lofoten Chapter 5 From the Gulf of Bothnia to the Arctic Ocean Tornio, Haparanda and around, Pajala and around, Muonio and around, Kaaresuvanto and Karesuando, Kilpisjärvi and Treriksröset Chapter 6 Finnish Lapland: Rovaniemi to the Finnmark Plateau Rovaniemi and around, Northwest from Rovaniemi: towards Kautokeino, Kautokeino, Northeast from Rovaniemi: towards Inari and Karasjok, Inari and around, North from Inari: Kaamanen, Utsjoki and Karasjok, East from Rovaniemi Chapter 7 Norwegian Lapland: Tromsø to Kirkenes Tromsø, Alta and around, Hammerfest, Towards the North Cape, North Cape, Moving on from the North Cape: towards Kirkenes, Kirkenes

Appendix 1 Language Appendix 2 Glossary of Finnish, Norwegian, Sámi and Swedish terms Appendix 3 Further Information Index

Finnish Lapland

• 3.1 National parks and wilderness areas
• 3.2 Ski resorts
• 4.1 When to go
• 6.1 By plane
• 6.2 By train
• 6.5 By bicycle
• 7.2 By train
• 7.3 By taxi
• 7.4.1 Roadkill
• 7.4.2 Winter driving
• 7.5 Hitchhiking
• 7.6 By snowmobile
• 8.1 Northern lights
• 8.2 Reindeer and snowmobiles
• 8.3 Skiing and snowshoeing
• 8.4 Father Christmas
• 8.5 Fishing
• 8.6 Hunting
• 13.1 Hospitals

Finnish Lapland ( Finnish and Sámi : Lappi , Swedish (and Norwegian): Lappland ) is the Arctic far north in Finland , strictly defined as the province of the same name, but in practice starting near the Arctic Circle. Most Finnish ski resorts are here, as well as the biggest national parks. Lots of wilderness, much of it quite accessible also for those who are not seasoned hikers.

Temperatures can plunge as low as -50°C (-60°F) in midwinter and the sun is not seen for days on end during the polar night (Finnish: kaamos , Sámi: skábma ). By contrast, summer brings out the Midnight Sun and temperatures can occasionally rise to 30°C. Popular seasons include the time around Easter, when the freezing nights keep skiing conditions good despite strong sunshine in the day, and early autumn, when leaves turn red and yellow and the mosquitos are gone.

Regions [ edit ]

Comprising almost a third of Finland, different parts of Lapland have a somewhat different character.

•      South-east Lapland — including Rovaniemi at the Arctic circle. With forests and lakes, the region is landscape-wise a kind of border region between Lapland and inland Finland further south, though the landscape does feature some mountains, hills and ski resorts.
•      Sea Lapland and Torne River Valley — Mostly south of the Arctic Circle, much of it not part of the reindeer husbandry area, this is a rather flat part of Lapland with water (the Bothnian Bay and Torne River) and Sweden to the west.
•      North-east Lapland — The northernmost part of Finland, and indeed of the European Union, features Sámi culture and landscapes typical to many people's perception of Lapland. Much of the region is covered by national parks and wilderness areas, and here you can find Lake Inari with holy sites of the traditional Sámi religion and a shoreline of over 3000 km.
•      North-west Lapland — As the alternative name Fell Lapland reveals, much of the landscape is dominated by fells, in particular in the "arm" where the highest mountains in Finland are. Like the northeast, much of it belongs to the Sámi native region and there are many protected areas. You can experience barren landscapes above the treeline that are unlike anywhere further south in the country. Although much of the region is off the beaten path, in season you will have company on some of the wilderness trails, and two of the most popular ski resort in the country are here.

Cities [ edit ]

Lapland is divided into twenty municipalities, four of which (Tornio, Kemi, Rovaniemi, and Kemijärvi) are denoted as a city. Some of the other "cities" have just a few hundred inhabitants, if that, but here we go.

• 66.5 25.727 1 Rovaniemi – Entrance to the Lapland for most. The province capital, the main transport hub, a university town, and the only city of any size. At the Arctic Circle with workshops of Santa Claus , where most people go to meet him.
• 68.386 23.644 2 Hetta — administrative centre of Enontekiö; gateway to some northern national parks and wilderness areas
• 65.735 24.565 4 Kemi – a bleak paper industry town best known for Arctic icebreaker cruises for tourists and the world's largest snow castle
• 69.01 20.873 5 Kilpisjärvi – alpine village at the border of Finland, Sweden and Norway, near the tallest fells of Finland
• 65.928 26.517 6 Ranua – wildlife park having the only polar bears in Finland
• 65.842 24.186 7 Tornio – a town that together with its Swedish half Haparanda is a prime example of cross-border cooperation
• 67.41 26.58 8 Sodankylä – Midnight Sun Film Festival
• 69.904 27.026 9 Utsjoki – the salmon river Teno, border crossing to Norway

Other destinations [ edit ]

National parks and wilderness areas [ edit ].

• 69.580833 26.715556 2 Kevo Strict Nature Reserve – an impressive canyon with a 64-km hiking trail
• 68.83523 21.75535 3 Käsivarsi Wilderness Area – this is where the Finland's highest fells are
• 68.61185 25.87152 4 Lemmenjoki National Park – river valley with gold digging grounds, some fells and vast surrounding wilderness
• 69.19656 26.27941 5 Muotkatunturit Wilderness Area – true wilderness with quite easy terrain, partly above the treeline, with few marked trails and few services
• 66.373056 29.338611 6 Oulanka National Park on the Salla-Kuusamo border, with the northern end of the Karhunkierros trail
• 68.0931 24.01989 7 Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park – fell range on the border between Forest-Lapland and Fell-Lapland, protected as one of the first national parks in Finland, good communications and services
• 66.233333 28.5 8 Riisitunturi National Park – small but nice national park around the fell Riisitunturi
• 68.33878 28.34516 9 Urho Kekkonen National Park – national park by Saariselkä and all its services, with vast backcountry, including the home of Joulupukki , Santa Claus himself

Ski resorts [ edit ]

• 67.016667 27.133333 10 Pyhä – quite large ski resort and a nature lover's destination by the popular Pyhä-Luosto National Park
• 67.799167 24.821389 11 Levi – The biggest winter sports resort in Finland, popular especially among young people
• 67.15 26.883333 12 Luosto – ski and safari resort, home to the only open amethyst mine in Europe
• 66.5598 28.0224 14 Suomu – a small but popular ski resort
• 67.60502 24.145848 15 Äkäslompolo and Ylläs – two ski resorts by the Ylläs fell

Understand [ edit ]

Lapland is the Wild North of Finland. Outside cities wilderness – with half-wild reindeer – is everywhere. Even by the roads the distances between villages are long and villages on the map may be home only to a few families, some even uninhabited part of the year.

Lapland has traditionally been home for the Sámi people , who for centuries have got their living from this barren region, mainly from fishing, hunting and reindeer husbandry. In the northernmost municipalities they are a sizeable minority, within some regions even majority. Most tourist enterprises – especially those not Sámi – from Rovaniemi onward draw on Sámi culture, offering you invented "genuine" rituals etc. Take it for what it is and just enjoy – or avoid such programmes. Genuine Sámi culture is better experienced in community centres, at cultural events and using services of Sámi tourist businesses (which often do not make any notion about their ethnicity). In southern Lapland the original Sámi population integrated with the Finnish and disappeared, but many from the North study or work in Rovaniemi or the southern cities. Rovaniemi, Oulu, and Helsinki have the largest Sámi population in Finland by the number!

There is not too much history to see. At the end of the Second World War , the retreating German troops implemented a scorched Earth policy to punish their Finnish allies for agreeing to peace with the Soviet Union, razing everything in their path. This episode is known as the Lapland War (Finnish: Lapin sota , Sámi: Lappi soahti ). The war lasted only from September 1944 to April 1945 but by the time they were done, some 100,000 people had fled, 675 bridges were blown up, all major roads were mined, and the capital Rovaniemi had only 13 houses left standing. However, it might be useful to understand that before this sad episode locals and the German troops had a rather deep friendship from which the tourist can still find exciting relics.

But then, people don't come to Lapland for the architecture, they come here for the nature (and Santa). While there are no craggy mountains or fjords here, the endless pine forests and the treeless rounded fells (Finnish: tunturi , Sámi: duottar , várri , oaivi , čearru , etc.) poking out between them can also be breathtakingly beautiful. Finns talk about the " Lapland fever " because of so many who have lost their heart to this land forever.

When to go [ edit ]

Christmas in Lapland sounds appealing, but this is the time of the polar night ; it is dark and it can be very cold (−30°C/−25°F is common, records are around −50°C/−60°F). There are businesses happy to arrange meetings with Joulupukki (Santa Claus) in Rovaniemi and at some other destinations, and snowmobile or husky safaris. With some luck these are arranged in the light of aurora borealis (Finnish: revontulet , Sámi: guovssahasat ) visible quite anywhere at these latitudes. Such organised trips are safe, but independent backcountry adventures require adequate skill and experience. If you happen to be in Lapland the first day the sun is seen again in the north, check whether there is a local celebration you could join.

By the end of February both the weather and the light improve, with temperatures on the better side of −10 °C (14 °F) and nearly 12 hours of light a day, although the sun is low and it still feels like perpetual dusk. Most Finns only start to pack in at Easter, when it often is possible to ski in bright sunshine wearing only a T-shirt. It takes quite some time for the accumulated snow (often more than a metre) to melt off, and skiing may be possible as late as May.

In late spring and early summer, the landscape turns muddy as the snow melts, bringing on the curse of the Lapish mosquito and its friends (collectively known as räkkä ), and if you think this sounds like a trivial nuisance you have never had to face up to the hordes that inhabit Lapland – do not venture out without industrial-strength insect repellent. Mosquitoes are far less present in the centres of the cities (and above the tree line, especially in sunny weather with some wind) but it is virtually impossible to avoid the bite. The mosquitoes' bites are itchy and their noise is irritating, but they spread no diseases. There is a week or two between the spring floods and the räkkä season, when water levels are manageable and mosquitoes still few, around the end of May and early June. Get advice on local conditions if heading out for the wilderness, as routes and footwear may have to be chosen with some care. During the spring flood wilderness hikes are only for those truly prepared, as every brook and wadi may have transformed into a river of icy water, partly still covered with snow.

Summer temperatures are usually in the 10–20°C (50–70°F) range, but both freezing nights and +30°C (90°F) days are possible. July is the warmest month.

On the upside, the famous midnight sun is visible almost everywhere in Lapland at least at Midsummer – and middle May through July in Utsjoki. Special events are held to celebrate the equinox and the midnight sun. At the latitude of Rovaniemi the sun doesn't set at all at Midsummer , with this period growing longer as one travels farther north (beginning of June to late July in Utsjoki). NB! Many foreigners have difficulty sleeping during these nightless periods, though a simple sleep mask should go a long way.

By late July the mosquitoes start to vanish and they're usually gone by late August. Hiking in the middle of ruska (Sámi: ruški ), the colourful time of autumn, is a worthwhile experience. Towards the end of September, you are increasingly likely to get some snowfall, although the first snow usually comes in October.

While ski resorts usually open in November, a reliable natural deep snow cover usually comes quite a bit later; for skiing in the backcountry, you may need to wait until after Christmas or choose routes where the snow cover is sufficient.

Talk [ edit ]

The local language is mostly Finnish . The spoken dialects belong to the Peräpohjola (far-north) subgroup of Finnish western dialects and have certain archaic features that often culminate in the characteristic use of the h-sound. You may encounter some humour based on this. The highly distinctive Torne river valley dialect is known as meänkieli ("Our Language") and has an official minority language status in Sweden.

Three Sámi languages – Northern Sami , Inari Sami, and Skolt Sami – are spoken sparsely to commonly in the northernmost areas. The Sámi languages ​​have an official status in the region designated as the Sámi homeland . Swedish (though official in Finland) is rarely spoken in this area (as adjacent regions in Sweden have traditionally been Finnish speaking), but the closely related Norwegian is often heard in the border region, thanks to the lively shopping Norwegians.

As everywhere in Finland, you will survive very well with English, and it is the main option for those who don't speak Finnish. German and other languages up to Chinese or Japanese might be known at hotels and tourist attractions. Thanks to extensive international tourism, tourist materials are usually available in a wide variety of languages!

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ]

Flying is the fastest means of reaching much of Lapland, but for most destinations services are sparse and prices often steep. There are commercial airports in Hetta (" Enontekiö "), Ivalo , Kemi , Kittilä and Rovaniemi . Best options for airlines are Finnair and Norwegian. Air Baltic flies to Rovaniemi and Kittilä from Riga . The coaches mostly drive via the airports. In addition to the regular flights, mostly from Helsinki, there are seasonal flights and charter flights from abroad in season.

By train [ edit ]

Most of Lapland is reachable only by bus or car, but even when there is no train service to your destination, using the train for the first leg often makes sense. For some destinations you can buy a combined train/coach-ticket, also otherwise the transfer is usually smooth.

Trains will get you to the towns, most notably to the provincial capital Rovaniemi at the Arctic Circle, or to the northernmost railway station in Kolari . The overnight trains from the south have sleepers and some also take cars . There are two kinds of sleeper trains: the old "blue" pikajuna , mostly used as a complement in peak season, and the modern two-storey ones. The old ones have 3-person cabins and no showers, the new ones 2-person cabins, some of which can be combined for a family, and shared or en-suite showers. There is a cabin for a wheelchair user and an accompanying person in each modern sleeper, and one for those travelling with a pet. During COVID-19, you always get the cabin for yourselves, so filling it up saves in price. The price for a journey from the south to Rovaniemi or Kemijärvi for two people in a sleeper cabin is about €150–300.

If entering from Sweden , there is a gap in the passenger train network before the border at Haparanda / Tornio , but the connecting bus from Luleå is free with Inter Rail and Scanrail . There are again trains from Luleå to Haparanda (terminating some 3.5 km from the Finnish train station in Tornio).

From Russia you can get to Murmansk and continue by bus to Ivalo or get off at Kandalaksha and continue by bus to Rovaniemi. The services might have been suspended in 2022.

By bus [ edit ]

There are coach connections from Helsinki to Rovaniemi (15 hours), which is the hub of most connections. Northern Norway ( Troms and Finnmark ) has daily connections at least in summer. From Sweden, you will probably come via Haparanda / Tornio , with other options making sense for certain destinations. From Russia , there are bus connections from Murmansk to Ivalo thrice and from Kandalaksha to Rovaniemi twice a week (check!).

Matkahuolto has timetables for most connections, although you may have to try with different place names.

By car [ edit ]

There are good roads to Lapland, but instead of using a day on driving, you might want to get your car on an overnight train and wake up fresh in the morning to enjoy the landscape while driving only the remaining distance – which may certainly be long enough. But you might want to use a few days to see the length of Finland on the E75 (national road 4), or the west coast on E8 (national road 8). The two roads share tarmac on the leg between Oulu and Kemi.

If you drive from southern Finland, these routes can be recommended:

• To Kemi, Rovaniemi, Kemijärvi, Sodankylä, Ivalo, Inari, Utjoki: E75 or E8 to Kemi, then E75
• To Kolari, Muonio, Kilpisjärvi: E75/E8 to Kemi, then E8 through Tornio
• Alternatively through Kajaani, using road 5 instead of road 4 (E75). This route is more rural and has less traffic.

If you drive through Sweden, these routes can be recommended:

• To Tornio, Kemi: E4 to Tornio, continue to Kemi along E8
• To Rovaniemi, Kemijärvi, Sodankylä, Ivalo: E4 to Tornio, a short leg south along E8, then E75
• To Kolari, Kittilä, Levi: E10 , 392, 403 etc. through Pajala
• Alternatively through Kolari and route 955, which is 70 km shorter and slightly faster, but the road is of less good quality, more adventurous.

By bicycle [ edit ]

Four EuroVelo cycling routes reach the region (mostly under development as of 2023):

• EV 7 (Middle Europe Route): Malta to Nordkapp along the Swedish coast and via Gällivare , Karesuvanto and Hetta.
• EV 10 (Baltic Sea Route/Hansa circuit): around the Baltic Sea by the coast via Kemi and Tornio.
• EV 11 (East European Route): Athens to Nordkapp) via Helsinki, Kajaani, Oulu, Kemi, Rovaniemi and Karigasniemi
• EV 13 (Iron Curtain Trail): Rezovo to Grense Jakobselv via Kuusamo , Salla, Sodankylä, Inari, Näätämö and Kirkenes

There are not too many cycleways in sparsely inhabited areas like this, but there isn't too much traffic either on most roads. Check route descriptions. You also have to be prepared for the long distances and the climate – although Oulu is one of the Finnish towns with most cyclists.

Get around [ edit ]

Distances in Finnish Lapland are great and train service extends only to Kemijärvi (80 km northeast Rovaniemi ) and Kolari , so the independent traveler will thus have to rely on slightly cheaper but infrequent buses to get around. There is little competition in public transport in Lapland and indeed the voyage from Helsinki to Rovaniemi is easily cheaper than the voyage from Rovaniemi onwards!

Long distance coaches or minibuses cover most of even the smallest places, often with sparse schedules (typically one or a few services a day along the main roads). They are the cheapest and slowest means of transportation. Although there are bus stops of course, they can also be stopped by hand sign when you happen to meet one as a hiker on a lonely countryside road. Express coaches usually turn into regular ones somewhere north of Rovaniemi. Matkahuolto has timetables for most of these. For some destinations you should look for school buses, postal carriers or shuttle taxis.

The main companies for northern Lapland are Eskelisen Lapinlinjat and Koiviston auto . For smaller places, check also municipal pages (or the destinations guides). Onnibus offers cheaper bus service by a few intercity routes and has cooperation on some other legs (" Onniflex ", meaning you find the services also through the Onnibus site, usually with the same price as through Matkahuolto). Generally coach prices are stable; low-cost offers are not something to expect. This also means that you don't have to buy tickets on the net – paying to the driver will usually be at the same price. However, a few connections need to be ordered in advance, as you might be the only passenger.

If you are waiting for a coach at the bus stop, note that the vehicle on the scheduled route may not actually be a bus , but a smaller car like a taxi. A coach ticket will still apply.

The long-distance trains are usable on two routes: from Oulu to Kemi and farther north-east to Tervola, Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi, or northwards via Tornio, Ylitornio and Pello all the way up to Kolari.

By taxi [ edit ]

Taxis are not necessarily connected to any call centres. Ask locally for phone numbers of individual taxi businesses. You don't want to have a taxi drive 100 km to fetch you, if that can be avoided; the fetching distance may show in the price (or you might want to tip generously). Often there is just one or two family businesses serving an area, other taxis may have to drive a long way.

If you use any local businesses, you could ask them about transport. They probably know all taxi drivers, might know the quirks of local public transport, and might be willing to offer a ride themselves.

• Smartphone apps (don't expect them to be usable or sensible everywhere): Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Menevä, Taxi Booker (iTaksi), Taksi Helsinki

You can reach most places in Lapland by car (yes, there are still villages without road connection!), but traffic even on main roads is sparse and distances are great. Minor roads are sometimes truly minor, even the longest ones. By selecting the shortest route shown on the map, you may not get the fastest route. The roads are at least in moderate condition though – in summer. The northernmost motorway in the world is between Kemi and Tornio, the other highways are undivided two-lane roads, some minor roads are narrow enough that there are signposted meeting places.

Bring emergency supplies in case of a collision or breakdown, especially in winter. Locals will help if they can, but you may be in for a long, very cold wait.

If you want to make a one-way hike, some businesses may offer to drive your car to the destination.

If you are going to rent your car, check availability and prices beforehand. In Rovaniemi and Kittilä there are probably enough businesses, but in the far north you may have to take what is offered, and call to have anything offered.

Roadkill [ edit ]

Stay very alert, particularly at dawn and dusk, for wild animals. Reindeer are a common cause of accidents, while collisions with much larger elk (moose) are rarer but very often lethal. If you hit an animal, you must always inform the locals (or 112), even if the animal seems to be unharmed, as they will in turn inform the owner of the deer, or local hunters. Mark the place so that it can be found. You won't be charged with anything unless you were drunk or speeding.

Unlike moose, which usually runs to the road suddenly and alone, the reindeer hang around peacefully in groups and collisions are usually easy to avoid if slowing down at once when the first reindeer appear in sight (drive carefully, as they may suddenly regroup in front of your car).

Winter driving [ edit ]

Driving in Arctic conditions can be hazardous in winter . Ask about conditions for the minor roads, as winter maintenance may not be what you expected. You will certainly not want to use summer tyres in wintry conditions; use Nordic winter tyres , which are soft enough also at low temperatures.

The most dangerous weather is when the temperature is around freezing, when slippery but near-invisible black ice forms on the roads or the icy surface is wet. Do not venture out before you understand the issues, and make sure the windows are clear from snow and moisture. Locals are trained for those slippery conditions already in the driving school, are you?

Main roads are cleared from loose snow, but you'll drive on packed snow. Some small roads are not maintained in winter at all. Small roads that are cleared may still have issues with a slippery ice slope sideways, as water flowing down a hillside under the snow freezes on the exposed road ("naled", Finnish: paannejää ).

Liikenneturva, the Finnish road safety agency, maintains a [hhttps://www.liikenneturva.fi/en/road-safety/difficult-driving-conditions/ Difficult driving conditions] page in English.

Hitchhiking [ edit ]

Hichhiking is possible and in fact quite popular. Also the locals commonly use Facebook groups for intervillage commuting. However, true hitchhiking can only be recommended during the brief summer season. Traffic is sparse even on the main roads and outside the town you're very, very much on your own. On the other hand the likeliness of getting a lift is quite high once a car passes! Far more likely than in the southern cities. Close to the borders people are usually more likely to drive towards the border than into the inland. Especially, getting a hike from Utsjoki to Inari or from Enentekiö to Kittilä may appear tricky as few have any need to drive south. Always make sure that you are able to survive if the next car won't come. Thanks to the Finnish rescue system, by calling 112 you will eventually be taken to safety. However, it may take hours. Realize the distances, necessity of the mosquito repellent, and make sure that someone always knows where you should be.

By snowmobile [ edit ]

In winter there are some 20,000 km of snowmobile routes and tracks in Finland maintained by municipalities or the forestry administration (Metsähallitus), mostly in Lapland but stretching down to Central Finland and Northern Karelia. The routes often pass by campfire sites, day huts, reservation huts and other infrastructure in the wilderness (but using open wilderness huts for overnight stay is allowed only for those coming by own muscle, you have to pay for beds in reservation huts or other lodgings unless sleeping in tents).

You need the vehicle, suitable gear, helmets, a driving licence (one for cars or motorbikes is enough) for the "routes" or a permit for most "tracks"; "routes" are counted as public roads, the permits count as landowner permission for the specific tracks. The Metsähallitus permit costs €9/3h, €15/day, €30/week, €50/year, the last covering all family (not independent children). In many areas the municipality or tourist businesses maintain their own track network. Snowmobiling along roads or off the specific routes and tracks is not permitted (exceptions for reindeer husbandry etc., which may apply to your tour guide); on frozen water driving is free where not specifically restricted, but mind ice safety ! Check route maps and driving rules. Drive gently and follow advice, as it is easy for the less seasoned to make fatal mistakes.

There is an OSM based colour coded route and track map in Finnish; click the leg you are interested in: Moottorikelkkareitti (blue) means snowmobile route, Maksuton moottorikelkkaura (purple) free track, Maksullinen moottorikelkkaura (red) permit-for-pay, Vesistön ylitys (grey) by water, Tuntematon (black) unknown type. Add layers for cafés, wilderness huts etc. depending on needs. Metsähallitus has their own map emphasizing their own tracks (in black, routes and tracks maintained by others in green; many local tracks probably missing).

Snowmobile "safaris" (i.e. tours) are offered by many tourist businesses. The locals, especially those in reindeer husbandry or fishing, use snowmobiles extensively. They were the main invention that allowed people to live in a fixed home while living from reindeer husbandry.

See and do [ edit ]

Bitterly cold in winter, usually not very warm in summer, and sparsely populated, the main draws for visitors are the desolate yet majestic nature and the unparalleled opportunities for trekking and winter sports . Many businesses know how to help inexperienced foreigners enjoy their stay, e.g. arranging husky or snowmobile safaris, fishing trips, canoeing and northern light watching expeditions.

Finland had its own gold rushes, to Lapland. The heritage is preserved in Lemmenjoki National Park , the nearby Hammastunturi Wilderness Area and the village Tankavaara . In the national park, digging by machine is nowadays forbidden, but gold panners can still be found – as can traces of the activity. In the Hammastunturi area, where gold was found in the 19th century, before roads reached this north, there is an old crown station. Tankavaara has tourist facilities, a mineral exhibition and gold panning championships.

Several national parks can be found in Lapland with marked hiking trails and log cabins open to the public for free. But in contrast to most of Norway, they are only equipped with a stove and wood for heating, no food is provided. For the hardcore trekker there are wilderness areas , with even fewer people and services. To go on your own, basic hiking skills suffice in summer (be sure to know how to use a map and compass). During the spring floods and in winter you should have a guide on any longer trek unless you really know what you are doing.

Lapland is locally known for its fells ( tunturi ), but these are not any soaring mountains of the alpine kind, but gentle, rounded ones high enough to reach above the treeline (which is much below 1000 m at these latitudes). There are also vast forests and mires in hilly or flat terrain. In the northernmost regions ( Utsjoki and Enontekiö ) you will find also treeless areas, but real tundra is absent in Finland. The highest mountains are located in the "arm of Finland" in Enontekiö , but because of the location of the road right next to the fells, best views are actually towards Sweden. Still there are magnificent environments available for hikers!

Finland's highest mountain, Halti (1328m) in the farthest north west end of Lapland is not much more than a higher hill of loose rocks, the lower summit of a mountain with its top on the Norwegian side of the border. The surroundings are still very special and a popular, demanding destination. You are nowadays free to cross the border to Norway or Sweden and back where you want (customs formalities, if needed, can probably be taken care of beforehand). An itinerary that takes full advantage of this is the Nordkalottleden hiking trail through the Arctic of the three countries.

For hikers, fishermen and hunters, there is a nice online map of Finland with most trails and huts marked, and a website about most important hiking terrains . Both are maintained by Metsähallitus, an agency that also administers the national parks.

There are of course also cultural events. You might want to attend the international Midnight Sun film festival of Sodankylä or Sámi events such as the St Mary's Day Celebrations .

Northern lights [ edit ]

Spotting the eerie northern lights ( aurora borealis , Finnish: revontulet , Northern Sámi: guovssahas , Skolt Sami: kuuskõõzz ) glowing in the winter sky is on the agenda of many visitors. Northern Lapland is one of the best places to observe aurorae, as it has good accessibility, high-quality accommodation and a nearly continental climate with relatively clear skies. The probability of some northern lights is 50–70 % (most often 22:00–24:00) any night with clear skies, and light pollution is quite easy to avoid here – but there are cloudy periods, so do not count on seeing them.

Also in southern Lapland, where probability is about 20 %, you might want to take a walk somewhere out of the light pollution any night with clear skies. If you do not spot northern lights, you will at least get a tremendous view of stars, compared to what you see in most cities.

To have a good chance to see northern lights you should stay at least a few days, preferably a week or more, in the far north in the right season. Probability for aurorae and clear skies varies somewhat from place to place, but all of northern Lapland, about from Sodankylä onwards, should be quite good. More importantly, as you need some luck and persistence, you want to go somewhere where you can enjoy yourself regardless. The ski resort of Saariselkä , easily accessible by plane and with plenty of facilities, is particularly popular among aurora hunters. If you enjoy wilderness and solitude, e.g. areas around Kilpisjärvi and Karigasniemi might be good choices. The village of Nellim is even more remote, being situated on the almost uninhabited eastern side of Lake Inari, where light pollution is at a minimum.

Cloudiness can be quite accurately estimated some hours, chance for major aurorae a few days in advance, so you can know when to go for a tour and when to spend the night in other ways – but as also minor aurorae are well visible in Lapland, you might want to be out any night with clear skies. Intense aurorae occur for 5–15 minutes at a time, so taking a look at the northern sky every now and then over a longer period will increase your chances.

Many businesses arrange northern light watching tours. Usually the tours also have some other theme, such that not seeing the aurorae will not spoil it, but taking care of being in the right place would the aurorae be visible. A week of backcountry skiing will offer even better opportunities unless you spend the best hours in your tent or a hut. A hotel in Kakslauttanen has glass-domed igloo rooms where you can watch northern lights indoors the whole night.

Reindeer and snowmobiles [ edit ]

Most of Lapland belongs to the reindeer husbandry area, and nearly all wilderness is in use as reindeer pasture (mostly forested areas in winter and treeless areas in summer). On a week-long hike you are nearly guaranteed to see them in the wild, but at most locations there will also be at least some tourist business having a few tame ones to show, or even to offer rides with (usually by sled). If you make friends with locals you might have a chance to see the round-ups.

Other standard tourist programmes include snowmobile "safaris", i.e. tours, where you usually are allowed to drive your own vehicle (children are probably put in a sled behind your guide), and husky safaris, where you get to try being pulled by dogs. Snowmobiles are probably available for hire if you want to make longer tours on your own.

The tours with dogs, reindeer and snowmobiles can be combined with fishing (ice-fishing in the winter), admiring northern lights or the midnight sun, story-telling and roasting salmon by a campfire, sauna, overnight stay in a goahti and the like. What is available depends on who happens to have a business in the neighbourhood, check what is offered at the business where you intend to be lodging, at least if you do not stay at the bigger resorts. You might want to stay with a family business with the right spirit, especially if you have come to enjoy silence.

Skiing and snowshoeing [ edit ]

The ski resorts do not have the greatest pists , if you compare to the Alps or Norway, but they are good enough for most. On the balance they have lots of accessible wilderness close by, to be experienced by snowmobile or by ski. There are great networks of cross-country skiing tracks around any ski resort, often even a large national park. And tourist businesses eager to offer you other programmes.

For shorter excursions, as along signposted nature trails, you can often use snowshoes. For longer hikes, of more than about a kilometre, skis are much better, easily giving you a jogging speed on any level track. Around the resorts and town centres there are illuminated tracks with space also for "freestyle" skiing. Many businesses offer ten-minutes courses combined with tours in the forest, showing signs of the local wildlife and letting you enjoy the peace and possibly a marvellous view of stars.

For overnight (or multiple-day) hikes on ski you usually want skis that don't let you down even if you leave the tracks. There are ready made tracks for "classic" skiing extending far into the wilderness, but they are not necessarily maintained very soon after snowfall – and you might want to choose routes where no tracks have been made. There are lean-to shelters (Finnish: laavu ) and wilderness huts ( autiotupa and varaustupa ), so overnighting in a tent is seldom necessary, but sleeping bags and other adequate equipment may be needed.

Most tourists want a lot of action in a tight package, so that is what most businesses offer (even if peace and silence, in a suitable packing, often is included). If you really want peace and silence, as on a multi-day skiing tour through the wilderness, you should search for such offers in time – there are guides specializing in that, but they may not be available on short notice.

Father Christmas [ edit ]

Activities related to Santa Claus, or Joulupukki as the Finns call him, are arranged at least in Rovaniemi and Luosto, probably in most resorts. His main reception and workshop is in Rovaniemi, for tourists' convenience, but most Finns grew up knowing his home is at the fell Korvatunturi. Usually he arrives by foot, having left his sled somewhere farther away, but he can also turn up by a sled pulled by a horse, and possibly reindeer (the flying ones are disappointingly on vacation by themselves when not doing their yearly main job).

Korvatunturi is secluded, in Urho Kekkonen National Park at the Russian border and thus in the border zone, so visiting the fell requires effort and paperwork. Even if you get the permit, it is rare that Joulupukki lets strangers see him there, and his home is not easy to find. There is a hiking trail to Korvatunturinmurusta (2·20 km, the trailhead requiring a long journey along small and even smaller roads), from where you can get a glimpse of the fell, and who knows, he might reward you for the effort by really showing up! At least he will answer mail addressed to Korvatunturi (write to: Joulupukki, FIN-99999 Korvatunturi).

Fishing [ edit ]

Fishing is an important reason for Finns to come to Lapland, and traditionally it was an essential food source up north. Many villages have formed at good fishing sites. There are some great salmon rivers, Teno being the most productive salmon river in all of Europe. Also e.g. trout, greyling and Arctic char are common catches. Catch-and-release fishing is generally not practised.

Angling without reel and without artificial lure, or with a special ice angling rod, is generally included to the right to access – but in any river with salmonoids and in many lakes, there are restrictions in place, and there are also general restrictions on minimum sizes etc. According to Finnish law it is always the fisherman's own responsibility to find out whether there are restrictions on the area.

If you come for the fishing, you probably want to have a reel or use one of the restricted locations. You then need a national fishing permit and a day card for the specific area . Most tourist businesses will gladly fix those for you, explain the regulations, and rent you equipment you need. Notice that in Northern Lapland the locals enjoy privileges that visitors will not have.

For rivers flowing to the Atlantic (the Barents and White Sea, including those flowing into Lake Inari), all your equipment must be disinfected (e.g. by thorough drying) in advance. This is to prevent the Gyrodactylus salaris parasite from spreading from the Baltic Sea basin, as it would be catastrophic in these rivers. Some Atlantic rivers have got it, so disinfection is necessary unless you know you come from a "clean" one. Disinfection applies also to canoe and boots – and don't let birds carry it over with your gutting waste. The easiest way is to let your host do the disinfection as disinfection services are available somewhat everywhere in the areas where the procedure is mandatory. If you cross the border to Norway the law is tighter; you need to possess a written certificate on disinfection even if you wouldn't go ashore.

Hunting [ edit ]

Hunting is popular in Lapland but is usually off-limits for an ordinary visitor. Some tourist businesses take you on tours where you hunt under the close supervision of your guide, which means you do not need own licences. If you have qualifications in your home country you may apply for corresponding licences from Finnish authorities or they might suffice as such, and you might be able to get a permit for some areas. Prepare for bureaucracy.

Work [ edit ]

The ski resorts and many other tourist businesses depend on seasonal workers. As a significant part of the clients are from abroad, being a foreigner is not necessarily a drawback in getting jobs, especially if you know the right languages or cultures – as long as you have or can get a work permit, possibly with help from your to-be employer (reserve enough time for the bureaucracy). Skiing teachers, restaurant and bar personnel, entertainment, child care, what have you. Some jobs require formal qualifications or advanced skills and experience, while for some the right attitude will get you a long way, much more so than for most jobs in Finland.

Common languages to use with clients include English, Russian, German and French, but also some languages from the Far East, where competition from Finns is very limited. Different resorts to some extent concentrate on different groups; try to find an employer who needs your specialities.

Foreign seasonal workers (especially those from outside the EU/EEA) have a weak position and some employers do exploit the fact. Make sure you get a proper employment contract, make notes and keep evidence on any irregularities and don't make yourself reliant on a possibly untrustworthy employer. Overtime, night-time work and any expectations to be available on "free" time should get compensated according to the contract, the trade union agreements and labour law; in many places such issues are handled informally, but then the employer should be equally flexible regarding your wishes and you should be happy about the arrangements. If you think things aren't handled as they should, don't hesitate to ask for outside advice (if you are afraid to do that, or to discuss them with your colleagues, you should definitely find a way out).

Eat [ edit ]

Lapland is the place to sample reindeer ( poro ) dishes, which are not too common elsewhere in Finland. The traditional way to eat this is as sautéed reindeer aka reindeer hash ( poronkäristys ), usually eaten with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam. Also smoked cold cuts and dried reindeer meat are definitely worth trying. In very rare occasions you could face some really interesting reindeer dishes like kampsut made of blood and flour, or koparakeitto , a traditional reindeer hoof soup.

Other Lapland specialties worth looking for are willow ptarmigan and rock ptarmigan ( riekko and kiiruna , respectively) and fish such as arctic char ( rautu ) or lavaret ( siika ). The delectable cloudberry ( hilla or lakka ) is one of the most expensive berries in the world. It grows on mires, unripe it is red, ripe it is light orange, containing a lot of vitamin C. In shops you find it most likely as jam ( lakkahillo ) or syrup. The Crowberry ( kaarnikka or variksenmarja ) is also a delicious specialty that is rarely encountered any place elsewhere, and usually sold as juice (you will found it abundantly in the fells, but it is small with big seeds, so not as tempting to eat directly).

The Norwegian angelica ( väinönputki ) is a traditional herb highly appreciated by the Sámi; the angelica is also used e.g. in the French chartreuse and bénédictine liqueurs. It has found its way to some handicraft delicacies. Some related species are very poisonous, so check if you want to look for it yourself.

Rieska is a barley flatbread traditional to the area. The almond-shaped puikula (often as Lapin puikula ) potatoes are also a local specialty, although sold and appreciated around the country.

NB! In the grocery stores it is worth to notice that reindeer meat and cloudberry products are always relatively expensive. Especially when buying cold cuts make sure the package says poro somewhere. Seeing similar looking but much cheaper horsemeat and beef cuts sold right next to the reindeer meat is unfortunately common. Cheap cloudberry jams usually contain orange ( appelsiini ). Check the small-print mandatory ingredients list, to see not only what the producers want to tell.

Drink [ edit ]

Most nightlife is concentrated to Kemi and Rovaniemi , and especially at wintertime: to the skiing resorts!

When hiking in wilderness it is quite safe to drink water directly from rivers. Most hikers use water also from lakes and small clear streams untreated, but you might want to boil that for a few minutes.

Sleep [ edit ]

According to the Everyman's Right ( jokamiehenoikeus ) one can set up a "temporary" camp (at least a night or two) nearly anywhere in the forest or on the fell, no matter who owns the land. However, making a fire is allowed only in extreme situations or by permission of landowner. For the campfire sites in national parks, and some wilderness and backcountry areas, there is a general permit. If a wildfire warning is in effect making a fire is forbidden, no matter whether or not you have a permission. In protected areas, such as national parks, there are restrictions also on camping.

At many hiking destinations there are Spartan open wilderness huts available for free, or reservation huts with some equipment for a very moderate price (€15/person/night, check where to get the key). These have firewood, a wood stove for heat and possibly cooking, sometimes a gas stove and pots for cooking, bunk beds with or without mattresses (reservation respectively open huts), an outhouse toilet (use own toilet paper), and some sort of water resource nearby, but hardly anything else (no electricity, no lights). In the open wilderness huts you may stay a night or two, but if the place gets crowded the ones who have had their rest should leave – the ones who come last have an indisputable right to the facilities. Leave the hut in better condition than it was when you arrived. In addition to these there are lean-to shelters and "lapp pole tents", which give some protection from the elements, and "day huts", meant for breaks but usable for overnight stay in emergencies.

There are lots of good quality hotels and hostels around Lapland. The scale goes from luxury suites to pole tents where you can sleep next to an open fire. There are also glass igloos for watching northern lights and hotels within snow castles. At least for a longer stay or away from towns you might want to rent a cottage instead. Know what kind of cottage you want, they and their environment and nearby services vary widely. Also check the specific location; a search often suggests cottages that actually are a hundred kilometres from the intended destination.

Most accommodations also have programme services (and may market other available programmes as their own).

Stay safe [ edit ]

Know your limits. The winter environment is perfectly capable of killing the unwary tourist who gets lost in the fells. The rescue service works well – each year several tourists are rescued and only rarely any serious injury is sustained – but taking your chances is not recommended.

Avalanches are possible in winter. Check with the national parks or ski resorts and make sure you know what you are doing or how to avoid affected areas, if venturing out in wilderness or on non-maintained slopes.

If you plan to travel alone or, for example in your own car, remember that distances are great and getting help for any unexpected situation may take time. Plan accordingly; take extra warm clothes in your car and tell the hotel staff where you are heading and when you expect to come back.

Also mind the hunting season: Natives are usually very keen of hunting, and the start of the season draws most hunters into the wilderness. Potential dangers can be countered by wearing a red cap or some other easily identified garment.

When stopping on the road to enjoy the landscape, don't forget the traffic. Park at a safe spot and keep to the roadside.

Otherwise, there are few serious dangers to your well-being. Tap water and even water of most lakes and creeks is potable (in most places, bottled water contains more harmful compounds than tap water) and foods are almost without exception safe to eat. Crime rates are low and people are helpful and nice. Probability to get robbed or getting any other harm is extremely low. Still avoid getting drunk and noisy at ski resorts (either alone is probably not a big problem safety-wise).

There are rescue helicopters, which should be able to reach you in an hour or two even in the wilderness, weather permitting. There are prepared landing spots by many wilderness huts. If venturing out, you might want to check instructions, otherwise just know your coordinates and some landmarks to make any confusion obvious (the operators have maps to which to compare your description), let the crew decide on where to land, and stay clear of landing aircraft (stones and branches may transform into projectiles). Often a snowmobile or other land vehicles may be enough to reach you.

Hospitals [ edit ]

• Central Hospital of Lapland ( Lapin Keskussairaala ) is in Rovaniemi taking care of tourists with acute illnesses or accidents. The general emergency clinic is open 24 hr daily ( ☏ +358 16 328 2140 ).
• Länsi-Pohja Central Hospital [dead link] ( Länsi-Pohjan keskussairaala ) in Kemi has a 24 hr daily emergency clinic, ( ☏ +358 40-149-1340 ).

Go next [ edit ]

• Finnmark – the Norwegian equivalent, still more to the north, bordering the Arctic Ocean.
• Murmansk Oblast — though voyagers of most nationalities need a visa to visit Russia.
• Swedish Lapland in Norrland – with higher mountains.

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Lapland travel guide

What to do, when to go and why you’ll love it.

S anta. Christmas. Reindeer that fly. Snow that is deep and crisp and even. Forests full of berries and bears. The unnerving, shape-shifting northern lights flashing away in winter, and the perpetual golden days of the “midnight sun” in summer. Bumping across the wilds on a snowmobile or dog sled, Lapland inhabits the imagination long before you ever set foot there, promising great things. Trust us, they are far greater than you can ever imagine.

Lapland, perhaps more accurately named Sapmi, land of the indigenous, reindeer-herding Sami people, alludes to the band of Finland , Norway , Sweden and Russia reaching north of the Arctic Circle. It’s a nature-gone-wild place of bitter cold and mind-bending beauty; of fairytales dreamed up during long, bleak, snowbound winters over centuries; and of the haunting Sami joik (folk music), conjuring up the spirit of ancestors, sung around hissing campfires.

The winter fun is boundless here — off-piste and cross-country skiing, skidooing, reindeer rides and aurora-gazing for starters. But Lapland also rewards those who stray further and dive deeper. The region’s isolated, roadless, forgotten reaches enthrall, with the ringing silence of the tundra, frozen forests rising to pearly white fells, soft pastel skies and fantasy log cabins where you can give the world the slip for a spell. Up here, there is still a strong spirit of exploration, a whisper of the North Pole, 1,300 miles of rough sea and pack ice away.

Visit Lapland in summer, as we heartily recommend you do, and you’ll have the place to yourself. Come to casually dip your rod into a river and land the finest salmon you’ve ever tasted. Forage for berries in forests ripe for a bedtime story. Embrace the long days with fiercely hot saunas and lake swims. Or hike in glacier-capped national parks, where you won’t see another living soul (bar elk and reindeer) for days.

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If you’re here to see Santa — friend, you are not alone. The big, bearded, jolly, red-robed fellow is reason numero uno most people make it this far north — Rovaniemi in Finland, to be precise. Either heaven or hell, depending on whether you are aged five or 50, you’ll find the sparkly Santa Claus Village* atop the Arctic Circle and a themed Santa park nearby. Here it’s Christmas every day, with grottoes full of festive bling, elves baking gingerbread, reindeer rides and, naturally, the chance to sit on Santa’s lap and whisper your present wishlist in his ear.

There’s plenty of other things to do in Lapland . Beyond Santa, Rovaniemi makes a convenient (if more commercial) base for all the activities people come to the Arctic for: husky safaris, northern lights chasing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, adventure tours — you name it. Adding a little shot of culture is the crystalline Arktikum museum, zooming in on Lapland’s wildlife and Sami life.

Over in Norway is mountain-clasped Tromso, delivering polar fjord cruises, every Arctic activity imaginable, and some phenomenal displays of northern lights* (primetime is from mid-September to April). While there, check out the ice-shard-shaped Arctic Cathedral, with its spacey organ and icicle-like chandeliers. Polaria, meanwhile, tosses you into the cold waters of Arctic exploration, with exhibits spotlighting everything from trapping to Roald Amundsen’s expeditions.

A rival for Norway’s gateway-to-the-Arctic-crown is Alta, further east. The town wows with its world heritage stash of prehistoric rock art and its architecturally show-stopping, aurora-inspired Northern Lights Cathedral.

Speaking of the aurora borealis, true pilgrims make their way to a tiny speck of village called Abisko* (population: 85) in Swedish Lapland. Here a chairlift swings up to Mount Nuolja and its crowning glory Aurora Sky Station, feted for having the world’s best northern lights. It’s more than just hype: Abisko is bang in the centre of the Aurora Oval, and the lights are like watching Nordic gods at a rave when conditions are clear.

Where to stay

Boutique hotels with glass walls perfectly framing the northern lights, igloos freshly carved from the ice every winter , log cabins snuggled away on the shores of fjord and rushing rivers or buried deep in forests of birch and spruce — Lapland does romance in its own distinct, coolly Arctic style.

If you want to be reasonably close to an airport and pack a lot into a short space of time, consider basing yourself somewhere bigger, such as Rovaniemi* (Finland), Tromso (Norway) or Kiruna (Sweden), where you’ll find a mix of slickly minimalist Scandi chains, alongside more atmospheric sleeps in glass igloos, ice hotels and rustic lodges. A night on ice will give you a true feel for the region and is more comfortable than you might imagine, often with reindeer skins and expedition-grade sleeping bags, saunas and grog to keep you warm in sub-zero temperatures. And honestly nothing beats the feeling of being the first to pad through fresh powder snow in the morning.

Cast your net wider and you’re looking at some utterly fabulous places to stay that will linger long in the memory. Glamp in yurts by the ocean and head out on multi-day kayaking trips at eco-minded Elements Arctic Camp on the island of Rebbenesoya in Norway, say. Solitude seekers also rave about the new “bird boxes”, micro-hotel rooms dropped in the country’s remotest locations, such as Fauske in Nordland county, Norway.

Sweden has some deliciously hidden escapes, too, most famously the world’s first and biggest Icehotel* in Jukkasjarvi, where sculptors work their magic on ice drawn from the Torne River. Taking an avant-garde turn, the Treehotel* in Harads is astonishing, with architect-designed eyries perched high in the forest, from a UFO to a mirror cube reflecting the surrounding landscape.

Food and drink

Scandis would once have scoffed at the idea of Lapland being a foodie hotspot, but the region is now a rising culinary star. Why? Just look around you. These pristine forests, fjords, mountains, lakes and rivers provide some of the world’s finest raw produce: wild berries (cloudberries, lingonberries, raspberries) and rare herbs, pine and birch (for wonderfully sappy, smoky flavours), reindeer (served fresh smoked and dried) and cold-water fish that are pure muscle (cod, salmon, trout, whitefish and Arctic char). All of this is wonderful, of course, but do chefs have the skill to make the ingredients shine? They do.

Some of your most unforgettable moments in Lapland will be the simplicity of home cooking. Sharing stories and reindeer stew with a Sami family in a fire-warmed lavvu tent. Coming in from the cold to your little lodge, where your host has whipped up a meal with wild ingredients that sing of the seasons. Dunking chewy bread cheese (leipajuusto in Finnish, kaffeost in Swedish) into your coffee. Feeling hot lingonberry juice warm your frozen core after a day skiing or skidooing.

The most experimental restaurants are headed up by chefs dabbling in new waters to raise the gastro bar further still. Among them is Javri Lodge in Saariselka, Finland, where exquisite dishes (king crab tortellini, reindeer tartar, cloudberry sorbet and the like) show off local ingredients with imagination and finesse in a spectacularly vaulted wooden space. Other high-ranking restaurants that have food lovers whispering “Michelin star” include Sweden’s Icehotel (go for the 12-course tasting menu) and Norway’s one-of-a-kind Kitchen On The Edge Of The World in the Lofoten Islands, hosting top-of-their-game guest chefs like Nuno Mendes, Angela Hartnett and Niklas Ekstedt.

The remote bits. The allure of Lapland goes way beyond Santa and the big-hitter resorts. Snuffle out the wild places, where yours will likely be the only footsteps, ski or snowshoe tracks. Lapland is pure Narnia in winter, granted, but the region is equally seductive in the undying light of summer or its gold-and-russet autumn cloak, when you can hit sensationally mountainous hiking trails, paddle across lakes and fjords in quiet exhilaration, perhaps spotting the odd orca, or fling your rod into a fast-flowing river and land a ginormous salmon.

Go full-on wild trekking in one of Lapland’s lonely national parks: from the tremendous Arctic fells and bear-dotted forests of Urho Kekkonen National Park on the Finnish-Russian border, to the forgotten, starkly beautiful Stabbursdalen National Park in the far north of Norway. In Swedish Lapland, things take a more remote turn still, with vast, rarely visited forests, mountains and river-ribboned valleys to explore. Come to fly-fish, kayak or strike out on backcountry road trips like the unforgettable 370km Vildmarksvagen (Wilderness Road) between Stromsund and Vilhelmina, taking you over the barren, reindeer-dotted Stekenjokk mountain plateau. More of a challenge, you say? The 440km Kungsleden (King’s Trail) throws hikers in at the Arctic deep end.

Muohta is Sami for snow, but they have 200 words to describe different kinds of white stuff and no wonder. Winters here are long and dark, with bitterly cold temperatures guaranteeing terrific snow to play and ski in. Here you’ll find some of Europe’s finest cross-country and off-piste skiing from October to May. Ski resorts like Riksgransen, Bjorkliden and Kabdalis in Sweden, Levi and Yllas in Finland, and Geilo and Narvik in Norway tend to be low-key affairs, with rustic charm, few crowds and regular displays of northern lights.

To really feel the spirit of Lapland’s Sami people, visit around Sami National Day (February 6) to catch events like lasso-throwing and reindeer racing at Sami Week in Tromso, and indigenous costumes, dancing, joik concerts, crafts fashioned from reindeer hides and antlers, and food (elk or reindeer kebab, anyone?) at Jokkmokk Winter Market in Sweden.

Know before you go

The currency is the krone (Norway), krona (Sweden) and euro (Finland). Lapland has biorhythm-altering seasons: plunged into darkness during the polar night (November to January), when the sun doesn’t rise at all, and total light during the midnight sun, peaking in late June. Provided conditions are clear and activity is high, the northern lights can be seen any time from September to April.

You’ll need solid, weather-proof outdoor gear year round — bring mozzie repellent in summer and decent thermals and snow gear in winter. Due to Lapland’s remoteness, a car is a huge bonus unless you want to stick to resorts near airports.

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Lapland Travel Guide

If you don’t believe in fairytales, Lapland’s the place that might just change your mind. And, surprisingly, it has nothing to do with Father Christmas. Though seeing a sea of tiny faces light up with joy every time ‘he ho, ho, ho’s’ his way into a log cabin can’t fail to bring a rosy glow to the coldest of hearts. No, we’re skipping over the elves, gifts, baubles and sleighs we all know Lapland for, to spill the beans on the Lapland everyone needs to know about. First up, it won’t surprise anyone to know that a region that’s blessed with 200 days of snow a year is a skier’s paradise. Not just for proficient carvers of powder either. You’re looking at ski schools for all ages, excellent facilities for young skiers and more cross country runs than you could ever hope to ski.

Away from the almost ridiculously long menu of winter sports, there’s the chance to get to know the Sami. And we really should have at least a chat with Europe’s last indigenous people. Then there’s Lapland in summer. A riot of national parks, lakes and forests that are awash with wildlife we’ve all travelled further to see. Bears, wolves and Lynx are certainly worth a night or two in a log cabin to see. Just don’t be surprised if it’s covered in Christmas decorations… in June.

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Lapland Travel Guide  

Soundtrack of the country

A rove around rovaniemi.

3 course meal for 2: £68.24

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A medium beer: £5.12

One-way (Local Transport): £2.39

Soundtrack of the city

Weather in lapland.

Northern Lights or round the clock daylight? Cloudberries or gingerbread biscuits? The best time to visit Lapland depends on what you’re looking to find. With 8 seasons – yes 8! And 200 days of snow, you could have a dilemma on your hands. One thing is certain, March is best for the Northern Lights.

Discover the real Lapland

As soon as you step away from the Christmas-themed villages, the real Lapland is uncovered. Europe’s last wilderness is as untouched as it sounds. Though, who’s to say what’s more real, the snow-covered fells of winter or the brief thaw that uncovers Lapland’s flora?

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Much is made of Christmas in Lapland. So much so that it’s a year-round event. Do indulge your inner child just a smidge. But don’t miss out on the Lapland few see through the fairy-lit pine needles. The wilderness is yours to hike, bike and explore.

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You’ll need to get used to seeing reindeer on the menu, fast. A common choice for everything from sandwiches to fine dining, it’s a slight mood killer for any Lapland family Christmas holiday. That aside, always go for the foods that are hard to find elsewhere. We’d recommend the cloudberries – and never turn down a hot berry drink served in a traditional kuksa.

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It’s easy to imagine Lapland is a twee, but frosty, village. In reality, it’s a vast and sprawling wilderness peppered with towns and village to rummage through. You’ll be in the market for some tips and intel. Leaf through our guides – but do plan in a road trip too. For those spontaneous stops trips are made for.

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More of Finland

With a third of the country taken up by Lapland, Finland shares much of its best bits. Pure air, great skiing and a summer that’s celebrated by everything from the light-starved trees to the people craving a day at the beach. The capital, Helsinki grabs the headlines – as you’d expect. But venture away from the city lights and you’ll find Finland was made for escapism. Take a digital cleanse by a lake here in any season. You’ll feel all the better for it.

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Swedish Lapland Travel Guide

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Swedish Lapland, the heartland of the indigenous Sámi people, is Europe’s last wilderness, characterized by seemingly endless forests of pine and spruce, thundering rivers that drain the snow-covered fells and peaceful lakeside villages high amongst the hills. The irresistible allure of this vast and sparsely populated region is the opportunity to experience raw nature at first hand. This unsullied corner of the country is a very long way away for many Swedes; in terms of distance, Gothenburg, for example, is closer to Venice than it is to Kiruna. The reputation of the local people for speaking their mind or, alternatively, not speaking at all, has confirmed the region’s image within Sweden: remote, austere yet still rather fascinating.

Galtispuoda mountain

Getting to the North Cape

The kungsleden, laestadius and the demon drink, lapland, lappland or sápmi, silvermuséet, sorsele and around, treriksröset.

The best way to discover more about Sámi culture is to drive the 360km-long Wilderness Way ( Vildmarksvägen ) from Strömsund , a notable canoeing centre, over the barren Stekenjokk plateau to isolated Fatmomakke , a church town of dozens of traditional wooden kåtor (huts) beside the steely waters of Kultsjön lake. The road terminates at Vilhelmina , another tiny church town which makes an interesting diversion on the way north. Storuman and neighbouring Sorsele have handy train and bus connections that are useful access points for a small handful of charming mountain villages close to the Norwegian border, where hiking is the main draw.Back on the main Inlandsbanan train route, Arvidsjaur offers a fascinating insight into indigenous culture at its lappstad, a diverting collection of religious dwellings and storehuts.

However, it’s Jokkmokk , just north of the Arctic Circle , that is the real centre of Sámi life – not least during its Winter Market when thousands of people brave the chill to buy and sell everything from reindeer hides to wellington boots. Moving further north, the iron-ore mining centres of Gällivare (where the Inlandsbanan ends) and Kiruna share a rugged charm, though it’s undoubtedly the world-famous Icehotel in nearby Jukkasjärvi that is the real winter draw. Beyond, the rugged national parks offer a chance to hike and commune with nature like nowhere else: the Kungsleden trail runs for 500km from the tiny village of Abisko – oddly, yet reassuringly for hikers, the driest place in all of Sweden – to Hemavan, northwest of Storuman, through some of the most gorgeous stretches anywhere in the Swedish mountains.

Stretching northwest of Arvidsjaur out towards the Norwegian border, the municipality of Arjeplog, roughly the size of Belgium, supports a population of under three thousand – two-thirds of whom live in the lakeside town, ARJEPLOG , 85km from Arvidsjaur. Set away from the main inland road and rail routes, it’s a tiny, unassuming sort of place, barely one main street leading to what passes as a main square. The surrounding area is one of the most beautiful parts of Sweden, with nearly nine thousand lakes and vast expanses of mountains and virgin forests. The air is clear and crisp, the rivers clean and deep and the winters mighty cold – in 1989 a temperature of -52°C was recorded here. January and February, in particular, are bitter, dark and silent months, but it’s during winter that Arjeplog is at its busiest: hundreds of test drivers from across the world descend on the town to put cars through their paces in the freezing conditions, with brakes and road-holding being given a thorough examination on the frozen lakes; the ABS braking system, for example, was developed here.

In summer, Arjeplog is a likeable, peaceful little place, where hiking, canoeing and fishing are all popular activities, each offering the chance of blissful isolation, be it by the side of a secluded mountain tarn or in a clearing deep in the pine forest. In late July you can go cloudberry picking in the surrounding marshland, and in the autumn you can hunt for lingonberries, blueberries and wild mushrooms.

Gällivare and around

Seven hundred and fifty kilometres north of Östersund, the Inlandsbanan finally reaches its last stop, GÄLLIVARE , two and a quarter hours up the line from Jokkmokk. Although the town is not immediately appealing, it is one of the few relatively sizeable ones in this part of northern Sweden, and it’s a good idea to spend a day or two here enjoying the relative civilization before striking out in the wilds beyond – Gällivare is a good starting point for walking in the national parks , which fill most of the northwestern corner of the country. The town is also one of the most important areas for iron ore in Europe – if you have any interest in seeing a working mine, don’t wait until Kiruna’s tame “tourist tour” ; instead, take a trip down the more evocative mines here.

Located just north of the 67th parallel, Gällivare has a pretty severe climate : as you stroll around the open centre, have a look at the double-glazed windows here, all heavily insulated to protect against the biting Arctic cold.

The site the town occupies was once that of a Sámi village, and one theory has it that the name Gällivare comes from the Sámi for “a crack or gorge ( djelli) in the mountain ( vare) ”. You may also come across the alternative spelling, Gellivare, although the pronunciation is the same – “yell-i-vaar-eh”.

Midnight sun tours

While in Gällivare do try to take a tour to the top of Dundret hill, one of the two peaks dominating the town, to see the midnight sun (early June–early Aug daily at 11pm; 200kr return; tickets available from the tourist office). Special taxis run from the train station to the end of the winding road which leads up to the top of the hill. Remember that the sky needs to be free of cloud for you to see the midnight sun properly. Whatever the weather, though, there are free waffles and ice cream available before the return down to Gällivare.

The mines at Malmberget

Tucked away at

, one of the two hills that overlook the town 5km to the north, the modern mines and works are distant, dark blots, towards which the tourist office ferries relays of tourists in summer. There are two separate tours, both running from mid-June to mid-August: one tour explores the underground

iron-ore mine

, the other the open-cast

copper mine

, the largest of its kind in Europe (and also Sweden’s biggest gold mine – the metal is recovered from the slag produced during the extraction of the copper). The ear-splitting noise produced from the mammoth-sized trucks (they’re five times the height of a human being) in the iron-ore mine can be quite disconcerting in the confined darkness.

If you’re in Arjeplog with your own transport, it’s worth making every effort to see the jaw-dropping panoramic vistas from the top of

(808m), which lies 15km north of the village. On a clear day from the peak, you can see over 130km in all directions across the surrounding marshland and forest with views extending even into Norway. From this amazing vantage point, you start to realize just how sparsely populated this remote part of Sweden is: if Stockholm, for example, had the same population density as Arjeplog it would have just fifty inhabitants.

From Karesuando it’s a drive of 510km to the North Cape in Norway, routing via Enontekiö in Finland and then Kautokeino and Alta in Norway; it will take at least six hours with your own car. By public transport, the easiest option is to walk across to Kaaresuvanto in Finland and pick up the bus for Tromsø which operates from June to mid-September, departing at 4.25pm. Change buses in Skibotn on Norway’s E6 highway and then head east towards Alta for connections to the North Cape. Finnish bus timetables are at w eskelisen. fi, Norwegian ones at w snelandia.no .

The Kungsleden (literally “King’s Trail”) is the most famous and popular hiking route in Sweden. A well-signposted, 500km-long path from Abisko in the north to Hemavan , near Tärnaby , it takes in Sweden’s highest mountain, Kebnekaise , en route. If you’re looking for splendid isolation, this isn’t the trail for you; it’s the busiest in the country, though it’s the section from Abisko to Kebnekaise that sees most hikers (one of the least busy sections is between Jäkkvik and Adolfström). Most people start the trail at Abisko, but it’s equally feasible to begin further south.

The ground is easy to walk, with bridges where it’s necessary to ford streams; marshy ground has had wooden planks laid down to ease the going, and there are either boat services or row-boats with which to get across several large lakes. The route, which passes through the national parks, is traditionally split into the five stages described below. For the distances between the places mentioned on each segment; the best map to have of the entire area is Lantmäteriet Kartförlaget’s Norra Norrland (scale 1:400,000).

Stage 1: Abisko to Kebnekaise (6 days; 105km)

From its starting point at STF Abisko fjällstation , the Kungsleden winds through the elongated Abisko national park, which contains some of the most lush and dense vegetation of the trail, including beech forest lining the valley bottom. From the Alesjaure cabins, perched on a mountain ridge 35km from the start, you’ll get a fantastic view over the open countryside below; there’s a sauna here, too. The highest point on this segment is the Tjäktja pass (1105m), 50km from the start, from where there are also wonderful views. This section of the trail finishes at Kebnekaise fjällstation , from where it’s possible to leave the main trail and head to Nikkaluokta, 19km away (served by buses to Kiruna).

Stage 2: Kebnekaise to Saltoluokta (3 days; 51km)

One of the quietest sections of the trail, this segment takes in beech forest, open fells and deep valleys. First of all you backtrack 14km from Kebnekaise fjällstation to Singi , before heading south again with an unobstructed view of the hills and glaciers of Sarek national park. You then paddle across the river at Teusajaure and climb over a plateau into Stora Sjöfallet national park , from where you drop steeply through beech forest to Vakkotavare . From Vakkotavore a bus runs to the quay at Kebnats, and then a short boat trip brings you to Saltoluokta and the start of the next section.

Stage 3: Saltoluokta to Kvikkjokk (4 days; 73km)

This segment involves skirting a tame corner of the inhospitable Sarek national park . It crosses two lakes and also passes through a bare landscape edged by pine and beech forests. A long uphill climb of around five to six hours leads first to Sitojaure , on a bare high fell. The shallow lake here, which you have to cross, is choppy in the strong wind; take the boat service operated by the cabin caretaker. You then cross the wetlands on the other side of the lake, making use of the wooden planks laid down here, to Aktse , where there’s a vast field of yellow buttercups in summer. Using the row-boats provided, row across Lake Laitaure for Kvikkjokk; as you approach you’ll see pine forest.

Stage 4: Kvikkjokk to Ammarnäs (8 days; 166km)

Not recommended for novices, this is one of the most difficult stretches of the trail (distances between cabins can be long, and there are four lakes to cross); it is, however, one of the quietest. From Kvikkjokk you take the boat over Saggat Lake and walk to the first cabin at Tsielejåkk . It’s 55km to the next cabin at Vuonatjviken . You then take the boat across Riebnesjaure and walk to Hornavan for another boat across to the village of Jäkkvik . It’s a short hike of 8km to the next cabin, then on to the village of Adolfström , passing through Pieljekaise national park en route. Then you get another boat over Iraft Lake and on to the cabins at Sjnjultje . From here there’s a choice of routes: 34km direct to Ammarnäs, or 24km to Rävfallet and then another 20km into Ammarnäs.

Stage 5: Ammarnäs to Hemavan (4 days; 78km)

This is the easiest part of the trail: you’ll pass over low fells and heather-covered moors and through beech forests and wetlands, the horizon lined with impressive fell peaks. The only steep climb is 8km long between Ammarnäs and Aigert , where there’s an imposing waterfall and a traditional steam sauna in the cabin. On the way to the Syter cabin, 48km from Aigert, you’ll pass a network of bridges, which cross the various lakes in what is called the Tärnasjö archipelago.

No other man has made a greater impression on northern Scandinavia than Lars Levi Laestadius (1800–61), the Swedish revivalist preacher who dedicated his life to saving people in three countries from the perils of alcoholism . Born in Jäkkvik in 1800 and educated in Kvikkjokk, the young Laestadius soon developed a close relationship with the indigenous Sámi , many of whom had turned to drink to escape the harsh reality of their daily lives. It was while the priest was working in Karesuando (1826–49) that he met Mary of Åsele , the Sámi woman who inspired him to steer people towards a life of total purity. Following Laestadius’s death in Pajala in 1861, the movement continued under the leadership of Juhani Raattamaa before splitting into two opposing branches: a conservative western group in Sweden and Norway, and a more liberal eastern one in Finland. Today tens of thousands of teetotal Swedes, Finns, Norwegians and Sámi across the Arctic area of Scandinavia still follow Laestadius’s teachings; as well as not drinking, they’re not allowed to have flowers or curtains in their homes, nor are they permitted to wear a tie, listen to the radio or watch TV.

Whilst Lapland’s strong cultural identity is evident in every town and village across the north, it’s a much trickier task to try to pin down the region geographically. The word Lapland means different things to different people. Mention it to a Swede (the Swedish spelling is Lappland ) and they’ll immediately think of the northern Swedish province of the same name which begins just south of Dorotea, runs up to the Norwegian and Finnish borders in the north, and stretches east towards (but doesn’t include) the Bothnian coast. For the original inhabitants of the north, the Sámi , the area they call Sápmi (the indigenous name for Lapland) extends from Norway through Sweden and Finland to the Russian Kola peninsula, an area where they’ve traditionally lived a semi-nomadic life, following their reindeer from valley bottom to fell top. Most foreigners have a hazy idea of where Lapland is; for the sake of this guide, we’ve assumed Swedish Lapland (the English spelling) to be located within the borders of the administrative province of Lappland but have included all of Route 342 – The Wilderness Way, or Vildmarksvägen – beginning in Strömsund, which crosses into Lappland, as well as the Torne Valley, which also lies partly within the province.

The only sight in town is the Silvermuséet , housed in a yellow wooden building in the main square. It’s home to fascinating collections of over 700 pieces of Sámi silver, including several ornate silver collars that were handed down from mother to daughter; if a mother had several daughters she would divide her chain amongst them. Whilst in the museum, make sure to visit the cinema in the basement, where you can see a slide show about the surrounding countryside and nature, and find how people in this remote part of Sweden learnt to adapt to the harsh climate.

The next major stop on the Inlandsbanan and bus route north of Storuman is SORSELE , 76km away – a pint-sized, quiet little town on the Vindelälven River . The town became a cause célèbre among conservationists in Sweden when activists forced the government to abandon its plans to build a hydroelectric power station, which would have regulated the river’s flow. Consequently, the Vindelälven remains in its natural state today – seething with rapids – and is one of only four rivers in the country that hasn’t been tampered with in some way or other.

The big event here is the Vindelälvsdraget , a 400km, four-day dog-sled race from Ammarnäs to Vännäsby held in the third week of March. Sorsele is an ideal base for fly-fishing : the Vindelälven and the other local river, Laisälven, are teeming with grayling and brown trout, and there are a number of local lakes stocked with char. Ask at the tourist offices for details.

If you’re looking to get well off the beaten track, Sorsele provides ready access to the Sámi mountain village of Ammarnäs , which is about as remote as you get by road in this part of Swedish Lapland.

Heading north for Treriksröset – the three-nation marker post where Sweden, Norway and Finland meet – walk over the bridge to Kaaresuvanto in Finland, from where a daily bus leaves at 2.35pm (Finland is an hour ahead of Sweden) for Kilpisjärvi (journey time 1hr 40min). From June to mid-September a second daily bus leaves at 4.25pm for Tromsø in Norway, travelling via Kilpisjärvi. From Kilpisjärvi, there are two ways to get to Treriksröset. One of these is a hike of 11km down a track which passes through an area of dwarf woodland before running around a small lake to reach Sweden’s northernmost point; don’t forget your camera and mosquito repellent. Alternatively, you can shorten the hike to just 3km by taking a boat ride from Kilpisjärvi across the lake on M/S Malla (late June–early Aug 10am, 2pm & 6pm Finnish time; 45min; €25 return); note that the boat requires at least four passengers to sail.

From Treriksröset, the path continues (14km) towards the northernmost peak in Sweden, Pältsan (1445m); the going here is rocky in parts. The STF cabins (no advance booking; March, April & late June–early Sept; dorm beds 390kr) at the foot of the mountain boast thirty beds and a sauna. There’s an easy hike (40km) from the cabins to Keinovuopio, where you cross the river to the village of Peera, on the main E8 road in Finland; from here you can catch the bus back to Karesuando (daily at approximately 1.45pm, also June to mid-Sept daily at 11.25am; check Finnish bus times at w matkahuolto.fi ).

The Inlandsvägen and the Wilderness Way meet up again in the pretty town of VILHELMINA , 54km north of Dorotea. Once an important forestry centre, now a quiet, unassuming little place with just one main street, it is named after the wife of King Gustav IV Adolf, Fredrika Dorotea Vilhelmina (as is its southerly neighbour, Dorotea).

On the main street the Sámi handicraft store , Risfjells Sameslöjd, Volgsjövägen 46 (Mon–Fri 10am–5pm, Sat 10am–2pm; W sameslojd.se ), is worth a look.

Church town

The principal attraction is the church town , nestling between Storgatan and Ljusminnesgatan, whose thirty-odd wooden cottages date back to 1792 when the first church was consecrated. It’s since been restored, and the cottages can be rented out via the tourist office.

Discover more places in Sweden

• Abisko and around
• Jokkmokk and around
• Kiruna and around
• Strömsund and routes north
• Swedish Lapland’s national parks
• The E12: Blå vägen
• The Torne Valley

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written by Rough Guides Editors

updated 07.05.2021

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Lapland on a budget

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A complete guide to planning a magical DIY trip

• The Travel Mum

UPDATE: easyJet flights were released today (21/3/24) and prices have climbed to extortionate levels already (£800 return per person?! No thanks.) Don’t worry, these prices will fall as demand falls. easyJet price their flights based on demand, and with the tons of people searching this morning, they have shot through the roof. Most people aren’t booking at these crazy prices. Availability is still there. Hold tight! 

We can now see the dates and times of the flights, so one option is to choose an ideal time you would like to go, set price notifications for those flights and keep an eye on the prices. In the mean time you can book accommodation with free cancellation for those ideal dates. That way you have it booked and ready whenever the flights fall. If they don’t, you can cancel for free. Just make a note of the date that the free cancellation ends.

Visiting Lapland on a budget may seem like an impossible dream. With some package holidays costing upwards of £10k, lots of families have been left feeling like a trip to Santas homeland will never become a reality for them. Lucky for us all, budget airlines Ryanair and easyJet have recently changed the game. The introduction of their direct budget flights to Rovaniemi, Finland (From the UK) mean your Christmas dreams can now become a reality.

Our mission…

We are strong believers that travel experiences should be available to everyone, regardless of their income. As soon as we heard about these new budget flights, we had to go and check it all out for ourselves. With a maximum budget of £3000 for a 7 nights trip, we had a strict budget. This was for all three of us, and had to cover EVERYTHING. From airport parking, flights, petrol, food, activities… not one penny more was going to leave our pockets (spoiler alert: we kept it below budget even with some more luxury additions!)

In this post I will cover everything you need to plan your trip to Lapland on a budget, as well as detail every penny we spent. It’s a long one, but you won’t need anything else to help you plan your perfect budget trip to Lapland.

To make this post easier to read for our majority UK audience, I have converted prices into GBP. Note exchange rates may vary slightly and prices can change. I have added red text when discussing specifics of what we spent. 

Where is Lapland?!

Lapland is a region located in the northernmost part of Europe and spans across multiple countries. The majority of Lapland lies within Finland, with smaller portions extending into Sweden, Norway, and Russia. Lapland is famous for being an enchanting winter wonderland and being the legendary home of Santa. Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland is known as the official hometown of Father Christmas and where we will be flying to for this trip.  

Flying to Lapland.

First things first you need to research where you can fly to Rovaniemi from . I see a lot of people on our website trying to find trips from airports that don’t offer any direct flights to Rovaniemi. For this winter ( January – March 2024 ) Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Stansted and Dublin are offering the best prices. Bristol, Edinburgh and Manchester are also offering direct routes, but for a much higher cost. Also note what day the flights are scheduled, as they wont be daily. This means although you may want to go away for 3 nights, your closest airport may only offer flights on a Monday and Saturday.

As with all DIY trips, you should be considering flights before you book any accommodation. Flights prices can vary massively from day to day, whereas accommodation prices are much more stable in their nightly rates. If by the end of this article you still feel this is too much effort, we are happy to plan these trips for our premium members who pay £30 for the year . This comes with other benefits such as weekly cheap flights/hotel notifications. Note that we can only do personalised trip plans once the membership is paid, we can’t do this for people using the free trial due to the amount of time it takes.

Our flights were £75pp from London Gatwick travelling 4th – 11th December. We travelled with the free under seat allowance plus one carry on suitcase to share between the three of us. Flight total: £225 for a family of three.

When to travel to Lapland?

November – March are the most popular months for a trip to Lapland, with December naturally peaking in price and popularity due to the Christmas period. That’s not to say Lapland isn’t a beautiful place to explore all year round, but for the purpose of this post we will assume you are looking for the winter wonderland experience.

November is an affordable and popular time to visit, but snow isn’t guaranteed. That being said, the snow came really early this year near the start of November.

January will definitely have snow, and prices are excellent.

We visited in December to show it is possible to get some great prices in the peak Christmas month.

Whenever you decide to visit, Santa Claus village is open all year round. Remind the kids that Santa is a lot less busy after he has delivered all of the presents in December!

We visited on the 4th – 11th December, a peak time to visit but we were able to get decent prices on flights and accommodation by booking our trip early in June. I would recommend looking at flights as early as possible when they are released around March 2024, especially if you are wanting to travel in December / during the school holidays. 

If you are limited to the school holidays you can save a lot by setting off a day or two before the holidays start. Alternatively return a day or two after the kids return to school. Most schools wont issue fines for a day or two missed, and you will likely save a lot of money on your flights. We took Leo out of school for the whole trip but he hasn’t reached his 5th birthday yet.

So you’ve found your flights?

Don’t book them JUST yet, we need the whole puzzle to come together before we pay for anything. You may find cheap flights but then discover there are only really expensive accommodation options available on those particular dates. I know a lot of people who snapped up last minute December flights this month, only to then discover accommodation prices are currently extortionate due to the high demand.

When to book?

Ryanair and easyJet often release their flights around 9 months in advance, easyJet have announced they will be releasing their winter flights on the 21st March. Ryanair flights are likely to be released in April.

We booked in June and found a central apartment that was just over £100 per night, it slept up to 4 adults making it just £25 per person per night! This is the type of price you should be aiming for. This is the apartment we stayed in.  

You always need to take flight and accommodation prices into consideration together. It may be that it is worth paying £100 more for flights on a different date if this saves you £500 on accommodation and vice versa.

We can help you!

Our websites search feature can help you by finding great flights on dates that also have great hotels available. You can’t use this until the December flights are released. With one search you are looking for a cheap combination, saving you lots of time and effort. Make sure you know the available duration from your chosen airport. For example, last year Manchester to Rovaniemi flights were on a Tuesday and Saturday, so a 1 night overnight trip from Manchester isn’t possible.

Alternatively join our premium membership and let us do it for you!

Where should you stay?

The most popular area for families looking to book a trip to Lapland on a budget is Rovaniemi. It offers that traditional Christmas experience within a relatively small area that is easy to get around. The city is close to the airport, with easy access to Santa Claus village and Santa park via the Santa bus. We stayed here for three nights and felt that was just enough. On our first full day we visited Santa Claus village, on the next we went to Santa park, and on the morning before we drove north to Levi, we visited Snowman World. I’ll discuss attractions further down this post.

Our thoughts…

Our overall opinion of Rovaniemi was that it is perfect for families wanting a short and cheap trip with lots of magic for the little ones. It offers all the standard experiences (husky’s, reindeer, Santa, sledging) in a small convenient area. At Santa Claus Village you can queue and do activities on the day without pre booking, which is great for families like ours who lack organisation! Rovaniemi also gives you the chance of seeing the northern lights.

We did feel it was a little commercialised and although the big city is a convenient place to stay, it lacked that cozy Christmas atmosphere we were hoping for. That’s not to say it isn’t a wonderful place to stay, thousands of families return home saying their stay there was the best holiday they’ve ever had.

Levi was our second stop during this trip and we stayed there for two nights. It was just over a 2 hour drive north from where we stayed in Rovaniemi and the roads leading there were great. Kittilä airport is only a 19 minute drive to Levi and you may wish to consider flying here if you are staying solely in Levi. Bear in mind these flights are much more expensive.

Where we stayed in Levi.

We stayed at Levi Suites Levin Klubi which was great value. We paid £269 for two nights . Our two bedroom apartment was lovely and even had a sauna. The location was fine with a car, but would have been a little far out from the centre without. A more central option is at Levi Suites Levi Gold which is bang in the centre.

Levi is primarily a ski resort with a lot of the cozy Christmas charm we were looking for. A cute festive village in comparison to the large city we had just driven from. Whether you are a skiing pro or a complete beginner, this is a great option for anyone wanting a more active trip. The traditional Christmas experiences are more spread out than in Rovaniemi, but all are still available.

We didn’t ski but still really enjoyed our time here. ‘Kids Land’ is a great area with a small slope for sledging. There are lots of sledges to use for free and there is a small building with a log fire to pop into and get warm. We had a packed lunch which we ate in there and then toasted some marshmallows for desert.

I’ll list the activities we did whilst here below. Overall we preferred Levi to Rovaniemi, but Leo would tell you he preferred Rovaniemi to Levi! Levi is definitely better suited to older children and adults. We noticed tons of cozy cabins within the forest which we will definitely look into if we visit again.

After our stay in Levi we drove even further north to a small town called Inari. Lake Inari is the third largest lake in Finland and was the base for our two night stay here. The drive from Levi to Inari takes around 2.5 hours and the roads are beautiful and remote. We barely saw another car the whole time. Make sure you stock up on water and snacks as services along the route are limited. If you choose to drive to Inari from Rovaniemi (or drive straight back for your flight home) it will take around 3 hours 50 minutes.

Where we stayed in Inari.

I found some amazing cabins whilst researching the cheapest way to sleep under the northern lights. Inari Mobile Cabins are pulled out to the middle of the frozen lake at night to get the best views of the northern lights. I’d decided we had to stay there, even though it was pricey. Some experiences are so unique we just can’t miss them! As we had been so tight with our budget up to this point, we had the spare cash to book two nights here. The nightly rate was around £400, you get a 10% discount when booking directly with them (and not through booking.com). We justified this as a normal hotel was coming up at around £200 a night. With northern lights tours around £100 per person, we felt it would be better to stay in the cabins and keep an eye on the sky all night, instead of doing a tour.

The further north we drove, the less commercialised things became and the more authentic it felt. At the same time it also became less catered towards kids (and consequently better for adults travelling without kids). We are lucky that Leo has been travelling from birth, so he is pretty tolerant of long drives, uncomfortable weather and a lack of specific facilities just for him.

Inari is widely known as the capital of Finnish Sámi culture and houses the Sámi parliment of Finland. There is a Sámi museum as well as lots of other activities to enjoy. Whether you fancy husky sledging, reindeer experiences, ice fishing or cross country skiing – you won’t have time to get bored. The owner of Inari Mobile Cabins also helps arrange tours, so contact him through the website linked above if you need help planning your stay.

What to wear

A lot of people worry about how they will keep warm in the freezing temperatures. It was -22C whilst we were there, but we managed to stay toasty. Whether you buy your own items or rent will depend on how long you are visiting and what you already have at home. You can rent snow suits and boots for around £20 a day. Lapland Safaris is a good option and they operate in both Rovaniemi and Levi. If you are only staying for 2 or 3 days, this may be worth doing. If you plan to visit a cold climate again, or are visiting for a week like we did, it ends up being better value to buy your own things and have them to use again. My snow boots are so comfortable I have been wearing them back in the UK!

What we bought and prices

We bought our snow clothes from Aldi, Lidl, Decathlon and Vinted.  We already had some things like base layers, hats and my husband had boots. Essentially you need three layers of clothes. A warm base layer, wooly mid layer and a waterproof outer layer. As well as this you want a thin sock like bamboo plus a warm thick wooly sock on top. We had normal gloves with ski gloves over the top. We took hats, scarfs and balaclavas which we had already at home. I’ll list what we each bought and the cost below. The ski ranges at Aldi and Lidl were released in November last year.

Snow coat (Lidl) £25

Snow trousers (Aldi) £12

Snow boots (Aldi) £20

Ski gloves (Aldi) £6

Already had warm mid layers, base layers and socks.

Snow trousers (Aldi) £16

Gloves (Aldi) £6

Already had a coat, mid layers, base layers, socks and boots.

Snow suit (Vinted) £8

Snow boots (Decathlon) £25

3 x base layers (Decathlon) £36

3 x ski socks (Decathlon) £9

Ski mittens (Decathlon) £20

Total spent on clothes: £183 for the three of us

Getting around once in Lapland

For convenience we hired a car. We find with an impatient and unpredictable 4 year old, a car is always a good idea. It also meant we could easily go on our adventure into the north without worrying about public transport schedules. If we were only staying in Rovaniemi a car would have been completely unnecessary.  

Car Hire.  

Our car hire was £254 for 7 nights and we booked with the controversial company Green Motion. They had the cheapest prices by far but have a lot of complaints about them overcharging for minor damage/scratches. For this reason a lot of car hire excess insurance companies won’t cover them. When you hire a car you are covered for the basics, but you will usually have to leave a deposit which will be used as the excess should you do major damage to the car. This is often around €2000 and is held on a credit card. Excess insurance means that if you write the car off, the car hire company will keep your deposit, but then you can claim the money back through your excess insurance provider. The excess cover offered by Green Motion starts at €10 per day and goes up to €50 a day if you want to be able to reclaim all of your deposit. This adds a hefty sum onto the base price. easyJet car hire offer green motion cars and use AXA as their excess insurance. Leisure guard is another company that will cover Green Motion. (Research done by one of our lovely followers).

As a family we are quite risk averse, possibly too laid back! We meticulously film the car before we set off and on dropping it back off so we have evidence of its condition. We are pretty confident that we won’t damage the car (but also appreciate we don’t have control of all situations). I’d like to think if a hire company tried to scam us, we would be well prepared with evidence! We didn’t cause any damage to the car and luckily we had no issues with returning it. I mention the controversial history of this company as I know many people would rather avoid them and use one of the many other companies operating out there.

Do a search here to find the best value car hire for your dates. Looking at December 2024 you can get lots of similar prices to what we paid.

Public transport

Buses run often in all of the places we visited. Rovaniemi has the Santa bus which is €4 one way or €7 return. It stops at the train station, airport, Santa Claus Village and Santa Park. If you are staying within the centre it is really easy to access a lot of the main attractions.  

Lot’s of people choose to use taxis to get around. This will be more convenient than public transport, but will likely cost more (depending on how many people are splitting the fare of course).   Personally we found that with the intense cold and having a child with us, we didn’t want to be outside any longer than we had to. We had planned to use some buses for the experience and to get the content for you all, but in the end the convenience of the car being sat outside meant we could never bring ourselves to do it!  

Eating and drinking in Lapland on a budget

Self catering.

Lapland is a place where you will definitely benefit from having an apartment with a kitchen. Eating out is pricey whereas supermarket food is quite reasonable. On arriving in Rovaniemi we went to a supermarket near our apartment (K-Supermarket) and spent £66 on food. This included breakfast, things to make packed lunches, snacks and some dinners. Joao bought a few beers to have in the evenings and Leo got a £5 giant kinder egg (just to show we weren’t being completely tight!) We weren’t cooking fancy evening meals, we were eating things like pasta, pizza, salad, chips and fruit. For breakfast we were having cereal and some fruit and coffee. Lunches were sandwiches with some crisps/fruit/protein bars. We were drinking tap water and had brought our own hot chocolate. We did a second £40 shop on arriving in Levi and that covered all of our ‘home cooked’ meals for the trip.  

Leo is a very picky eater, so we always take a lot of super noodles away with us (he will only eat one flavour from one brand) just incase we are struggling to get him to eat. This covered a couple of his evening meals along with some fruit. We packed a lot of protein bars to take out and curb our hunger during the day. We also took a flask and some hot chocolate powder to have our own hot chocolate whilst out (this saved us £5 per cup).  

Total £106 spent on supermarket food.  

We always want to enjoy a few meals out, and the joy of being so budget conscious means you are left with spare money to splash out on a few nicer things.

We would rather provide our own sandwiches than buy expensive sandwiches in a cafe and by doing this a few times you are left with extra money to spend on a nice dinner. It’s not all about being as tight as possible, it’s about spending wisely. We could spend £10+ each on breakfast with a coffee, or we can eat before we go out and save that money. Preparing our own meals isn’t a sacrifice for us; rather, it’s a way to save money for the experiences that are more important to us.

At Snowman world we booked to have lunch in the ice restaurant and have a drink at the ice bar. It is a unique experience that we haven’t had before, so we didn’t want to miss out. You can have lunch or dinner there, lunch being the much cheaper option. It was a two course meal with a main and a desert. Joao and I had reindeer soup for our main and Leo had pasta bolognaise (prices detailed in the attractions section). All of the food was delicious, it was expensive for what it was but you are paying for the experience. We drank tap water so we didn’t spend extra on drinks and we ate a lot of bread! While it’s probably obvious for an ‘ice restaurant,’ it was quite chilly! To be honest, I don’t know what I was expecting, but dining with gloves on isn’t exactly ideal! After lunch we went to warm up in the cafe area overlooking Santa Claus Village. We got two glasses of Golgi (a traditional drink similar to mulled wine but without the alcohol) and this cost £5 for the two.  

During our visit to Santa Park, we stuck to our normal routine of bringing our own packed lunch. However, Leo decided he wanted the buffet food. Given his selective eating habits, we never turn down the opportunity for him to enjoy a hearty meal. Consequently, we bought him a child’s buffet lunch priced at £12. This ended up being ideal as he sat and ate it in the central restaurant area just as the Elf show was starting. The adults buffet is £20 but the food didn’t look fantastic so we gave it a miss. Joao and I ate our packed lunches and had prime seats for the show. We also spent £2.60 on a gingerbread cookie for Leo to decorate in Mrs Gingerbreads Bakery.

Whilst in Levi we had heard about a restaurant called Niliporo . Owned by a local reindeer herder, it has a menu full of traditional reindeer dishes. It is located right in the centre so we decided we would have dinner there. The restaurant is cozy with some interesting items on the menu. Leo didn’t fancy anything except mash potato and a hot chocolate. I ordered a reindeer burger and Joao had reindeer meat balls and some local beer. We also had the reindeer tapas as a starter to share. All of the food was amazing, really delicious and although a little expensive, it was worth it to try some traditional dishes. The meal with drinks came to around £82.

Our accommodation in Inari offered free breakfast. They also prepared a traditional grill hut dinner in the evening for around £30pp. We booked to have dinner with our hosts on our last night and Leo ate for free. The food was delicious, we had gingerbread and Golgi for dessert. A lovely end to the trip.

Total spent on food and drink bought whilst out: £199.10

(Relatively) cheap activities when visiting Lapland on a budget.

Rovaniemi  .

Visiting Santa – Rovaniemi is a great place to see Santa with Santa Claus Village and Santa Park being the go to spots for most. The Santa at Santa Claus Village is free to visit, but then you have to spend a fortune on the photos. They won’t let you use your own camera to take your own.

Santa Park is a paid attraction currently costing £36.50 for adults and £31 for children (age 3 – 12).  Once in there you can see Santa and take your own videos and photos. Overall if you want a photo, this ends up being better value than seeing him for free at Santa Claus village. The park has a variety of other activities, mainly aimed at younger kids. You can ride a magic train, do some crafting, attend elf school, decorate gingerbread cookies, watch the elf show and much more. It is all located inside a cavern and is lovely and warm.

Santa Claus Village – There are lots of things to do here. This outdoor village is free to enter and have a mooch around. You will find sledges with SCHV written on them, these are free to use and provide some free fun for the kids. You can do a husky ride, reindeer sleigh ride, visit the elf farmyard and feed reindeer, visit Santa or Mrs Claus and much more. I will list the current prices for these activities below. You can turn up and queue for these activities without pre booking. The Husky park recommends you book in advance, especially if you want to ride whilst it is still light. Leo enjoyed visiting Santas post office and sending some post cards home. Post cards can be bought for €1 and Lapland stamps are €2.50.

Santa Clause village prices

Visit Mrs Claus – we did this and the session lasted around 10 minutes. We didn’t buy the photo as we felt it was extortionate. €5 per person to visit – €20 digital photo – €30 printed photo – €40 for both Digital and printed.

Reindeer Sleigh Ride – We didn’t do this, but the queue wasn’t too long. People hadn’t pre booked.

400m path – Adults €25 Children €20

1000m forest path – Adults €40 Children €30

3km winter adventure – Adults €99 Children €75

Elf farmyard – We went here and felt it was relatively good value. We really enjoyed seeing the reindeer up close and feeding them. There is a slope for sledging in the farmyard, a little playground and a fire for toasting marshmallows. As well as reindeer there are also alpacas and sheep. You can pay to  

€15 per Adult

€10 per Child (age 3 – 15)

Additional €5 for a bag of reindeer food.  

Visit plus 15 minute walk with reindeer €38 adults €25 children  

Visit plus 1 hour walk with reindeer €70 per person

Husky park prices – We did the 2km ride. It lasts around 8 minutes and it a beautiful route through the forest. Sitting still and being pulled through the cold gets quite uncomfortable really quickly, so we felt this was the perfect duration. You can book your ride here .

Tour of park plus 2km ride: Adults €75 Child €45 (age 4 – 12)

2km ride only: Adults €45 Child €30

Elf hat academy – We were advised not to do this as it is a pricey experience for what it is. It is a 25 minutes session where you get to learn how to be an elf. Elf school is included with your Santa Park ticket.

€39 for a 25 minute session

Mini snow mobiles – suitable for ages 4-13. We didn’t feel Leo would be able to sensibly drive around the track so didn’t do this.  

€22 for 10 minutes (so we would have tried to distract him from these even if he was capable!)

Snowman World – This was one of our favourite things to do with Leo. Tickets are £25/person for all day access. This includes the tube snow slides, a snow maze, ice skating, an ice slide plus you can pay extra to get a drink at the ice bar or a meal in the ice restaurant. We booked our tickets in advance which included lunch and we saved a little by doing this.   By booking in advance it was £41 per adult for entry plus lunch and £35.50 for Leo . We pre booked 2 non alcoholic drinks in ice glasses too for £9. To book lunch on the day it was £21 for adults (plus the £25 entry – £46 total) and £15 for children (plus £25 entry – £40 total). The ice drinks were £5.20 each to buy at the bar, so we saved a euro each pre booking them. There is a luggage storage room here so it could be a great thing to do on your last day if you fly later in the evening.  

Angry birds park – Located in the city centre, this large park is free to enter and offers some great sledging opportunities. We saw a few sledges lying around here but we had bought our own in Santa Claus Village for €15. There is a big slope at the back of the park leading down to the river.  

Toast marshmallows – You will find lots of open fires around Santa Claus Village where you can sit and toast marshmallows. We took our own marshmallows along with some hot chocolate, a lovely way to have a rest and warm up plus a novelty for the kids.  

We only had two nights in Levi, so we were limited in time for what we could do. As we had already done the Santa / traditional Christmas activities, we were on a mission to fill our day with cheap but memorable experiences.

Drive up to the ‘Panorama hotel’ ( you can also take a gondola up there ) and find the ‘Levi summit’ cafe. This building houses a Sami museum, perfect if you want to learn a little about the culture and history. The museum was £11.20 per adult and came with a free hot drink at the cafe. Leo entered the museum for free.  

From here you can then walk to the “Secret cafe” . I show how to get there on my instagram highlight for Lapland, but it is pretty straight forward and people will be able to point you in the right direction. The walk to get there is mainly flat and takes around 5/10 minutes. The cafe is essentially a small shed with an open fire and a great view! Hot drinks are £3. There is an open fire to toast sausages (£3.50), marshmallows (£1.70) or prepare a hot crepe (£5.20). You can also get a Jagermeister for £6.

Kids Land – This small area set aside from the main slopes is perfect for little ones. There are lots of sledges there to pick up and play with. A hut with a little fire to warm up in and eat a packed lunch. It is free to access.

Sledging at the bottom of the main slope is very popular and occupied Leo for a long time. In the evening when the slopes close, kids can use the bottom of the main slope for sledging.

Christmas market – There is a small Christmas market in Levi – worth having a look around.  

Find Santas Secret cabin – We were excited about this one. Apparently it is best to book a guided tour but being the forever optimists, with a super tight budget, we decided to go and find it our selves. You need to take Gondola 2000 up to the top, and then head right towards the cabin which is apparently sign posted. Many people told us this was fairly easy, but they clearly hadn’t been up there during the snow storm we encountered! If someone told me it was -50C up there I would have believed them. Our hair froze, Leo’s eyelashes were frozen, Leo was being very dramatic and screaming ‘We need to get indoors!!’ – It was like something from an armageddon movie. So we pretty much called it a day and went back down. The gondola ride was beautiful, but it was not pleasant at the top! Please do let us know if you ever make it successfully!

I have shared A LOT of information above, but in summary.  

• Find cheap flights and self catering accommodation.  
• Plan what you will wear (buying vs renting)
• Work out how you will get around (Car / Buses / Taxi)
• Plan to do budget friendly activities.  

Ways to keep costs down:

• Buy budget friendly snow clothes (Aldi/Lidl/Vinted)
• Pack light and don’t pay for check in luggage.
• Do lots of free/cheap activities.
• Take your own pics with Santa at Santa park.
• Do short experiences rather than long ones.
• Bring hot chocolate and marshmallows for toasting.
• Cook most of your own meals, but do treat yourself to some nice meals too.

What we spent on our 7 nights budget trip to Lapland:

Flights and Accommodation:

Return flights: £224.87 (£75pp)

Airport Parking £59

3 nights Rovaniemi- £309

2 nights Levi: £269

2 nights inari: £800

TOTAL: £1661.87

Getting around

7 nights car hire – £254.88

£34 excess insurance  

TOTAL: £348.88

Food and drink:

Food shopping – £106

Eating out – £199.10

TOTAL: £305.10

Snow clothes – £183

Attractions – £384 (Mrs Claus, 2km husky ride, elf farmyard, reindeer food, 2 x post cards and stamps, Santa park, Snowman World, Gondola 2000, Sami museum, sausage and crepe at secret cafe)

Sledge – £13

TOTAL: £580

Lapland on a budget overall spend for the 7 night trip – £2895.85

This could be MUCH cheaper by staying for less nights, not hiring a car, not staying in a £400 per night cabin in Inari and eating out less!

I hope you have enjoyed this blog post and that it can help you plan your budget trip to Lapland!

If you would like us to plan your trip for you, sign up for our premium membership and get in touch!

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December 2024 – Maart 2025

Specialist in reizen naar het hoge noorden

Ontdek het Noorderlicht, geniet van een husky safari, maak een sneeuwscooter tocht door de wilde natuur en beleef het adembenemende Lapland tijdens een zevendaagse reis in deze wondermooie regio.

Ontdek onze bestemmingen

Je verblijft in onze lodges in het hartje van Fins Lapland. We selecteerden de meest typisch Finse en betaalbare blokhutten in 3 van Lapland’s mooiste regio’s. Al onze accommodaties zijn omringd door de ongerepte Lapse natuur.

Inbegrepen activiteiten

We bieden je standaard enkele top-activiteiten aan, die inbegrepen zijn in jouw reis naar Lapland: een husky safari, sneeuwscooter tocht, sneeuwschoen hike & noorderlicht experience.

Husky safari

Voor velen een droom die uitkomt. Na een rit van ongeveer een halfuur arriveren we in het territorium van deze enthousiaste viervoeters. De honden staan te popelen om ons te laten zien wat ze kunnen en ons 10 kilometer door hun gebied mee te voeren.

Vooraleer je op je eigen slee stapt, krijg je instructies over hoe je de slee moet besturen, hoe je kan afremmen en hoe je de honden moet behandelen. Daarna kies je per twee een team van 5 tot 6 honden uit die je tot de eindmeet zullen brengen. Je staat zelf aan het stuur van je slee. Halverwege krijg je de mogelijkheid om van plaats te wisselen met je passagier. Na de tocht krijgen we de tijd om op te warmen in een Finse hut met (natuurlijk) een kop warm bessensap.

Snowmobile tour

Sinds de Sami (het oudste, onafhankelijke, erkende volk in Lapland) dit gemotoriseerde voertuig ontdekten, lieten ze hun rendieren de vrije loop en ruilden hun trekkracht in voor stevige paardenkracht. Vandaag gebruiken veel van hen sneeuwscooters voor hun dagelijkse verplaatsingen en wat waaghalserij, maar vooral om hun kudde rendieren samen te drijven.

Nadat ons duidelijk wordt uitgelegd hoe we deze machines veilig kunnen besturen vertrekken we per twee voor een tocht van 20 kilometer door het Laps landschap. Halverwege houden we even halt om van bestuurder* te wisselen.

* Indien je niet in het bezit bent van een rijbewijs B, kun je als passagier de tocht ervaren. Kinderen vanaf 4 jaar kunnen plaatsnemen in een slee die aan de sneeuwscooter van de instructeur wordt bevestigd. Kinderen groter dan 140 cm mogen, mits de instructeur akkoord is, plaatsnemen als passagier bij een volwassene.

Aurora experience

Om het noorderlicht zo goed mogelijk te kunnen waarnemen, neemt je ranger je mee naar een perfect gelegen plekje. Terwijl we vol spanning wachten op het spektakel, maken we een kampvuurtje en vertelt je gids je alles over de lokale mythen en legenden, maar natuurlijk ook de wetenschappelijke verklaring van dit schouwspel, vergezeld van een worstje of wat marshmallows.

Sneeuwschoen hike

Onze eigen Lapland Travel gids neemt jullie mee door prachtige bossen, langs zacht stromende riviertjes en over bevroren meren om het prachtige winter wonderland dat Lapland te bieden heeft in haar puurste vorm te ontdekken.

De gids zal je zo veel mogelijk verschillende landschappen laten zien en je tijdens de tocht wat meer vertellen over de fauna en flora in Lapland. Tijdens de wandeling kan er halt gehouden worden om een vuurtje te maken en even te genieten alvorens verder te gaan.

Waarom Lapland Travel

Prijs – Kwaliteit

We bieden je de beste prijs-kwaliteit van de markt. Je prijs bij het boeken ligt vast en er zijn geen onnodige toeslagen of verborgen kosten. Je kunt al mee vanaf € 1.225 per persoon incl. vluchten.

Rechtstreekse vlucht

Met Lapland Travel vlieg je rechtstreeks van Brussel (Zaventem) en Amsterdam (Schiphol) naar Fins Lapland (Kittilä) met vaste prijzen.

Kleinschalige organisatie

Waardoor je zelfstandig met je eigen reisgezelschap kan genieten en persoonlijk begeleid kan worden voor, tijdens en na je reis.

Authentieke dorpen

Bij Lapland Travel geen hotels of resorts waar je de hele week vast zit maar drie authentieke Lapse dorpen omgeven door uitgestrekte bossen: Akäslompolo, Rovaniemi & Levi.

Zij hadden de tijd van hun leven

Zit je nog met wat vragen of twijfels?

Ons  magazine  biedt een duidelijk overzicht van ons aanbod. Je kunt hem via onderstaande knop downloaden.

Heb je toch nog een paar bedenkingen? Plan gerust een  telefoongesprek  in met onze experte Delphine en zie al je vragen beantwoord!

Zij gingen je voor

Het Vlaamse koppel Yannick en Lesley (van hetisdemerckx.be ) maakte een reisverslag over hun reis met Lapland Travel.

Zij spendeerden hun week in een Santa Claus Village blokhut in Rovaniemi en bezochten de rendierboerderij, gingen langlaufen en doorkruiste de bossen met een fatbike als optionele activiteiten. Daarnaast sliepen ze, als kers op hun Lapse taart, ook een nacht in een glazen iglo.

Lapland Travel in de media

Zevendaagse route door Lapland

Ver van het massatoerisme

De ultieme Lapland ervaring

Een betaalbare winterreis

De leukste outdooractiviteiten

Ontdek lapland travel ook op instagram, enkele van onze andere reisconcepten.

Arctic Travel

Namibië Nomads

The Vespa Trip