Lapland is a magical part of the world which many would consider a bucket list destination…but where exactly is it?
It covers the northern part of a few countries, with Finland being the most well known and Rovaniemi (in Finnish Lapland) is the “capital of Lapland”. Due to its geography, the summer days are very long and winter days extremely short (and cold).
If you visit in winter, Lapland can be the perfect place to see the aurora borealis (Northern lights). 2024 is a good year for this so here is an itinerary to inspire your next winter Lapland trip (based on our 4 day trip in December 2023):
How to get to Finnish Lapland:
From London you can fly directly to Rovaniemi or transit through Helsinki to your chosen Lapland town.
We flew London to Helsinki then Helsinki to Kemi on a domestic flight (which I highly recommend as another Lapland town to visit) then took the train from Kemi to Rovaniemi (booked online about 30 euros for 2 adults – 1 hr journey). Finally we spent our last 2 days in Helsinki so flew back from Rovaniemi.
Where to stay:
To maximise your Northern lights viewing potential, choose accommodation in the forests/seaside (cabins/villas are popular) as they offer clear viewing points! This comes at a premium price so alternatively you can choose a hotel/accommodation in the city centre for ease
In Kemi we stayed in Seaside glass villas (which was a pr stay) for 2 nights – it’s a hotel complex with glass villas allowing clear views of the sky (and sea during the summer). Also onsite there’s the snow 365 experience (snow and ice sculptures), a restaurant, gift shop, Finnish sauna and activities you can book including snowmobiling, icebreaker cruise and husky farm.
In Rovaniemi, we stayed in an apartment in the city centre which had its own private Finnish sauna!
What to do in Lapland:
Plenty of outdoor activities and warm up in a Finnish sauna:
Snowmobiling through the forest – do a sunrise tour for stunning views
Husky rides/visit a husky farm
Explore the local town you’re in and enjoy local food – expect fish, meat eg reindeer and lots of berries!
Night tours to view the northern lights (check the weather forecast before you book)
Arctic icebreaker Samp cruise in Kemi (pr activity) – you get to see the iconic ship break through the frozen sea, have a guided tour and float in the Arctic sea if you wish!
Visit Santa Claus village in Rovaniemi (free entry open all year round with various paid activities within it)
Enjoy Art – in Rovaniemi, you can visit the trio of galleries – Arktikum, Korundi House of Culture and science centre Pilke with a culture pass
Winter in Lapland tips:
Come dressed well for the cold – layers are key, plenty of thermals, ski type outer clothing and good winter accessories
Book things in advance – this will save you a bit of money and also guarantee availability, If visiting close to Christmas time, this is even more important!
Don’t come to Lapland solely to see the Northern lights as they aren’t guaranteed! Make sure you have a fun time and if you see them, that’s a bonus!
Consider adding Helsinki as an extra to the trip – you need 2 days max in winter for this!
Will you be visiting Finnish Lapland this year?
J xo
Road2Culturedom 