A weekend in Finnish Lapland: travel guide and things to do

Why you should visit Finnish Lapland 

Finland's northernmost region is "the place to go" to check "more than a few once-in-a-lifetime experiences off your list", said Stacey Leasca in Travel + Leisure. From the Northern Lights to the "legendary" sauna culture, this Arctic destination "has it all". 

Lapland really "casts a powerful spell", said Lonely Planet, there's something "lonely and intangible here" that "fills it with Arctic magic". The midnight sun, the Sámi peoples and roaming reindeer are "all components of this", as is Santa Claus himself, who "officially resides here". When "bumping across the wilds" on a snowmobile or dog sled, said Kerry Walker in The Times, Lapland "inhabits the imagination" long before you ever set foot there.

How to see Santa Claus

Located in the Arctic Circle and open year-round, the Santa Claus Village theme park in Rovaniemi is known as "Santa's official North Pole residence", said Nordic Visitor, and it is one of the "most popular travel destinations in Finland". This winter, families from across the world will head north on a quest to find the "Man in Red". Ever since 1927, when a radio host proclaimed to have discovered Father Christmas's hometown in the Finnish mountains, Lapland has been the de facto home of the world's most elusive gift-giver. Package holidays to Lapland offer guests the opportunity to see Santa. Options include a "magical interlude" with Santa Claus Trips and a "Santa's Aurora" short break with Lapland Experiences.  

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Top attractions and things to do

Far from the "Santa madness", Finnish Lapland takes a "sharp swerve into proper wilderness in its remotest northern reaches", said Kerry Walker in The Times. Lake Inari is "ravishing" when "wrapped in its winter blanket of snow" and its frozen lake and surrounding fells and forests are "best explored on a snowmobile safari". Another "off the beaten track" experience can be found in Urho Kekkonen National Park. The "at-one-with-nature flavour" of this park on the Russian border "chimes perfectly with the Finnish love of silence, solitude and untouched wilderness". 

Finnish Lapland is a "gorgeous part of the world", said Hand Luggage Only. Seeing the Northern Lights are a "sight to behold", but you'll be "spoilt for choice" when looking for things to do. Top attractions include the Amethyst Mine in Lampivaara, Arktikum Science Centre in Rovaniemi, Pyhä-Luosto National Park, Saariselka Ski & Sport Resort, and the Snow Village in Kittilä. 

Best hotels and places to stay

Spend the night in "a room made of snow" at the Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos, said Nordic Visitor. Located about 26km from Rovaniemi, it is one of the "largest ice and snow hotels in the region". Inside, the rooms and corridors are "decorated with ice art and coloured lighting" and the temperature is kept between 0°C and -5°C. The Arctic SnowHotel is "rebuilt each year" and opens to guests in late December, while the glass igloos are "open for the entire winter season".

Situated on the shores of the stunning Lake Inari with its more than 3,000 islands, the boutique Wilderness Hotel Nangu boasts a series of log cabins that have private saunas and hot tubs with panoramic views of the lake. For something truly special, the hotel's five Lake Inari Aurora glass-roofed huts sit directly on the ice (or float on the water depending on the time of year).

The Star Artic Hotel is tailor-made for thrill seekers of all ages. Situated on the region's highest mountain overlooking the magical town of Saariselkä, the resort boasts a range of activities, including husky, reindeer and snowmobile experiences, and even has its own Wilderness Center just a short drive away.

Family-run Aurora Village in Ivalo has glass-roofed cottages located around a reindeer enclosure. The village also has two restaurants, a panorama sauna and Jacuzzi, and winter activities. Its personal feel and proximity to the Ivalo river makes this the ideal spot for ice fishing, while an ice-water plunge is a must-do for any first-time visitor.

Eating and drinking

Many mid-range restaurants in Lapland serve "local specialities", said Bradt Guides, and in particular reindeer. While non-Scandinavians are "sometimes wary about eating reindeer", it is "without doubt" the "dish of choice for most people of the far north". In taste it "resembles beef", though with a "more gamey flavour". Remember, by ordering reindeer from the menu "you're choosing to support a strategic part of the Lapland economy".

Reindeer is certainly an "essential part of Lappish cuisine", said Get Ready 4 Travel, but there are many other things you have to try. The taste of the salmon here is "amazing" and it is "not necessary to buy it from an expensive restaurant". For local drinks, try the sea-buckthorn tea and dry pine needles tea, which is "extremely aromatic" and has a "stimulant effect".

How to get to Finnish Lapland

Flying to Finnish Lapland is "simple" and "fast", said House of Lapland, thanks to the six regional airports: Rovaniemi, Ivalo, Kuusamo, Kemi-Tornio, Kittilä, and Enontekiö. Daily flights from Finland's capital Helsinki have flight times between one and one-and-a-half hours. There are also direct flights in winter season from various cities around the world, including London, Manchester, Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin and Zurich.  

Sign up to The Week's Travel newsletter for destination guides and the latest trends