Dreaming of a winter wonderland filled with reindeer, the Northern Lights, and unforgettable Arctic adventures? This Lapland Finland itinerary will help you plan the perfect trip, from magical experiences in Rovaniemi to the best ways to make the most of your time in Finnish Lapland.
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I have always been mesmerized by the Northern Lights – there is just something so mystical and magical about the way the colors light up and dance through the night sky. Knowing that Lapland in winter is one of the best places and times to see them, naturally Finland has been on my radar for awhile. This past February, my daughter and I packed our bags and headed off to the most magical winter wonderland I’ve ever seen.
I am still living high off this trip that I could cry writing this post.
I’m from Northeastern Pennsylvania … so I’ve seen snow. But Lapland was unlike anything I have ever seen in my life. For my millennial friends, if you remember the books The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe – this was Narnia in real life!
This itinerary is going to guide first-time visitors – whether you’re traveling with kids, on a girls’ trip like us, or on a couples romantic getaway – through everything you need for a trip to Lapland.
You will read about reindeer farms, husky safaris, Santa Claus Village, snowmobiling across the arctic tundra, Finnish saunas, and of course – the magical Northern Lights.
So if you have Lapland on your radar like I did keep reading, because I’m so excited to help you plan your Lapland Finland itinerary.
Let’s get into it!!
Why Visit Lapland
Lapland is going to be the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation.
In our experience, all activities were adventurous or strenuous on some level – from snowmobiling (when you’re driving at high speeds at negative temperatures, it takes a lot out of you), to driving your own dog sled, this is a perfect trip for the adventure lover.
However, we spent a good amount of time just lounging inside our glass igloo with nothing to do but warm up, drink some hot berry juice, and just relax while looking out into the snowy forests. Time seemed to slow right down in these moments, and it was lovely!
Cozy, Scandinavian culture is warm and welcoming and Lapland has an array of unique winter activities specific to this area of the world.
Is Rovaniemi Worth Visiting?
Yes, Rovaniemi is worth visiting on a trip to Lapland and I think it’s the best home base for first timers. Rovaniemi airport is a 10-15 minute drive from city center making it convenient and easy after a long flight.
Rovaniemi is very walkable. Here you have easy access to hotels, restaurants and cafes, a grocery store for essentials, and all pick-up/drop-off locations for your excursions.
I suggest downloading an offline map before your arrival of the city so you know where you’re going. Our first night, we had delayed flights and an excursion that started 45 minutes from the time our plane landed. I didn’t think we were going to make it but having the map downloaded it guided us to our meeting point easily.
How Did I Book My Trip?
I wanted this trip to be perfect because Lapland was a dream destination of mine. Because of that, I chose to book through a tour agency called Nordic Visitor. They were amazing! They took care of all the details and answered all of my questions promptly. You will need to book airfare on your own if you use them, but you just send them your flight info and they take care of the rest. I didn’t have to think about anything on this trip, it was all taken care of. I highly HIGHLY recommend them and wouldn’t hesitate to book with them again
(This is not sponsored by the way)
They have different set itineraries available, but I was able to make adjustments to the package to suit our personal preferences. For example, we had ice fishing as one of the excursions, but my daughter nor I were not interested in that so we swapped it out for another husky dog sledding adventure easily. We also added on an extra night in a glass igloo.
Tip: If you are going to book this trip on your own, make sure you book your excursions as far in advance as possible. A lot of tours will sell out in peak season (Dec-Jan).
My Lapland Finland Itinerary and What to Put on Yours
On your first day, you will arrive in Rovaniemi and likely you will have come off an overnight flight that is loooonnngg. We had an excursion booked on this night, and that was poor planning on my part. Our flights were delayed in London and in Helsinki causing us to get into Rovaniemi over an hour late. This is typical for this time of year by the way (February).
We had 45 minutes to get from the airport, check into the hotel, put on our gear and head to the bus stop. I don’t recommend that. Give yourself time to grab dinner, if you get there early enough, and relax.
Thankfully, we didn’t miss the excursion – and I’m so glad we didn’t, because ….
See the Beautiful Northern Lights
I GOT TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS ON MY FIRST NIGHT IN LAPLAND!!!
I cried.
Tears froze to my face but I didn’t care. I was so overwhelmed with emotion watching the green streaks dance in the night sky.
If luck is on your side, you will too! There are many different options for excursions to be able to see them. During our trip, we tried to maximize our chances as much as we could. We took a ride on the arctic snow train, a snowmobile ride, a reindeer sleigh ride and stayed in a glass igloo.
Remember you are always taking a chance. The northern lights are a natural phenomenon and sightings are not guaranteed. You can download an aurora tracker app on your phone and that will help maximize your chances as well.
Because seeing the northern lights was the reason I went to Finland, I chose to go with a tour company instead of just winging it and hoping to see them on my own.
The farther north into Lapland you go, the less city lights there are and the higher your chances. I know everyone on social media wants to stay at the Kakslauttanen Resort in Saariselka. And while I am sure this is an incredible experience, know that Saariselka is 3 hours north of Rovaniemi and there isn’t much else around. You can get the same experience much closer to Rovaniemi.
Also, know that the northern lights show up much brighter on camera than they do to the naked eye.
Northern Lights Hunt by Arctic Snow Train
This excursion was through Apukka Resorts. They provided all warm winter clothing needed and the guides were exceptional! We had a long ride on the arctic snow train out into the dark wilderness where we arrived at a kota in the middle of the woods. Our guide started a fire for us to warm up and told stories about the Northern Lights. While we had sausages and hot berry juice.
A little side note … the sausages are reindeer – just in case you’re wondering. My daughter and I ate one not knowing this until the end of our trip .. I’m glad for that lol..
They told us that at that point they hadn’t seen the northern lights in about a week, but there they were on our first night!
Visit Santa Claus Village
If you are traveling to Lapland with kids, this is a stop you will not want to miss to see the big man in red himself! The Santa tours are a huge hit with families.
Expect it to be packed, especially if you are spending Christmas in Lapland Finland.
Did you know, if you write a letter to Santa at the North Pole it will be delivered to the post office in Rovaniemi?
Here in Santa Claus Village, you will be able to meet Santa, do some souvenier shopping, grab something to eat (try the salmon soup – a Finnish specialty) and send a letter from the only post office in the North Pole. If you send a postcard, it will be stamped with a special stamp you can’t get anywhere else in the world.
This is also where you will get to cross the Arctic Circle, officially.
There is no cost to enter Santa Claus Village and you can freely explore and meet Santa. If you want to enter Snowman World where you can slide down icy hills, ice skate, snow tube, and so much more you will need a ticket to enter.
Husky Safari and Dog-Sledding Experience
We participated in two dog sledding excursions during our trip to Lapland, and both were amazing. We had two completely different experiences with both so I will break that down for you now so you can decide which you prefer (or do both!):
Bear Hill Husky – When we arrived at BearHill Husky, the dogs were eagerly awaiting our arrival. They were tied to the sleighs and ready to go. There were approximately 11 dogs for each sled that was driven by a professional musher so we got to just sit back and relax and enjoy the ride across a frozen lake. After we arrived back to the farm, we got to spend time interacting with the dogs. They all have their own personalities, but most were so excited to be petted and played with. We were able to tour the farm and see how and where the dogs lived and learn about their lives. There were even puppies!! It was nice to learn that they don’t make the dogs run if they don’t want to – but most of the time, they live for it! We ended our time with a snack and some hot berry juice and an opportunity to ask the tour guide questions.
Lapland Safaris – This was a very different experience than the one above but equally as fun! This time, we were on a much smaller sled pulled by 6 dogs and I got to be the musher! My daughter rode on the sleigh while I stood behind her and after a brief lesson got to drive the dogs myself through the snowy forests. It was magical and so exhilarating. We didn’t get to interact with the dogs as much here, but we did get the opportunity to tour the grounds and see the kennels here as well.
Both of these excursions lasted maybe 2-3 hours in total, including driving to and from the farm. This was plenty of time to go for a ride (because the rides are cold!) and learn all there is to know about dog sledding in Lapland Finland.
You will want to make sure you are dressed warm, but again, all clothing is provided. Make sure you get a balaclava to keep the wind off your face. Often, they have them for you to borrow, but just in case it’s a good idea to have one as a backup that you bring with you.
My eyelashes were frozen after the ride, LOL!
Reindeer Farm Experience and Sleigh Ride
We also had two reindeer safari excursions on our Lapland Finland itinerary.
The first was a traditional reindeer farm where we learned about Sami culture and got to feed the reindeer. We got here by snowmobile so our visit was short but it was enough time to interact with the animals.
OMG lol here is a funny story … so we got to go on a short sleigh ride when we first arrived to the farm. I thought we were going for a nice sleigh ride through the forest. I had Santa’s sleigh pictured in my mind. I couldn’t have been more wrong. We sat on this toboggan liked sled with one reindeer attached to it. They started telling us how fast reindeer can be and how the particular reindeer attached to our sled had won a race recently, untied it and let it go. We went for a ride let me tell you! I had no idea reindeer could move that fast.
The second reindeer experience we had was a night time sleigh ride to spot the northern lights. This was a much more calm, relaxing experience. They covered us up in the sleigh with a reindeer hide blanket and a guide walked alongside the reindeer pulling our sleigh. Unfortunately, we did not see the northern lights on this night, but it was still a beautiful, peaceful ride nonetheless.
Each time we got to feed and interact a little bit with the reindeer while learning about how they are farmed.
Stay in a Glass Igloo
One of the dreamiest, romantic ways to see the northern lights in Finland is from your bed under the glass roof of your personal igloo. The temperature controlled heated glass that keeps the roof clear for optimal viewing from the comfort of your own bed.
Depending where you stay, but typically the igloos will have a small bathroom and a shower. There were two beds (more like cots because they were smaller than a twin bed) in our igloo that you can push together to make one bigger bed if you choose. Some igloos are bigger and can accommodate a family, but expect space to be tight regardless.
We stayed at the Arctic Snow Hotel which had the Ice Restaurant and Kota Restaurant on property which we tried both. At the Kota Restaurant, I had the salmon which was glow roasted and cooked over an open fire in the middle of the restaurant.
The ice restaurant was a really cool experience. They even served dessert on a plate of ice.
This location also has the famous Arctic Ice Hotel. Admission is included with your stay and you are able to tour the rooms if you’d like. They also have a traditional Finnish sauna and winter playground on property. Sleds are complimentary for use.
Most igloos will have aurora alarms that you can turn on. If the northern lights are able to be seen with your naked eye, they will sound the alarm.
This was an incredible experience and although it’s pricey, I highly recommend adding it to your Lapland itinerary – at least for one night.
Snowmobiling Through the Arctic
There’s nothing quite like the wind whipping on your face as you drive across the arctic tundra on a snowmobile through the snowy forests and across frozen lakes.
The first snowmobile tour we did included a stop at the reindeer farm where we went on the ride with the fast racing reindeer (see above section). The second we did a ride at night to spot the northern lights. This excursion stopped at a kota where they served reindeer sausages we cooked over an open fire and more hot berry juice.
The hot berry juice was one of my daughter’s favorite parts about our trip to Lapland lol .
It’s important to note: If you are traveling to Lapland with kids and you want to do a snowmobile safari, children under age 12 are typically not permitted to ride on the snowmobiles, even with a parent. Children will sit in a sleigh pulled by the guides.
Explore Downtown Rovaniemi
As I said before, Rovaniemi city center is very walkable and safe. There are many cafes and restaurants within walking distance from the hotel giving you lots of dining options during your stay.
Our favorite spot was Rosso Italian restaurant. The pizza was incredible!!
Spend a little time walking along the river and doing some shopping.
The Arikitkum Museum is also located downtown. Here you can explore Lapland culture and history.
Other Activities to Add to Your Lapland Finland Itinerary
A few other things that you could consider adding to your Lapland itinerary are:
Ice Fishing – Like I said before, this was part of our original itinerary, but we chose to swap it out for dog sledding. If you go ice fishing, your guide will cook your catch over an open fire for you.
Ice Floating – If you want to take a dip in the Arctic, this is your chance. You can book an excursion HERE.
A traditional Finnish sauna experience – This isn’t just relaxing in the warm sauna. This includes time in the sauna, then a cold water plunge, and then going back in the sauna. Finnish people start doing this as children and it’s a huge part of their culture. If you’re up for it, give it a try!
Snowshoeing – explore the deep-snow forests or frozen lakes off the beaten path.
Before You Go: Important Travel Tips
Best Time to Visit Lapland
The best time to visit Lapland depends on what you want to do and experience while you are there.
If you want to see the Northern Lights, you will want to go in winter from November – March for the highest likelihood of seeing them.
Finland in winter is a snowy arctic tundra. The lakes freeze over and are covered with multiple feet of snow. The snow on the trees has likely been there since December (there’s no wind most of the time, so it just sits beautifully piled on the evergreen trees).
As the snow melts and the weather gets warmer in April-September you’ll see the lakes reappear.
Since Lapland sits on/above the Arctic Circle, they have polar nights and the midnight sun. In winter, the daylight hours decrease and it’s not uncommon to be dark by 4-5pm. This is perfect for increasing your chances to see the Northern Lights, though!
The opposite is true in the summer months during the phenomenon known as the midnight sun where the sun never falls below the horizon making it daylight 24 hours/day.
How Many Days to Spend in Lapland
We spent 5 nights and 6 days in Lapland and this was a perfect amount of time for us to see everything we came to see and do.
This way, you aren’t packing your days completely full and leaving yourself some time to relax and enjoy the scenery. We had a full day where we just relaxed in our glass igloo and it was incredible.
What to Pack for a Trip to Lapland
Packing the proper clothes for Lapland is ESSENTIAL. If you are not dressed properly – you. will. freeze.
Many tour companies will provide you with boots, a one-piece snowsuit, wool socks and scarf, and gloves. But I wouldn’t go without having some of these that belong to you, just in case. Because you’re going to have to give them back at the end of your trip and you’ll still need to arrive and depart in warm clothes.
Also layering is key. We had on merino wool base layers, a mid layer (usually a polyester fleece), and a ski jacket. Sometimes, for our night excursions, we even added in another snowpant under our provided overalls. This means we were wearing a base layer, a mid layer, snowpants/ski jacket, AND a one piece snow suit. I know that sounds like overkill, but I’m going to tell you we weren’t cold and there is a lot of time we were sitting outside at night by a fire waiting for the Northern Lights to appear overhead.
One thing I learned, do NOT over layer your socks. If your feet sweat, they will end up being even colder. One merino wool sock and a thick wool sock provided by the tour company is more than enough. Because remember, the boots are insulated too.
Related Post: The Perfect Lapland Packing Checklist
How to get to Rovaniemi, Finland
Likely, you will be flying into Rovaniemi via a connection from Helsinki. Rovaniemi is a small airport with only 5 or 6 gates. There are some direct flights that come in seasonally, but these can be pricey.
We flew from the US East Coast to London to Helsinki to Rovaniemi.
Another option is to fly in to Helsinki and take a sleeper train into Rovaniemi. These can be reasonably priced and if you have extra time in your itinerary, it is a cool option.
Rental cars are available, but please note that driving conditions can be a bit sketchy if you are not used to driving in snow and ice.
We did not have a rental car during our trip. Nordic Visitor provided all transportation to and from the airport and we were able to walk to all of our meeting points for our excursions where we hopped on a bus.
How Much Does a Trip to Lapland Cost?
I’m going to be completely transparent – for myself and my daughter to go to Lapland Finland for 5 nights 6 days I spent approximately $10,000. This included flights, excursions, hotels (2 nights in a glass igloo, 3 nights in city center), airport transfers and proper clothing. Food was an additional cost, but it was relatively reasonably priced in Rovaniemi.
I know that’s a lot – but it was SO WORTH IT!
Is Lapland Worth it for Families?
I think that largely depends on your family’s personality and needs and what is important to you on a vacation. I chose not to bring my 6 year old son because I wanted this to be a girls’ trip for me and my daughter and I’m glad I made that call…
There were families with children on our excursions with us, and the kids were miserable. They were bundled up so much they could barely move and got bored easily sitting around a fire. The parents (who were all bundled up themselves) were carrying the kids through the snow and it just did not look enjoyable. I know that would have been me if my son were with us LOL.
Also, I think it’s important to note that small children are not able to ride on the snowmobiles with parents for those excursions. They will ride in a sleigh pulled by the guide.
My opinion is, if you’re going to spend this kind of money on a trip, leave the littles at home. But for pre-teen and teenage kids I say absolutely bring them along!!
How Cold is Rovaniemi in Winter
Temperatures range in the low teens to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, but can get as low as -4 or below.
Recommended Hotels in Lapland
Arctic City Hotel – This is where we stayed 3 nights in city center. It had a great central location to restaurants and shopping. The max walk was 10 minutes to the Lapland Safari office where we met for most of our excursions.
Arctic Snow Hotel & Glass Igloos – As i mentioned before, you cannot go to Lapland Finland and not stay in a glass igloo at least one night. I realize they are pricey, but if you’re making this trip you NEED to do this.
Arctic Treehouse Hotel – This is where the Kardashians stayed when they visited Lapland.
Kakslauttanen Resort – I’ve mentioned this a couple times and I guarantee it’s what you see when you type glass igloo Lapland into any social media search bar. But it’s far up into the Arctic Circle.
Final Thoughts for a Lapland Finland Itinerary
I hope you found this blog post helpful and it has inspired you to plan a trip into the Arctic Circle where you will visit Rovaniemi in beautiful Lapland Finland.
This area is filled with so much beauty, culture and so many amazing experiences. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime kind of trip.
Happy Travels!!
