It had been on my wish list for a long time: a visit to wintery (Finnish) Lapland. I had already been to Central Finland and Lakeland in winter before. I was surprised by how many winter activities are possible here, even while still being relatively far south in Finland. People traveling specifically for activities like dog sledding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing don’t necessarily have to go all the way up north. On the one hand, when it comes to winter activities, I didn’t feel a strong need to travel to the northernmost Lapland. But, Lapland calls! Honestly, just the name sounds magical. A vast winter wonderland with snow-covered conifers, mountains of snow and skies painted in pink hues.
What to do in Lapland?
When you start looking into a trip to Lapland, certain activities immediately stand out. Undoubtedly, the most famous things to do in Finnish Lapland are husky sledding and snowmobiling. During my stay in northern Finland, I discovered there are so many more activities to try. Sometimes, they’re simple things that people might not immediately think of. But there are also some really cool experiences! Below, you can read about the activities I’m referring to and what you can do in wintery Lapland.
Chase the Northern Lights
Perhaps topping the list of things to do in Lapland is viewing the Northern Lights. Many people return from the north with wild stories about the green, dancing natural phenomenon. Unfortunately, it remains a natural occurrence and you need a good dose of luck. If it’s cloudy all week, you’re out of luck. You can increase your chances by booking a Northern Lights tour, where a guide can take you to open spots in the cloud cover, if any are available. Alternatively, if you have a rental car, you can spend hours on your own hunting for it. It’s definitely worth the effort, as I can attest after my Northern Lights adventures in Iceland! However, I’m traveling to Lapland with my family this time and we don’t have a rental car. So, fingers crossed for next time!
Visit a National Park in Lapland
A large part of Lapland is protected land, with some areas even designated as National Parks. Examples include Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, Lemmenjoki National Park and Urho Kekkonen National Park. Although you can only explore a small portion of a national park (Urho Kekkonen, for instance, spans a vast 2,550 km²), you’re deep in the wilderness and that’s just amazing. You can easily go for hours without encountering another soul, enjoying nature in complete peace. In Finland’s national parks, you’ll find winter walking trails, cross-country skiing tracks and fatbike trails. During our stay in Lapland, we were at an accommodation near the entrance of the Urho Kekkonen National Park. We spent a lot of time there hiking, both with and without snowshoes. Check out this short drone video I made in Urho Kekkonen National Park.
Spot reindeer in the Finnish Wilderness
Reindeer roam freely throughout Lapland. You can encounter them anywhere: in a national park, by the side of the road, at the edge of a village or even right outside your accommodation. While reindeer roam wild, they are not truly wild. Each reindeer belongs to a reindeer herder and can be identified by a notch in their ear or by a collar. Once a year, all the reindeer are gathered together. During this time, their health is checked and the calves are separated from their mothers. Some of the reindeer end up in restaurants, others are kept for breeding and a small number are used for reindeer sledding tours. The rest are released back into the wild. However you feel about it, this method of reindeer husbandry has been practiced by the Sami for centuries.
Go on a husky sledding adventure in Lapland
One activity that everyone should do during a visit to Lapland is a husky sledding tour. It’s definitely in the top 5 of things to do in Lapland and is highly recommended! You can book a husky tour in advance to secure your spot, but generally, you can also book on-site. In most cases, you’ll be picked up from your accommodation by a shuttle. We had the chance to drive the sled ourselves, with one of our kids riding along in each sled. It’s an incredible experience that you definitely shouldn’t miss during a trip to Lapland!
Visit a husky farm
Prefer not to ride on or in a dog sled but still love dogs? Then you can visit a husky farm. The caretakers will tell you all about the huskies; how they live, how they’re trained and about breeding these special dogs. Did you know that there are two types of huskies: the Alaskan Husky and the Siberian Husky? If you’re lucky, there might even be some pups born recently at the husky farm. They’re absolutely adorable to watch and cuddle with!
Enjoy the Finnish sauna
In Finland, it’s rare to find a household without a sauna. In fact, there are more saunas in Finland than households. So, the sauna is definitely a must on any list of things to do in Lapland! Saunas have been used in Finland for centuries. Even thousands of years ago, people in this part of Europe used something resembling a sauna. Heated stones were used to warm a hut half-buried in the ground. Nearly every accommodation in Finland has a private sauna. And if not, you’ll almost certainly find a public sauna nearby. Our accommodation in Kiilopää has a private sauna, but there’s also a special smoke sauna that guests can enjoy. To cool off, you can take a dip in an ice hole right next to the Finnish sauna.
Go ice fishing on one of the many lakes
Since we’re already talking about ice holes, ice fishing is another unique activity in Finland. If you’re staying near a lake, this activity will likely be offered. However, you’ll need some patience for ice fishing. First, you create your own hole with an ice drill. Then, you set up your chair, prepare your fishing rod and wait for a bite. In extremely cold weather, fish can be quite sluggish, almost numb from the cold. So, it might take a while before you get a bite. For many Finns, it’s not always about catching fish. They see it more as a form of meditation, a moment to connect with themselves. It’s fun to try, but perhaps not ideal for those who want to see and do a lot in a short amount of time.
Watch sunsets in Lapland
Especially in December and January, the days are extremely short in Lapland and the sun stays very low on the horizon. In the first weeks of January, the sun doesn’t even rise above the horizon. This creates stunning, colorful skies during sunrise and sunset. Make sure you’re outside at these times, on clear or even partially cloudy days. It guarantees magical moments!
Drink warm berry juice in a Finnish Kota
Warm berry juice is the drink to enjoy in Lapland, especially in an authentic Finnish Kota. The berry juice is heated in a kettle over an open fire, then poured into a cup; preferably a Kuksa, a wooden mug carved by hand. In Lapland, it’s a tradition to give a baby a Kuksa at birth, a cup they can use for their entire life. Each Kuksa is handmade, making it unique. If you pay close attention, you’ll often see people in Finland (for example, while hiking) with a Kuksa hanging from their backpack.
Find beautiful viewpoints
Lapland is quite hilly in several areas, offering incredible viewpoints. In various spots, there are even observation towers, which are completely covered in snow and ice during the winter. Whether or not there’s an observation tower, any elevated point provides stunning vistas. And it often leads to a beautiful hike to get there. The photo shows Kaunispää Triangulation Tower, atop Kaunispää Fell in Saariselkä.
Take a trip on an icebreaker
Visiting the southwest of Lapland? Consider taking a trip on an icebreaker in the Gulf of Bothnia. The MS Sampo icebreaker departs from Kemi for a four-hour cruise. The ship was used for years to keep the shipping route to Kemi clear of ice. Thicknesses up to 1.5 meters are no problem for this massive ship. During the trip, you can explore several areas on board, including the bridge and the engine room.
Float among the ice floes: Arctic Floating
If you’re aboard the icebreaker, you can put on a waterproof thermal suit halfway through and float among the ice floes. How cool is that? I did this during my trip to Central Finland. Wearing the suit, we walked on the ice until we eventually fell through. At first, it’s a bit scary, but it quickly becomes an incredibly fun experience. Is there a lake near your accommodation? If so, there’s a good chance you can book this activity.
Visit Santa Claus
The place to visit Santa Claus in Lapland is Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, his official “residence.” However, it turns out Santa has a few “branches.” For example, you can also visit (or rather “search for”) him in Saariselkä. In this area, you can book the three-hour tour Searching for Santa, which is great if you’re visiting Lapland with (young) children. Near Holiday Club Saariselkä, you’ll find Santa’s office, a charming building and a beautiful spot to capture festive Christmas photos. Arctic Resort Kakslauttanen also offers a tour, Visit Santa’s Home. I haven’t personally experienced these tours, but I’ve heard many positive reviews. We did visit Santa’s office briefly while waiting for the ski bus in Saariselkä.
Ride a snowmobile
No trip to Lapland is complete without a snowmobile ride! Riding a snowmobile is incredibly exciting. We previously did this in Lakeland at night, just with the guide. It was amazing. Now, in Lapland, the group is a bit larger; we’re riding with a total of five snowmobiles. Children under a certain height travel in the sled behind the guide. The specific height requirement depends on the type of snowmobile. The child’s arms need to be long enough to hold onto the designated handles and their legs must be long enough for their feet to remain flat on the step during the ride. Our kids got lucky. The youngest is just tall enough, so they can ride with one of us. What an incredible experience, now with the kids!
Do your young kids enjoy a challenge?
At Northern Lights Village in Saariselkä, they have special snowmobiles for children, allowing them to ride through a forest area on their own. Our kids think this is one of the most fun things they did in Lapland!
Go on a snowshoe hike
As you can read in this article about a moonlit snowshoe hike in Norway and in this one about Finnish Lakeland in winter, I’m quite fond of snowshoe hiking. Now, in Lapland, we’re taking another beautiful snowshoe hike in Urho Kekkonen National Park. The trail is 6 kilometers long and quite challenging, especially for our youngest. The weather is bad, with heavy snow, so even with snowshoes on, we sink deep into the snow. But once again, it’s an incredible experience. In Urho Kekkonen NP, at certain points, you feel like you’re on the North Pole, especially when you’re on top of the bare fells (hills) in thick mist.
Walking, anywhere
In the snow, everything is beautiful, no matter where you walk or what you see around you. That’s why we try to walk as much as possible and plan scenic hiking routes. Several times, we decide not to wait for the ski bus; we simply walk to the next stop ourselves. It leads to surprising places! Walking without snowshoes in a national park is also perfectly fine, especially if it’s been a while since fresh snow has fallen. The snow on the route has already been packed down by other walkers. If there’s a lot of fresh snow, however, a snowshoe hike might be a better option.
Horseback riding in Lapland
You can go horseback riding in many places in Lapland. You can choose a short ride for a few hours or go for a longer horse trekking trip, where you’re on the road for several days and sleep in authentic huts in remote locations. Prefer riding in a sled behind a horse rather than on one? You can also book a horse-drawn sled ride in many places!
Taking a reindeer sled ride
While horses are the most commonly used animals for pulling sleds worldwide, in Lapland, it’s naturally reindeer. A reindeer safari was a must for our trip to Lapland. After all, a reindeer pulling a sled through the snow is one of the first things that comes to mind when you think of Lapland, right? We take an evening reindeer sled ride, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Unfortunately, it’s cloudy and the Aurora Borealis doesn’t make an appearance. Still, it’s an experience, one that the kids especially really enjoy.
Visiting a reindeer farm
Maybe you’re not keen on sitting in a sled pulled by a reindeer, but you’d enjoy visiting a reindeer farm. This activity is often offered in combination with something like a snowmobile ride. You ride the snowmobile to the reindeer farm and spend some time there. If you book a visit to a reindeer farm and a reindeer sled ride through an operator, make sure you’re not visiting the same reindeer farm twice, as we did. These activities can be quite expensive and it’s much more enjoyable if you visit two different places!
Skiing in Lapland
Lapland is blessed with no less than 14 ski resorts. By far the most famous is Levi, where you’ll find over 38 kilometers of slopes. Ylläs (55 km of slopes), Pallas (12 km of slopes), Salla (10 km of slopes), Pyhä (11.5 km of slopes) and Saariselkä (7 km of slopes) are also popular ski resorts among skiing tourists. Saariselkä is the northernmost of the 14 ski resorts. We visit this resort but, unfortunately, don’t ski. Instead, we choose to go sledding, as Saariselkä boasts the longest toboggan run in Northern Europe. The next tip will be obvious…
Sledding on the longest Toboggan Run in Northern Europe
Saariselkä has an amazing toboggan run! It’s also the longest toboggan run in Finland and you definitely shouldn’t miss it if you’re in the area or staying nearby! You can rent or borrow a sled at your accommodation.
Of course, sledding isn’t only possible on this toboggan run in Saariselkä. Snow covers all of Finnish Lapland and there are hills everywhere. So, sledding can be done everywhere! For example, our cabin is on top of a hill, the perfect opportunity for the kids (and us too 😉 to sled down to the main building for breakfast. We also bring our sleds into the national park, where you can have great fun sledding on the fells. Kiilopää Fell is the absolute favorite. This hill is 544 meters high; it takes a bit of time to climb up, then you get to enjoy the breathtaking view before embarking on an amazing sled ride down. If you ask our kids, “What can you do in Lapland?” sledding will definitely be number 1 on their list.
Cross-country skiing in the wilderness
Cross-country skiing is something I’m starting to enjoy more and more. I get the impression that in the Netherlands, we tend to think of cross-country skiing as a bit “boring.” But after a few times trying it myself, I can tell you it’s anything but dull. It’s fun to see how in Finland and Sweden, it seems like everyone grows up with this sport. On the tracks, you’ll encounter lots of children, both with parents and in groups of their own. And they go incredibly fast!
In addition to regular cross-country skiing on the designated tracks, you can also enjoy great backcountry skiing in Lapland, also known as off-piste or tour skiing. The skis used for this are wider than regular cross-country skis and are coated with a thick layer of wax on the bottom, with scales or skins that have short, stiff hairs pointing in the direction of glide. I saw a number of people using these skis to climb up the fell, only to glide down the other side. This style of skiing offers more options for trekking and pulling a pulka (small transport sled).
Fatbiking
Cycling on a fatbike is becoming increasingly popular in the snow. In Lapland, special routes are marked out and these paths are well maintained. Riding fatbikes in the snow can be quite challenging, which is why electric fatbikes are becoming more common, especially when there’s been a lot of fresh snow.
Sleeping in an Ice Hotel
And last but not least: sleep in an ice hotel! In Lapland, you can stay in several ice hotels. Levi has the Levi Ice Hotel Luvattumaa, Kittilä is home to Lapland Hotels SnowVillage, the beautiful Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos is located in Sinettä and the unique SnowHotel in Kemi. Sleeping in temperatures well below freezing, dressed in your clothes under thick blankets and having drinks and meals in an ice restaurant. Now that must be an unforgettable experience!
Book your trip to Lapland
Have you made up your mind and want to book your trip to Lapland? There are several ways to do it. You can book a flight to Helsinki and then take the train to Lapland. If you want a longer trip, it’s even a good idea to rent a car in Helsinki and drive north. The distance from Helsinki to Rovaniemi is over 800 kilometers, so you’ll need to give yourself plenty of time for the journey. It’s best to rent a car with an all-inclusive package (including no deductible in case of damage). You can easily book accommodations via Booking.com. By the way, you can also have an amazing winter holiday in southern Finland!
Book your trip to Lapland via a travel agency
If you prefer convenience and peace of mind, consider booking through a travel agency. These providers offer all-inclusive packages that cover direct flights, transfers, accommodation and optional activities. While you’ll pay more than booking everything separately, you won’t have to worry about things like COVID-related issues, cancellations, rescheduling or refunds. With a travel agency, you can set off for the north with complete peace of mind!
Norwegian and Swedish Lapland
If you’re planning to visit Lapland, you can also choose to explore Norwegian or Swedish Lapland, in addition to Finnish Lapland. In all three countries, you can enjoy similar activities, such as snowmobiling, husky sledding, reindeer spotting, snowshoeing, skiing and more. In Norwegian Lapland, it’s also fantastic to visit a city, like Tromsø, to get a completely new Lapland experience. Interested in organized options? Be sure to check with travel agencies for a range of possibilities.
