Plan the Best Finnish Lapland trip with Lapland Travel Guide - Finland Travel tips written by local Sini
Written by: Sini Hietaharju, Master of Tourism Research & Slow Traveller
Plan your trip to Lapland Finland with local tips
I'm from Finland and I have lived several years in Lapland, so it's safe to say I know what I'm talking about here.
I wanted to give you my best local's tips to make your Finnish Lapland trip amazing!
FINNSIH LAPLAND TRIP - WHERE TO BOOK
Quite often it's the best price to book a hotel
via known booking websites.
However, in Finland, it would be worth considering booking a cottage.
Best platform in Finland to book a hotel is via finish website Lomarengas.fi where local's lit their cottages and villas.
However, you can also find many viable options via Airbnb and Booking.
Best way to book a trip to Lapland and best companies to book Lapland activities for DIY Lapland trip.
How far in advance to book Lapland travel?
HIDDEN GEMS AND DESTINATIONS IN LAPLAND
ROVANIEMI
The official hometown of Santa Claus and the capital of Lapland.
Experience Christmas magic all year-round at Santa Claus Village and cross the Arctic Circle.
Santa Claus Village
Arktikum Science
Museum
Ounasvaara
Northern Lights viewing
Arctic Circle crossing
Luxury glass igloos
SAARISELKĂ„
Saariselkä is a popular skiing destination among the Finns. Enjoy Northern lights, Inari and Kaunispää Mountaintop.
Urho Kekkonen National Park
Northern Lights over fells
Gold prospecting experiences
Hiking and cross-country skiing routes
PYHĂ„-LUOSTO NATIONAL PARK
Pyhä-Luosto National park is a hidden gem to experience untouched nature and amethyst spa.
Amethyst Spa
Snowshoeing
Untouched powder snow
Endless ski tracks
LEVI
Finland's premier ski resort with excellent slopes and stunning Arctic landscapes. Enjoy winter sports by day and Northern Lights by night.
Ski resort with 43 slopes
Ice hotel and ice restaurant
Reindeer and husky safaris
Glass igloos for aurora viewing
YLLĂ„S
Lovely winter sport destination with stunning nature and Northern lights. Nearby Levi, so you can combine these two destinations.
Cross-country skiing trails
Snowmobile safaris
National park access
Traditional Lappish restaurants
INARI
Experience the Sámi culture and Lake Inari in this beautiful, clean nature of Northernmost Europe.
Siida Sámi Museum
Lake Inari boat tours
Ancient Sámi sacred sites
Wilderness hiking trails
KEMI
Coastal town famous of its snow castle and icebreaker cruises.
You can also cross the border between Finland and Sweden here.
Kemi SnowCastle
Sampo Icebreaker tours
Sea ice fishing experiences
Arctic Ocean views
WHERE TO STAY IN LAPLAND - ACCOMMODATION AND HOTELS
I want to show you the most awesome bucketlist stays in Lapland.
(But also lifehacks to stay cheaply in Rovaniemi).
These glass igloos, boutique hotels and luxurious hotels guarantee an unforgettable stay in Finnish Lapland.
These are the 5 best riads, 5 best budget options and 5 best luxury stays in Essaouira, Morocco.
Best places to stay in Capital of Lapland recommneded by a local
SEASONS IN LAPLAND - WEATHER AND BEST TIMES TO TRAVEL
Lapland Seasonal Weather
Comprehensive weather guide for Lapland throughout the year
Summer (June-August)
- Temperature: 13-25°C (55-77°F)
- Sunlight: Midnight sun phenomenon
- Rain: Moderate rainfall
- Nature: Lush green landscapes
Autumn (September-November)
- Temperature: -10 to 12°C (14-54°F)
- Nature: Stunning autumn foliage
- Snow: First snow in late autumn
- Light: Decreasing daylight
Winter (December-February)
- Temperature: -35 to -5°C (-31 to 23°F)
- Darkness: Polar night phenomenon
- Snow: Deep snow cover
- Activities: Winter sports season
Spring (March-May)
- Temperature: -10 to 12°C (14-54°F)
- Light: Increasing daylight
- Snowmelt: Begins in April-May
- Nature: Migratory birds return
READ DETAILED LAPLAND TEMPERATURES INFO IN THIS ARTICLE TO PLAN YOUR TRIP
Is Lapland always cold? Check these averages to help you plan your trip during the best season to visit Finnish Lapland.
Finland summer temperature - June, July, August weather in Finland
“Is Finland warm in the summer?” I would say; it depends. Let’s get into this month by month, as Finnish summer months are June, July and August.
ACTIVITIES - BEST THINGS TO DO IN LAPLAND
You can discover the best activities to do in Finnish Lapland from these articles:
I tell you what to do in Lapland if you really want to do cool bucketlist things and also see Lapland from locals’ perspective.
Having lived several years in Rovaniemi, I want to tell you the best activities to do in Rovaniemi.
LAPLAND ITINERARY - PLAN YOUR TRIP TO FINLAND WITH READY-MADE PLANS
Although there are more reindeer than people in Lapland, Lapland is actually huge as an area.
That's why you should use these bucketlist planners to plan your Lapland trip wisely.
Levi and Rovaniemi Winter Itinerary - 1 week Lapland Trip Plan
7-day Lapland itinerary to Arctic Circle, Santa Claus Village and Ski Centre Levi to experience all the bucketlist activities in Finnish Lapland in 7 days.
Ideal itinerary for: Experiencing the ultimate bucketlist items of Finnish Lapland in 7 days.
7-day Arctic Circle and National Park Itinerary - Lapland Nature trip in Winter
This itinerary takes you to Arctic Circle, Pyhä-Luosto National park to untouched nature and an amethyst spa.
Ideal itinerary for: Experiencing untouched nature and wellness in Lapland
7-day Hidden Gem Itinerary to Finnish Lapland
This itinerary takes you to Local favorites; world's longest toboggan run, the favorite skiing centre among the Finns and hidden nature with secret Northern lights spots.
Ideal itinerary for: Experiencing Lapland the Finnish, Local way in 7 days, off the beaten path
GETTING AROUND - TRANSPORTATION IN LAPLAND
I'll list you also the best alternatives to get to the Northernmost Finland; Lapland. (Nightrain is awesome!)
In this article I’ll give you the best means to travel to Finnish Lapland.
IS LAPLAND EXPENSIVE? COSTS ESTIMATES & SAVING TIPS
Truth be told, Lapland can be a pricey destination.
However, the cleanest air in the world, untouched nature, luxurious places, and a safe and secure country with fairytale-looking hidden gems is worth the price.
With these travel tips and tricks, you can lower the costs.
Try these 15 tips to find good hotel deals and learn when to book accommodation to save.
NORTHERN LIGHTS TIPS TO LAPLAND
You don’t want to miss out on Northern Lights in Finland. After reading this article you know the best places to see Northern lights in Finland.
Mastering how to take photos of Northern Lights requires the right equipment and skillful post-processing. (Or, the best tour with a photographer - linked here.)
PACKING LISTS TO LAPLAND
Let's start from the very beginning: what to pack and how to actually keep yourself warm in -30°C (and ideally look cute in pictures as well).
Winter Packing List and Essential Clothes you Need along the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland.
Grab this simple 5-step list to travel with only hand luggage
SPECIAL EVENTS IN LAPLAND - CULTURAL TRAVEL
Full, customized event calendars for Finland per season.
Summer is a season of many festivals in Finland. Discover the best events in Finnish summer sorted by month.
LOCAL TABOOS, TIPS, TRICKS TO LAPLAND
This is the end of too serious advice, and this is more of a *tongue-on-cheek* kind advice.
(Though, as a Finn, I'd really appreciate if you follow these).
THIS LAPLAND TRAVEL GUIDE IS PART OF FINLAND TRAVEL GUIDE, THAT COMBINES ALL TRAVEL TIPS FOR MY HOME COUNTRY, FINLAND.
WRITTEN BY
Hey there, I'm the Author
I'm Sini, an enthusiast in slow traveling, yoga retreats, travel as self growth journey and rubbing dogs.
This is your go-to slow travel corner of the internet.
I'm here to share my best travel tips, digital nomad thoughts and photographs from the journeys.
I happen to be kind of a professional in this as well, as I have my Master's degree within Tourism Research and both my master's and bachelor's thesis are about yoga travel.
I want to share the best knowledge of hidden gem retreat and mindful destinations, as well as some deeper, honest thoughts what digital nomad lifestyle actually is.
You can read more about me here.
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