Lapland travel guides
Our own guides to Finnish Lapland: when to go, what the light and weather are like, and how to choose a place to stay. Written and fact-checked by us, not by the companies we list.
In season now
- Oct–Nov · 3 min read
First snow in Lapland: October and November before winter really starts
When does the first snow come, can you ski in November, and what's open? An honest guide to the season between autumn colours and Christmas.
- Aug–Apr · 5 min read
Northern lights in Lapland: when, where and how to see them
A realistic guide to aurora hunting in Finnish Lapland: the season, the best places, reading the forecasts and taking photos that work.
- Nov–Mar · 3 min read
What to pack for Lapland in winter: clothing for −5, −15 and −30 °C
Layering, boots, mittens and different levels of cold: what you need for a Lapland winter, and why you dress differently for aurora watching than for skiing.
- Nov–Jan · 3 min read
Polar night in Lapland: what kaamos is really like
Where the sun stays below the horizon and for how long, what the light looks like, how cold it gets and how to make the most of the dark season.
More guides
- All year · 4 min read
How much does a trip to Lapland cost? A budget for 3, 5 and 7 nights
Accommodation, food, safaris, car hire and glass igloos: what makes up the cost of a Lapland holiday, and where you can save without spoiling the trip.
- All year · 3 min read
A cabin holiday in Lapland: 12 things to check before you book
Sauna, final cleaning, bed linen, whether you need a car, snow clearing and the distance to a shop: a cabin makes an excellent base when you know what you're booking.
- Dec · 3 min read
Christmas in Lapland: how to plan it and what to expect
When to book, what the light and weather are like, what is open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and quieter alternatives to the busiest places.
- Jul–Aug · 4 min read
Cloudberries and cloudberry pancakes: Lapland's golden treat
Why the cloudberry is Lapland's most prized berry, when and how to pick it, and where to eat the classic: thin pancakes with cloudberry jam and cream.
- All year · 5 min read
Your first trip to Lapland: how to plan 4 to 7 days
Where to go on a first trip to Lapland, how many nights to book, whether you need a car and how much to fit into one holiday.
- All year · 3 min read
Getting to Lapland: flights, the night train and driving north
Which airport for which resort, what the night train from Helsinki is like, and what to know about winter driving, reindeer and distances.
- All year · 3 min read
Lapland with kids: how to plan a holiday everyone enjoys
Toddlers, school-age children and teenagers in Lapland: a good daily rhythm, the cold, safaris, the northern lights and choosing a place to stay.
- All year · 5 min read
Lappish food: what to eat in Lapland and where to find it
Reindeer, Arctic char, squeaky cheese and campfire coffee: the classics of Lappish and Sámi food, when they're at their best and where to taste them.
- Jun–Jul · 4 min read
Midnight sun in Lapland: June and July under a sun that never sets
When and where the sun stays up all night, how to sleep, what to do on the bright nights, and an honest word about mosquitoes.
- Jun–Sep · 4 min read
National parks in Lapland for first-timers: where to start
Pallas-Yllästunturi, Urho Kekkonen, Pyhä-Luosto and Salla: which national park suits a first day hike, and what to know about trails in the north.
- Aug–Sep · 3 min read
Ruska: autumn colours, hiking and berries in Lapland
When the fells turn red and gold, where to hike, how everyman's rights work for berry picking, and why autumn is also aurora season.
- Dec–Mar · 3 min read
Husky, reindeer or snowmobile safari? How to choose
The speed of huskies, the calm of a reindeer sleigh or the range of a snowmobile? What each safari involves, who it suits and what to ask before you book.
- All year · 4 min read
Travelling in the Sámi homeland: Inari, Utsjoki and Enontekiö responsibly
What to know about the Sámi homeland, Sámi culture, taking photos and choosing tourism services before you head to the far north of Finland.
- All year · 3 min read
Sauna and ice swimming in Lapland: a first-timer's guide
Do you have to be naked, how do you throw löyly, and should you try ice swimming? How a Finnish sauna works, without unnecessary rules.
- Mar–Apr · 3 min read
Late winter in Lapland: why March and April are local favourites
Deep snow, long bright days and still-dark nights: what Lapland is like in March and April, when it gets busy and what to pack for the spring sun.
- All year · 6 min read
Glass igloos, snow hotels and wilderness huts: unusual places to stay in Lapland
What it is really like to sleep under a glass roof, in a room made of snow or in a free wilderness hut, and how to choose the right one for your trip.
- All year · 4 min read
Rovaniemi, Levi, Ylläs or Saariselkä? How to choose your base in Lapland
Lapland covers a third of Finland. A plain-spoken comparison of the main bases: what each is like, who it suits and how to get there.