Most visitors fly to Lapland, many Finns take the night train, and some drive all the way from the south. Each works; the right choice depends on where you’re going and whether you want a car once you’re there.
Flying
Lapland has several airports, and choosing the right one saves hours:
| Airport | For | Transfer |
|---|---|---|
| Rovaniemi (RVN) | Rovaniemi, Santa Claus Village | about 10 km to the city |
| Kittilä (KTT) | Levi, Ylläs | about 15 km to Levi, about 50 km to Äkäslompolo |
| Ivalo (IVL) | Saariselkä, Ivalo, Inari | about 30 km to Saariselkä |
| Kemi-Tornio (KEM) | Kemi, Tornio and the coast | a short drive to both towns |
| Enontekiö (ENF) | Hetta, Kilpisjärvi | mostly winter charter flights |
All year round, most connections go via Helsinki, and the flight north takes about an hour and a half. In winter there are also direct flights from many European cities, especially to Rovaniemi and Kittilä, and new routes are added each season: for winter 2026–27, for example, new direct flights from the UK to both airports were announced.
Many airport buses to the main resorts are timed to meet arriving flights, so you often don’t need a taxi. Check the schedule for your airport before you land, especially if you arrive late.
The night train
The overnight train from Helsinki is a classic way to travel north. Night trains run to Rovaniemi, Kolari (the nearest station for Ylläs and Levi) and Kemijärvi (for Pyhä and Salla). The Rovaniemi train leaves Helsinki in the evening and arrives the next morning after about 12 hours; the Kolari train takes longer.
You can book a private sleeper cabin, some with their own shower, and on some departures take your car on the train. Christmas and the winter holiday weeks sell out early. Timetables change with track works, so check the current ones with VR before you plan your connections.
Driving
A car gives you the most freedom once you’re there, but the distances are long: Helsinki to Rovaniemi is about 830 km, and from Rovaniemi it’s about 170 km to Levi, 260 km to Saariselkä and 430 km to Kilpisjärvi.
Winter driving in Lapland is routine for locals, but take it seriously:
- Winter tyres must be used from 1 November to 31 March when weather or road conditions require them. In Lapland, rental cars have winter tyres during the winter season, but confirm this when you book.
- Winter speed limits apply from autumn to spring: on many roads the limit drops from 100 to 80 km/h.
- Reindeer wander on the roads all year. Slow down when you see one: there are usually more nearby, and they’re in no hurry to move.
- Darkness and distance: in midwinter you drive in the dark for most of the day. Distances between fuel stations and chargers can be long in the north, so fill up or charge when you can. Cold weather also shortens the range of electric cars.
- Plugging in: hotels and cabins often have electric posts for engine block heaters. Use them in hard frost, and ask at the rental desk how.
Getting around without a car
In Rovaniemi, Levi and Saariselkä you can manage well without a car: the centres are walkable, tour companies pick you up, and buses link the villages with the airports. In Ylläs, Pyhä-Luosto or anywhere outside the villages, a car makes life much easier. Taxis exist but get expensive over longer distances.
Every stay page in our listings shows the straight-line distance to the two nearest airports. For help choosing where to go, read Rovaniemi, Levi, Ylläs or Saariselkä?
If this is your first visit, read also how to plan your first trip to Lapland.