About Lapland
Lapland is the largest and northernmost region of Finland. The 21 municipalities in the region cooperate in a Regional Council. Lapland borders the Finnish region of North Ostrobothnia in the south. It also borders the Gulf of Bothnia and the Norrbotten County in Sweden, Finnmark County and the Troms County in Norway, and Murmansk Oblast and the Republic of Karelia in Russia. The topography of Lapland varies from vast mires and forests in the south to fells in the north. The Arctic Circle crosses Lapland, so polar phenomena such as the midnight sun, the polar night and the northern lights can be viewed in this region.
Places to visit in Lapland
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Santa Claus Village
Entertainment · 32 mi from centreA year-round Christmas-themed village on the Arctic Circle just outside Rovaniemi, where visitors can meet Santa and send mail from his post office. Go early in the day to avoid long lines in the winter high season.
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Arktikum
Museum · 35 mi from centreA science center and museum in a striking glass tunnel by the river, covering Arctic nature, the northern lights, and the history of Lapland. It makes a good warm indoor stop on a very cold day.
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SantaPark
Entertainment · 32 mi from centreAn underground Christmas theme park built inside a cave in the hill near the airport, with elf workshops, a gingerbread bakery, and a small ice gallery. It suits families with younger children best, so plan accordingly.
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Ranua Wildlife Park
Zoo · 74 mi from centreA forest zoo south of Rovaniemi showing Arctic animals such as polar bears, lynx, wolverines, and reindeer in large natural enclosures. Dress warmly, since the walking route through the park is long and almost entirely outdoors.
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Pyhä-Luosto National Park
Nature · 27 mi from centreA chain of old, rounded fells covered in pine forest, with gorges, bogs, and an amethyst mine to visit. Marked trails start from the Pyhä and Luosto resorts, which also offer skiing in winter.
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Rovaniemi Church
ReligiousA Lutheran church rebuilt in 1950 after the town was burned in the Second World War, known for its large altar fresco of a Lapland landscape. Visit quietly, since services and concerts are held there regularly.
Things to do in Lapland by type
36 tours, tickets and experiences across 6 categories. Pick a type to see what is available for your dates.
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Outdoor activities & Adventure 27 experiences Arctic Circle - Northern Lights Hunting by Minibus -
Zoo, Aquarium & Nature 5 experiences Husky and Reindeer Experience -
Spa & Wellness 3 experiences Arctic Dinner with Private Sauna and Jacuzzi -
Art & culture 2 experiences Arctic Snow Castle with Lappish Dinner -
Day Trips & Excursions 2 experiences Live a Unique and Magical Experience with Santa Claus – Full-Day Tour -
Tickets & Attraction Passes 2 experiences From Rovaniemi: Elf Hat Academy in Santas Village
- 3-6 hours 11
- Over 6 hours 3
- 1-3 hours 3
- Up to 1 hour 1
- Small group 1
Top experiences in Lapland
Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 36 available.
Arctic Circle - Northern Lights Hunting by Minibus
From $72 per adult
Lakeside Traditional Sauna With Aurora Borealis
From $109 per adult
Santa Claus Premium Experience: Photo with Santa, Reindeer and Husky Safari with Lunch
From $407 per adult
Arctic Highlights Family Day with Free Time at Santa Village and Lunch
From $189 per adult
Husky and Reindeer Experience
From $164 per adult
Husky Park and Reindeer Farm Combo - Tour by Bus
From $164 per adult
Visit the Arctic Animals in the Ranua Wildlife Park - Full-Day Tour
From $132 per adult
Full Day Sking Adventure
From $278 per adult
Aurora Ice Floating Adventure - Night Tour
From $150 per adult
Reindeer Farm Experience
From $119 per adult
From Rovaniemi : Visit The Amethyst Mine in Luosto
From $219 per adult
Live a Unique and Magical Experience with Santa Claus – Full-Day Tour
From $349 per adult
Where to stay in Lapland
Popular hotels in Lapland, out of 134 properties you can book.
Scandic Rovaniemi City
From $288 per night
Scandic Pohjanhovi
From $227 per night
Scandic Kemi
From $140 per night
Scandic Rukahovi
From $111 per night
Santa's Hotel Santa Claus
From $296 per night
Lapland Hotels Ounasvaara Chalets
From $264 per night
Arctic Light Hotel
From $317 per night
Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara
From $265 per night
Santa Claus Holiday Village
From $369 per night
Holiday Club Kuusamon Tropiikki
From $91 per night
Northern Lights Village Saariselkä
From $606 per night
Aakenus
From $141 per night
Best time to visit Lapland
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Lapland is May to August, when average daytime highs are around 51–71°F and rain falls on about 14 days a month.
Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
Lapland weather forecast
- Wed 21 Oct 40° 30° 0%
- Thu 22 Oct 37° 31° 6%
- Fri 23 Oct 40° 34° 23%
- Sat 24 Oct 42° 31° 49%
- Sun 25 Oct 45° 41° 35%
- Mon 26 Oct 46° 40° 46%
Know before you go
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)1 US dollar ≈ €0.89
- Languages
- Finnish, Swedish
- Calling code
- +358
- Driving
- On the right
- Time zone
- Europe/HelsinkiUTC+3
- Capital
- Helsinki
Upcoming public holidays in Finland
- All Saints' DayPyhäinpäivä
- Independence DayItsenäisyyspäivä
- Christmas EveJouluaatto
- Christmas DayJoulupäivä
- St. Stephen's DayTapaninpäivä
- New Year's DayUudenvuodenpäivä
Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.
Getting to Lapland
These are the airports closest to central Lapland. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.
- RVN Rovaniemi Airport31 mi (49 km) from the city centre
Getting around Lapland
Distances in Finnish Lapland are great and train service extends only to Kemijärvi (80 km northeast Rovaniemi) and Kolari, so the independent traveler will thus have to rely on slightly cheaper but infrequent buses to get around. There is little competition in public transport in Lapland and indeed the voyage from Helsinki to Rovaniemi is easily cheaper than the voyage from Rovaniemi onwards!
By bus
Long distance coaches or minibuses cover most of even the smallest places, often with sparse schedules (typically one or a few services a day along the main roads). They are the cheapest and slowest means of transportation. Although there are bus stops of course, they can also be stopped by hand sign when you happen to meet one as a hiker on a lonely countryside road. Express coaches usually turn into regular ones somewhere north of Rovaniemi. Matkahuolto has timetables for most of these.
By train
The long-distance trains are usable on two routes: from Oulu to Kemi and farther north-east to Tervola, Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi, or northwards via Tornio, Ylitornio and Pello all the way up to Kolari.
By taxi
Taxis are not necessarily connected to any call centres. Ask locally for phone numbers of individual taxi businesses. You don't want to have a taxi drive 100 km to fetch you, if that can be avoided; the fetching distance may show in the price (or you might want to tip generously). Often there is just one or two family businesses serving an area, other taxis may have to drive a long way.
Lapland travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Lapland?
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Lapland is May to August, when average daytime highs are around 51–71°F and rain falls on about 14 days a month.
What is the weather like in Lapland?
July is usually the warmest month in Lapland, with average highs of 71°F (21°C). January is the coolest, with average lows of 4°F (-15°C). The wettest month is typically June, with about 91 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Lapland?
Rovaniemi Airport (RVN) is the closest airport, about 31 miles (49 km) from the centre of Lapland.
What currency is used in Lapland?
Lapland uses the Euro (EUR). At the latest exchange rate, 1 US dollar ≈ €0.89.
What time zone is Lapland in?
Lapland uses the Europe/Helsinki time zone (currently UTC+3). Remember to check for daylight saving changes when planning connecting flights.
How do I get around Lapland?
Distances in Finnish Lapland are great and train service extends only to Kemijärvi (80 km northeast Rovaniemi) and Kolari, so the independent traveler will thus have to rely on slightly cheaper but infrequent buses to get around.
What are the best places to visit in Lapland?
Top sights in Lapland include Santa Claus Village, Arktikum, SantaPark and Ranua Wildlife Park. A year-round Christmas-themed village on the Arctic Circle just outside Rovaniemi, where visitors can meet Santa and send mail from his post office. Go early in the day to avoid long lines in the winter high season.
What are the top things to do in Lapland?
Popular experiences you can book in Lapland include Arctic Circle - Northern Lights Hunting by Minibus, Lakeside Traditional Sauna With Aurora Borealis and Santa Claus Premium Experience: Photo with Santa, Reindeer and Husky Safari with Lunch. Destina Holidays offers 36 tours and activities here.
What kinds of tours and activities can I book in Lapland?
The most popular types of experiences in Lapland are outdoor activities & adventure (27), zoo, aquarium & nature (5), spa & wellness (3) and art & culture (2). Filter by type when you search to compare prices and availability for your dates.
Where should I stay in Lapland?
Popular areas for hotels in Lapland include Rovaniemi, Kemi and Rukatunturi. Well-reviewed options include Scandic Rovaniemi City and Scandic Pohjanhovi.
How many hotels can I book in Lapland?
Destina Holidays currently lists 134 properties in and around Lapland, from budget stays to luxury hotels. Search your dates to see live prices and availability.
