The Lapland region offers a large number of activities you can do during your trip to Finland. This is a unique opportunity to meet Santa Claus, see the Northern Lights or ride a snowmobile. In this article, we show you the 10 best things you can do in Lapland.
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See Northern Lights
Between September and April, you can see one of the most impressive natural spectacles there is. The inhabitants of the Arctic Circle are used to this phenomenon. For tourists, on the other hand, this can be a unique opportunity to see the Northern Lights with their own eyes.
The Northern Lights appear only when the sky is clear, so you will have to be a bit lucky to find it during your stay.
There are many ways to see them and there are activities for all tastes. In winter, the bravest can choose to go on a Northern Lights safari through the forests on a snowmobile or foot using snowshoes.
If you prefer calm, you can always choose to reserve one of the hotel suites or a glass-roofed igloo that will allow you to contemplate the Northern Lights from the comfort of your accommodation.
Meet Santa Claus
Rovaniemi, the most important city in Lapland, is also the hometown of Santa Claus.
If you are visiting Lapland with children, the stop in Santa Claus Village is almost mandatory.
At Santa Claus Village you will find a large number of activities that you can do. You should not forget to visit Santa’s office where you can meet him in person, enter the post office where you can send your letter for next Christmas and cross the Arctic Circle.
You can visit it at any time of the year since the main attractions are open 365 days a year. Besides, during the summer there is the possibility to go fishing, pick berries and take care of the reindeer.
Taste Lappish cuisine
During your trip to Lapland, you will have the opportunity to try some of the typical dishes of Finland. You cannot miss the reindeer meat with mashed potatoes accompanied by berry sauce and pickled cucumber.
In summer you can’t miss the suovaskebabs: smoked reindeer meat on a slice of pita bread with salad and garlic sauce.
Discover Inari
Inari is the northernmost point in Lapland and also in the entire European Union. Furthermore, it is the most depopulated region in all of Finland.
There you will find impressive landscapes with glistening rivers and huge forests waiting to be discovered.
The region is inhabited by the indigenous Sami, a people of about 82,000 people who are spread throughout northern Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Kola Peninsula in Russia. In Inari is Siida, a museum dedicated exclusively to the history and way of life of the Sami.
Midnight Sun
While there are many days of complete darkness in winter, summer is the time of the phenomenon known as the midnight sun.
In the northernmost area of Lapland, the sun is above the horizon for 70 days. If you go further south, the sun will disappear at night, but the sky will remain illuminated.
If you want to see the midnight sun like a Finn, you should go to a remote cabin and take advantage of the extra hours of daylight to walk, fish or even play on one of the golf courses that have extended playing hours in summer.
Reindeer experiences
Reindeer play a fundamental role in Lappish life, which is why the number of reindeer in the region is almost equal to that of humans.
All the cities of Lapland, therefore, offer reindeer rides that will allow you to see the Finnish landscapes differently. Besides, you can visit the farms where they receive care and are prepared for life in freedom.
The people of Lapland are very proud of reindeer, especially the Sami culture, for whom reindeer herding is second nature.
Try ice fishing
You may have tried sea or river fishing, but you will never have been able to ice fish. This is possible in Lapland.
In the winter months, all the lakes in the region have the 5 centimetres of ice that are necessary to be able to carry out this activity safely.
All you have to do is pierce the ice, cast the rod and wait for the fish to bite. In different parts of Lapland, you can rent all the necessary equipment to carry out the activity.
You can spend hours enjoying nature in the center of a frozen lake surrounded by a huge forest.
Sauna in Lapland
Finland is the country where the sauna originated. There is, in fact, more than one sauna for every three inhabitants and, in Lapland, that taste for the sauna could not be less.
You cannot stop enjoying the experience of a traditional sauna in the middle of nature, alternating it with a bath in a frozen lake or the snow. In summer, it allows you to rest and relax after a long excursion through its forests.
Husky dog safari
Besides reindeer, the other essential animal for the inhabitants of Lapland is the husky dog.
During your trip, you can go on a dog sled safari. This is another classic Lappish experience that is available in many places, including the major cities and ski resorts.
Cross-country skiing through Finnish landscapes
Cross-country skiing is a national pastime that allows Finns to get out of the house and enjoy nature during the winter months.
If you travel to Lapland between October and April, we recommend discovering the Finnish landscapes while cross-country skiing.
In the rounded hills of Lapland, you will find the four most important ski resorts in the region: Levi, Pyhä-Luosto, Ruka and Ylläs.
Levi is undoubtedly the best option, as it has the best facilities and 43 ski slopes, of which almost half are illuminated.
What activities would you like to do in Lapland? Tell us in the comments and, if you liked the article, we encourage you to share it on social networks using the icons that you will find just below.