17 Best Things to Do in Finnish Lapland in Winter
If you’re dreaming of a magical winter escape, Finnish Lapland should be at the top of your bucket list. Imagine snow-covered landscapes that stretch as far as the eye can see and the Northern Lights dancing overhead. Whether you’re gliding through the snow on a reindeer sled or trekking through a snow-covered forest on snowshoes, this Arctic wonderland promises adventure at every turn.
But it’s not just about outdoor thrills—Lapland has its fair share of cozy moments too. Picture yourself warming up in a traditional Finnish sauna or sleeping under the stars (and hopefully the Northern Lights) in a glass igloo. You can see that this is the kind of winter escape that combines excitement with relaxation. Here are the top things to do in Finnish Lapland in winter that will make your trip absolutely unforgettable!
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Best Things to Do in Finnish Lapland in Winter
With so many incredible things to do in Finnish Lapland in winter, it can be tough to know where to start. From chasing the Northern Lights to dog sledding, this Arctic paradise is packed with adventure. Without further ado, here’s a roundup of the best experiences to make your Lapland trip unforgettable!
1. Northern Lights Viewing
Seeing the Northern Lights is like Mother Nature’s personal light show. Finnish Lapland is one of the best spots in the world to catch the Aurora Borealis, and trust me, it’s worth every frozen toe. For me, this was the most epic of the things to do in Finnish Lapland in winter, and it was something I had been dreaming about for years!
Some hotels offer “aurora alarms,” which are alarms that go off when the Northern Lights are visible. As someone who falls asleep early, I definitely opted to get an alarm. The other helpful thing to know is that the Northern Lights aren’t visible every night – it is dependent on the clouds, moonlight, geomagnetic field, and a host of other variables. I’d recommend checking out the NOAA Weather Prediction Center to get an idea on visibility during your trip.
2. Snowshoeing
As a Floridian that has very little experience with snow, I now view snowshoeing as hiking’s winter cousin, but with giant foot waffles strapped to your boots. It’s a cool way to explore the snow-covered forests and get up close to Finnish Lapland’s nature.
The surprising thing (for a Floridian)? Snowshoeing is REALLY hard work if you take the lead breaking the trail. If you go with a guide, I would highly recommend following them and stepping in their exact snowshoe prints to make your life a little easier. Even following the guide, I worked up a sweat trekking through the forest!
Recommended Tour: Snowshoe Trip in the Wilderness
3. Cooking in the Wilderness
Who needs a fancy kitchen when you’ve got the great outdoors? Cooking in the wilderness is the ultimate back-to-basics experience. On our showshoeing adventure, we stopped for a midday break.
The guide cut a hole through the ice, scooped out some fresh lake water, and made a fresh pot of tea. We then proceeded to make the fanciest salmon soup over the fire and feasted while sitting on blankets amidst the forest. I have to say…food just tastes better when you’re surrounded by snow, am I right?
4. Reindeer Sledding
If riding in a sleigh pulled by reindeer doesn’t scream “I’m in Lapland,” I don’t know what does. Experience this traditional form of travel as you glide through snowy landscapes. It’s calm, it’s magical, and if you’re lucky, your reindeer might even have a red nose (probably not, though). We visited in March, so I’d imagine that Rudolph was on vacation at that time…at least that’s what I’m telling myself to get over the disappointment!
Recommended Tour: Lapland Reindeer Farm Visit & Sled Ride
5. Husky Safari
For a more adrenaline-filled sledding experience, hop on a husky safari. These dogs were born to run, and they’ll happily take you zipping across frozen lakes and snowfields. Just be ready to hang on tight and try not to fall in love with every single one of your furry chauffeurs.
Recommended Tour: Husky Safari
A quick recommendation? Wear A LOT of clothes! With the wind whipping, I’m not sure I’ve ever been that cold in my life. No lie, my balaclava somehow froze to my face. That might make you ask…is this worth it? For me, absolutely! This was one of my favorite things to do in Finnish Lapland in winter.
After the husky safari, we were also incredibly lucky to be able to play with some of the husky puppies! They were so darn cute, and it took everything in me to not bring one home. Just look at that little face!
6. Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling is the winter equivalent of off-roading, and it’s the perfect way to explore Finnish Lapland’s stunning landscapes at high speed. Feel the rush as you zoom across the frozen terrain with nothing but snow and sky as far as the eye can see. There weren’t a ton of roads where we were (at least that we could see…they could have been buried under feet of snow), so snowmobiling was definitely the easiest way to get around and see the sights!
Recommended Tour: Snowmobile Safari into Arctic Wilderness
7. Visit Santa Claus Village
Why write a letter when you can visit the jolly man himself? Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi lets you meet Santa year-round, but it’s extra special in winter. Take a stroll through the magical village, and make sure your Christmas list is up to date—Santa is always watching!
Plus, did you know that the Arctic Circle runs right through the village? If you head to the central square, you can hop over the Arctic Circle line!
8. Stay in a Glass Igloo
Imagine lying in bed, all cozy and warm, while the Northern Lights dance overhead. That’s what staying in a glass igloo offers. You get to sleep under the stars without ever leaving your heated, luxurious bubble. It’s basically glamping on a whole new level.
Staying in a glass igloo is definitely one of the top things to do in Finnish Lapland in winter. While it is worth getting outside to watch the Northern Lights, we also spent one night watching them from the comfort of our igloo, which was an out of this world experience!
Recommended Stays:
Rovaniemi: Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle
Saariselka (further north): Wilderness Hotel Muotka
9. Ice Fishing
If you think regular fishing is chill, try drilling a hole in the ice and waiting for a bite in freezing temperatures. But hey, that’s what makes ice fishing in Lapland such a unique experience…at least that’s what they tell me! Plus, there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of catching dinner from a frozen lake.
Recommended Tour: Ice Fishing
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10. Cross-Country Skiing
Cross-country skiing isn’t just for Olympic athletes—it’s a great way to explore Lapland at your own pace (even if that pace is very slow). There are a ton of snow-covered trails through the forest, and it seems like cross-country skiing is one of the favorite pastimes of locals.
A word from the wise…the locals make cross-country skiing look easy, but it is not! It’s hard exercise (which I enjoy), but it took some getting used to. My biggest issue was learning how to cross the streets. Let me paint a picture for you. From the trail to the street, you need to lift up your skis (which seem VERY long) about a foot over a snowbank at the edge of the street and then gracefully put down that ski without biting the dust. And then do it again with your other foot. I had success a total of 0 times crossing the street without taking a spill, so let me say, I really respect those cross-country skiers!
Whether you are a cross-country skiing pro or an uncoordinated newbie like myself, you absolutely have to have this on your bucket list. It is definitely one of the most quintessential things to do in Finnish Lapland in winter.
Recommended Tour: Cross-Country Skiing
11. Ice Swimming
Yes, this is exactly what it sounds like: jumping into an ice-cold lake (or river) for a swim. Sound crazy? Yes…which is why I did not personally partake in this insane activity! But it’s a huge part of Finnish culture, and nothing says “I’m hardcore” quite like a quick dip in icy waters, followed by a sauna session. If you decide to try it out, I’d recommend having some kind of supervision – those cold temps are no joke!
12. Ice Breaker Cruise
On an ice breaker cruise, you’ll watch in awe as the ship smashes through thick layers of ice, creating a path through the frozen sea. And the best part? On some ice breaker cruises, you can suit up in a survival suit and float in the icy water. Don’t worry—you’ll stay nice and warm (and dry), while looking like a very cool Arctic explorer/ astronaut. This is one of the more unique things to do in Finnish Lapland in winter, and it’s definitely a story you’ll tell for years!
Recommended Tour: Icebreaker Cruise with Lunch & Ice Floating
13. Unique Aurora Hunting Tours
Sometimes you need a professional to help track down the Northern Lights, and that’s where guided Aurora hunting tours come in. The guides know the best spots to maximize your chances (away from city lights), and they’ll even throw in some local lore and photography tips.
There are all sorts of unique aurora hunts – including some on snowmobiles! Some go to camp setups out in the middle of the Finnish forest. Others include a late night barbeque. Investigate your options and go with whatever strikes your fancy! For us, seeing the Northern Lights was one of the top things to do in Finnish Lapland in winter, so we didn’t want to only bank on seeing the lights from our glass igloo. We decided to join a snowmobile aurora hunt one night and we also joined an aurora hunt that took us to a quaint little camp in the woods another evening.
Recommended Tour: Searching Aurora with Snowmobile
14. Winter Wonderland Photo Shoot
Finnish Lapland is basically one giant photo op, and a winter wonderland shoot guarantees your photos will be epic. Capture the magic of snowy forests, frozen lakes, and, of course, you looking like a snow queen (or king). I’ve trained my husband to capture all the epic shots, and I have to say…I love how these pictures turned out!
Pro tip: for couples pics, we use a travel tripod and remote to snap photos with our camera!
15. Finnish Sauna
Yup, Finnish saunas were something I could definitely get on board with. Saunas are serious business in Finland, and after a day in the snow, there’s no better way to warm up. Hop in, sweat out the chill, and maybe even roll in the snow if you’re feeling adventurous.
Trust me, after this, you’ll wonder why you don’t have a sauna at home. I did consider this because I loved the sauna so much, but after remembering that I live in Florida where it is usually really hot, I came to my senses. This was one of my favorite things to do in Finnish Lapland in winter, and it was the perfect way to wind down at the end of my day.
16. Visit a Ski Resort
Lapland’s ski resorts offer a bit of everything, whether you’re a seasoned skier or just starting out. You can hit the slopes, enjoy après-ski vibes, or just soak up the mountain views. And if skiing isn’t your thing, sledding or sitting by the lodge fireplace and sipping a hot toddy is just as fun.
17. Catch a Sunrise (or Sunset)
In winter, daylight hours are few and far between, but the sunrises and sunsets make it worth it. Whether you’re sipping coffee at dawn or winding down at dusk, the pink, purple, and gold hues will make you stop in your tracks.
These top things to do in Finnish Lapland in winter will turn your snowy getaway into a bucket-list adventure. Get ready for unforgettable experiences that’ll make you want to come back for more!
Where to Stay in Finnish Lapland
There are so many options on where to stay in Finnish Lapland, and I’ll break that down into Rovaniemi and non-Rovaniemi options. Rovaniemi is the easiest spot in Finnish Lapland to reach, but we opted to go a bit further north (to Saariselka) to have a better chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Here are some recommendations for Saariselka and Rovaniemi:
Saariselka:
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort: Famous for its glass igloos, this resort offers a stunning view of the Northern Lights. However, be warned that the igloos don’t have showers – you have a shared shower option in a centralized location.
Wilderness Hotel Muotka: This spot is known for its cozy atmosphere and great location for outdoor activities like snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. We opted to stay here because of the beautiful glass igloos (which have showers, and some have saunas!) and location to see the Northern Lights.
Rovaniemi
Arctic Treehouse Hotel: This hotel offers luxurious, modern accommodations with panoramic views of the surrounding forest and sky. Not quite an igloo, but a treehouse is still pretty epic, right?
Arctic Light Hotel: The boutique hotel has blends modern design and traditional Lappish elements, located in the heart of Rovaniemi.
Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle: Located near Santa Claus Village, these igloos provide a magical experience with a touch of Christmas spirit year-round. Who doesn’t want to stay in a glass igloo?
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