A Good 10 Day Finland Itinerary in Winter (Helsinki + Lapland)

In case you ask me about my favourite Nordic nation, I believe my reply would possibly shock you. As a result of I believe it is Finland! I really like Finnish individuals and their dry wit and humorousness; I really like Finnish espresso tradition; and I fell in love with Helsinki on my first go to.

However you understand what else I really like Finland for? Its winter adventures! From canine sledding to aurora-chasing to sauna-ing, Finnish Lapland specifically has all of it! Finland within the winter is actually a dream journey, and I am right here to share with you what I believe is the proper introduction to it.

This Finland winter itinerary will cowl:

• Issues to do in Helsinki
• Non-compulsory in a single day prepare to Lapland
• Northern Lights-chasing
• Assembly Santa Claus at his dwelling
• Touring an ice lodge
• Staying in a glass igloo
• Making an attempt a conventional Finnish sauna
• Canine sledding, assembly reindeer, and extra!

And you will not must lease a automotive for this one!

When to go to Finland in winter

This heading might sound a bit foolish, as a result of clearly you are doing this journey in WINTER. However winter in Finland (and particularly in Lapland) will be fairly totally different relying on which month you go to.

Finland is without doubt one of the Nordic international locations the place the northern reaches expertise Polar Evening for a number of weeks annually. And much more southern cities like Helsinki have very quick days through the top of winter.

For instance, December has the shortest days in Finland — even in Helsinki, the solar does not rise till 9:25 a.m. in late December, and units round 3:15 p.m. By late-February, although, the solar is rising round 7:30 a.m. and setting round 5:30 p.m. In Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, the winter days are even shorter. In December in Rovaniemi, the solar rises round 11 a.m. and units by 1:30 p.m. By mid-February, nevertheless, the solar is rising a bit after 8 a.m. and setting round 5 p.m.

Late November and December additionally aren’t best occasions to go to in the event you’re in search of snowy landscapes, because the snow has been coming later and later lately. December can also be probably the most in-demand month for households to go to to allow them to go to Santa Claus in Lapland earlier than Christmas, making cities like Rovaniemi further costly within the lead-up to the vacations.

So if you wish to (hopefully) see loads of snow, meet Santa with out big crowds, plus have sufficient sunlight hours to do out of doors actions however nonetheless sufficient midnights to chase the Northern Lights, one of the best month to go to Finland in winter is unquestionably February! The second half of February could be my best time for a winter journey to Finland.

My good 10 day itinerary for Finland in winter

Be aware: This itinerary does NOT require you to lease a automotive or to take any lengthy bus rides on icy roads. Due to this, it focuses on simply two major areas: Helsinki, and the realm round Rovaniemi in Lapland. You completely may add extra time in Lapland in the event you wished to go additional north (for instance, to Ivalo), however this itinerary does not cowl that!

Day 1: Helsinki

Welcome to Helsinki, the capital metropolis of Finland! Helsinki is such an attention-grabbing metropolis, with bits that really feel very Scandinavian, however different bits that really feel barely Russian — which is sensible, contemplating that Finland was a part of each the Swedish empire and the Russian empire earlier than lastly gaining its independence in 1917.

However Helsinki is undeniably Finnish, too, which I believe you will perceive when you begin exploring.

When you arrive in Helsinki, I like to recommend heading into the town middle and dropping your baggage at your lodge. (You possibly can take the prepare immediately from the Helsinki airport to Helsinki Central Station in about half-hour.)

After which it is time to make the most of the quick sunlight hours to discover a little bit of Helsinki’s metropolis middle. The highlights I like to recommend seeing (that are all inside about 10 minutes of each other on foot) embrace:

• Vanha Kauppahalli – Cease for lunch on this historic market corridor from the 1800s, which serves up all types of Finnish meals, from fish soup to reindeer meat to licorice gelato (the Finns LOVE their licorice!).
• SkyWheel – Order a glass of bubbly finish benefit from the views of the town and harbor as you journey this big Ferris wheel. You too can get good views of the general public sauna/pool within the harbor right here. (You can ebook forward, however you do not essentially should; I purchased my ticket on arrival.)
• Uspenski Cathedral – This ornate purple brick cathedral courting again to 1868 is the most important orthodox church in Western Europe, and is much more lavish on the within.
• Helsinki Cathedral – On Senate Sq., this Finnish Evangelical Lutheran cathedral is thought for its inexperienced dome and large granite staircase main as much as it. The cathedral was constructed as a tribute to Tsar Nicholas I of Russia (who was ruling Finland on the time), and you’ll go inside exterior of worship hours.
• Nationwide Library of Finland – The library reveals off Helsinki’s Neoclassical structure each inside and outside, with the rotunda being my favourite half.
• Helsinki Metropolis Museum – Situated on Senate Sq., this small metropolis museum is free to go to, so could be one other good place to drop in you probably have time (however it will come final on my listing, personally!).

That is likely to be sufficient sightseeing to your first day, particularly in the event you arrived from the US this morning.

Day 2: Suomenlinna + Santa prepare

Helsinki is positioned on an archipelago made up of roughly 330 islands. And one of many prime issues to do in Helsinki is to take a ferry out to a group of these islands referred to as Suomenlinna, which is what I like to recommend doing after breakfast this morning.

Suomenlinna is definitely what’s left of a large sea fortress constructed by the Swedes within the 1740s (bear in mind, Finland was once part of the Swedish Empire) to assist defend in opposition to the rising energy of the Russian Empire. The fortress, referred to as Sveaborg, consisted of 8 separate small islands, of which six have been fortified with defensive partitions.

The Russians did ultimately take this fortress in 1808, and so they held onto it till Finnish independence in 1917. Finland then modified the identify from Sveaborg (Fort of the Swedes) to Suomenlinna (Fort of Finland) in 1918. At this time, Suomenlinna is a UNESCO World Heritage Web site, and is properly price a go to.

Within the winter, HSL ferries run from Market Sq. (Kauppatori) to Suomenlinna roughly each 40-60 minutes (verify the Line 19 schedule right here). You want an HSL AB ticket for this ferry journey, which you’ll both purchase by means of the HSL app in your telephone, or through the use of a ticket machine on the ferry dock.

The ferry journey is a fast quarter-hour. When you get to Suomenlinna, there’s quite a bit to see, together with museums, galleries, sea partitions lined with cannons, and extra. 800 individuals truly name this assortment of islands dwelling, however word that some sights and cafes shut or are solely open restricted hours within the winter.

Begin your go to on the Suomenlinna Customer Centre, and from there you may observe the Blue Route across the island to see among the major websites. This strolling path is well-maintained, even within the winter — but it surely’s all the time a good suggestion to have a pair of Yaktrax with you in case you encounter snow/ice, or in case you wish to discover off this path in any respect.

There are a number of cafes across the island to pop into for a scorching drink or snack, together with Café Vanille and the Suomenlinna Centre Café inside the primary museum.

Within the afternoon, head again to Helsinki on the ferry.

As soon as again in Helsinki (or, as a substitute of Suomenlinna in the event you’re not up for an outside exercise at this time), think about visiting considered one of Helsinki’s distinctive museums. The highest ones to select from are:

• Nationwide Museum of Finland, or Kansallismuseo – This museum is a superb place to study extra about Finland’s historical past as an entire, from prehistoric occasions by means of the current day. Nevertheless, this museum is closed for renovations till 2027!
• Artwork Museum Ateneum – Situated in a grand Nineteenth-century constructing, this artwork museum focuses totally on Finnish works from the 1700s onwards. It additionally has a number of worldwide items, together with ones from the likes of Van Gogh and Rodin.
• Museum of Modern Artwork Kiasma – A part of the Finnish Nationwide Gallery, Kiasma focuses totally on Finnish modern artwork, and is in a really cool constructing.
• Amos Rex – An artwork museum showcasing trendy and modern artwork in a really cool house, with an outside house (Lasipalatsi Sq.) that is enjoyable to go to.

You additionally would possibly wish to pop into the Helsinki Central Library Oodi, which is a design-forward library that opened in late 2018. Together with regular library-type choices, you can too discover two cafes, areas for lounging, and areas you may lease for every little thing from recording music to enjoying video video games. The house is tremendous stunning, and displays the Finns’ affinity for distinctive design.

Tonight, both have a soothing night at your lodge, or pack your baggage and prepare to take the in a single day Santa Claus Specific to Finnish Lapland!

Non-compulsory evening prepare

Not everybody goes to seek out this interesting, which is why I am including it on right here as non-compulsory. However in the event you’re up for the journey and like the concept of being extra eco-friendly and taking the prepare as a substitute of flying to Lapland, there is a cool in a single day choice between Helsinki and Rovaniemi referred to as the Santa Claus Specific.

This double-decker prepare has Santa proper on the aspect, so you will be entering into the spirit earlier than you even board. You *can* ebook a daily seat (which may be very reasonably priced at lower than €30 per particular person), however remember that this can be a 12-hour in a single day prepare. I personally wouldn’t wish to be upright in a prepare seat in a single day, however it’s an choice.

I did this journey with my buddy Kat from World Huge Honeymoon, and we opted to ebook a sleeper cabin for this journey. There are two sorts of sleeper cabins on the evening prepare: downstairs cabins that sleep 2 the place you could have entry to shared rest room and bathe services (beginning at €179 complete for two individuals), or an upstairs cabin that sleeps 2 and has an ensuite toilet-shower combo (beginning at €204 complete for two individuals).

We booked the cabin with ensuite toilet, and thought it was a reasonably whole lot! The prepare has a restaurant automotive, too, the place you may get dinner, drinks, and breakfast, or you may pre-order a lightweight breakfast to be delivered to your cabin.

Now, some execs and cons of taking this Santa Claus Specific prepare:

Execs:

• It is probably the most eco-friendly option to journey by far, and is fairly straightforward because you get on the prepare in Helsinki and find yourself in Rovaniemi with out having to cope with airports or safety checks in any respect.
• It is cost-effective for the reason that value contains each your transport and one in a single day keep. It was undoubtedly cheaper than flying and reserving one other lodge would have been.
• Finnish trains are very clear, secure, and environment friendly.
• It is a enjoyable expertise that we get to say we have tried now.

Cons:

• The cabins have slim bunk beds that are not precisely probably the most snug (the pillows are horrible, so I like to recommend having one thing else to put on), and the prepare does transfer and sway all evening. It won’t be one of the best evening of sleep.
• In case you get a cabin with an toilet, it’s going to be on the higher flooring. And whereas I would learn on-line a few baggage automotive or somebody to assist with storing massive baggage, we did not see/discover that. We carried our baggage upstairs to our cabin and needed to wedge them into no matter house we may. So think about this in the event you journey with a number of baggage.

If the Santa Claus Specific seems like a cool journey, you may ebook it immediately with Finnish Railways (VR). Simply search for “Evening prepare” once you ebook; it often leaves Helsinki a bit after 11 p.m., and arrives in Rovaniemi the subsequent morning round 11 a.m.

When you arrive in Rovaniemi, you may both take a bus into city (buses meet the prepare proper subsequent to the place you disembark), or you may get a taxi straight to your lodge. I pre-booked a taxi to choose us up on the Rovaniemi prepare station by means of Menevä taxis, and our driver was ready as quickly as we received off the prepare.

(And we took the prepare again to Helsinki, too, however we booked that individually and traveled through the day!)

Day 3: Santa + Northern Lights

In case you do not take the in a single day prepare, then you definitely’ll wish to fly to Rovaniemi this morning. There are a number of day by day direct flights on Finnair from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, and the flight time is lower than 1.5 hours. When you arrive, you will wish to seize a taxi to your lodge within the metropolis.

Whether or not you arrive by prepare or aircraft, it’s going to in all probability be too early to verify into your Rovaniemi lodge — however you may drop your baggage off and bundle up for some journey!

Seize lunch on the town (I like to recommend a spot like Cafe & Bar 21, Roka Road Bistro, or Taquería Yuca), after which prepare to satisfy the large man himself: Santa!!

Finland is the “dwelling” of Santa Claus, and you’ll go go to him together with Mrs. Claus and all of the reindeer at Santa Claus Village. From central Rovaniemi, there are a pair buses you may take to Santa Claus Village. Native bus quantity 8 runs year-round from the town middle, and from November-March you can too catch the Santa’s Specific bus.

You will get to Santa Claus Village in lower than half-hour, and as soon as there there’s a lot to do! The must-dos (for my part) are:

• Straddle the Arctic Circle – There is a line within the floor exterior in between the primary information constructing and Santa’s workplace. An ideal photograph op!
• Meet Santa himself – It is free to satisfy Santa Claus in his workplace or in Christmas Home (he was in his workplace after we visited), and man does he look nice! Although word that photographs are what you will pay for (beginning at €40 for a printed photograph; we added on digital copies, too).
• Meet Mrs. Claus – You possibly can meet and chat with Mrs. Santa Claus, as properly, and seize a scorching drink afterwards within the Café of Mrs. Claus proper downstairs. (Assembly her prices €5, and photographs are further; you get to talk along with her for longer than Santa!)
• Hang around with reindeer – Hang around with Santa’s reindeer, care of Taava Reindeer Farm. They’re exterior close to Mrs. Claus’ Cafe, and you’ll go on a fast reindeer sled journey right here. (I do not suggest greater than that, as there might be extra reindeer later this week!)
• Go to Santa Claus’ Major Submit Workplace – Sure, Santa has a giant submit workplace right here, and you’ll go to to purchase and ship postcards proper from Santa Claus Village! They’ve two totally different mail-drop choices, too: one to be despatched out instantly, and one other to be despatched earlier than Christmas. (I wrote postcards to my newphews “from” Santa!)

There’s much more inside Santa Claus Village, however these actions are the highlights and can simply replenish a few hours. When you’re performed, catch the bus again into Rovaniemi.

IF the climate is cooperative, you will wish to have an early dinner this night earlier than getting picked up to your subsequent thrilling exercise: a Northern Lights tour!

Seeing the aurora is clearly a giant purpose many individuals come to Lapland within the winter, so you are going to wish to make the most of each likelihood you get. And, for the reason that Northern Lights are a pure phenomenon affected by each climate and house circumstances, the extra probabilities you give your self to go aurora-chasing, the higher!

E book a Northern Lights tour to your first evening in Rovaniemi. And ebook a small-group *chasing* tour, which suggests your information will drive you out so far as obligatory in an effort to provide the greatest shot at seeing the aurora. This would possibly imply a protracted evening, however I promise it is price it in the event you see the Northern Lights!

We booked this Northern Lights tour, and when it did lastly exit (it was canceled the primary 2 nights we have been on the town) our information drove us all the way in which into Sweden — however we noticed an unimaginable Northern Lights present!!

Day 4: Museums + Arctic SnowHotel

In case you exit chasing the Northern Lights on Day 3, then you definitely’re doubtless going to be getting again to Rovaniemi very late. Even in the event you discover the lights early, you won’t get again till midnight. And if it’s a must to drive additional like we did? Properly, you would possibly truly be out till 3, 4, 5, and even 6 a.m.! So sleep on this morning.

When you do really feel like getting began, both benefit from the breakfast unfold at your lodge, or (in the event you sleep too late) head over to both Espresso Home or Cafe & Bar 21.

From there, it is time to go to a museum (or two!). Rovaniemi has two notable museums, each inside strolling distance (or a brief taxi journey) from the town middle. They’re:

• Arktikum – The Arktikum Science Centre and Museum covers a ton of historical past about this a part of Lapland, and in addition has displays on issues like Arctic wildlife, local weather change, and naturally the science of the Northern Lights. It is a fantastic museum, and properly price an hour or two of exploring!
• Tradition Home Korundi – The opposite museum we visited on the town was Tradition Home Korundi, which is a recent artwork museum.

Each of those museums have cafes, so you may simply seize a snack or lunch at both one.

Head again into city for a little bit of shop-browsing or possibly only a relaxation at your lodge earlier than tonight’s journey, which is a night go to to the Arctic SnowHotel.

The Arctic SnowHotel is positioned about 20 minutes exterior of Rovaniemi, and certainly is a lodge that is constructed by hand annually fully from snow and ice! I do not essentially suggest staying right here (snow lodges aren’t all that snug to truly sleep in), however fortunately you may go to your entire lodge with out being an in a single day visitor!

Kat and I booked an entire night package deal on the Arctic SnowHotel. The package deal we did is the “Snow sauna expertise with chill and dine at Ice Restaurant,” which incorporates bus transfers to/from Rovaniemi, a guided tour of the SnowHotel the place you may go to each room (and get a drink on the Ice Bar), a 3-course meal in a restaurant carved fully from blocks of ice, and a “snow sauna” expertise (which sure, does embrace a sauna room carved from snow alongside a daily sauna at scorching tub). This package deal prices €229 per particular person, however actually is price each penny!

If you wish to go however not spend fairly as a lot, guided excursions of the Arctic SnowHotel begin at €85 per particular person (together with transfers to/from Rovaniemi), and a guided lodge tour together with dinner within the Ice Restaurant (this package deal) prices €165, which might be one of the best worth of all. (Simply you’ll want to ebook these packages properly prematurely.)

If in case you have further time after dinner/your sauna expertise, seize a drink on the Skybar. On clear nights, it is attainable to see the Northern Lights from proper right here.

Day 5: Rovaniemi day journey

I am not gonna lie: you have in all probability seen all there may be to see in Rovaniemi by now. So you should use at this time both as a relaxation day, or as a day to take a bit day journey additional out into Finnish Lapland. (Simply do not ebook any canine sledding or reindeer excursions, as I’ve these included later!)

Some day journey choices for at this time embrace:

This night, you may both go for a pleasant dinner at a spot like Gustav Kitchen & Bar, Restaurant Nili, or Lappish Restaurant Taiga, otherwise you chilly seize one thing fast and exit on one other Northern Lights-chasing tour.

This chasing tour is the one I really helpful earlier within the week, whereas this Arctic ice floating tour is tremendous distinctive and could have you doubtlessly floating in a dry go well with beneath the aurora!

Day 6: To Apukka

Have a relaxed morning at this time in Rovaniemi. In case you did not go to each museums on Day 4, there’s an opportunity to go to the opposite one at this time. After which, someday within the late morning/early afternoon, it is time to head to a different lodge within the space: Apukka Resort!

In case you’ve ever dreamed of sleeping in a glass igloo-cabin in a snowy forest, THIS IS IT. Staying at Apukka was actually the primary piece of the puzzle to my very own winter Lapland journey, and I can not say sufficient good issues about it.

One caveat right here, although: that is an costly place to remain. (Sure, I do know the Arctic/Lapland is already expensive, however that is even pricier.) BUT I do assume it is a worthy splurge, and so they do have some winter packages that prevent some cash ultimately. In case you do not wish to splurge this a lot, nevertheless, then I might suggest staying at the least 1-2 extra nights in Rovaniemi and reserving dogsledding and reindeer excursions from there to raised fit your price range!

Whenever you’re prepared to move to Apukka, you may both get a taxi out of your Rovaniemi lodge, or you may ebook a spot on the Apukka shuttle which leaves from the town middle and is more cost effective at €8 per particular person every means.

Kat and I booked the “It is All About Aurora” package deal, which is a minimal 3-night package deal at Apukka that features an igloo cabin, day by day breakfast, two Northern Lights-focused actions, and extra. They provide a number of winter vacation packages, although, together with ones geared in the direction of {couples} and others geared in the direction of households.

You will arrive at Apukka and verify in inside the comfy major constructing, the place there is a lounge, a bar, and the resort’s major restaurant. If it is too early to go to your cabin, they’ll retailer your baggage right here and you’ll go on a stroll across the Apukka property (or simply hand around in the primary constructing).

Kat and I booked a pair further actions for our Apukka keep, together with canine sledding, snowshoeing, a lakeside sauna, and a particular dinner on the Kota restaurant. Our schedule was deliberate out for us by Apukka, so yours might differ — however you may at the least get an concept right here of what your days would possibly seem like!

After attending to our cabin (we stayed in one of many Aurora Cabin Queen Glass Igloos), we relaxed for a bit after which went to dinner at Kota, which is a small restaurant inside a constructing that appears like a conventional Sami tent, with a set 3-course menu and a hearth roaring in the midst of the room. Extremely suggest reserving dinner right here one evening.

And after that, we had one of many actions included in our package deal: a Reindeer Sleigh Journey Throughout the Evening, the place we have been pulled by means of the snowy forest by reindeer after darkish. We stopped midway in a comfortable tent to study extra about reindeer herding in Finland. If the skies had been clear, there additionally would have been an opportunity to see the Northern Lights on this tour, however alas, we solely had clouds.

It is a good first evening exercise, because it will not preserve you out tremendous late.

Day 7: Apukka actions

It is a full day to get pleasure from all of the actions at Apukka. After a hearty buffet breakfast, there’s a lot you could possibly ebook, together with canine sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, fatbiking, and extra. (And Apukka provides heat outerwear in the event you want it, too.)

Kat and I opted to ebook a canine sledding tour this afternoon, which ended up being considered one of our favourite components of your entire journey! We received a fast lesson on the best way to steer a sled, after which received to take to a forested course with our personal workforce of sled canine. We took turns “driving” the sled, which was so enjoyable! And afterwards, we received to present our canine workforce some well-deserved pats, after which received to play with puppies!

We went again to Apukka for lunch in the primary Aitta restaurant, after which relaxed for a bit in our cabin earlier than dinner (which we additionally ate at Aitta; the draw back to staying in a spot like that is you are sort of a captive viewers in the case of meals. However fortunate they alter the menu up day by day, and for dinner you may select between a buffet unfold or ordering off an a la carte menu).

This night, you could have an opportunity for one more Northern Lights tour. Our package deal at Apukka included the “Snowtrain” to a Northern Lights Camp out within the forest, which included a peaceable journey in a bit “prepare” on big skis to a big kota tent within the forest. Our guides talked to us concerning the forest, and concerning the science and native legends concerning the aurora.

This might have been a great place to observe the Northern Lights — besides the skies remained fully cloudy, so we did not see a factor.

In case you do not ebook this particular package deal, you could possibly choose to ebook one other Northern Lights chasing-style tour tonight for a greater likelihood of seeing them (many of the tour firms in Rovaniemi will choose up from Apukka, or Apukka gives its personal “Aurora Hunt on Wheels” tour).

RELATED: 9 Lies (and One Fact) Individuals Inform You About Seeing the Northern Lights

Day 8: Apukka actions

Sleep on this morning (particularly in the event you did a Northern Lights tour final evening), and have a straightforward morning on the resort. (The igloo cabins listed below are SO cozy; deliver a ebook and easily benefit from the likelihood to calm down.)

Kat and I had lunch at Aitta, after which headed out on a guided snowshoeing tour. Our information took us by means of the snowy forest, the place we appeared for animal tracks, realized about among the native flora, and stopped partway for some cookies and heat blueberry juice. I want I may bottle up the odor and freshness of the air on this forest!

(There are many different actions you could possibly ebook if snowshoeing is not your vibe.)

Within the early night, we received modified and headed for one of many non-public saunas sitting on the lake at Apukka. This was the primary time Kat and I actually have been embracing Finnish sauna tradition full with chilly plunge, and we actually did not assume we might final greater than half an hour. However people… I get it now. Going from boiling scorching to freezing chilly and again once more is SO invigorating; we weren’t prepared for our 90-minute session to be over!

Even in the event you do not assume you’d get pleasure from sweating in a wood-fired sauna after which plunging right into a literal frozen lake… I encourage you to attempt it! You is likely to be shocked.

Have dinner on the restaurant, after which benefit from the final cozy evening in your glass igloo. Who is aware of, possibly you will get fortunate sufficient to see the Northern Lights proper out of your cabin! (Obtain an aurora alert app like this one to get alerts.)

Day 9: Again to Helsinki

After three days of outside journey at Apukka Resort, it is time to bid Lapland farewell at this time. If you’re heading dwelling, it is doubtless that your flight might be leaving from Helsinki.

To get again to Helsinki, you may both fly from Rovaniemi (Apukka contains airport transfers in its packages), or you may take the prepare once more. Kat and I opted to take a daytime prepare from Rovaniemi to Helsinki (we once more booked immediately by means of Finnish Railways (VR)). The journey takes about 8 hours, however the views by means of snowy Lapland are beautiful, and the prepare is clear and comfortable. We took benefit of the wifi and the scrumptious choices within the restaurant automotive, and it was truly a very nice journey!

You *may* ebook your flight dwelling from Rovaniemi if it isn’t that rather more costly, but it surely is likely to be more cost effective to get your self again to Helsinki (it was for us). If it’s a must to ebook your journey individually, then I like to recommend reserving your flight dwelling for the next day, simply in case you run into any weather-related delays.

Day 10: Head dwelling

At this time it is time to bid farewell to the winter wonderland that’s Finland — and I do know you will be unhappy to go! This actually is a bucket listing journey, full of all of the winter magic you could possibly ask for in a single journey.

Finland winter journey FAQ

A couple of stuff you would possibly nonetheless have questions on after studying this itinerary:

How a lot will this journey value?

Questions on journey prices are all the time prime of thoughts, particularly for a visit like this. The Nordics are identified for being a pricier vacation spot to start with, after which it’s a must to think about that we stayed at Apukka Resort for 3 nights, which is dear!

Kat saved observe of the price range on this journey, and with out flights, we spent proper round $9,200 complete for the two of us (or about $4,600 every) for this 10-day journey. The largest chunk of that value got here from staying at Apukka, the place our lodge package deal alone value about $4,000 for 3 nights (which lined our transfers, the glass igloo, some meals together with all breakfasts, plus 3 out of doors actions).

The following-highest value after lodges was all of the actions we did, together with Northern Lights excursions, visiting Santa Claus Village, going to the Arctic SnowHotel, and many others. All the actions are properly price it, although, and so well-organized in Finland!

If you wish to get monetary savings on the same journey, I might in all probability skip the glass igloo lodge (as a lot as that breaks my coronary heart to counsel). You possibly can keep in Rovaniemi for extra nights and ebook extra actions from there, which might deliver the general lodge prices down significantly.

What if I’ve lower than 10 days?

In case you solely have possibly 5-6 days for a visit like this (or maybe in the event you’re tacking Lapland on to an extended winter journey in Europe), I might reduce down the time in Helsinki to only 1 day, after which keep in Lapland 3-5 nights.

You possibly can splurge and do the entire time at Apukka (you may nonetheless go to Santa Claus Village and the Arctic SnowHotel from there, together with doing all the opposite winter actions), or you could possibly base your self in Rovaniemi the entire time and ebook particular person excursions. It might nonetheless make for an awesome journey!

Can I lease a automotive in Lapland?

Rovaniemi is the most important metropolis in Lapland, but it surely’s not the one city. There are many different wonderful locations to go to in northern Finland within the winter, however they’re tougher to succeed in. You CAN lease a automotive to go to extra distant locations — however I actually solely suggest this in case you are used to driving in snow/ice and are very, very assured with these driving abilities.

In case you’ve by no means pushed within the snow earlier than, I do NOT suggest renting a automotive in Finnish Lapland within the winter (therefore why I deliberate this itinerary to not want a automotive in any respect!).

When ought to I go to Finland within the winter?

Like I mentioned, based mostly on sunlight hours, snow probabilities, and the way busy Lapland might be, I believe February is one of the best time to go to Finland in winter, particularly if you wish to head as much as Lapland to satisfy Santa, go to the ice lodge, and see the Northern Lights.

What ought to I put on in Finland in winter?

Finland in winter will get chilly — however in fact “chilly” is relative, relying on the place you reside! For me coming from Ohio (which has fairly chilly winters), Lapland did not really feel too dangerous (temperatures hovered round freezing the entire time we have been there) and I used to be effective sporting my regular winter gear from dwelling. However any individual from Florida or Australia would doubtless discover winter climate in Finland to be brutally chilly.

Some issues you’ll undoubtedly want embrace:

• A heat, moisture-wicking base layer (I really like merino wool tops and these silk leggings)
• A trusty mid-layer, like a fleece jacket or down vest
• Heat, waterproof outer layer on the underside (try my go-to snow pants, otherwise you would possibly simply wish to layer rain pants over your base layer and a snug pair of joggers or leggings)
• Heat, lengthy winter coat (manufacturers like Columbia and Land’s Finish are my go-tos for winter coats which are good high quality however not exorbitantly costly)
• Boots that may preserve your ft heat and dry + heat socks
• Gloves to maintain your fingers each heat and dry
• Hat, scarf, ear muffs, and many others. – that is the place you may have extra enjoyable with equipment
• Yaktrax you may affix to your boots for any slippery sidewalks/paths

READ NEXT: A Good 10-Day Norway Itinerary in Winter (With no Automobile)

Who’s able to plan a winter journey to Finland now?

Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Harmful Enterprise Journey Weblog. She has traveled to greater than 60 international locations on 6 continents from her dwelling base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey by means of the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares ideas based mostly on her private experiences and locations she’s truly traveled!