Finland in the winter is an adventurous wonderland filled with crazy things to do that can only be described as once-in-a-lifetime opportunities!

We visited Finland and Lapland in late December and early January — the dead of the polar winter. And during that time we spent the most incredible week exploring the wilderness and towns. From Inari, Ivalo, Saariselka, Rovaniemi, and finally Kemi. The adventures and activities we took part in are so unique and spectacular that we still can’t believe we did them.

But before we begin, here’s something that we wanted to share with you.

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We've partnered with Nordic Odyssey, a Rovaniemi-based tour company specializing in organizing high-quality guided trips, authentic experiences & nomadic adventures, for outdoor activities in Lapland.

• Trip to Korouoma Canyon Frozen Waterfalls
(Most Popular)
• Northern Lights Photography Hunting (their speciality)
• Husky Safari 10 km
• Trip to Ranua Wildlife Park
• Reindeer Farm Experiences (with or without safari)
• Full Arctic Adventure (Snowshoeing, Ice Fishing, Fire & Survival)
• First Ice fishing experience
• Arctic Wilderness Hike

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Winters in Finland, particularly in Lapland, may not be suitable for everyone. The days are short and chilly, while the nights grow longer and even colder. During our visit, temperatures ranged from -30° C (-22° F) to 3° C (37° F). However, if you’re brave enough to embrace the cold, I assure you that your trip will be an unforgettable adventure filled with unique experiences!

Lapland in the winter

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Finland offers so many activities for everyone that it’s really hard to narrow them down to a top 10 list. But if I had to make a list, I’d pick these unique activities.

1. Chase The Northern Lights

Let me guess — seeing the Northern Lights is at the top of your list too. And why not? The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) are visible in the Finnish Lapland 200 nights a year. And your chances of catching the Northern Lights are higher in northern Lapland, and of course during winters.

Out of the 4 nights that we spent in northern Lapland, we saw the Northern Lights on 3 of those nights. We saw the lights bright and beautiful, shine and dance above our heads! It was truly an unforgettable experience!

Want to learn more about the Northern Lights, and what are the best places to catch them? Read more here.

Book your Northern Lights Photography Hunting tour in Rovaniemi with Nordic Odyssey.

Guide To Northern Lights In Lapland

2. Embark On A Husky Safari

There are many modes of transport in the Arctic winter, but nothing beats the joy of huskies pulling your sledge. The fun of exploring the great Lappish wilderness on a dog sledge is incredibly fulfilling. Especially, if you’re a dog lover.

We went on the most surreal husky safari in Ivalo. It was the closest we felt to nature. For those few hours, it was just us and the huskies surrounded by a breathtaking snow-covered landscape.

And stay at a Husky Farm

We even stayed on the husky farm with 140 huskies and their puppies. If you’re a dog lover, there is no way you should pass up this amazing opportunity to stay at Guesthouse Husky. Read all about our experience here.

Book your Husky Safari in Rovaniemi with Nordic Odyssey.

Guesthouse Husky Review

3. Take An Icebreaker Cruise & Float In The Frozen Sea

Imagine embarking on a cruise that cuts through a frozen sea, only to jump into the icy water afterward! Sounds crazy? That’s precisely what we did, and it turned out to be the most adventurous experience we had in Lapland!

The Icebreaker Sampo from Kemi took us on a cruise through the frozen Gulf of Bothnia, before we anchored in the middle of the sea, and jumped into it! Crazy or fun?! Read all about our Icebreaker Sampo experience here.

Icebreaker Sampo Review

4. Spend A Night In A Snow Hotel

Ice hotels are some of the coolest structures ever (pun intended). An entire hotel, with rooms, restaurants, and even a church all made of ice? There is no way you want to pass up this opportunity to visit a hotel made of snow and ice.

Read this post to learn more about visiting a snow hotel, and whether you should spend a night on a bed made of ice, or not.

Arctic SnowHotel Review

5. Enjoy A Smoke Sauna Followed By A Dip In A Freezing Lake

Saunas are an essential part of the Finnish culture. It is where Finnish people relax, socialize, and unwind.

There are many types of saunas in Finland, and smoke saunas (savusauna) are still in existence and found mostly in this part of the world. Smoke saunas have made a revival as they are considered superior.

What is a smoke sauna you ask? A smoke sauna is a special type of sauna without a chimney. The wood is burned in a particularly large stove and the smoke fills the room. When the sauna is hot enough, the fire is allowed to die and the smoke is ventilated out. The residual heat of the stove is enough for the duration of the sauna.

We went inside a smoke sauna at the Kiilopaa Fell Centre in Saariselka. The highlight of the sauna experience is to run out into the cold after the sauna and jump into the frozen lake. It was simply epic!

Unlike the Icebreaker Sampo, where we jumped into the frozen sea with bodysuits, here we jumped in our bathing suits! Brrr!

6. Go Ice Fishing

There are 187,888 lakes in Finland. On average, there are 40 lakes per 100 square kilometres in a district.

Fishing is not just a pastime in Finland, it is every person’s right. So, when you’re in Lapland during the winter, I would highly recommend that you try your luck with ice fishing.

We went on a short ice-fishing trip from Rovaniemi. But no matter where you’re located, there will be a frozen lake near you and a guide who’s willing to take you ice fishing. Or just click the click below.

Book your first ice fishing experience in Rovaniemi with Nordic Odyssey.

7. Visit Santa Claus at The Santa Claus Village

Santa Claus is real and lives in Lapland. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. You can visit him, his elves, and reindeer in Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. There you can visit Santa, see his Post Office, and all the letters sent to him from children around the world.

After a trip to the village, head down to Santa Park and enjoy spending time in a Santa-themed park inside an underground cave. Of course, both these activities are a lot of fun if you have kids.

Also, just keep in mind that the line to see Santa can be extremely long. With wait times over 1 to 1.5 hours. So, budget your time accordingly.

Also, the Arctic Circle passes right through Santa Claus Village. It is marked, and you want to take a picture with it!

8. Go Snowmobiling

Snowmobiling is a lot of fun. I didn’t realize how easy it is to slide through all that snow and ice with so much power under you.

Snowmobiling excursions are another great way to explore the Lappish outdoors. Unlike dog sledging, these machines can go much further, and faster.

As is with most activities, your local activity centre or hotel/accommodation will be able to get you a snowmobiling tour.

9. Take A Reindeer Safari

If you’re not a dog person or don’t like snowmobiles, there’s a third method of transportation available — reindeer. Although not as fast as dogs, or snowmobiles, reindeer safaris are fairly relaxed and very kid-friendly.

Book your Reindeer Farm Experience (with or without safari) in Rovaniemi with Nordic Odyssey.

10. Enjoy Lappish Cuisine

And finally, when in Lapland enjoy some delicious Lappish cuisine. Feast on a variety of bread, and local meats, such as fish, game, and reindeer. And don’t forget to try the salmon soup.

Here are some recommendations for authentic Lappish (and Finnish) cuisines:

Helsinki

• Restaurant Savotta, Aleksanterinkatu 22, 00170 Helsinki, Finland
• Muru, Fredrikinkatu 41, 00120 Helsinki, Finland
• Salve, Hietalahdenranta 5 C, 00180 Helsinki, Finland

Rovaniemi

• Nili Restaurant, Valtakatu 20, 96200 Rovaniemi, Finland
• Santa’s Salmon Place Restaurant, Santa Claus Village, Tähtikuja 1, 96930 Rovaniemi, Finland

And don’t forget to drink lots of gloggi to keep yourself warm in the polar winter.

Finland In The Winter

We are still amazed by all the incredibly unique experiences we had in Finland and Lapland. When we tell people that we jumped into a frozen sea, swam in a frozen lake, witnessed the Northern Lights for three consecutive nights, and stayed on a farm with 140 Huskies, they find it hard to believe. But it’s true! Each of these activities was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Discover More Of Finland

I hope this post was able to inspire your travel itinerary for Finland and Lapland. If you have any questions, feel free to post a comment below.

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