The trip includes pickup/dropoff as well as dinner. The bikes have wide tires that can easily travel across the snowy terrain, so you dont have to worry about slipping. December is a great time to visit Lapland. Swing by Mrs. Claus Christmas Cottage to sing Christmas carols. You want to be able to remove them depending on the activity youre performing. A question that a lot of people have asked me in the past is what kind of daylight hours you have during the winter months in Rovaniemi. In summer and autumn, you can enjoy tranquil hikes and bike rides amidst the sprawling national parks. This is easily one of the most popular activities in Lapland and lasts 10-11 hours. Nevertheless, crawling through the wilderness and enjoying the scenery from the panorama cabin was an enjoyable experience. >> Click here for snowshoeing rates and availability. But, what not many know is that Rovaniemi is not technically in the Arctic Circle (this is 8km north and at the Santa Claus Village!) Gretas Travels is by no means liable for any purchase of tours, tickets and any other online reservation that are made without having fully read the terms and conditions of any third party provider. We have listed for you our 10 recommended attractions and things to do when visiting Rovaniemi in winter. We know we will catch them next time we find ourselves somewhere near the Arctic Circle. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. >> Click here for snowmobiling rates and availability. Finns drink more coffee than any other nation, and their black coffee is simply divine. Pretty much all of the activities listed above are offered in the different regions, so theres no need to travel loads. Sometimes they dont show for days or weeks at a time. Its a magical frosted wilderness that enchants everyone who visits! Tip I go into more detail regarding this topic in our guide to dog sledding in Lapland, so be sure to check that out for more info. So let's start! 10 things to do on your winter road trip in Lapland, Finland On the flip side, when it does, its a wonderful surprise. They just so happen to be located in Rovaniemi and you can tour their facilities and enjoy a drink at their pub! Or, for adventure enthusiasts, you can drive race cars on the ice of frozen lakes. Bus 14 also goes there. I couldnt help but envy the locals who get to travel this way on a daily basis. Again, we had our concerns regarding how ethical the reindeer safaris are. Considerably smaller than its neighbours above, but no less beautiful and compelling. Youre welcome! Click here to book a husky dog sledding excursion! Santa Claus Village opened in 1985 and is a large complex filled with various attractions, places to eat, and lodging facilities. Whether youre looking for adventure, relaxation, or something different, here are the absolute best tourist attractions in Lapland. Review of: Icekarting Levi. The two main airports in Norwegian Lapland are Alta and Kirkenes. The cabins of Santa Claus Holiday Village offer you the softest beds to land on after a day-well-spend. Exclusive to Finnish Lapland, the 3-hour cruise transports passengers through the frozen water of the Bothnian Sea. Artikum is closed on Mondays all year except in December when it is open 7 days a week (except Christmas Eve). Welcome to Northern Finland! If you have any questions or feel we have missed anything, please reach out to us in the comments below. Best Things to Do in December in Los Angeles - USA TODAY 10Best >> Click here for icebreaker cruise rates and availability. Youll be mesmerized as the sky puts on the most breathtaking show of dancing colours. Most locals learn to ski almost immediately after taking their first steps. You can also easily rent a car and drive yourself. The sourdough was exceptional, and the butter was to die for. You will have a chance to be the musher of your own sled as you wind through the wintry Finnish forests before heading back and getting a chance to meet them and take some photos. Hi, Im Greta, thanks for stopping by! Planning where to stay in Lapland will probably be the most exciting yet challenging part of organising your winter holiday to Lapland. Go ice-fishing. Its a place where Christmas cheer rings out all year long and the mystical northern lights dance across the dark winter sky. The pizza is baked in a wood-fired oven and they even offer takeaway if you want to stay in your hotel and eat! I hope you have a magical trip to this unforgettable location. Thanks! Lapland is filled with snow, fairy lights, warm food, igloos, tree houses, husky sleds and snowball fights. A large stove pumps hot smoke into the air until a certain temperature is reached. The landscapes adorned a thick blanket of white snow but the days were longer than the earlier winter months, and temperatures were far more endurable -5 to -10C. You could go aurora hunting on your own, but tour companies will know the best locations to spot the lights. It lasts 2 hours and you will get to enjoy biscuits and hot drinks afterward! This is a very easy place to visit independently, but it is also a good idea to book a tour if you dont want to navigate the facilities yourself or worry about transportation from downtown Rovaniemi. Finnish Lapland is the most visited part of the region and is where we stayed during our recent trip. December and January tend to be the peak months, especially among families with little ones who are hoping to visit Santa in Lapland. Explore Finnish Lapland, Europe's last . Your email address will not be published. The snowmobiles are relatively easy to handle, but if you dont fancy driving, you can ask for a guide to drive you instead. You can even go snowshoe hiking at night. Another one of my favorite places to eat in Rovaniemi is Cafe & Bar 21 (which just so happens to have the same owners as Gustav and Yuca, so it is no surprise that I was impressed by this place)! Click here to book a northern lights wilderness tour! Snow Village. A trip to Lapland at Christmas has all the fairy tale magic of the year's best holiday amidst true Arctic wilderness. Theres only one company that offers this one-of-a-kind experience, and thats Lapland Ice Driving. For many, it's a form a meditation. Unlike some of the sunnier Europe winter destinations, the temperatures drop down low as autumn turns to winter. You can drive (although not advisable during winter! But thanks to this extraordinary Ice Hotel in Swedish Lapland, I think Im going to have to visit twice. You will take a 5-10 minute walk through the forest to the lake, where you will learn a new skill! Click here to book a sauna and an ice bath session! The average temperature throughout the country is 25F (-4 . But, you get to do it in a private lavvu tent not huddled around a fire with multiple tour groups at the same stop. Things to do in Lapland in December - Wanderlog The sun might only come out from 10:00 to 14:00. December is the peak of the winter season i n Lapland and is one of the best times to visit. The general nature and culture aspects are very similar with sprawling forests, whimsical villages, and beautiful wildlife. I hope you find this useful in planning your winter trip to Lapland! After spending 4 nights at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in March, I can confidently say its one of the most magical resorts in the world. One of the more unique ways to discover the beautiful Lappish landscapes is to travel by snow tank. As an Airbnb Associate, we earn when you book through our links., Click here to book your northern lights tour, Click here to check Santa Claus Village rates and availability, Click here for dog sledding rates and availability, This tour will guide you to the Posio forest, Click here for Korouoma day trip rates and availability. Admiring the Northern Lights photo by Photo by Oren Cohen on Scopio. Lapland FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions | Visit Finnish Lapland Saunas play a significant role in Finnish culture. Just be prepared! But, barely! Click here to book a reindeer sleigh ride! This is said to increase your blood flow and raise your endorphin levels. We spent 3-hours driving through the wilderness, and it felt like freedom. It wont move much over the horizon and it will still be quite dark and it could look more like a colorful sunrise/sunset than anything else. Dinner around the fire during our snowshoe hike in Lapland. I actually prefer watching them in autumn because the weather is milder. . Go hiking at Pallas-Yllstunturi National Park View this post on Instagram A post shared by Suvi Mhnen | Kasvuyrittj Lapista (@eratonttu) The Pallas-Yllstunturi National Park is a national park in Finland and holds the distinction of being the third-largest in the entire country. It is available for just 11 weeks each year when the plains of Lake Adjaur transform into 2965 acres of icy terrain. Things to Do in Lapland, Finland: See Tripadvisor's 108,044 traveller reviews and photos of Lapland tourist attractions. However, it can dip as low as -30C. Needless to say its a pretty thrilling experience! 8 Awesome Things to Do in Ylls, Lapland, in Winter - VickyFlipFlopTravels Be sure to bring swimwear, warm clothing, and a change of clothing! Packing for your winter holiday in Lapland is the final step in the planning process, but its not one that should be taken lightly. The trails weave through frosted woodlands, snowy plains, and across frozen lakes. But dont worry, youll be well protected from the cold. From sledding, skiing, to watching the Northern Lights dance in the sky, there's myriad experiences you can have here in the winter season. 1. THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Lapland - Tripadvisor When the winter suites have melted back into the river in spring, a part of the hotel still stands, a place where visitors can experience the ice and snow year-round.. They depend on natural factors such as solar winds and charged particles in the earth's upper atmosphere. And you do get a Lappish BBQ (with premium quality sausages or vegan/veggie ones if you request). It's a whole village made out of snow - igloos, ice bars and everything. Long answer: the weather in Lapland largely depends on where and when you visit. It is a great romantic thing to do in Rovaniemi for couples! But if youre an adrenaline junkie, this is one Lapland winter activity you dont want to miss. I dont think Finns would forgive me if I failed to mention some type of sauna experience in this guide. They are open every day except Sundays and offer a popular brunch on Saturdays (it will be busy!). Snowshoes allow you to manoeuvre through the landscape without falling deep into the snow. I will end the guide with some of my quick tips for the trip! The lunch will be pork sausage (vegans and vegetarians can request an alternative in advance), marshmallows, and blueberry tea. The tour is affordable, pickup is included, and it is a great opportunity to do something in nature without a lot of adrenaline. Tickets are 18 for adults. But the food is phenomenal and some of the best I have ever had on my travels. And, of course, if youre visiting Lapland for Christmas, its your chance to get up close and personal with the big man himself. 2016 - Greta's Travels. To be honest, not much! Just because the sun does come up doesnt mean it is all that light. The airport is about 8 kilometers outside of the city, and getting from one place to another is easy. Some Swedish Lapland experiences even include a homestay with a local Sami family a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to encounter one of the last remaining aboriginal groups in Europe. They use high-quality ingredients and the dishes were absolutely hearty and delicious. You need to have a valid driving licence to drive a snow mobile. The easiest way to access Swedish Lapland is to fly to Stockholm, spend a day or two there, and then fly to Lapland. Click here to book your stay at the Levi Ice Gallery! Let's explore the best things to do in Lapland: 1. I mentioned the extraordinary Ice Hotel earlier, and I have a full section dedicated to it further down in the article. Youll get a real sense of the true Lapland culture by visiting Inari. Each year a team of international artists skillfully sculpt the hotel using ice from the Tornio River, only for it to melt away months later. But if you dont fancy sleeping in sub-zero temperatures, there are traditional hotel rooms and chalets instead. As an Airbnb Associate, we earn when you book through our links. Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Stories, Armenia travel blog | Virginia travel blog | Hawaii travel blog, Learning how to photograph the lights on this tour, Outside of the lavvu (you get to go there! With this in mind, visiting a sauna is a quintessential thing to do in Lapland in Winter, helping you to relieve any stress on both the body and mind. While it might appear to be a fairy tale destination, Lapland is 100% a real place. While the glass igloos originated at Kakslauttanen Resort, you can find them now all over Lapland. During the peak winter season (December to February), temperatures average between -16 C and -3 C, with occasional lows of -30 C! >> Click here for the snow hotel tour rates and availability. Locals insist it is a fantastic activity for both body and mind. The Ultimate Guide to visiting Finnish Lapland in winter: 12 INCREDIBLE Or you can relax and enjoy the ride in a horse-drawn carriage or sleigh. #1 Meet Santa Claus #2 Try ice swimming #3 Search the Northern lights #4 Enjoy snow and winter activities #5 Experience the Finnish sauna culture #6 Spend Christmas and New Year in Finland #7 Visit a local ice hockey match #8 Familiarize yourself with the Sami culture #9 Spend a night in a log cottage in the wilderness Get discounts & updates in our monthly newsletter, Get discounts & updates in our monthly newsletter, 2022 Our Taste For Life Blog All Rights Reserved. The menu changes, but the one thing that does not change is the Knut bread, which was named after Gustavs grandfather. Is Lapland a country? This well-regarded company allows you to reach speeds of up to 200km/h in complete safety, with no walls or barriers to potentially get in your way. Another popular activity during winter in Finland is snowshoeing. Snow tanks are an awesome piece of machinery, made even more impressive by our guide who actually built his tank himself. Winter thrill-seekers can have a go at snowboarding, skiing, or dog sledding. You can also stay at the Arctic Snow Hotels glass igloos! The Ultimate Guide: 10 Things to Do in Santa Claus Village #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; }/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. Lapland Holidays in December 2023 : Nordic Visitor You can order a shot from the Ice Bar for an additional charge. But, with the aid of an insulated suit, this popular Lapland activity might just be the neatest thing you do on your whole trip. Newcastle to Lapland - direct flights launched to meet demand for If youre heading to Finland, check out our Finland series to help plan your trip! I have also listed a variety of places to eat to give you options (and I have enjoyed all of the places myself)! A unique experience I had in Rovaniemi was when I went ice floating!