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Finnish Lapland covers the far north of Finland, much of it above the Arctic Circle. It is a land of forests, fells, lakes and wide wilderness, home to the Indigenous Sámi people and reindeer herding. Winters are long and dark with deep snow, while summer brings the midnight sun and an explosion of green. The region attracts visitors seeking winter activities and Arctic nature.
Rovaniemi, the regional capital, is the main gateway. The Arktikum museum there explores Arctic life and nature, and Santa Claus Village straddles the Arctic Circle line just outside town. Ounasvaara hill and the riverside offer outdoor recreation, and Ranua Wildlife Park, south of Rovaniemi, shows Arctic animals. Farther north, Levi and Ylläs, with the village of Äkäslompolo, are popular ski resorts, while Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park has long hiking and skiing trails across fells. In the far northwest, Kilpisjärvi sits beneath Saana fell, near the borders with Norway and Sweden. In the northeast, the village of Inari is home to Siida, a museum of Sámi culture and northern nature, beside the vast Lake Inari.
Lapland suits travelers seeking snow activities, northern lights, and wilderness. Distances are large, so plan time for travel between areas.
WiserMap travel guideFinnish Lapland Finland Northern Lights and Midnight SunPlan a Finnish Lapland trip: Rovaniemi and the Arctic Circle, Levi and Ylläs, Pallas fells, Inari's Sámi culture, northern lights, midnight sun and ruska hikes.Read the guide
A science center and museum in Rovaniemi, with a long glass tunnel pointing north toward the Ounasjoki river. Exhibitions cover Arctic nature, the Sámi and other northern peoples, and the destruction and rebuilding of Lapland in World War II. There is also a northern lights show. Allow two to three hours for a visit.
Siida, in the small village of Inari, is the national Sámi museum and nature center, with exhibitions on Sámi culture, reindeer herding and the northern seasons, plus an open-air museum. The Sámi cultural center Sajos is nearby. From here, a hiking trail leads to the 18th-century Pielpajärvi wilderness church.
A year-round attraction about 8 km north of Rovaniemi where the Arctic Circle line crosses, with Santa Claus's office, where you can meet him, and Santa's Main Post Office, which sends cards with a special postmark. Shops, restaurants, reindeer and husky rides surround it. Entry is free, but photos with Santa cost extra.
A zoo about 80 km south of Rovaniemi focused on Arctic and northern species, with polar bears, brown bears, wolverines, lynx, moose, reindeer and owls along a wooden boardwalk of about 3 km through the forest. Most animals are active in the cold. Combine it with the Fazer candy shop next door, and dress for the weather.
A wooded fell on the eastern edge of Rovaniemi with ski slopes, cross-country tracks and summer hiking and mountain bike trails. The top has views over the town and the meeting of the Kemijoki and Ounasjoki rivers. In winter it is a good place to look for the northern lights away from city lights; dress very warmly.
Kilpisjärvi is a remote village in the far northwest arm of Finland, near the borders of Norway and Sweden. Above it rises Saana fell, sacred to the Sámi, reached by a steep trail with hundreds of wooden stairs to a summit with huge views over the lake. A summer boat crosses the lake toward the Three-Country Cairn.
Finland's largest ski resort, in Kittilä, with about 43 slopes, many lifts and a compact village of hotels, restaurants and shops at the foot of Levitunturi fell. It also offers snowmobile, husky and reindeer safaris and glass igloo stays. Kittilä airport is about 15 minutes away. In summer, the fell has hiking and a gondola ride.
Ylläs is a large ski area on a high fell with slopes on two sides, linked to the quiet villages of Äkäslompolo and Ylläsjärvi. It is known for its long cross-country ski tracks, more than 300 km of them, reaching into Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. It is quieter than Levi, and the autumn colors are spectacular.
Finland's third largest national park, a chain of rounded fells stretching about 100 km through western Lapland. The classic Hetta-Pallas trail runs about 55 km between wilderness huts, while shorter day hikes start from the Pallas nature center. The air here has been measured as some of the cleanest in the world.
Saariselkä is a small resort village with ski slopes, hotels and glass igloos, at the edge of Urho Kekkonen National Park, one of the largest in Finland. Marked trails cross open fells and forests, with wilderness huts for longer hikes. It is one of the best places in Finland for northern lights from late August to March.
Finland's largest national park, a wild area of river valleys, fells and old pine forests southwest of Inari. Boats run up the Lemmenjoki river in summer to trails and the old gold panning areas, where a few prospectors still work claims. Bring all supplies, as services are minimal, and check the boat schedule in advance.
Finland's third largest lake, dotted with more than 3,000 islands, has deep meaning in Sámi culture. Summer boat cruises from Inari village visit Ukonsaari, an island that was a Sámi sacrificial site. In winter the frozen lake is used for snowmobile and husky trips and ice fishing. Bring warm layers even in July.
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Photo: Ximonic (Simo Räsänen), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: Ximonic (Simo Räsänen), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
