Lapland Travel Guide for Beginners: How to Plan the Perfect Arctic Adventure
Dreaming of snowy landscapes, dancing Northern Lights, and magical winter adventures? Knowing how to plan a trip to Lapland is key to making the most of this bucket-list destination.
With its enchanting charm and endless activities, Lapland promises an unforgettable experience for all ages. From meeting Santa Claus to husky sledding through pristine forests, Lapland is filled with unique adventures that go beyond your typical winter getaway. But with its remote location and extreme weather, proper planning is essential to ensure a smooth trip.
Whether you're looking for an epic family getaway, or a budget-friendly adventure with your partner, our Lapland guide for beginners is here to help you with everything you need to know in order to plan your trip to Lapland. Get ready to create memories in one of the world's most magical winter destinations!
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How to Plan a Trip to Lapland: A Quick Intro
Before we teach you how to plan a trip to Lapland, let's take a quick look into what makes Lapland so special, and where exactly on the map it's located.
Why is Lapland So Famous?
Lapland is a remote location that is home to some of the most bucket-list worthy phenomenons in the world.
From being able to witness the northern lights in the winter and the midnight sun in the summer, to reindeer sledding and visiting Santa Claus village, Lapland is an area where childhood dreams come true, yet all ages can really enjoy.
Where is Lapland in Finland?
Lapland covers the northern half of Finland, and is right in the heart of the Arctic Circle. Just like Patagonia, Lapland is actually a region that covers a couple of countries, but we are going to be sharing how to explore Finnish Lapland!
⟺ What is the Size of Lapland?
The Finnish side of Lapland covers an area of a little over 100 square kilometers! It borders Sweden to its west, Norway to its north, and Russia to its east.
How to Plan a Trip to Lapland: Getting There
So are you ready to learn how to plan a trip to Lapland? Now that you know exactly where it is on the map, let's look at the different options for getting there.
What Airport Do You Fly Into for Lapland?
As Lapland covers a large area of the country, there are a few different airports that you can fly into. The most popular one is Rovaniemi, which is considered to be the gateway to Lapland, and the airport that has the most amount of flights going in and out.
Alternatievly, you can look for flights to Kittala which has flights from Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt and Helsinki, or to Ivalo, which has flights from Helsinki, London, or Zurich.
Flight Tip: Using Skyscanner you can out from "your city" to "Finland". This way you can see which is the cheapest airport in the area to fly. Also, you can check the calendar to see which are the cheapest dates for your destination!
Search for a flight to Lapland:
Can You Get to Lapland Without Flying?
You can definitely get to Lapland without flying! We actually traveled to Lapland with a rental car from Helsinki. It was a long drive to Lapland (about 10 hours), but it was really scenic, and helped us save money on the more expensive flights and rental cars up in Lapland.
Can You Do a Day Trip from Helsinki to Lapland?
Doing a day trip from Helsinki to Lapland would be really complicated, and even if possible it wouldn't be the most ideal.
The quickest way to get to Lapland from Helsinki would be by flight, and between travel time and costs, it certainly would not be worth simply trying to go to Lapland for a day.
How to Plan a Trip to Lapland: Entry Requirements for Finland
So you're ready to plan a trip to Lapland. You have your flights, but what's next? Well, first, it's important to know if you need any special documentation.
What are the General Requirements for Entry to Finland?
Finland is part of the European Union and the Schengen Zone, which means that if you are traveling from another country within these zones, you won't actually have to go through customs.
That being said, it's important to note that visitors outside the EU can only spend up to 90 days within 180 days inside the Schengen Zone, so you'll want to keep this in mind so you don't overstay.
Do I Need a Visa to Go to Lapland?
If your nationality requires a visa to visit the Schengen Zone, then you will need to get a visa before traveling to Lapland.
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How to Plan a Trip to Lapland: Local Adjustments
Before learning how to plan a trip to Lapland, you'll want to make sure you know some of the basics such as the local adjustments of language, currency, and tipping culture.
What Language is Spoken in Lapland?
The official language in Finnish Lapland is Finnish. Pretty much everyone has a great level of English, but it's always nice to pick up a few key phrases when speaking to locals.
What Money Do You Need in Lapland?
The currency used in Lapland is the euro. You won't really need any cash though, as everything in Lapland can be paid with a credit card.
What Plug Adapter Do I Need for Finland?
Lapland uses the same plug types as the rest of Europe, which are types C, E, & F. The standard voltage in Finland is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
Is Water Drinkable in Lapland?
Lapland prides themselves as having some of the cleanest water in the world! Skip the bottled water and enjoy the incredibly fresh water straight from the tap instead. Don't forget to bring your own reusable water bottle.
Is Tipping Expected in Finland?
In Finland the average tip for a restaurant is 10-15% of the bill.
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How to Plan a Trip to Lapland: The Best Places to Visit
Now that you know how to plan a trip to Lapland, let's go over where exactly you should visit on your trip!
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Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi is probably the most popular place to visit Lapland, and the most child-friendly.
Home to Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi is located in the southern part of Lapland, and is known as the gateway to this stunning area of Finland.
Weather you're looking for exciting arctic adventures, a cozy lodge, or a wild night out, Rovaniemi has it all, and is definitely the top destination in Lapland no matter what type of traveler you are.
Rovaniemi is home to Santa Claus Village.
Levi
Levi is located all the way in the north west of Lapland, and is the perfect destination for those looking for a more authentic, quiet, or romantic getaway.
Home to some of the most stunning lodges, Levi is where you'll find the most snow, and some of the best chances at seeing the Northern Lights.
We drove all the way up there simply to see the Northern Lights, and the area was simply magical. One of the igloo villages and Snowman World are certainly on our list for the next trip to Lapland!
Saariselka
Located in the north east of Lapland, this is another incredible destination for picturesque cabins, snowy forests, skiing, and chances for seeing the northern lights.
Saariselka is one of the best places to experience the Northern Lights in Lapland.
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How to Plan a Trip to Lapland: Getting Around
Lapland is a really large area, but luckily there are a number of ways that you can get around including:
- Renting a car and driving
- Taking public buses
- Signing up for excursions that include transportation
Renting a Car in Lapland
Renting a car is definitely the easiest way to get around Lapland, and if you're looking for how to plan a trip to Lapland with limited time or money, then we definitely recommend having your own car.
We were able to go on our own to see the northern lights at 2 am, wander the snowy beautiful landscapes, and even pack last minute activities, which were all only possible because of having a car.
Renting a car in Rovaniemi or Levi is quite pricey, so we rented a car from Helsinki. It was a long drive, but it was beautiful, smooth, and saved us quite a bit of money.
Driving in Lapland is super easy and enjoyable.
There are a lot of speed cameras in Finland, so make sure to always drive under the speed limit!
Taking Public Transportation in Lapland
Public transportation is far and few between around Lapland, but it DOES exist if you have time to run on their schedule.
This is certainly the cheapest way to get around, and we did see a ton of bu stops scattered around. That being said, we heard most buses run just once and hour, so you'll have to plan your trip to Lapland accordingly with extra time if this is the option you choose.
Taking Private Transportation in Lapland
Ubers and taxis are available in the biggest towns around Lapland. They're pretty expensive though, so we'd honestly recommend only using them if you really need them.
Excursions in Lapland
Excursions are definitely the easiest and most convenient way to experience Lapland, especially since most of the things to do in Lapland are activities provided by tour companies.
This is certainly the most popular option, but you'll have to keep in mind that prices can add up fast.
We'd recommend signing up for full day trips, that way you can experience a lot without having to go back and forth. The good news is that excursions typically include hotel pick up, and most big resorts actually offer a wide array of activities, meaning most people hardly have to even leave their accommodation.
Lapland is mostly based on excursions.
Looking for some of the most popular excursions in Lapland? Here are some of our favorites:
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How to Plan a Trip to Lapland: Local Food & Drink
Lapland is known for having hearty meals for the cold such as thick stews and soups. The cuisine is overal very healthy though, full of meals for a balanced diet, using all-natural and local products.
Two foods that are very popular in Lapland are reindeer and salmon. Reindeer is an expensive meat, but super tasty, and very unique to this area of the world.
We tried reindeer sausages, steak, and soup, all of which were delicious. You can also expect tasty hot breads and cinnamon rolls to have with your coffee.
Reindeer soup is really popular in Lapland.
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Is Lapland Safe to Visit?
Lapland is actually one of the safest places in the entire world! There is hardly any crime at all in this area of the world, and you can walk around solo or at night without having to have any safety concerns.
We even had a night out bar hopping, and the people were super friendly (although very drunk), but we genuinely had so many great interactions with the locals around bnoth Rovaniemi and Levi.
You can safely walk around at night in Lapland.
How to Plan a Trip to Lapland: Other Things to Know About Visiting
Now you know almost everything for how to plan a trip to Lapland. But don't go just yet! Here are a few other things you may want to keep in mind.
What is the Weather Like in Lapland Year Round?
Lapland experiences 4 seasons, with short and mild summers, and long, cold, snowy winters. Being located in the Arctic circle, Lapland is one of the coldest places in the world, receiving a ton of snow!
What Month is Lapland Best?
Lapland is stunning year round, and has something to offer in every season. That being said, we absolutely think that December and January are the best months to visit.
December is the perfect time to be able to enjoy Santa's Village during the holiday season, and many of the ice hotels and snow-related activities start to be in full swing starting from mid-late December or in early January.
For the most snow, you'll want to visit in January or February, and if you want better prices and less crowds with snow, then you should opt for visiting Lapland in March.
The winter is definitely the most magical time to plan a trip to Lapland.
Packing For a Trip to Lapland
Packing for Lapland will definitely depend on the season, and we actually have a full article coming up about packing properly for Lapland. However, here are some things you'll definitely want to bring with you:
- Snow Boots
- Heavy Jacket
- Fleece Socks
- Gloves
- Hand Warmers
- Snow Pants
- Hat or Ear Muffs
- Bathing suits for the saunas and jacuzzis in the winter or the lakes in the summer
- Small Bag/ Backpack for the day (check out our list of favorite backpacks for travelers!)
- Chapstick
- Insulated Water Bottle (we use this water bottle from Cafago because it holds the temperature)
- Camera (we use the Sony A7Riii)
- Wide Lens for inside the hotels and cozy shops (we use Sony GM 14mm 1.8)
- Drone for unique perspectives (We use the DJI Mavic Mini 4 Pro)
- Action Camera for the adventure activities (we use the Insta 360 X3 because you can use it with an extra long selfie stick to mimic a drone)
- Power Bank (we use Anker power banks as they are super long lasting and durable)
Make sure to pack lots of layers!
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Is Lapland Worth Visiting?
Lapland is definitely one of the most magical winter destinations in the world, and despite being pretty expensive, it truly is a place to add on your bucket list.
Make sure to book your hotels and activities in advance, as that's one thing we definitely would have improved if we were to do it again.
How Many Days Do You Need in Lapland, Finland?
If you plan on just staying in one destination in Lapland, then we would recommend 3-4 days to be able to experience some of the top activities.
If you're looking for how to plan a trip to Lapland experiencing the whole region, then we'd definitely recommend 7-10 days.
The majority fo the things to do in Lapland are excursions that should be booked in advance, so we'd recommend making a list of the top activities in Lapland you'd like to do, and do 1-2 of them a day. Then you can find out the amount of time that is right for you.
You can easily spend a week in Lapland enjoying all that it has to offer.
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So are you ready to experience this incredible winter wonderland? We hope our guide has helped you learn how to plan a trip to Lapland, and that you have as amazing of a time as we did.
Want to learn more about the different things to do and see in Lapland? We have a few other Lapland travel guides, as well as more coming up. So make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for all of our weekly updates!
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