Sprawling across Finland, Sweden, Norway & Russia is the region of Lapland, a vast wilderness in the frozen Arctic Circle. But despite it’s remoteness, Lapland is till very accessible even during the cold winter months. We recently visited (December 2023) & spent an incredible 8 days exploring some of the very best of this Nordic region, & Lapland is rather unlike anywhere else we have visited on planet earth.
In this guide we will walk you through how to make the most out of 8 days in Finnish & Swedish Lapland, as well as some budget tips along the way.

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When is the best time to visit Lapland?
Lapland is undoubtedly the ultimate winter destination. This is when it attracts the most tourists & this is when you will be able to experience Lapland at it’s best, a winter wonderland blanketed in snow.
Whilst summer still has it’s draws, note that winter is most definitely the peak season in Lapland & therefore prices will be higher, especially for accomodation. With December being the most popular month due to the festive period & Finnish Lapland being the official home of Santa Claus.
How to reach Lapland?
Direct flights from all over Europe fly into Rovaniemi (home of Santa Claus) & other Lapland destinations such as Levi & Kiruna in Sweden. Alternatively, you could fly into Helsinki & spend a couple of days here before catching the Santa Express train north to Rovaniemi & the same goes for Stockholm to Kiruna in Sweden.
We were travelling through Northern Europe via train with Interrail Passes & therefore made our way to Helsinki before travelling towards Rovaniemi & eventually on to Kiruna. Once you are in Lapland the public transport system via trains & buses is still very efficient for such a remote area.

What is the difference between Finnish & Swedish Lapland?
You may be asking yourself this exact question & trying to decide which to visit. We personally believe that they both are worth exploring through this guide that we have shared below, as they offer different experiences.
Finnish Lapland is somewhat more popular & well known as Lapland, due to it being the official home of Santa Claus, you will definitely find more tourists here. However, Swedish Lapland is a little more off the beaten track, quieter & will give you (in our opinion) an authentic Arctic experience.
Day 1-2: Finnish Lapland (Rovaniemi):
Rovaniemi is the beating heart of Finnish Lapland, as it is also where you will get the opportunity to visit the ‘real’ Santa Claus at the Santa Claus Village, located just outside of town. Rovaniemi is a small town, but it has everything there that you would need to enjoy your stay, such as: supermarkets, train station, it’s own airport, a great public transport system, hotels & Airbnb’s.
Where to stay in Rovaniemi
Unfortunately, Rovaniemi isn’t a budget destination, in fact it is one of the most expensive places we have ever visited. You will find a variety of accomodation on offer here from hostels, to hotels & Airbnb’s. It would be wise to search for accomodation that is located within the city centre as this way you will be ideally located to everything you would need during your stay.
Despite it being an expensive destination, there are a few things that you can do to secure a good deal on accomodation. For instance, make sure you book well in advance & consider an Airbnb or hostel as you will then be able to cook your own meals & save some pennies.
We chose to stay in an Airbnb in the city centre. The location was perfect as the bus that takes you to the Santa Claus Village would pull up right outside the Airbnb. You can find the exact apartment we stayed in here.

Top 5 things to do in Rovaniemi
1. Santa Claus Village – Of course, you can’t come to Lapland & not visit the big man himself. The village itself is free to enter, but to have a photo with Santa Claus will cost you 40 Euros. However, there is more to do than just visit Santa Claus, as you can visit Santa’s workshop & post office, take Reindeer or Husky rides, shop in the souvenir shops, visit the café & of course cross the Arctic Circle.
It is easy to access the village from Rovaniemi, just hop on the Santa Claus Village bus which will cost you around 3 Euros per person. The bus will deliver you straight to Santa Claus’ door & from there you’ll be able to enjoy the day at the village. We’d say that around 2-4 hours is ample amount of time to enjoy everything on offer here.

2. Arctos Lapland – Situated on Lake Norvajarvi around 20 minutes outside of Rovaniemi, is Arctos Lapland, a private Finnish sauna experience run by the ever so friendly Raymond & his partner. Arctos Lapland is an extension of their beautiful lake house & they offer private sauna experiences like no other. If you are looking for an unforgettable Arctic experience, then this is it!
To paint the picture for you, when you arrive at Arctos Lapland & you will be taken into a traditional Finnish Kota, which is a small wooden hut with a fire pit in the middle for cooking. Raymond will prepare a delicious meal for you to enjoy, usually consisting of Reindeer (which is a popular meat of choice in Lapland). After eating your meal, you will be taken down to your private sauna house, located perfectly on the very edge of the Lake.
In winter, of course the lake & surrounding landscape is frozen, which only adds to the beauty of this place. Once at your sauna house you will have around 4 hours to enjoy the sauna, wood burning fire, hot tub, outdoor campfire & ice hole on the lake entirely to yourself.
When we say that this was the most unique & magical experience we have probably ever had, we seriously mean it. Sitting in the hot tub under thousands of stars, on the edge of an Arctic Lake, is something we will never forget.
Sauna’s are big in Finland & you shouldn’t miss this experience whilst in Finland. Arctos Lapland offer a day & night experience, personally we would choose the night experience as it will give you the chance to keep an eye out for the Northern Lights as you relax here.
You can find more details & prices for Arctos Lapland here.

3. Take a walk at Ounasvaara Nature Reserve – The reserve is situated within Rovaniemi, just a short walk across the main bridge from the town centre & then you will be in the wilderness. There are many trails to follow here, as well as cross country skiing tracks. We can recommend the ‘Winter Trail’ as a great walk through the snow covered forest.
The walk will take you through the trees & gently up Ounasvaara hill, where once at the top you will come across a viewpoint with a tower to climb. From this viewpoint you should be able to get a great view over Rovaniemi. The walk through the forest itself is simply magical, it feels as though you have been dropped straight into a Christmas Hallmark movie.

4. Go sledding – A fun free or low cost activity in Rovaniemi, would be to grab a sledge & find a hill. We did this one afternoon once the sun had set & had forgotten how fun it can be. Within the city itself there is a great spot down by the river, where the pavement slopes & there is a small hill at ‘Angry Birds Park’. Alternatively, you could take your sledge to Ounasvaara too.
5. Visit the ‘Most Northern McDonald’s in the World’ – This is a bit of a novelty experience, but it has to be done! The McDonald’s in Rovaniemi has been dubbed as the most northern in the world & they even have a sign to prove it. So make sure to grab yourself a meal in the Arctic, watch out because in high season it does get super busy.
Day 2-4: Kemi, Finland
Kemi is a small town located on the Bothian Sea, around 1 hour by train from Rovaniemi. If you are looking for a more budget stay in Finnish Lapland then this would be a good option for you. We decided to stay here for two nights as accomodation was a lot cheaper than Rovaniemi. The city itself isn’t the prettiest, but it does make a good base for some really exciting activities in the surrounding area.
Where to stay in Kemi?
There isn’t a great deal of hotels in Kemi, as it feels much more like a local town. However, a great budget option is at Villa Kemi, they offer dorm rooms & private rooms. We stayed in a private room for around £50 per night, which is a brilliant price for Lapland in high season. Villa Kemi is located in the city centre & within walking distance to amenities, such as shops. The hostel has a kitchen on site, which came in handy.
Top 2 things to do in Kemi
1. Kikeli Forest – Taking a walk out to the nearby Kikeli Forest is a must do if you are staying here, especially during the winter season. The forest is beautiful & if you walk towards Kikeli Observation Tower, you will be greeted by the frozen ocean. We couldn’t believe our eyes, as this was our first time seeing a frozen ocean.
Be careful walking out onto the ice, always check the stability before standing on it. We saw a couple of snowmobiles drive over it, so we figured it would be safe to stand on it. It’s such an incredible experience & one you will no doubt never forget.

2. Polar Icebreaker – The main reason we decided to stay in Kemi was to join an Icebreaker tour. If you aren’t familiar with what an Icebreaker is, it is a ship that is designed to cut through the frozen ice in the ocean. They are used a lot in the Arctic & you can jump on a tour in the Bothian Sea.
We did our tour with Polar Explorer Icebreaker. It is a full day tour & they offer pick up/drop off from Kemi, Rovaniemi & Tornio in Finland & Lulea & Haparanda in Sweden. So depending on where you are staying you should be able to get a lift, or alternatively if you have rented a car, you can find the port of departure on their website.
The tour itself is incredible, & arguably it will be the most memorable activity you will do in Lapland. Once on board you will be sailed out into the frozen ocean & be able to watch the ship break through the ice. For the best view of the ice breaking, make sure you stand on the side of the ship. Half way through the tour, the ship will come to a standstill in the middle of the ocean & there will be an opportunity to suit up in a ‘life suit’ & float around in the freezing Bothian Sea.
We highly recommend that you do go for a float, it was such a fun experience & you won’t be able to feel the cold at all, unless you dunk your face. Photo’s will be taken of you by the crew, which will be available for purchase at the end of the tour. Lunch is also included in the ticket price & consists of either Swedish meatballs or Salmon.
After the experience we were dropped off in Lulea, which is where we needed to be to catch our train to Kiruna.

Day 4-8: Kiruna, Swedish Lapland
If you are heading to the Lapland region, then we definitely think it is worth checking out Swedish Lapland too. Although it isn’t as popular as Finnish Lapland it is still just as beautiful & there are many of the same activities to enjoy. With it being less popular, also means that cost of accomodation is much lower than in Finnish Lapland (depending on where you stay). Making it a great budget option for a traveller with a pinched purse.
Kiruna is Sweden’s most northern city, a visit here will take you way into the Arctic Circle. Within Kiruna itself there isn’t a lot of things to do, however the real charm lies in the wilderness surrounding the small city. This is where you will get the chance to have an authentic Arctic experience.
Getting to Kiruna is relatively easy via train from Lulea, it is around a 4-5 hour journey north. Note that when you reach Kiruna the train station is located quite far out of town, but there is a free bus that will take you into the city.
Where to stay in Kiruna?
Without a doubt you must experience an Arctic wilderness camp, there a few dotted around the Kiruna area, but we would highly recommend checking out Camp Alta. We spent 4 days here & have to say that it was the highlight of our entire trip to Lapland.
Camp Alta is situated around a 20 minute drive outside of Kiruna, Camp Alta also offers pick up/drop off in Kiruna. Once you reach camp you will find a selection of log cabins on the edge of a beautiful Arctic lake. We recommend for 2 people to book cabin number 3, this one is right next to the lake & has unspoiled views.
Cabins start from around £50 per night during the winter season, you will pay more for a larger cabin. We stayed in cabin number 3 & had a fridge, microwave & kettle. There is an onsite kitchen close by & toilets/showers. Some of the larger cabins will have their own facilities, so it really depends on which type of cabin you choose to book.
Before you arrive at Camp Alta, it would be wise to do all your own shopping in Kiruna, as once you reach camp there are no shops, so it is much more convenient & cheaper for you to do it beforehand.
Camp Alta offer a wide range of activities that we will mention below. It is also one of the best places that we saw the Northern Lights on our visit to Lapland, we managed to catch them three times here.

Top 5 things to do at Camp Alta, Kiruna
1. Snowmobile tour – At Camp Alta you can jump directly on this tour from the camp. You will be taken out onto the lake on your own snowmobile & then spend some time travelling through the Arctic forests & along the frozen rivers to the nearby settlement of Jukkasjarvi.
It is here that you will get the opportunity to learn more about the indigenous Sami people of Lapland, with a visit to the Sami museum. Or you can choose to take a walk around the nearby Ice hotel, which is exactly as it sounds, a hotel made entirely out of ice, it is pretty cool (if you’ll pardon the pun)!
After spending some time in Jukkasjarvi, you will then make your way back to camp via snowmobile, following the same snowmobile tracks you took on your way out. It is an incredible experience & definitely one for those seeking a thrill.
Please note that lunch isn’t included with this full day tour, so either pack your own lunch or you can buy something to eat at the café or shop in Jukkasjarvi. You can find more information including prices for this tour over on the Camp Alta website.

2. Husky Sledding – Another tour that Camp Alta offer is Husky Sledding, this one will require you to head to a local operator & from there you will be introduced to the dogs & spend a couple of ours out in the snow, experiencing this traditional Arctic mode of transport.
We definitely recommend that you choose the self drive tour, it made it all the more memorable & fun being able to control our own dog sled, rather than let someone else do it for us. It was wonderful to see how much the dogs enjoyed pulling us along, & we didn’t realise just how fast they would go.
Dashing through the snow with a team of five adorable huskies, is an experience you will never forget. Once the tour is over, you will also get the opportunity to have lots of cuddles with the dogs, as well as some hot drinks & snacks in a nearby Kota. It was the perfect afternoon activity.

3. Abisko Northern Lights tour – Abisko National Park is one of the best places in the world to watch the Northern Lights, luckily it is situated only an hour from Camp Alta by road. This tour starts at around 7pm from camp, you will jump on a bus & be driven out to two prime spots for catching the Northern Lights.
At the first stop, you will be met by your guide who will cook the group some soup & offer around a hot drink. You will then all sit around a campfire, whilst the guide will discuss more about the science behind the Northern Lights, as well as some myths & legends.
You’ll also be driven out to a mountain top & after a short walk you will hopefully be stood on top of a mountain surrounded by the most spectacular display of Northern Lights. Do not fear if it is cloudy, our night started off cloudy but quickly cleared & the Northern Lights danced for us in the nights sky, magic.

4. Cross Country Skiing – Camp Alta offer rental equipment for Cross Country Skiing, as well as other activities. If you haven’t already tried it, we definitely think you should. We had so much fun out on the lake & in the forest, traversing through the snow. Ski rental is at an additional cost at Camp Alta, you can read more about pricing here.
5. Floating Sauna – In the middle of the lake there is a floating sauna, of course during the winter season it is frozen solid into the ice. A big part of Lapland culture is sauna & cold plunges, inside the sauna house there is a trap door that leads directly to the icy waters of the lake, this is where you’ll be able to cool off during your sauna experience.
Wood for the log burners in the sauna is at an additional cost, however we found that most days there were already people using the sauna & therefore we hopped inside when it was already in use. Moreover, there are private saunas available at Camp Alta, these will require you to pre book for a more private experience. There is nothing better than spending your evening in the sauna, under the Northern Lights.

That is exactly how you can spend 8 perfect days in Finnish & Swedish Lapland, & this corner of the world definitely deserves a spot on your bucket list. We had the most incredible experience in Lapland & we hope this guide helps you to enjoy it to the max too. If you have any further questions regarding a trip to Lapland, you can leave it in the comments section below or shoot us a DM via Instagram.
If you enjoyed reading this, then you will probably enjoy reading more of our Europe articles. Furthermore, a visit to Scandinavia goes perfectly with a visit to the Baltic States, read our guide ‘9 Days in the Baltic States’ for further inspiration.

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