Lapland - Finnish Lapland

Lapland is Finland's northernmost and most extensive region, with a nature that is both rugged and impressive. At its heart are vast wilderness areas, mires, fells and highlands where reindeer roam freely and the seasons follow their own rhythm. In summer, the sun does not set for weeks, and in winter, a blue twilight brings a polar night that shrouds the landscape for months. In Lapland, the peace and quiet of nature is part of everyday life.

Despite its vast scale, Lapland's nature is accessible. National parks, hiking trails and natural attractions are accessible from visitor centres and small villages, and many are accessible by public transport. Everyone's rights allow free movement in nature, which is particularly valuable in the sparsely populated north. Hiking, trekking, skiing, berry picking and fishing are cornerstones of everyday life and culture in Lapland - a way of life where people move on nature's terms and respect nature.

Spring-winter (February-April)

The sun begins to rise over the horizon again, but the ground is still covered in a deep blanket of snow. The days are getting brighter, and the snow gets an icy hard cover to ski on. This is considered by many to be the most beautiful time in Lapland.

Spring (April-May)

Snow melts, rivers are freed from ice and migratory birds return. Spring arrives slowly in the north - growth often starts only in May. Day length increases rapidly.

Spring-summer (May-June)

The nightless nights begin - light is no longer lost at any time of the day. Nature greens up rapidly and insect numbers increase. Early summer is a popular time for hiking and, for some, the first opportunity to go on a water expedition.

Summer (June-July)

The warmest time in Lapland, although heat waves are rare. Daytime temperatures often remain in the 10-20°C range. Nature is at its most vibrant, berries are ripening and the hiking season is at its busiest.

Autumn summer (August)

Light levels decrease and nature begins to prepare for the autumn season. The northern cloudberries are ripening. The air is often pleasantly warm for hiking, and there are fewer mosquitos in late August.

Autumn (September-October)

The autumn foliage in Lapland is spectacular and short. The fells and forests glow yellow, red and orange. Day length starts to shorten again, and the first night frosts arrive.

Autumn (October-November)

Snow often covers the ground as early as October. The days shorten rapidly and the weather gets colder. There is a quiet transition period on the hiking trails before the winter sports season, the skiing season has not yet begun.

Winter & polar night (November-January)

Winter is long, cold and often completely snowy. In Lapland, it is the time of polar nights from December to mid-January: the sun does not rise at all. Blue twilight, moonlit nights and northern lights make this a unique time. The amount of daylight increases rapidly towards the end of January.

Nature is Lapland's strongest attraction - it is all around, vast, quiet and changing. Fells, open mires, old forests and clear waterways create an environment where hiking, trekking and outdoor life are a natural part of everyday life. But Lapland is not just a remote area: there are also villages and towns with a distinctive character, Sámi culture and local traditions living side by side with nature.

Taking a sauna is also part of Lapland life - for example a sauna next to a wilderness lake. In winter, a dip into icy water completes the experience. The combination of sauna and nature in Lapland is often a holistic wellness experience.

In summer, you can hike admiring the midnight sun, paddle on a wilderness lake, go fishing along a riverbank or pick berries in a forest. Autumn brings bright colors and mushroom in forests, while winter offers ski trails, snowshoe routes, ice fishing and a silence broken only by the sounds of the Northern Lights in the sky. In spring-winter, the sun is already shining high up but the snow carries your weight - a popular time for longer winter hikes and ski trips with a sled.

Top 10 experiences in Lapland

1. Hiking in the fells and wilderness - like Särkitunturi, Muotkatunturi or Kevo Canyon.
2. Northern Lights watching - the best season is from September to April.
3. Sauna - heat up a wood-fired sauna and swim in a wilderness lake.
4. Midnight sun - from June to July the sun doesn't set at all.
5. Snowshoe hike and open fire - hike a winter trail and enjoy a fire at a "laavu" lean-to shelter.
6. A ski trip in spring-winter - ski on hard snow under the shining sun.
7. Eat cloudberries - the northern berry ripens in August in the bogs of Lapland.
8. Stay in a wilderness cabin - a night without electricity in the middle of silence.
9. Santa Village in the Arctic Circle - an experience especially for families with children.
10. Peace of nature and a sense of space - listen to the silence, look at the horizon.

There are direct flights to Helsinki from several major cities in Europe, Asia and North America. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is the largest and busiest international gateway in the country. From Helsinki, you can take a direct flight to Lapland.

International flights also arrive at several other airports around the country. Rovaniemi, Kittilä, Ivalo and Kuusamo are popular destinations, especially during the winter season, when tourists head to Lapland for the Northern Lights, cross-country skiing and winter nature. You can continue your trip with airport taxi, bus or rental car.

The trains operate from southern Hanko and Helsinki to major cities and up to Rovaniemi, Kolari and Kemijärvi in Lapland.

Eskelisen Lapin linjat bus and OnniBus operate in Lapland. You can reach all the most popular hiking trails in Lapland by bus.