Holidays to Lapland
Holidays to Lapland are an IRL winter wonderland. Imagine a husky-pulled sleigh-cation where you can gawp at the Northern Lights and have a chin wag with the big cheese (Santa) himself. Only in Lapland!
Bucket-list brilliance: Santa and some
The Northern Lights (aka the aurora borealis) are next-level incredible. Streaks of green, red and purple dance across the night sky with more must-see energy and colour than Tay-tay in a tie-dye rainbow fringe jacket (too specific?).
Anyway. The best time to see the Northern Lights is from the end of August to April, when the sky is darkest. Make sure to wrap up while you wait to catch the showstopping display from your girl Mother Nature.
Sleigh, queen: Bring on adventure
Buckle up, wild child. Your Arctic outback safari on a husky-pulled sled is not your everyday adventure, especially if you’re out aurora hunting. Alternatively, you could saddle up and explore the Finnish forests on horseback. Then there’s ice-fishing, skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling. There’s ‘snow’ stopping us! (Yes, we said it, and we’re not ashamed.)
In the (literally) endless days of summer, you can hike or mountain bike as late as you like because the sun isn’t going anywhere. Need a snack on the go? Stuff your cheeks with cloudberries, a summer speciality. Finnish Lapland really is the gift that keeps giving.
Santa, of Claus!
Visiting the home of Father Christmas is the trip of a lifetime, no matter how old you are. Who doesn’t love Santa? Take a trip up to Rovaniemi, known as the capital of Finnish Lapland, to knock on his door in Santa Claus Village and SantaPark.
Little ones can join the Elf’s Hat Academy in Santa Claus Village, learning everything elf-lore and scribbling postcards to send home before hopping aboard a reindeer-pulled sleigh for a wonderland ride. And, finally, you all get to meet the head honcho himself. Sure, you could visit in winter, but we all know Santa isn’t just for Christmas. That’s the beauty of showing up at his house, he’s always there!
Sneak Peek
Best for... Seeing the Northern Lights and Santa in one trip – boom ✨
Go... Go in winter for the quintessential magical Lapland experience 🥶
You have to... Go aurora hunting. Yes, you’ll need to rug up, but the potential reward is unforgettable 🔎
Lapland holiday deals
Scandic Rovaniemi City
4.3
Very Good
- 26 Nov 2026
- 3 nights
- Room only
- From Stansted
Prices from
Lapland Hotels Ounasvaara Chalets
4.4
Excellent
- 22 Mar 2026
- 3 nights
- Bed & breakfast
- From Manchester
Prices from
Details
Currency
Euro
Language
Finnish
Time difference
GMT +2
Cost of a beer
€7
3-course meal
€30
Flight time
2.5 hrs
Family-friendly: Santa visits and sled rides
Husky sled rides and reindeer encounters are perfect for animal loving little ones. Meanwhile, kids with Duracell Bunny levels of enthusiasm can occupy themselves learning to ski at Levi or ice-skating at Snowman World.
To earn your place as the world's best parents (for a couple of days at least), take the young’uns to see Santa in the flesh. After the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, head to the nearby SantaPark for elf shows, train rides and gingerbread decorating. Santa will also do a great job of demonstrating how he can be in two places at once!
Culture and history: Ancient Sámi knowledge
To learn some history and connect with the culture of the indigenous Sámi people, start at the Siida museum in Inari. Its main exhibition looks at how nature, culture and Sámi people are connected.
During the summer, you can wander through the open-air museum with its trail shaped like a reindeer herder’s lasso. Don’t forget to check out excavations where mind bogglingly old tools and ceramics have been uncovered. Ten minutes’ walk away is the Sámi Parliament inside Sajos, a stunning wooden building.
Best of the rest: Activities for days
Whatever time of year you visit Lapland, there’s an almost overwhelming number of outdoor activities. In the summer, it’s all about hiking, fishing, cycling and horseback rides under the disorientating beautiful midnight sun.
In winter, the dark skies showcase the unreal Northern Lights. During the brief daylight periods you can still sneak in some skiing, snowboarding, husky sled rides or try out a spot of ice fishing on Lake Inarinjärvi (Lake Inari). It’s the largest lake in Lapland and the number one spot for brown trout. Free days? What are those?
When to go to Lapland
In Lapland, the snow typically begins falling in late October (go in January or February for deep snowfall). This season is also the best time to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. From April, the nights get brighter and the snow starts to melt. That’s one heck of a winter!
Of course, December means Christmas and Santa’s time to shine! But if the festive stuff isn’t your vibe, we’d strongly suggest travelling in a different month to avoid crowds and high-season costs. Summer is quieter, ideal for cheap Lapland holidays, hiking and camping. It’s also great for vitamin D, which is in decidedly short supply at other times of the year.
